Conference to Promote Communion Kneeling and on the Tongue

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Yes, they’re doing something about it. Why stand? There’s literally no reason unless you physically cannot. Muslims virtually kiss the ground during the call to prayer. Why don’t we Christians follow suite and at least kneel before God made present in the Eucharist?
 
You do know that in the Eastern Rites, which are in Communion with Rome, kneeling is not done, correct?
Last I knew, they were Catholic Christians, so …🤷‍♀️
 
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I’ve heard this more than a dozen times. That’s because it’s their tradition. We’re not Greek. We’re Latin, and since we’re Latin, we should restore our Latin tradition of kneeling before the Eucharist. Why even genuflect when you enter a Church or kneel when you approach the altar? Last time I checked, I didn’t say Eastern Catholics and Orthodox were not Christian. If we should follow the Eastern Catholics then, why not do Communion from a spoon rather than on the hand? That eliminates that situation. Yeah, this is starting to sound good…
 
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I don’t genuflect when I enter a Church or kneel before the altar.

I would genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle if I were able. Since I cannot, I make a deep, at the waist, bow and make the Sign of the Cross.

I also bow deeply to the altar.

As per the rubrics set forth by the USCCB and my Bishop and Pastor.
 
That’s a good thing! No one is criticizing you for not being able to physically kneel. Don’t take what I said the wrong way. If the Church allowed standing, that’s fine. It just doesn’t seem appropriate as a convert. God knows your heart! God bless you ❤️
 
TheBomb.Com said:
Why don’t we Christians follow suite and at least kneel before God made present in the Eucharist?
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In my experience when people enter an Adoration chapel and are able they at least genuflect but more often drop to their knees and prostrate. I wonder why that type of reverence is not carried over to receiving our Lord in the Eucharist in some parishes.
 
I don’t know. I have an issue with this traditionalist approach to things. Communion has to be distributed x way, women should be required to wear veils, should go back to latin, should only play x type of music.

Does this bring more people to or away from church? Feel like most people see religion as oppressive already and it’s something I struggle with personally. I feel like churches should do what they can to be open and welcoming while still holding the truth.

I’ve received communion on the tongue a few times but after the host falling once, I’ve largely stuck to receiving in hand out of fear of Jesus falling. Am I a bad person for receiving on the hand? Does that make me a worse Catholic? That’s how I feel when everyone is saying it should be done this one way.

I just hate this strict (my way or no way) mindset. I wore shorts once and this elderly guy at local parish attacked me for it. I still remember that and still kind of hold it against him. It’s not like God doesn’t know how I look like naked. Hate having to act or appear a certain way to be considered worthy.
 
The evidence would suggest that the non-traditional ways which have taken hold and are predominant have not kept people in the church or brought more people to the church. So to answer you first question, based on history, my guess would be yes. And certainly these habits will not make things worse.
 
Correlation is not causation. This logical fallacy is used ad nausueam on this forum.:roll_eyes:
 
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The Church’s allowance of OF or EF, kneeling or standing, and on-tongue or on-hand is to create options, not division.

I agree with everything you say in your post - just clarifying an important point that gets all-too-often overlooked.
 
CilladeRoma said:
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gracepoole:
Second, your online demeanor demonstrates that you aren’t shy about making your attitudes known. It would be naive for anyone to ask whether your face-to-face demeanor might have made the situations you describe worse. Asking the question doesn’t mean it happened – it’s a question. One that hopefully you’ve asked yourself, too.
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My “demeanor” is just fine. How you can judge that from the written word, I don’t know.

And it is as simple at looking at this thread to see the dichotomy of attitudes towards kneeling and standing.

With that, thank you, have a nice day.
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Since I read and have a copy of your original comments in response to me, I’ll simply note that they made my point more than adequately.
 
CilladeRoma said:
I don’t genuflect when I enter a Church or kneel before the altar.

I would genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle if I were able. Since I cannot, I make a deep, at the waist, bow and make the Sign of the Cross.

I also bow deeply to the altar.

As per the rubrics set forth by the USCCB and my Bishop and Pastor.
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But you’ve basically touched on a key issue. You make some kind of physical gesture as a sign of respect and devotion. You bow because you physically can’t kneel.

There are others who would kneel if they could. You also mentioned that you would genuflect if you could, which is a bending of the knee.

So obviously there is an understanding of how kneeling is viewed with regards to its intent and meaning.

I don’t look down on people who don’t kneel, whether by physical impairments or mere choice. However, I understand it’s significance and I do think it should be brought back as the proper way to receiving communion. For those who are able of course.
 
I will make one more comment then I am done with this thread. If anyone wants to discuss with me any further, do so via private message.

I have no problem with how someone else wants to receive Holy Communion.

I do have a problem when one group starts saying the other group is less reverent, doesn’t understand what the Real Presence is, blah, blah, blah.

I also have a real problem with people who try to imply that my “tone” or “attitude” in the written word is somehow arrogant. Last I knew, the written word is just that. Take my words at face value. If I want to add emotion, I will use an emoji.

For anyone who does not see a dichotomy in how those who cannot/chose not to kneel for the Eucharist are treat on this forum compared to those who do/want to kneel, all you have to do is look at the thread.
 
jtwp5 said:
Does this bring more people to or away from church?
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It seems that what is happening now has not brought people into the Church but has just had the opposite effect and many have left. Also, a recent poll showed that many Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence, so the laxity in reverence toward the Eucharist has had untoward effects, which is why many and some in the hierarchy of the Church are looking at this issue and correct the situation the best they can.
jtwp5 said:
I wore shorts once and this elderly guy at local parish attacked me for it. I still remember that and still kind of hold it against him.
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I would say the elderly man was out of line. Hopefully he was discreet with his comments.
jtwp5 said:
It’s not like God doesn’t know how I look like naked. Hate having to act or appear a certain way to be considered worthy.
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Yes, God does know how we look naked and then some. Other people around you do not need to know how you look naked. We want to be sure not to cause anyone around us to fall into temptation.

That is also something our priest asked us recently, when dressing, to please remember who you are dressing for when you come into a Catholic church. That would be the Real Presence.
 
Unfortunately many people share your views. However, when you look at the meaning behind these actions, you’ll discover that they are not arbitrary and they do in fact stem from a reverence and an understanding of scripture and how we apply it through the liturgy.

For example the simplest way to summarize the veiling is to understand that the Church veils what is sacred and holy. Naturally there’s a deeper, more theological reason as well, but sadly it’s a practice that has largely fallen out of disuse.

However, if we could once again bring back the understanding and teaching behind such traditional practices, I believe it could have a very positive impact.
 
Reverse your post. Rather, I think we should work on the 69% of Catholics who do not believe in the True Presence. I think that is a more pressing issue actually. Yet, we argue form over matter.

I, for one, do not care if I must receive Christ standing, sitting, kneeling, upside down or jogging past the altar. There is nothing on this earth more sublime than receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ - however we receive it.

Others cannot be forced to be "reverent " - that remains in the individual heart. That is a matter of love, humility, obedience and proper catechesis.

Incessant arguing produces nothing more that the division which the evil one greatly desires.
 
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