Can a priest refuse to give son first communion if my son wishes to kneel?

[Duane1966]

Obedience to your priest would be more pleasing then disobedience.

Wouldn’t the priest’s obedience to canon law be more pleasing than him saying no to a little boy who wishes to show reverence to his savior by kneeling?

 

[JM3]

Wouldn’t the priest’s obedience to canon law be more pleasing than him saying no to a little boy who wishes to show reverence to his savior by kneeling?

It is not for us to judge a priest. We are only to obey the authority that God has placed over us. Standing or kneeling is a minor issue. Unity with the parish should be desired.

 

[RitasKid]

The priest shouldn’t refuse. Consider though whether you want your son to be thinking about his behavior or about what/who he’s receiving. I know that I personally get all distracted during the Lord’s Prayer, (raise hands to orans position or not) and I truly don’t care what is ‘correct’. (Do you think the folks who make an issue of this share in any guilt I incur because of my distraction?)

 

[Brendan]

It is not for us to judge a priest. We are only to obey the authority that God has placed over us.

Correct, which is to the Pope and the Bishops appointed over us.

Aquinas defined the Virtue of Obedience as the Virtue by which we conform our Wills to the Will of the one with authority.

In the matter of posture for the reception of Holy Communion, the Church has issued and approved rules. Thus it is the Church via the approved norms, that has the voice of authority.

Anything contrary does not carry authority, therefore their is no virtue practiced when one attempts to conform ones will to that which is contrary to the actual authority.

It is not a matter of judging the priest, but a simply recognition than there is no disobedience in choosing to either stand or kneel at one’s discretion.

So you are correct, we ARE to obey the authority to which God has placed over us, and a person who choose to either kneel or stand is obeying such authority

Unity with the parish should be desired

The Church does not see such unity of posture as being desired

For example, some bishops attempted to regulate the posture of those who had returned to the pew after receiving Holy Communion. Some chose to have everyone stand, others to have everyone kneel. They sought, as you did, to have a unity of posture

The Vatican ended up overruling such rules, and clarified what the Church desires in terms of unity of posture

The July 2003 Newsletter of the Bishops Committee on the Liturgy (BCL) noted the "controversy … over the proper posture of the faithful at Mass after receiving Holy Communion.

“In several dioceses people have been instructed that they must stand until the last person has received Communion, despite the long-standing custom that people knelt during the distribution of Communion”.

“Numerous inquiries” received by the BCL led Cardinal Francis George, chairman of the BCL, to submit a dubium (doubt, question) to the Holy See’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (CDW) on May 26, 2003:

Dubium: In many places, the faithful are accustomed to kneeling or sitting in personal prayer upon returning to their places after having individually received Holy Communion during Mass. Is it the intention of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, to forbid this practice?

Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the CDW, responded to the question on June 5, 2003 (Prot. N. 855/03/L):

Responsum: Negative, et ad mensum [No, for this reason]. The mens [reasoning] is that the prescription of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, no. 43, is intended, on the one hand, to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the celebration of Holy Mass, and on the other, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free

.

This directive was then published by Cardinal George to all bishops in the US, and the bishops who had rules contrary, that attempted to regulate posture in ways that the Church did not envision or desire, removed their rules.

 

[marytk]

If the priest were asking the question I would sy to let the boy kneel (Not that I have any aurthority) But since the family is asking my advice is to do what the priest says. It isn’t all about what WE want or our RIGHTS. It is a gift that no one deserves but we are so blessed to have. Standing is not going to take anything away from the Eucharist. When you go to another parish then kneel. Since the priest insists I assume he has been talked to. YOu can keep on talking and asking but First Holy Communion isn’t a time to make a statement. (other than renewed commitment to the Lord and his great gift)

 

[BartholomewB]

My son will be making his fist communion soon, and wishes to receive on the tongue whilst kneeling.

When discussing this with the assistant priest tonight, he said that he would have to run this by the parish priest to see if it would be allowed. I was under the impression that receiving communion like this couldn’t be refused, or do I have that wrong?

Many thanks

**
Brenwood Dad:**

You haven’t told us your son’s age. Is he the usual age for First Communion, say no older than 12 or 13 at the outside, or is he older than that? Will he be taking part in a First Communion for a group of boys and girls who are all in the same age bracket? If so, that would mean we are talking about a ceremony that is being organized by a parish church for a group of families, and it would be unsuitable for one boy to insist on doing it differently from everybody else.

However, if he is a few years older and is planning a First Communion on his own, that would make a difference.

 

[Duane1966]

It is not for us to judge a priest. We are only to obey the authority that God has placed over us. Unity with the parish should be desired.

Actually, if said priest is openly defying what the bishop’s have taught on this issue, then we are most certainly to judge said priest in this hypothetical situation. Unity is desirable, when said parish is in unity with the Church. In this instance, no matter how unified the parish may be, by refusing to let the boy receive kneeling, that parish has broken unity with the Church.

Standing or kneeling is a minor issue.

Obviously, not to the boy.

 

[Ignatius]

I’ve never read that the U.S. norm of standing is based on a[n]… indult.

You didn’t know it was by an indult? The indult is granted by and at the pleasure of The Congregation for Divine Liturgy and will end whenever the CDL wished to withdraw it, which I pray, will be soon!

 

[dconklin]

I am an Asst DRE at a large parish and have the responsibility of preparing children to receive the First Holy Communion. We teach standing and by hand but would not discourage kneeling or on the tongue - though a First Communicant kneeling on the floor (no kneeler or altar rail) would quite a reach for an average-sized priest.

We have at least one neighboring parish who has gone back to using a kneeler for 1st HC and receiving on the tongue. I wonder if many of the 7-8 year old tongues were higher than the padded rail.

 

[frizzgrig]

The norm for the United States is:

The General Instruction asks each country’s Conference of Bishops to determine the posture to be used for the reception of Communion and the act of reverence to be made by each person as he or she receives Communion. In the United States, the body of Bishops determined that Communion should be received standing, and that a bow is the act of reverence made by those receiving. These norms may require some adjustment on the part of those who have been used to other practices, however the significance of unity in posture and gesture as a symbol of our unity as members of the one body of Christ should be the governing factor in our own actions.

Those who receive Communion may receive either in the hand or on the tongue, and the decision should be that of the individual receiving, not of the person distributing Communion. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. The host will then be laid in the palm of the left hand and then taken by the right hand to the mouth. If one is left-handed this is reversed. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing.

The communicant has the choice to receive on the tongue or in the hand, but unless there is some other reason for deviating from the norm, should bow before receiving but remain standing to receive. A priest forming and instructing young people in the United States would be within reasonable rights to ask the children to stand to receive their first Eucharist.

Redemptionis Sacramentum #91 states

[91.] In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that “sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them”.[177] Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.

Canon Law also says any baptized should be admitted to Holy Communion, but we clearly delay communion in the Latin Church until the age of reason. Part of being “rightly disposed” is understanding the sacrament and being obedient to the wishes of the Church as made know through your bishop and pastor.

Personally I distribute communion to people who present themselves for communion standing, kneeling, in wheelchairs and I even go to them in the pew when asked. The people who receive kneeling are usually (but not always) members of a religious society where this is part of their devotion.

Peace,

Deacon Patrick

 

[zab]

Actually, if said priest is openly defying what the bishop’s have taught on this issue, then we are most certainly to judge said priest in this hypothetical situation. Unity is desirable, when said parish is in unity with the Church. In this instance, no matter how unified the parish may be, by refusing to let the boy receive kneeling, that parish has broken unity with the Church.

Obviously, not to the boy.

The same would be true for our pastor who would like for our First Communicants to have the experience of receiving their First Holy Communion in the traditional way, that is, to receive on the tongue while kneeling. And a kneeler is provided for the First Communicants. The children have been taught that they have the choice to receive in the hand if they want to and that the posture is to stand. However, if one or more of these children decided that he/or she preferred to stand and receive in the hand unlike the rest of the First Communicants, the priest would be wrong to refuse Holy Communion to that child or children. So far, I have not witnessed any who did not go along with what our pastor wishes regarding receiving on the tongue while kneeling for their First Holy Communion.

 

[Kelfa28]

In our parish, first communicants have a separate Mass and they receive communion on the tongue and on the kneeler.

We don’t have a alter rail in our Parish…nor do we have any Eucharistic Ministers. It’s a long communion line and our Priest and Deacon keep things moving.

Everyone receives communion standing…unless it’s the Latin Mass and the kneelers are brought out.
But, about half of the the Parish receive on the tongue.

A lot knee down, out of reverence, before receiving on the tongue. Could your son do that?

 

[ByzCath08]

My personal opinion is that the Eucharistic service is a gift from Christ and we all should follow the customs of where we are receiving so that we do not draw away attention from the sacrament.

Therefore you should teach your son the local customs and follow them in a reverent manner. If your son wishes to perform a special devotion there are plenty to choose from and they can be done in private which is preferred by God.

What exactly is the Eucharistic service?

 

[Joie_de_Vivre]

Yes, an individual can receive on the tongue and kneeling, if they so choose. Short answer.

Now, in regards to the first communion celebration, this may be simply an issue of “logistics”.

For example, in our parish, there is no altar rail so someone would have to kneel on the floor, period. I’ve never seen it happen in my parish. Are you expecting them to bring out a special kneeler for your son? Will that be a distraction? Again, logistics. With a little bit of prep, these needs could be met.

If you are determined to have your child kneel, I would talk with your pastor directly. If kneeling is not the norm in your parish, I can see the pastor being thrown off by a seven year old suddenly kneeling. You could explain your reasons and everyone can be on the same page.

And in the future, don’t bother the assistant priest. Go right to the top.

At my parish there are multiple women who kneel on the bare floor when receiving communion so I am sure the child could do that. That said, the height of a First Communicant is usually extremely low when kneeling and that could be quite inconvenient.

 

[WT1]

What exactly is the Eucharistic service?

Should have written Eucharistic celebration. My apologies.

 

[MaryandJoseph]

I hear and read arguments about not drawing attention to oneself by kneeling to receive. That this action actually pulls attention Away from the Blessed Sacrament. If we believe that our Lord is truly present in the Eucharist, and He IS, why would we Not want to kneel in His presence?

My knees no longer allow me to kneel but I receive on the tongue, not to draw attention to myself, but as a humble reminder to myself that I am a sinner in need of my Lord and Savior and the graces He offers. I could Take the Eucharist (on the hand) or I can Receive the Eucharist (on the tongue).

This beautiful child wants to receive our Lord in a humble and reverent manner, what a powerful witness to the truth he is.

 

[dreamer29]

Maybe the church should have Altar Rails. This was easy many years ago, you knelt and received the Host on the tongue. Most modern churches today probably don’t have them. It’s the reverence of kneeling that I really miss!:sad_yes:

 

[Joan_M]

The Apostles received in the hand not kneeling directly from Christ Himself.

Please remember that the Apostles had just been ordained priests! You simply cannot use the fact that the Apostles did not receive kneeling to make people think they should not want to receive kneeling.

 

[Elizium23]

Please remember that the Apostles had just been ordained priests!

Er, bishops, actually.

 

[JimmyG88]

I always think that singularising yourself in front of others is a mistake.