Changes in Ohio Mass posture?

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Hawkmaid7

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Hey everyone, recently my world was rocked by our diocese putting forth information; parishioners are now supposed to stand from the Lamb of God all the way until the last person receives Communion.

My heart can’t handle this, guys. My God deserves my reverence, and I don’t know how to not kneel when His Body and Blood are lifted up for me. Thus, I’m seeking more information; if anybody has heard more about this, be it in your dioceses or another’s, please drop me a line. I want to understand why this is buzzing around at least my local dioceses, and what the thought is behind it - or if it’s even a real thing!

If I’m in the wrong place, just let me know (:

God bless!
Hawk
 
My parish does this although the rest of the Archdiocese(archdiocese of Chicago) does not do this. Its not in the American GIRM(the GIRM says for us to kneel), why your diocese is doing this I dont know? Im guessing they have the right to do this?

I always kneel and everyone else stands at my parish, since I want to follow the Amercian GIRM and the Archdiocese norms. Maybe I should ask the pastor why he does this, although at the early mass people kneel. I cant stand when they make parishes a lab experiment always trying to bring in new things.

Supposedly in other countries people stand so its not something that is intrinsically evil or anything. Although it may be because they have no kneelers? I prefer kneeling.
 
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The Cleveland Diocese made some pronouncement about this years ago under Bishop Lennon.
It is ignored by many who continue kneeling, or even sit down because they can’t stand up or kneel for that length of time. I’m guessing a lot of them might not even be aware that there was such a directive as it’s been a lot of years since I’ve ever heard it mentioned, and Bishop Lennon is long gone.

I myself kneel before and after Communion as I was taught to do when young. If I feel unwell at any point, I sit. Whether the church is in a diocese that has made one of these proclamations about standing, or not, I always have numerous other people kneeling with me. I have never been the only person in the place kneeling.

We just had a discussion on another thread recently about this where it was noted that even when a diocese made a directive of this type, other prayerful postures (e.g. kneeling) were still permitted.
 
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Thank you, you’re correct about Bishop Lennon’s efforts years ago. I managed to find that thread, it helped a lot. @TheLittleLady VERY good idea, I want to do that - or even write a letter for more closure! Thank you all (:
 
Here’s the recent thread somebody else started on same topic, where the guidelines were discussed.
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My bishop has recently mandated standing during the liturgy where I am not comfortable Liturgy and Sacraments
since the NO was promulgated in my old diocese I would always kneel when saying “Lord I am not worthy to enter under thy roof, but only say the word and I shall be healed” and also kneel immediately when returning from communion to pray, my new bishop says to stand, am I obliged to obey?
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In my experience when a Bishop makes these changes, he sends a letter to be read at all of the parishes. Maybe your pastor/secretary have a copy?
 
Hawkmaid7 said:
Hey everyone, recently my world was rocked by our diocese putting forth information; parishioners are now supposed to stand from the Lamb of God all the way until the last person receives Communion.

My heart can’t handle this, guys. My God deserves my reverence, and I don’t know how to not kneel when His Body and Blood are lifted up for me. Thus, I’m seeking more information; if anybody has heard more about this, be it in your dioceses or another’s, please drop me a line. I want to understand why this is buzzing around at least my local dioceses, and what the thought is behind it - or if it’s even a real thing!

If I’m in the wrong place, just let me know (:

God bless!
Hawk
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As Cardinal Arinze once said at a conference in the US, a Bishop cannot FORCE someone to stand, kneel, or sit.

Norms are one thing, but if you want to kneel… kneel.

You will NOT be a dissenter or a malcontent for kneeling.

A Bishop does not have the power to force you to stand.

God Bless
 
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Same problem; it’s mostly been local parish letters (like physical letters) so More To Be Determined (:
 
What communication were you expecting to get besides a letter in the bulletin and an announcement from the pulpit? That’s all I’ve ever seen occur when a diocese decided to send out some notice about Mass postures.

It’s really not a world-rocking event. Although I have been criticized for my attitude, I see these as an eye-rolling event. Here’s the Church dealing with major moral issues and crises on all sides and Bishop X is concerned about whether we stand or kneel after Communion.
phil19034 said:
A Bishop does not have the power to force you to stand.
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Not only that, but in the umpteen years since I just happened to be at the Masses where the Cleveland diocese speech about standing was announced from the pulpits, nobody, no usher, no priest, etc has ever said boo to anybody in any church I’ve been in, there (at least 20-25 of them) about postures before and after Communion.
 
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Very good point; I’d say most of my reaction came from being exhausted, feeling like fear of God is under attack, and personal conflict over who to obey. It’s a lot for me when I have so few reserves left, but that’s why I came here; get some back up, get some resources, branch out and get a pulse from the Body of Christ, you know? Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut, I know I need it (:
 
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…
USCCB Reception of Holy Communion at Mass
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When the bishops decided this, they also expressed a desire for a united posture throughout the Communion Procession. This means standing after you return from Communion. But if everyone else is kneeling, kneel as a sign of unity.

This is a norm, from the US bishops. It is not enforced strictly. Some bishops ignore it altogether. Occasionally a bishop tries to remind people that this is the norm. He is just doing his job. He is not introducing some weird new behavior, but reaffirming what the US conference of bishops decided.

When they were discussing this, one bishop remarked that the ordinary posture for most Catholics on Sunday morning is lying flat in bed. ie there are more important things to worry about.
 
Dovekin said:
When they were discussing this, one bishop remarked that the ordinary posture for most Catholics on Sunday morning is lying flat in bed. ie there are more important things to worry about.
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That bishop demonstrated remarkable common sense. I like the cut of his jib.
 
Dovekin said:
When the bishops decided this, they also expressed a desire for a united posture throughout the Communion Procession. This means standing after you return from Communion. But if everyone else is kneeling, kneel as a sign of unity.
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This only applies as the posture while receiving, not after returning to the pew.
 
Our diocese just implemented Kneeling at the Angus Dei. Starting Divine Mercy Sunday. This is a welcome sign and something we have been behind on. I sympathize with the OP. What is the reason given?
 
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