Changes in Ohio Mass posture?

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I don’t know anything about Akron. I like to support St. Stephen’s because it is in a neighborhood that has gone downhill, and the TLM is basically keeping the church preserved and open. The church is absolutely gorgeous inside, wood carving everywhere. When I was in my early 20s, my mother took me there to an OF Mass just to see the church as she had been there on some retreat or church tour. Unfortunately I then forgot which church it was and didn’t get around to asking my mom before she passed away or perhaps I asked her and she couldn’t remember. I finally happened to go there for TLM and I am 99 percent sure it is the same church Mom took me to.

I would also recommend if you just want to see a beautiful church, you check out St. Michael the Archangel in Tremont. No TLM there and a lot of the Masses are Spanish language but it’s another beautiful church that is managing to stay afloat rather than close.

If you are anywhere near Canton, St. Peter’s is worth seeing, and a former parishioner there (Rhoda Wise) is up for canonization too.
 
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Oh wow, what a wonderful story - I’m so glad you refound it!!

I’ve never been to St. Michael’s but I’ve been to St. Peter’s for a friend; I’ve been to Rhoda Wise’s house too!
 
Dovekin said:
Kneeling after the Agnus Dei does not refer to the posture during the Communion Procession, which is rather included in the “until the end of Mass.”
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My point there was to show that, at least in one circumstance, the diocesan bishop is able to mandate a posture. Whether or not the bishop can mandate a posture for the faithful upon returning to the pew after receiving Holy Communion…not sure how that really works.

Dan
 
acanonlawyer said:
Whether or not the bishop can mandate a posture for the faithful upon returning to the pew after receiving Holy Communion…not sure how that really works.
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Adaptations by bishops and conferences of bishops are discussed in the last chapter of GIRM, n 386ff. If you have a copy of the typical edition of the GIRM, without local adaptations, I believe it says the same at n43, that the Conference can make changes.

If I am not mistaken, and I could well be, the instance of the bishop determining the posture after the Agnus Dei is an American peculiarity. The Conference decided the individual bishops could decide. The Vatican approved it for the US.

I am not an expert in this. Others here remember the push to implement this stuff 10-15 years ago, and currently. I only really comment on this to encourage going along with your bishop. To do that people need to know what is being said.
 
I’ll probably be at Mass there within a few weeks and will let everybody know if the priest ahems loudly at me when he sees me kneeling after Communion.

Just got back from my usual afternoon Mass at the college where every college kid at the OF (definitely not a TLM, everybody’s in jeans etc, movable chairs in a big room with no kneelers) was kneeling on the floor.
 
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Dear Hawk, I agree with you. Be advised the letter from Bishop Nelson includes footbotes at the bottom which state the purpose is not to regulate the posture so rididly as to prevent individuals whi wish to kneel from doing so.
I know other folks have said otherwise. Print off the letter. If someone confronts you show them the footnotes. In the paragraph where Bishop Nelson directs us to stand after communion He includes a reference citation which has the full text included at the end notes of the letter. It states “standing for the singing of the communion him is a normative posture of the Catholic Church in United States however this posture directive is not to be enforced so rigidly that those who wish to Sit or kneel would not feel free to do so.
I know I will continue to kneel. I have been so distressed about this for weeks and then I carefully re- read the Bishop’s letter. Read Benedict’s recent publication about the scandal in the church. When I read it I felt much better about continuing to Kneel. I’m talking about kneeling after the Agnes day and immediately when I return to my seat following communion.
 
I’m new to this type of communication, so please bear with me. I’ve been struggling with this directive from Bishop Perez when I first read it. I thought the issue was resolved back in 2003 when then Prefect CDF Cardinal Arizine addressed it (directive not to be applied so rigidly…). But here we go again…!
I get to church early to pray silently before Mass only to be overwhelmed with talkers. Frequently, after Holy Communion the priest goes to the altar and gives his final blessing. Just when you think you might have a few minutes to pray to offer your Thanksgiving, the faithful continue the conversation they started earlier! Where is the silence we are suppose to be given after Holy Communion? Isn’t Jesus physically present with you for at least 10 minutes after receiving? If we are now being told to stand throughout Holy Communion and SING, when are we given the opportunity to pray silently?
Cardinal Arinzie gave a talk at Christendom College in the summer of 2008 on Pope Benedict’s book, The Spirit of the Liturgy, and emphasizes the importance of kneeling and praying silently before and after the reception of Holy Communion. I highly recommend listening to this podcast. Search for Pope Benedict XVI (Christendom College). God bless.
My husband and I are praying about the TLM option.
 
If your health precludes you from standing or kneeling or whatever, I would think you have special dispensation to not stand, kneel, or whatever.
 
I go to Mass quite often in Bishop Perez’ diocese. In fact last time I was there I went to one said by Bishop Perez himself.

I am going to continue kneeling after Communion like I always do (unless it’s some crowd situation or standing room only) and like I have done since Bishop Lennon released the same letter a few years ago.

I don’t expect anything to happen and there are going to be other people at the Mass who kneel just like they have been doing for the past several years.

However if you’re in Cleveland and want to hit up a TLM, St. Stephen’s is great. It’s worth going just to see the inside of that beautiful church.
 
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Bishop Nelson’s letter includes the footnote that the purpose is not to rigidly enforce posture so that those who sit, stand, kneel no longer feel free to do so. I imagine that footnote is included so folks like myself who feel compelled to kneel will not feel as though they are no longer free to do so.
Dont leave the church or the ordinary Mass. It is our church. Dont be run out of it. “When the revile you for my sake, know they reviled me too.”-Jesus. perhaps this little persecution …being the only ones kneeling can be united to the rejection Jesus suffered.
Read Benedict’s publication it consoled
my heart. Its available at catholic news agency website under news and Full text benedict letter
 
And the church kills herself slowly, nothing new to see here!
 
I wouldn’t go that far; it’s more like mortification that’s rather misplaced…
 
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