How to respond to

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nocrazs

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How does one respond to someone who thinks kneeling to receive the Blessed Sacrament
and communion rails, is bring us back to the 16th century?:confused:
 
nocrazs said:
How does one respond to someone who thinks kneeling to receive the Blessed Sacrament
and communion rails, is bring us back to the 16th century?:confused:
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Standing on Sundays has been mandated by the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325AD. Tell him that standing to receive Communion brings us back to the 4th century 😉
 
nocrazs said:
How does one respond to someone who thinks kneeling to receive the Blessed Sacrament
and communion rails, is bring us back to the 16th century?:confused:
Click to expand...
Tell the person that it shouldn’t matter in what century kneeling to receive communion at a rail was common. Who on earth cares if it’s bringing us “back” to the 16th century? Perhaps this person doesn’t know that we don’t do things at mass to be “modern” or “popular,” or at least we shouldn’t.

:mad:
 
Because kneeling is such an old, stupid thing to do? Is respect so 16th century? Not to say that standing is disrespectful necessary, but what’s the point of disparaging kneeling?
 
I don’t see where its an issue, you can kneel to receive communion or you can stand. Because it may not be happening at your parish, doesn’t mean you can’t.

Have you watched the Mass on EWTN? You’ll see a combination of both.

Peace
 
Let’s don’t get into an argument about how far back it brings us, because there’s always an argument for and against it. What matters is kneeling is an act of deep respect and humility before the Blessed Sacrament. 16th century institution or not, 21st century society is not so depraved as to be unable to understand the significance of kneeling. Many traditions of the church date back even further than the 16th century, so if your friend is suggesting that anything that originated from the 16th century or earlier cannot be good for the modern era, we should probably discard the whole mass as well. :eek:

Altar rails clearly demarcate the sanctuary as sanctified by as the place of the Lord’s sacrifice and the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Architecturally, they are important in making clear the distinction between santuary and nave, especially when we have neither the rood screens of yore nor the iconostases of our Eastern brethren. Liturgically, they demonstrate that the sanctuary is a blessed place that not all may simply enter and leave as freely like a theatre stage. Practically, they make kneeling for pious communicants that much easier. 😉

I hope this helps. 🙂
 
nocrazs said:
How does one respond to someone who thinks kneeling to receive the Blessed Sacrament
and communion rails, is bring us back to the 16th century?:confused:
Click to expand...
I once heard a priest in his homily say that there are Catholics around the world who are being martyred for their faith while we are arguing about a communion rail or no.

A bishop once gave us a talk on his [then] recent visit to the Vatican, and some woman asked if they discussed alter girls [there were none then]. He said they never got around to it because they were busy addressing other problems like one African bishop’s whole staff being arrested.
 
sedonaman said:
I once heard a priest in his homily say that there are Catholics around the world who are being martyred for their faith while we are arguing about a communion rail or no.

A bishop once gave us a talk on his [then] recent visit to the Vatican, and some woman asked if they discussed alter girls [there were none then]. He said they never got around to it because they were busy addressing other problems like one African bishop’s whole staff being arrested.
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I can’t dispute that, but I don’t think martyrdom and mass arrests are a problem that nocrazs and their friend face. 😛
 
sedonaman said:
I once heard a priest in his homily say that there are Catholics around the world who are being martyred for their faith while we are arguing about a communion rail or no.

A bishop once gave us a talk on his [then] recent visit to the Vatican, and some woman asked if they discussed alter girls [there were none then]. He said they never got around to it because they were busy addressing other problems like one African bishop’s whole staff being arrested.
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Exactly. Either posture is considered correct and reverent nowadays. We would do far better to confirm our faith so that if and when such tribulations come to our neck of the woods, we are prepared to defend our faith.

Occasionally, I think of my late father and uncles, all of whom were in the Normandy invasion. The Sunday after D-Day, they attended Mass in a partially shot-up village church (this was one of the few experiences that Dad ever spoke of.) The three young GIs entered the church filthy from battle and were about to prop their rifles against the back wall, when the village priest waved at them that they should keep their arms with them.

I think of that image occasionally. Our faith is to be reverenced, but it is also to be lived out in the trenches of everyday life, and of extreme circumstances. It is not a matter of choreography or prescribed positions. It is a matter of communicating with Christ, who will strengthen us in all things. In humility we may be called to kneel. As soldiers of Christ we may be called to stand. Take your pick.

I stand in awe of these contemporary martyrs, who tell me that sanctity is not confined to stained glass images, but lives and dies in the blood that is spilt and the Gospel of the Living God who is proclaimed in all things. And I cover my mouth in shame for those times I have veered into well-meaning but miniscule points of piety as if the Holy Church was an exclusionary club of some sort instead of the means by which I have a relationship with Our Lord, Savior, and Brother Jesus Christ. May God forgive me!
 
odile53 said:
Exactly. Either posture is considered correct and reverent nowadays. We would do far better to confirm our faith so that if and when such tribulations come to our neck of the woods, we are prepared to defend our faith. I stand in awe of these contemporary martyrs, and cover my mouth in shame for those times I have veered into well-meaning but miniscule points of piety as if the Holy Church was an exclusionary club of some sort. May God forgive me!
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Don’t be so hard on yourself and don’t be guilted because you may have a desire for greater reverence. It helps build the Faith. We may not have people being martyred for the Faith in the West but we have many falling away due to weak Faith and confusion. It’s as serious an issue.
 
odile53 said:
Exactly. Either posture is considered correct and reverent nowadays. We would do far better to confirm our faith so that if and when such tribulations come to our neck of the woods, we are prepared to defend our faith.

Occasionally, I think of my late father and uncles, all of whom were in the Normandy invasion. The Sunday after D-Day, they attended Mass in a partially shot-up village church (this was one of the few experiences that Dad ever spoke of.) The three young GIs entered the church filthy from battle and were about to prop their rifles against the back wall, when the village priest waved at them that they should keep their arms with them.

I think of that image occasionally. Our faith is to be reverenced, but it is also to be lived out in the trenches of everyday life, and of extreme circumstances. It is not a matter of choreography or prescribed positions. It is a matter of communicating with Christ, who will strengthen us in all things. In humility we may be called to kneel. As soldiers of Christ we may be called to stand. Take your pick.

I stand in awe of these contemporary martyrs, who tell me that sanctity is not confined to stained glass images, but lives and dies in the blood that is spilt and the Gospel of the Living God who is proclaimed in all things. And I cover my mouth in shame for those times I have veered into well-meaning but miniscule points of piety as if the Holy Church was an exclusionary club of some sort instead of the means by which I have a relationship with Our Lord, Savior, and Brother Jesus Christ. May God forgive me!
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I know people who don’t go to Mass because the Mass time isn’t “convenient” for them. And yet, your father, worlds away and in the middle of a war entered what could be considered hostile territory to attend Mass. Makes you wonder where some of our priorities are now adays…
 
GaryTaylor said:
I don’t see where its an issue, you can kneel to receive communion or you can stand. Because it may not be happening at your parish, doesn’t mean you can’t.

Have you watched the Mass on EWTN? You’ll see a combination of both.

Peace
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Exactly.
 
sedonaman said:
I once heard a priest in his homily say that there are Catholics around the world who are being martyred for their faith while we are arguing about a communion rail or no.
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A convenient response from someone who doesn’t want the altar rail put back.
 
nocrazs said:
How does one respond to someone who thinks kneeling to receive the Blessed Sacrament
and communion rails, is bring us back to the 16th century?:confused:
Click to expand...
Tell them that we all have opinions and preferences. Currently, both positions are accepted by the church, and so there is room for both of our preferences! That is the beauty of our Church!
 
ConstantineTG said:
Standing on Sundays has been mandated by the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325AD. Tell him that standing to receive Communion brings us back to the 4th century 😉
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Really? I did not realize this. So…what you are saying is that standing for reception of communion is actually more traditional (older in practice) than kneeling?? Good stuff to hear! (not that I dont fully accept either posture as appropriate and right, with the proper reverence)
 
sedonaman said:
Crushed under arguments like, “We want a more ‘open’ church.”

Not explained was how “openness” was to be measured.
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The sentiment was rather thoughtful, but the action was very thoughtless. 😛
 
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