Communion

[SacredHeartFan]

I am a very tradditional Catholic who recieves kneeling on the tounge. Today while visiting a parish near my home for the feast of the Immaculate Conception I came across the rudest priest ever! This priest has not been very popular in my area reducing the congregations size. I have constantly tried to defend him as it is against my nature to speak bad of priests, but he pushed the limit today! After failing to mention anything about the Immaculate Conception in the homily and using the worng prayers to aviod mentioning the Blessed Mother, when I went up to recieve communion, he rudly said “This is the Body of Christ, STAND UP!!!” He did not say please or anything but YELLED!!! It deffinatly turned a few heads. I was soooo embaressed. I’m not sure exactly what to do about this priest.

P.S. Completely unrelated, how do you send international mail, lets say to The Vatican? Does it cost extra?

 

[Julian0404]

You need to send a letter to the Bishop of the Diocese addressing only the facts, not embellishing and speaking to only what you know to be the truth.

 

[ProVobis]

I am a very tradditional Catholic who recieves kneeling on the tounge. Today while visiting a parish near my home for the feast of the Immaculate Conception I came across the rudest priest ever! This priest has not been very popular in my area reducing the congregations size. I have constantly tried to defend him as it is against my nature to speak bad of priests, but he pushed the limit today! After failing to mention anything about the Immaculate Conception in the homily and using the worng prayers to aviod mentioning the Blessed Mother, when I went up to recieve communion, he rudly said “This is the Body of Christ, STAND UP!!!” He did not say please or anything but YELLED!!! It deffinatly turned a few heads. I was soooo embaressed. I’m not sure exactly what to do about this priest.

P.S. Completely unrelated, how do you send international mail, lets say to The Vatican? Does it cost extra?

I don’t know who your priest is and I don’t know how tall you and he are and I’m not excusing him, but perhaps his back is hurting to the point he couldn’t stoop down to give you communion while you’re kneeling? Some of us have those days you know.

 

[Anniefbs]

Obviously, the previous advice is the best.

We had the displeasure of welcoming a young priest to our parish, who was, like yours, shall we say, ‘confused and irritable’.

This priest interrupted the Mass, yelled loudly to the young folk at the back of the church to come forward and take a seat at the front of the church. Instead of doing as he ‘suggested’, they fled…never to return.These kids managed to get to the Church independently…there was no public transport; they were in the 15-19 age bracket; shy; from non-Mass attending families.
At the end of Mass, I told this young priest that he had effectively decreased the church-going adolescents of the parish; to which he responded…’“too bad”!!!

 

[bpbasilphx]

Any particular reason why you didn’t follow the accepted use at that parish, but sought to singularize yourself?

 

[Monica37]

Any particular reason why you didn’t follow the accepted use at that parish, but sought to singularize yourself?

I think the poster said they were visiting this parish. I just wanted to add that sometimes it is not trying to make a show of one self or to act overly pious. I am a pretty by the book person (prior military) and I run into this a lot. I have a deep belief that I need to be on my knees whenever I am disposed to recieve, it is not for you, the priest or anyone else that I believe this. It is a very strong belief on my part. It may not be for anyone else, but to me I feel wrong to not be on my knees. I don’t have a problem with anyone else standing, I just can’t feel comfortable doing it. On the other hand, because I am by the book, I would do what the priest asks of me. So when I am at a church that stands, I don’t recieve. It’s so sad and I feel terrible because I want to but I just can’t and I don’t want to be accused of making a show. I think the best solution would be an altar rail. Those who wish to stand can do so, but those who wish to kneel may also do so without being “given the hairy eyeball”. Since both postures are allowed, they should be allowed. Just my thoughts.

 

[SacredHeartFan]

Any particular reason why you didn’t follow the accepted use at that parish, but sought to singularize yourself?

At my parish, which is only about ten minutes down the highway, it is a very common practice. And we are by no means a tradditional parish. We have a new church with modern architechture (which I really don’t like), no adoration, no latin masses, etc. I recieve kneeling in my parish all the time. Then I go ten minutes down the road for the feast of the immaculate conception because my parish had a vigil the night before that I could not attend and I was the only person kneeling. Didn’t realize it because I sit in the first pew always if its avaliable.

 

[amsjj]

Very sad to hear these experiences. Tears came to my eyes just reading about them. And Monica37, you said what I feel.

 

[mick321]

I am a very tradditional Catholic who recieves kneeling on the tounge. Today while visiting a parish near my home for the feast of the Immaculate Conception I came across the rudest priest ever! This priest has not been very popular in my area reducing the congregations size. I have constantly tried to defend him as it is against my nature to speak bad of priests, but he pushed the limit today! After failing to mention anything about the Immaculate Conception in the homily and using the worng prayers to aviod mentioning the Blessed Mother, when I went up to recieve communion, he rudly said “This is the Body of Christ, STAND UP!!!” He did not say please or anything but YELLED!!! It deffinatly turned a few heads. I was soooo embaressed. I’m not sure exactly what to do about this priest.

P.S. Completely unrelated, how do you send international mail, lets say to The Vatican? Does it cost extra?

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
00120 Via del Pellegrino
Citta del Vaticano

You write the letter.

I’ll cover the postage.

 

[UnfinishedM]

I am a very tradditional Catholic who recieves kneeling on the tounge. Today while visiting a parish near my home for the feast of the Immaculate Conception I came across the rudest priest ever! This priest has not been very popular in my area reducing the congregations size. I have constantly tried to defend him as it is against my nature to speak bad of priests, but he pushed the limit today! After failing to mention anything about the Immaculate Conception in the homily and using the worng prayers to aviod mentioning the Blessed Mother, when I went up to recieve communion, he rudly said “This is the Body of Christ, STAND UP!!!” He did not say please or anything but YELLED!!! It deffinatly turned a few heads. I was soooo embaressed. I’m not sure exactly what to do about this priest.

P.S. Completely unrelated, how do you send international mail, lets say to The Vatican? Does it cost extra?

Well, it is “the norm” to receive standing in the United States. I quote from the USCCB:

The Conference of Bishops of the United States has determined that in this country Communion will be received standing and that a bow will be the act of reverence made by those receiving.

usccb.org/liturgy/girm/bul5.shtml

With that said, It is my opinion that, if the priest is so opposed to kneeling, he should talk to the person privately after Mass, not make a spectacle when the person is about to receive Our Lord.

My priest doesn’t allow me to kneel, and he has his reasons I suppose. Mostly this USCCB document.

I don’t know what advice I can give, but I like to think that when priests say things like that they don’t mean any harm by it. Maybe some people came in one day and tried to make a spectacle out of kneeling for communion and it really upset him. So, when you did it, he had flash backs to them disrupting Mass to make a point. I’m not trying to make excuses for him, but we don’t know why he did what he did.

 

[brotherhrolf]

Any particular reason why you didn’t follow the accepted use at that parish, but sought to singularize yourself?

Bishop Basil: I don’t personally know the original poster in question although we have corresponded off-and-on over the last two years. I do, however, live in the same diocese and have lived in his geographic area. What happened does not surprise me in the least. We have many good priests who would not cause a scene but there are those priests here for whom any mention of traditional leanings sends them into apoplexy.

One of the major decisions I had to make in 1983 was to petition my local parish (a neighboring parish to Sacredheartfan’s) to permit me to join the Cathedral parish. Instead of looking at my well considered reasons, the priest in question jumped down my throat and, in essence, dismissed me from his office. He followed it up with a really nasty letter to me releasing me from the parish stating that “if I were to be on death’s doorstep, he would not respond.”

I can name on two hands traditional leaning parishes in our diocese. I can easily see
how a person from one of these parishes could make a mistake at a more contemporary parish. One of the reasons I have driven 25 miles one way since 1983 is to avoid situations like SHF described. For me, it is an absolute joy to go to the one church in our diocese (of which I am aware) where the communion rails are stil in use.

Yes, I am aware of the practice in the Eastern Churches. I am not Eastern. My ancestors are strictly Western Christians. I have not forgotten OUR traditions. I have prayed for over 40 years and “voted with my feet” to maintain at least a semblance of
what I grew up with.

 

[mick321]

Well, it is “the norm” to receive standing in the United States. I quote from the USCCB:

usccb.org/liturgy/girm/bul5.shtml

With that said, It is my opinion that, if the priest is so opposed to kneeling, he should talk to the person privately after Mass, not make a spectacle when the person is about to receive Our Lord.

My priest doesn’t allow me to kneel, and he has his reasons I suppose. Mostly this USCCB document.

I don’t know what advice I can give, but I like to think that when priests say things like that they don’t mean any harm by it. Maybe some people came in one day and tried to make a spectacle out of kneeling for communion and it really upset him. So, when you did it, he had flash backs to them disrupting Mass to make a point. I’m not trying to make excuses for him, but we don’t know why he did what he did.

The norm?
The norm is that priests conduct themselves as civilized adults at all times.

A spectacle?
A spectacle is created when a priest raises his voice in anger, particularly during Holy Mass.

Flashbacks?
If the good Father’s perception of reality is so clouded by sensory hallucinations that it affects his outward behavior, he should be promptly directed to an appropriate in-patient program where his condition can be properly evaluated and treated by qualified professionals.

Not trying to make excuses?
Right.

 

[UnfinishedM]

The norm?
The norm is that priests conduct themselves as civilized adults at all times.

It is no worse than the priest at the very traditional parish an hour away ordering someone to kneel and receive on the tongue at the altar rail during his Novus Ordo. Which I have also seen. I have also seen him refuse someone communion in the hand. While I agree with both these practices, it caused a disturbance in Mass. Is this priest also “not civilized?” Just because he desires and orders people to kneel when it is not required or even the normal posture as cited by our Bishops? Or is his raising his voice justified because he holds the same position as most people in this forum? I’m just asking…

A spectacle?
A spectacle is created when a priest raises his voice in anger, particularly during Holy Mass.

As I said, I think the ideal situation would have been to say nothing and discuss the matter after Mass.

Flashbacks?
If the good Father’s perception of reality is so clouded by sensory hallucinations that it affects his outward behavior, he should be promptly directed to an appropriate in-patient program where his condition can be properly evaluated and treated by qualified professionals.

Not trying to make excuses?
Right.

Not Vietnam style flashbacks where he is running and ducking from Charlie in the middle of Mass. But past experience shapes our future actions. Perhaps it was a large “problem” for him in this parish or a previous one, so that is why he responded with hostility where there should not have been.

 

[ProVobis]

It is no worse than the priest at the very traditional parish an hour away ordering someone to kneel and receive on the tongue at the altar rail during his Novus Ordo.

Just goes to show the divisiveness that communion in the hand has caused. And what did it benefit the Catholic Church?

I’m not a traditionalist per se, so I’ll be the first to state that the Novus Ordo was needed, but communion in the hand definitely was not.

 

[mick321]

It is no worse than the priest at the very traditional parish an hour away ordering someone to kneel and receive on the tongue at the altar rail during his Novus Ordo. Which I have also seen. I have also seen him refuse someone communion in the hand. While I agree with both these practices, it caused a disturbance in Mass. Is this priest also “not civilized?” Just because he desires and orders people to kneel when it is not required or even the normal posture as cited by our Bishops? Or is his raising his voice justified because he holds the same position as most people in this forum? I’m just asking…

As I said, I think the ideal situation would have been to say nothing and discuss the matter after Mass.

Not Vietnam style flashbacks where he is running and ducking from Charlie in the middle of Mass. But past experience shapes our future actions. Perhaps it was a large “problem” for him in this parish or a previous one, so that is why he responded with hostility where there should not have been.

The barking of orders should be reserved for the parade deck at MCRD-SD.

If a priest is going to offer public mass, he has a duty to comport and conduct himself in a manner befitting a priest offering public mass. His bishop and the faithful depend on him to put his personal issues aside before vesting for the Holy Sacrifice. Once he steps out to begin the Mass, he should maintain a professional demeanor throughout.

The antics described in this thread have no place within the mass. They are disruptive, irreverent and below the dignity expected of anyone who calls himself a Catholic Priest.

Likewise, the faithful should refrain from any overt demonstration of approval or dissent until they have properly removed themselves from the building.

I assist at Extraordinary Form masses throughout my area. Every week, there are visitors who are new to the EF. Before mass begins, a brief announcement is given to prepare the faithful for what is expected. It takes about ten seconds and goes something like this:

“…Welcome. This celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite according to the rubrics of the Missal of 1962. Holy Communion is received on the tongue, from a kneeling position, for those who are physically able to do so…”

Those who find the Classic Roman Liturgy offensive to their sensibilities may disabuse themselves of it without further delay. Or not.

The Mass is Life. Everything else is just waiting.

 

[Bluegoat]

If this happened to me, I would tell the priest that I thought he was inappropriate, and why. Not at the moment, and not in an overbearing way. But simply that a quiet word later would have been more appropriate if he felt the need and that I didn’t appreciate being yelled at like a child.

If possible, I think it is always best to solve problems at the lowest level. If he doesn’t respond well or at least give some kind of acknowledgment, then going to the Bishop might be a next step.

 

[truevaticanii]

I am a very tradditional Catholic who recieves kneeling on the tounge. Today while visiting a parish near my home for the feast of the Immaculate Conception I came across the rudest priest ever! This priest has not been very popular in my area reducing the congregations size. I have constantly tried to defend him as it is against my nature to speak bad of priests, but he pushed the limit today! After failing to mention anything about the Immaculate Conception in the homily and using the worng prayers to aviod mentioning the Blessed Mother, when I went up to recieve communion, he rudly said “This is the Body of Christ, STAND UP!!!” He did not say please or anything but YELLED!!! It deffinatly turned a few heads. I was soooo embaressed. I’m not sure exactly what to do about this priest.

P.S. Completely unrelated, how do you send international mail, lets say to The Vatican? Does it cost extra?

You might first, charitably and peacefully, try confronting the priest… you might email him or send him a letter… you might want to mention that it is perfectly licit to receive holy Communion on the tongue while kneeling…

"“Even where the Congregation has approved of legislation denoting standing as the posture for Holy Communion, in accordance with the adaptations permitted to the Conferences of Bishops by the Institution Generalis Missalis Romani n. 160, paragraph 2, it has done so with the stipulation that communicants who choose to kneel are not to be denied Holy Communion on these grounds.”

-Jorge A. Cardinal Medina Estévez, Prefect of the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments and Divine Worship (Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum)"

““The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.” -GIRM 160, http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/GIRM.pdf”

youtube.com/watch?v=EcZhjmYn1K8

youtube.com/watch?v=Cc0g3UMRtMM&feature=related

Then, if you do not see this being effective, you should write to your bishop about this situation (as previously stated, state the facts truthfully and charitably).

If nothing is done after–I don’t know–maybe give the bishop 3-6 months or so??? It may take him more or less time to respond to the situation… if you receive no response, you might consider writing the bishop again…

If, still, nothing happens, then you should write to the Apostolic Nuncio…

If still nothing happens, you might write the Apostolic Nuncio again…

Then, I would go to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments with the Holy See.
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/index.htm