FURIOUS!! Priest wouldn't let me take communion while kneeling

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YinYangMom said:
:hmmm: “glared a hole through the priest”…

do you know any human who could possibly do such a thing without anger in his heart or mind???
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Not our call. His anger, righteous or not, is not ours to judge as cuplable.
 
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pira114:
I’m in the San Jose Diocese also. If you don’t mind, which Church do you go to? Of the three that I’ve been to in this area, they all stand now. Growing up, at the same Church, we knelt. I go to St. Francis Cabrini in San Jose. There have been so many changes over the last few years, I’m getting frustrated. ** Only because some of the changes seem to be incorrect. Like standing after communion even when the Tabernacle is still in the Church.**
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Keep in mind that this is an approved posture. Also keep in mind that once you receive Holy Communion, it is UP TO YOU whether you stand, kneel OR sit…
 
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Not our call. His anger, righteous or not, is not ours to judge as cuplable.
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Uh, the guy started a thread here, admitted he was extremely angry when receiving communion, stated this in very vivid terminology… We have every right to make a value judgement based on the firsthand information provided by the OP.

There are 2 issues here. The first is if it was right of the priest in question to refuse. Everything I’ve previously read on this subject states that the priest was in error on this. The second issue is something the OP has more control over, and that’s his state of mind in response to the injustice and embarrassment of being corrected publically by the priest.
 
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dan:
Last night, at mass, I went up to take communion, and kneeled before the priest as I usually do. The priest looked down at me, motioned his hand upward, and told me to “stand up.”

Although I was angry (and not to mention extremely embarassed) I followed the priest’s instruction and stood up to take communion. I have to admit, however, I glared a hole through the priest and I slowly stood up.
How sad that you felt anger in your heart at a time when you were receiving the Body of our Savior Jesus. I’m shocked that you glared a hole through the priest. We are supposed to go to Jesus with a pure heart and soul but you received Him with anger in your heart. :crying:

I confronted the priest after mass and asked him why he wouldn’t let me kneel for communion. His answer was that, in this diocese (San Jose, CA) “everyone stands.” He then told me that communion is not a “personal act of piety.” The priest also told me that, if I didn’t believe him, that I’m free to contact the diocese and ask them.
I bet the priest would find the following link particularly interesting:
catholic.com/library/liturgy/kneeling_1.asp
By the way, it’s worth noting that, although there are kneelers, parishoners never kneel for the consecration at this church, and this particular mass graced us with three “liturgical dance” sets, and the Creed was omitted.
Obviously, I’m angry, and I’m not what exaclty I should do about this.
You are free to find another parish.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
  • Dan
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JKirkLVNV:
That part of California…well, the most abused Mass I ever witnessed was in Santa Cruz, just a short hop away. Lay homily, paraphrased canon, lay fractioning of the Most Precious Blood, because it had been consecrated in a flagon, etc. No liturgical dance, thank God and the Holy Angels.
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That must have been at Holy Cross Parish. Good old Fr. Mark. That gorgeous building now smells like a swimming pool because of the chlorene used in the huge spa/baptistery…
 
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spiritblows:
Uh, the guy started a thread here, admitted he was extremely angry when receiving communion, stated this in very vivid terminology… We have every right to make a value judgement based on the firsthand information provided by the OP.

There are 2 issues here. The first is if it was right of the priest in question to refuse. Everything I’ve previously read on this subject states that the priest was in error on this. The second issue is something the OP has more control over, and that’s his state of mind in response to the injustice and embarrassment of being corrected publically by the priest.
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Uh, it is not ours to judge who is in a state of grace to receive communion.
 
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Uh, it is not ours to judge who is in a state of grace to receive communion.
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You’re correct on that point. I personally think that the poster’s anger was probably not a mortal sin. His was an understandable reaction within the normal range of human emotions to be expected in the given situation.

I think this instance illustrates why priests should not correct someone up in the communion line. It’s a very poor pastoral move. It embarrasses the communicant and makes them angry. It’s very polarizing.
 
I was at a small Mass that was celebrated by our bishop a few years ago. When I went to kneel after reciving communion, the nun (with a degree in music and the pipe organ) who is in charge of the Diocesan Office of Divine Worship tried to “lift” me back onto my feet by tugging on my shoulders. I instinctively slapped her away and she didn’t try it with anyone else.

Also, last Sunday the woman that tried to stop me from kneeling in the sanctuary during the consecration was a “music minister” and she stood no more than ten feet from where I was kneeling on Sunday. Felt sorta good.
 
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dan:
Last night, at mass, I went up to take communion, and kneeled before the priest as I usually do. The priest looked down at me, motioned his hand upward, and told me to “stand up.”

Although I was angry (and not to mention extremely embarassed) I followed the priest’s instruction and stood up to take communion. I have to admit, however, I glared a hole through the priest and I slowly stood up.

I confronted the priest after mass and asked him why he wouldn’t let me kneel for communion. His answer was that, in this diocese (San Jose, CA) “everyone stands.” He then told me that communion is not a “personal act of piety.” The priest also told me that, if I didn’t believe him, that I’m free to contact the diocese and ask them.

I bet the priest would find the following link particularly interesting:
catholic.com/library/liturgy/kneeling_1.asp

By the way, it’s worth noting that, although there are kneelers, parishoners never kneel for the consecration at this church, and this particular mass graced us with three “liturgical dance” sets, and the Creed was omitted.

Obviously, I’m angry, and I’m not what exaclty I should do about this.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
  • Dan
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While I am not suggesting this is the situation in this case, if the priest had counseled you off-line that you needed to stand while you were receiving Holy Communion and you were defiant, I can see him doing what he did – but it would have to be an absolute last resort after more than one counseling session.
 
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AltarMan:
While I am not suggesting this is the situation in this case, if the priest had counseled you off-line that you needed to stand while you were receiving Holy Communion and you were defiant, I can see him doing what he did – but it would have to be an absolute last resort after more than one counseling session.
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I do not know if one can ever be denied for kneeling, but I am guessing there are very few who kneel, when no provision is available, in this country. Yet, I read so many have such zeal for such a small “infraction” of the rubrics. Do these folks have equal zeal for all the other “infractions” and novelties that go on so often?
 
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fix:
I do not know if one can ever be denied for kneeling, but I am guessing there are very few who kneel, when no provision is available, in this country. Yet, I read so many have such zeal for such a small “infraction” of the rubrics. Do these folks have equal zeal for all the other “infractions” and novelties that go on so often?
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What blows me away is that some of those who are (rightfully) concerned about liturgical delicts and abuses are also those that demand to kneel even when the Church instructs otherwise. It’s terribly hypocritical.

Fergal is right. The Eucharist has to be the focus! After a few attempts at counseling, I might honestly do what the priest did – not to “prevail”, but to follow what the Church directs and perhaps more importantly, to stop someone from putting on a show each Sunday with their personal act of piety that could well be confusing to others.
 
Why is everyone so quick to judge Dan’s actions? He had a specific problem, asked for our help in how to deal with it, and then we start lambasting him. Dan had a momentary lapse and felt embarrasment at being singled out for being reverent while receiving our Lord. It turned to anger, a natural response. If someone here is qualified to judge his emotional state and the natural responses that occur then contact him offline, don’t blast him here for everyone to see and comment on. Lay off of him and pray that these abuses don’t start becoming the norm where YOU go to worship. If they do, I pray the folks here are more charitable to you if you momentarily fall.

S
 
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slewi:
Why is everyone so quick to judge Dan’s actions? He had a specific problem, asked for our help in how to deal with it, and then we start lambasting him. Dan had a momentary lapse and felt embarrasment at being singled out for being reverent while receiving our Lord. It turned to anger, a natural response. If someone here is qualified to judge his emotional state and the natural responses that occur then contact him offline, don’t blast him here for everyone to see and comment on. Lay off of him and pray that these abuses don’t start becoming the norm where YOU go to worship. If they do, I pray the folks here are more charitable to you if you momentarily fall.

S
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This could also be looked at as being defiant or dismissive of what the Church instructs.
 
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AltarMan:
After a few attempts at counseling, I might honestly do what the priest did – not to “prevail”, but to follow what the Church directs and perhaps more importantly, to stop someone from putting on a show each Sunday with their personal act of piety that could well be confusing to others.
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This is where I have a problem. One person doing this is hardly a problem, would such a priest be so admant about more critical issues to the faith and salvation of souls? Perhaps he would, but quite frankly it is an issue that is hardly worth making a federal case over when greater problems exist, unless of course the one doing the correcting has some other agenda.
 
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AltarMan:
This could also be looked at as being defiant or dismissive of what the Church instructs.
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It could also be a very humble, devout or misguided person. Where is all the charity then, or is it only for other folks?
 
The norm for reception of Communion in the United States is standing.
Why not just follow the norm?
 
People have a right to kneel for Holy Communion. There is a local Parish(Diocesan) in my area, where the Priest has actually placed kneelers up front, to assist those who wish to kneel to receive Holy Communion. This particular Priest has actually said, in my hearing, that he wishes EVERYBODY would kneel to receive Holy Communion. Some people at this Parish(I am not a member of it, but I have attended Mass there frequently) already kneel to receive Holy Communion. Patens are often in use there.👍

A person CANNOT be refused Holy Communion because he chooses to kneel. A person is NOT being disobedient if he continues to kneel.

Interestingly enough, the local Diocesan Bishop in my Diocese WILL give Holy Communion to those who kneel. I saw this on at least two occasions(I was not Catholic yet, so I did not receive).

I believe that what Rome ius trying to say in their documents is that people CAN kneel for Holy Communion without penalty, and that they can continue to kneel.

After all, “Holy Communion is not to be denied to those of the faithful who choose to kneel”. There is nothing that says that Holy Communion must be denied if the person CONTINUES TO kneel.

Please forgive me if the above quote is not exact!
 
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GoLatin:
People have a right to kneel for Holy Communion. There is a local Parish(Diocesan) in my area, where the Priest has actually placed kneelers up front, to assist those who wish to kneel to receive Holy Communion. This particular Priest has actually said, in my hearing, that he wishes EVERYBODY would kneel to receive Holy Communion. Some people at this Parish(I am not a member of it, but I have attended Mass there frequently) already kneel to receive Holy Communion. Patens are often in use there.👍

A person CANNOT be refused Holy Communion because he chooses to kneel. A person is NOT being disobedient if he continues to kneel.

Interestingly enough, the local Diocesan Bishop in my Diocese WILL give Holy Communion to those who kneel. I saw this on at least two occasions(I was not Catholic yet, so I did not receive).

I believe that what Rome ius trying to say in their documents is that people CAN kneel for Holy Communion without penalty, and that they can continue to kneel.

After all, “Holy Communion is not to be denied to those of the faithful who choose to kneel”. There is nothing that says that Holy Communion must be denied if the person CONTINUES TO kneel.

Please forgive me if the above quote is not exact!
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What’s the matter with you? You ask an expert on these forums about this very issue Kneeling during Communion? you get a thorough answer and then you post you own opinion here that’s in defiance of the advice you requested and received.

You should be ashamed of yourself.
 
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AltarMan:
What blows me away is that some of those who are (rightfully) concerned about liturgical delicts and abuses are also those that demand to kneel even when the Church instructs otherwise.
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Where does the Church instruct otherwise? I just quoted RS, where it states that one can kneel or stand.
 
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