Do you kneel to receive communion at the OF mass?

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misstherese

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I confess I’m way too nervous to kneel to receive communion at the OF mass. For those who do, is there anything I should know before I try? Everyone has known me since birth at the church I go to. I was a bit too casual about the Faith for most of my life and I don’t want to seem odd or confuse anyone.

Do you go last in line? Or has anyone tripped over you? lol that would be my worst nightmare.
 
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misstherese said:
I confess I’m way too nervous to kneel to receive communion at the OF mass. For those who do, is there anything I should know before I try? Everyone has known me since birth at the church I go to. I was a bit too casual about the Faith for most of my life and I don’t want to seem odd or confuse anyone.

Do you go last in line? Or has anyone tripped over you? lol that would be my worst nightmare.
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If you are concerned, try it at daily mass first.

The key is how quick you can kneel and get back up. If you are very slow, you might want to get to the end of the line.

Personally - I have knelt for communion before, but I have bad knees, so it’s really hard for me to do so right now (esp without a kneeler).
 
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I have begun kneeling at the NO mass. I would say that it’s a great thing to do and even though it may seem awkward when you start doing it, especially if you’re the only one, but don’t let that stop you. I’ve seen others kneeling for communion as well and I’ve never seen it cause any issues with those waiting in line or being disruptive to the overall flow of traffic.

Also you shouldn’t be concerned with how much time it takes to kneel. The people behind you probably aren’t too concerned with whether or not you just caused the line to slow by an extra couple of seconds. 😉
 
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I kneel in parishes that have a Communion Rail. Otherwise, I receive on the tongue after bowing my head.
 
I always seek to defer to the desires of the priest and the congregation even though there would be no formal objection. The mass is no place to make a statement or to express one’s preferences. Our aim is to build up the parish even if we are guests. Where there is a form established I am bound to honor it. Of course if there is medical or some other condition, then that’s the exception of course.
 
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Do whatever you must. God will think no more or no less of you regardless of physical approaches…it is the disposition of your heart he will examine.
 
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Is there a Communion Rail?

Just do what everyone else seems to be doing.
 
I kneel to receive when I go to the OF Mass and it hasn’t caused any problems. Just try and not get too nervous about it since it seems like a lot bigger of a deal in your head than it actually is. Your biggest problem will probably just be the discomfort of kneeling on the floor, especially if your church has tile like mine does. 😄
 
There’s no need to worry. Your example of humility might inspire other parishioners to follow suit. Everyone at my parish kneels, but that’s because we thankfully kept the communion rail.
 
misstherese said:
I confess I’m way too nervous to kneel to receive communion at the OF mass.
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I can certainly understand that, you will be bringing attention to yourself, and people will come to conclusions about it, which may or may not be true.
 
Perhaps the thing to do is sit in the front pew and let the priest know you wish to receive kneeling so you may do so there. I’m afraid I also don’t kneel to receive at the parish I grew up in, even if perhaps I should as a number of ranking Churchmen have suggested.
 
You’re probably right! Of course my heart will probably start pounding when it comes time hahah. My church has carpet so I think I’m on the safe side on that one!
 
I generally don’t. Maybe I’m just scared because I know someone who was refused communion for doing it.
 
That’s also a good idea. The priest is new and I haven’t actually spoken to him before but my mom knows him. I have to get some things blessed so I think I’ll probably bring it up then so he knows. I’ve also thought about offering to buy a little kneeler to have placed out there but if I’m the only one kneeling it probably won’t be necessary I guess.
 
I don’t know where you live, but here a weekday Mass has at least 30 people in attendance. That’s a far cry from the 800-1000 we get for Sunday Masses but the chapel is hardly deserted 🙂

I used to kneel to receive Communion in my territorial parish (OF) but I had a knee operation two years ago and can’t yet resume kneeling on the bare floor. No kneeler, no cushion, no rail…but when I did receive kneeling, I made no special accommodations for it. The rare comment I got from fellow parishioners was always positive. Be not afraid.

The opposite situation from what the OP describes happened to me immediately following my surgery: at the ICRSS’s EF Masses, where everyone receives kneeling, I had to receive standing. Despite the availability of a rail with cushions on the step in front of the it, kneeling was just impossible. No one blinked or said anything about it to me. Then again, I imagine the knee splint and crutches explained the situation to them without my having to open my mouth 😁
 
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If it may trouble you, maybe you should rethink it.
NO one in the church will care or make an issue regardless.
It’s only the priest’s opinion you should be concerned with, and a frank discussion with him will settle it either way. The priest may have a preference, but people are never denied communion for this. Unless one thinks they are making a grand statement, which it doesn’t sound like in your case. Receiving in the front pew is a good idea for a start.
Be at peace.
 
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UpUpAndAway said:
I don’t know where you live, but here a weekday Mass has at least 30 people in attendance. That’s a far cry from the 800-1000 we get for Sunday Masses but the chapel is hardly deserted 🙂
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I live in a town with a population of roughly 1000 people in the middle of a vast expanse of cornfields. I’ve gone to a daily mass and there was once I think actually 3 people in attendance, and that was including me and my mom! lol
 
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