Do you have to stand in order to receive communion?

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qmvsimp

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At mass on Sunday, our priest did not give communion to two people who were kneeling to receive the Eucharist. He asked them to stand and they refused.

I thought we could kneel if we wanted to. I also think that the Eastern Rite allows (mandates?) kneeling to receive communion.

Can anyone shed some light for me on this? Was the priest correct?
 
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qmvsimp:
At mass on Sunday, our priest did not give communion to two people who were kneeling to receive the Eucharist. He asked them to stand and they refused.

I thought we could kneel if we wanted to. I also think that the Eastern Rite allows (mandates?) kneeling to receive communion.

Can anyone shed some light for me on this? Was the priest correct?
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According to the USCCB, the norm for receiving communion in the US is standing. The norm is also to NOT refuse someone communion for kneeling, but to instruct them later on the proper posture. According to the article I read, the communion procession is not a place for displaying private piety.

I don’t know what the proper approach would be if you have instructed someone as you are supposed to and they continue to approach kneeling. That would be a definite dilemna if I was acting as an EMHC, but I would error on the side of charity and leave it to the priest to address.
 
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qmvsimp:
I thought we could kneel if we wanted to. I also think that the Eastern Rite allows (mandates?) kneeling to receive communion.
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Eastern Rite generally forbids kneeling on Sundays and on every day between Easter and Pentecost. The norm is to receive standing.
 
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qmvsimp:
At mass on Sunday, our priest did not give communion to two people who were kneeling to receive the Eucharist. He asked them to stand and they refused.

I thought we could kneel if we wanted to. I also think that the Eastern Rite allows (mandates?) kneeling to receive communion.

Can anyone shed some light for me on this? Was the priest correct?
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The documents for the American Church ask that no one kneel because it may cause someone to trip since we no longer have an altar rail in most churches. However it was clearly stated by Rome I believe, that no one is to be refused Holy Communion because they kneel to receive.
 
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kaygee:
Eastern Rite generally forbids kneeling on Sundays and on every day between Easter and Pentecost. The norm is to receive standing.
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This depends on which Rite it is and in which country the church is located in.

The Byzantine Ruthenian and Ukrainian Rites in North American generally have pews and kneelers in the older churches. They do kneel at Divine Liturgy except from Easter until Pentecost…HOWEVER, we DO NOT kneel to receive the Most Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

hope this helps…
 
All of you have been eminantly helpful. I am going to pass this on to my priest.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
The documents for the American Church ask that no one kneel because it may cause someone to trip since we no longer have an altar rail in most churches.
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Then they should slow down! It’s not a race!
 
Or better yet the kneeling communicants should find a better way to express their personal piety rather than disrupting the communion line.
 
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qmvsimp:
At mass on Sunday, our priest did not give communion to two people who were kneeling to receive the Eucharist. He asked them to stand and they refused.

I thought we could kneel if we wanted to. I also think that the Eastern Rite allows (mandates?) kneeling to receive communion.

Can anyone shed some light for me on this? Was the priest correct?
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Are these the same priests who “aren’t comfortable” denying pro-abortion politicians communion? That’s liberal hypocricy at it’s worst!
 
Do you know for a fact that these same priests are admitting pro-abortion politicians to communion?! Why must everything be about the liberal, the liberals, the liberals? I see a lot less liberal whining and a lot more conservative pouting lately. Right. Back to the subject at hand.
 
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Affirmed:
Do you know for a fact that these same priests are admitting pro-abortion politicians to communion?! Why must everything be about the liberal, the liberals, the liberals? I see a lot less liberal whining and a lot more conservative pouting lately. Right. Back to the subject at hand.
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I’ve seen it. It’s about the liberals because they want to destroy the things that make the Catholic Faith special.
 
Yup, it’s all the evil liberals. It’s a conspiracy. One priest denies communion to two people who refuse to ignore the norm in the U.S. and it becomes a liberal/conservative issue. Good grief.
 
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Affirmed:
Yup, it’s all the evil liberals. It’s a conspiracy. One priest denies communion to two people who refuse to ignore the norm in the U.S. and it becomes a liberal/conservative issue. Good grief.
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This one incident is evidence of a very big problem. It’s ok to reach out and embrace other religions, openly practicing homosexuals, pro-abort politicians, and others, but someone wants to follow a practice of the Church that was in place for centuries then changed pretty much overnight in what appears to many as just a result of rebellion…oh no…they can’t kneel anymore- that’s not allowed.:confused:

A priest CANNOT deny communion to those who kneel. They are not sinning by kneeling—unless they’re being inconsiderate of those behind them who are going too fast (please don’t make anyone fall), and while they should slow down, doing something, knowing people might not expect and trip over you (how could one not know this- it’s common sense) is not the way to deal with the problem- slow down the line behind you before you get to the front of the church, and make it obvious in your posture that you are about to kneel.
 
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m134e5:
This one incident is evidence of a very big problem. , but someone wants to follow a practice of the Church that was in place for centuries then changed pretty much overnight in what appears to many as just a result of rebellion…oh no…they can’t kneel anymore- that’s not allowed.:confused:
.
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Who ever said It’s ok to reach out and embrace other religions, openly practicing homosexuals, pro-abort politicians, and others???
A priest CANNOT deny communion to those who kneel. They are not sinning by kneeling—unless they’re being inconsiderate of those behind them who are going too fast
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Agreed, but once a person has been instructed and still refuses to follow the norm, what next?
(how could one not know this- it’s common sense)
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Many elderly, handicapped and young children would not see or realize this. The bishops want a unified posture and a Communion Procession. All who kneel are able to stand, but many who stand are not able to kneel. People are living longer and getting out more. Years ago there were very few in Church who couldn’t kneel. Today a large percent of the congregation is elderly or has bad knees (how many knee surgeries do you hear about these days? and how many from 15 years ago?)
 
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m134e5:
This one incident is evidence of a very big problem. It’s ok to reach out and embrace other religions, openly practicing homosexuals, pro-abort politicians, and others
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I wonder. Would Jesus have reached out to these people, embraced them and tried to show them the error of their ways?

Mike
 
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MikeWM:
I wonder. Would Jesus have reached out to these people, embraced them and tried to show them the error of their ways?
Mike
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I am sorry—I didn’t mean to infer that we should not do this—I was misunderstanding this reaching out to mean saying that their actions are OK.
 
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Turtledove:
Many elderly, handicapped and young children would not see or realize this. The bishops want a unified posture and a Communion Procession. All who kneel are able to stand, but many who stand are not able to kneel. People are living longer and getting out more. Years ago there were very few in Church who couldn’t kneel. Today a large percent of the congregation is elderly or has bad knees (how many knee surgeries do you hear about these days? and how many from 15 years ago?)
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Is it a fact that there is a higher percentage of “elderly” Catholics now than there was “years ago”? It seems to me that this number would be somewhat constant. Have there been any surveys which prove such a statement? Furthermore, an increase in the number of knee surgeries would suggest that overall knee health would improve as a result (assuming the surgeries are successful).

If a unified posture during Holy Communion is so important, then why allow us to kneel, sit, or stand after receiving, while others are still receiving in the unified posture? That seems to contradict the case for “unity”, does it not?

I am not trying to be sarcastic nor combative. But I think there are real flaws with the reasoning that is used by our U.S. Bishops to enact some of these norms. Nevertheless, I respect and adhere to those norms because that is what they are.
 
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m134e5:
A priest CANNOT deny communion to those who kneel. They are not sinning by kneeling—unless they’re being inconsiderate of those behind them who are going too fast (please don’t make anyone fall), and while they should slow down, doing something, knowing people might not expect and trip over you (how could one not know this- it’s common sense) is not the way to deal with the problem- slow down the line behind you before you get to the front of the church, and make it obvious in your posture that you are about to kneel.
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Actually, while “tripping” might also be an issue, the primary reason for not allowing kneeling according to the USCCB is that the norm in the US is standing and that the communion procession is not an appopriate place for personal shows of piety.

That in effect means that yes, those who decide to continue kneeling after being instructed are in fact sinning in their disobedience to both their priest and their bishops. And with all of your liberal bashing, I find it ironic that this disobedience is usually confined to the very “Orthodox” who scream bloody murder about anybody else’s “liturgical abuses.”

While I agree that one cannot deny communion to someone who kneels, as Turtledove rightly asks, how do handle someone who continually and obstinately continues in their disobedience after being instructed? I’m not sure if that question has been answered or what the answer should be. As I said earlier, as an EMHC I tend to error on the side of charity. I do find it distracting though, no matter how hard I try not to, and no matter how hard I try to not be judgmental it is difficult when the people most defending “orthodoxy” openly flaunt things that they don’t like while condemning others for the same.

Peace,
 
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ncjohn:
Actually, while “tripping” might also be an issue, the primary reason for not allowing kneeling according to the USCCB is that the norm in the US is standing and that the communion procession is not an appopriate place for personal shows of piety.
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Please provide a link/reference to a statement/publication by the USCCB that presents this reasoning. I have looked for it many times but alas I have never found it.

As an EMHC, is it also distracting to have communicants who receive on the tongue interspersed among those who receive in the hand? According to the norms, either manner of reception is equally reverent and acceptable. How then, can the USCCB justify allowing only one posture for reception? By the reasoning that was presented above, the USCCB admits that one posture is more pious than another. Once again I point out that there are serious flaws and contradictions in the USCCB “logic”.
 
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