I got in trouble for kneeling to receive Communion

  • Thread starter Thread starter hamburglar
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
H

hamburglar

Guest
For the past year or so, I have been kneeling to receive Communion. I have not been told not to, although it takes some of the EMHC’s by surprise sometimes.

Anyway, this week the high-schoolers in the youth group are doing “Service Week” where we volunteer in the local community. We have College kids chaperone, as well as parent volunteers. I am one of the college chaperones.

We were at Mass today, and like usual, I knelt to receive Communion. As I was walking back to my seat, the youth minister asked to see me. He said that I was not allowed to kneel and that “we don’t do that here.” I stated that the documents say the one cannot be denied Communion because of kneeling, and he said that is not true. (By the way, GIRM 160 DOES in fact say that.) He made it seem like I was “breaking the rules.” He explained that he wasn’t criticizing me, he said that it simply was not allowed and didn’t want a scene to occur. I can somewhat understand the part about the scene.

Now, I realize that the norm is standing. But the GIRM does in fact say that I cannot be denied Communion because I am kneeling. What should I do about this?
 
You have experienced what many others have experienced - the trendies, the doctrinal liberals are the most autocratic and ruthless of all!

You now, however, have the perfect reply to your modernist complainant.

At ALL his masses during World Youth Day in Sydney the Holy Father insisted that those receiving Holy Communion from him had to be KNEELING and it was made clear that he preferred them to receive the Host ON THE TONGUE, as in fact they all did.

The whole world saw this - so next time someone complains about you kneeling for Holy Communion, ask them if they have more authority than the Pope.
 
Take courage.
I travel on business frequently and attend daily Mass wherever I am and whenever possible. Among the experiences like yours I’ve had are:
  • being given the “We don’t do that here” speech at a parish in Florida;
  • having a priest at a church in Las Vegas tell me (in a voice that could be heard throughout the nave) “If you ever do that again I will not give you Communion”;
  • having a priest in California simply step aside and summon the next person in line to receive.
I try to offer up the momentary human embarassment in reparation for my sins, but it doesn’t change anything. I know Who He is and I know who I am, so I’ll continue to receive Him kneeling.
 
hamburglar said:
For the past year or so, I have been kneeling to receive Communion. I have not been told not to, although it takes some of the EMHC’s by surprise sometimes.

Anyway, this week the high-schoolers in the youth group are doing “Service Week” where we volunteer in the local community. We have College kids chaperone, as well as parent volunteers. I am one of the college chaperones.

We were at Mass today, and like usual, I knelt to receive Communion. As I was walking back to my seat, the youth minister asked to see me. He said that I was not allowed to kneel and that “we don’t do that here.” I stated that the documents say the one cannot be denied Communion because of kneeling, and he said that is not true. (By the way, GIRM 160 DOES in fact say that.) He made it seem like I was “breaking the rules.” He explained that he wasn’t criticizing me, he said that it simply was not allowed and didn’t want a scene to occur. I can somewhat understand the part about the scene.

Now, I realize that the norm is standing. But the GIRM does in fact say that I cannot be denied Communion because I am kneeling. What should I do about this?
Click to expand...
shame on him for stopping you after you have received to tell you off. He is the one who was making a scene. You continue to kneel if that is how you wish to receive. You are right, the GIRM says you cannot be refused. In fact, anyone wishing to receive from our Holy Father must now kneel at a kneeler placed in front of him AND on the tongue to boot. It will not be long before that will once again be the standard throughout the Church.
 
hamburglar said:
For the past year or so, I have been kneeling to receive Communion. I have not been told not to, although it takes some of the EMHC’s by surprise sometimes.

Anyway, this week the high-schoolers in the youth group are doing “Service Week” where we volunteer in the local community. We have College kids chaperone, as well as parent volunteers. I am one of the college chaperones.

We were at Mass today, and like usual, I knelt to receive Communion. As I was walking back to my seat, the youth minister asked to see me. He said that I was not allowed to kneel and that “we don’t do that here.” I stated that the documents say the one cannot be denied Communion because of kneeling, and he said that is not true. (By the way, GIRM 160 DOES in fact say that.) He made it seem like I was “breaking the rules.” He explained that he wasn’t criticizing me, he said that it simply was not allowed and didn’t want a scene to occur. I can somewhat understand the part about the scene.

Now, I realize that the norm is standing. But the GIRM does in fact say that I cannot be denied Communion because I am kneeling. What should I do about this?
Click to expand...
I would meet with him before Mass tomorrow. Explain that you are permitted to kneel if you wish, no one cannot be denied Holy Communion because they do. It is what you choose to do. He is free then to tell you your services are no longer needed if he chooses, or he can leave it be and accept your choice.
 
Putting aside the issue of whether or not you can or should kneel, which you have already covered:

I would tell ANYONE who is (a) not a priest and (b) accosted me at Mass that they are (a) not the boss of me (and not the boss of Mass for that matter) and (b) need to keep their opinions to themselves.

But of course, you are probably much more charitable than me and so if I were a charitable person I would just smile sweetly and completely ignore them as if they had never spoken at all.
 
1ke said:
Putting aside the issue of whether or not you can or should kneel, which you have already covered:

I would tell ANYONE who is (a) not a priest and (b) accosted me at Mass that they are (a) not the boss of me (and not the boss of Mass for that matter) and (b) need to keep their opinions to themselves.

But of course, you are probably much more charitable than me and so if I were a charitable person I would just smile sweetly and completely ignore them as if they had never spoken at all.
Click to expand...
Sir or Madame, your responses in these situations are still a thousand times better (and more Christian) than my responses would have been. And to the OP, MAKE A SCENE! You had a point! How often are we really in the know? How often do we enter into a battlefield on which the enemy has no grounds whatsoever?

It was perfect! It would have been a massacre!

But oh…It was on a Sunday I suppose (or a Christmas, or Easter, or some other Holy day in which I feel it innapropriate to fight) well then…sigh…

Well, this thread has been most educational for me, and I thank you all!

But I have one question, When we are going to recieve the Blessed Sacrament on our knees and on our tongues, How do we do it?

See, in my, ah, parish I suppose is the word, we’ve got long waiting lines of people…And the Eucharistic ministers (which they use EVERY Mass, and I understand is something of a big ‘no-no’) always seem to rush the process. You walk up to them, and BAM! “The Body of the Lord” “Um…ah…(Give me a sec, will ya?)…uh…Amen.”

I’d like just a few seconds to, y’know, revel in the glory of Him! It’s so mechanical, so…I don’t know, it makes it ugly.

THAT is why I wait at the end of the line. The minister is a bit more testy, but…

Perhaps they’ld be more gracious about it (on the tongue) if they were given latex gloves?
 
I would talk to the priest about it. He doesn’t seem to have a problem with you recieving Communion while kneeling, maybe he can say something to the youth minister. I mean, it may seem like you are “telling on him” or something, but it may seem more “authoritive” to hear it from a priest than a “mere” layperson…you know? You are right of course, that you may recieve while kneeling. Don’t give up, you have the Church on your side! 👍
 
Maybe It’s Time You Tell The Priest That They Should Make It The Norm To Give More Reverence And Honor To God By Kneeling And Receiving The Body Of Christ By The Tongue. If One Realizes What One Is Receiving Then Kneeling Is The Least You Can Do!
 
Some years back, at a cathedral mass, the rector insisted that a seminarian stand. The seminarian promptly complied, stood, and tilted his head back to receive. He was well over six feet tall. We were treated to the view of the five foot tall rector dancing around on tip toes trying to reach his mouth. 👍
 
i have a question. i see people kneel when they recieve the Blessed Sacrament but they never drink His Precious Blood. if they chose to take His Blood, would they kneel for that?
reason i ask is kneeling to take His Body seems more attractive to me, since it seems to give more reverence, but i take both forms and didn’t know what to do when i got to His Blood.

peace be with you!
 
I know how you feel, ever since we got back from the Holy Family Fest at Catholic Familyland, where I witnessed many of the younger people genuflecting before recieving. It convinced me and reminded me that this is Jesus in front of us and that we shold pay the due respect to our King and Lord. Ever since, I have also started to genuflect before recieving, and I used to wonder if people were staring then I stand and see jesus in front of me and I forget everbody else for the moment.😃

All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, All for the Sorrowful Heart of Mary, in Union with Saint Joseph:signofcross:
 
hamburglar said:
For the past year or so, I have been kneeling to receive Communion. I have not been told not to, although it takes some of the EMHC’s by surprise sometimes.

Anyway, this week the high-schoolers in the youth group are doing “Service Week” where we volunteer in the local community. We have College kids chaperone, as well as parent volunteers. I am one of the college chaperones.

We were at Mass today, and like usual, I knelt to receive Communion. As I was walking back to my seat, the youth minister asked to see me. He said that I was not allowed to kneel and that “we don’t do that here.” I stated that the documents say the one cannot be denied Communion because of kneeling, and he said that is not true. (By the way, GIRM 160 DOES in fact say that.) He made it seem like I was “breaking the rules.” He explained that he wasn’t criticizing me, he said that it simply was not allowed and didn’t want a scene to occur. I can somewhat understand the part about the scene.

Now, I realize that the norm is standing. But the GIRM does in fact say that I cannot be denied Communion because I am kneeling. What should I do about this?
Click to expand...
Who was the youth minister? The Pastor, Deacon. Priest what?

If none of the above I would tell him to go climb a rope. If he is the Priest or Deacon, I would refer him to the GIRM, smile and return to my seat.
 
If I received Jesus and was returning to pray and was accosted by a person in the Church who has no authority, is not an ordained minister, I would ignore the person and return to my pew.

It is outrageous that someone would deputize himself as a Communion cop and think he had the right to accost you.
 
hamburglar said:
I should note that the youth minister is my employer.
Click to expand...
Even as your employer he cannot dictate your posture for Communion. Print off the letter from Rome that answers the question (highlights mine):
Prot. n. 47/03/L
Click to expand...
Rome, February 26, 2003
Click to expand...
This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has received your letter dated December 1, 2002, related to the application of the norms approved by the Conference of Bishops of the United States of America, with the subsequent recognitio of this Congregation, as regards the question of the posture for receiving Holy Communion.
Click to expand...
As the authority by virtue of whose recognitio the norm in question has attained the force of law, this Dicastery is competent to specify the manner in which the norm is to be understood for the sake of a proper application. Having received more than a few letters regarding this matter from different locations in the United States of America, the Congregation wishes to ensure that its position on the matter is clear.
Click to expand...
To this end, it is perhaps useful to respond to your inquiry by repeating the content of a letter that the Congregation recently addressed to a Bishop in the United States of America from whose Diocese a number of pertinent letters had been received. The letter states: “…while this Congregation gave the recognitio to the norm desired by the Bishops’ Conference of your country that people stand for Holy Communion, this was done on the condition that communicants who choose to kneel are not to be denied Holy Communion on these grounds. Indeed, the faithful should not be imposed upon nor accused of disobedience and of acting illicitly when they kneel to receive Holy Communion”.
Click to expand...
This Dicastery hopes that the citation given here will provide an adequate answer to your letter. At the same time, please be assured that the Congregation remains ready to be of assistance if you should need to contact it again.
Click to expand...
With every prayerful good wish, I am
Click to expand...
Sincerely yours in Christ,
[signed]
Mons. Mario Marini
Undersecretary
Click to expand...
 
Coming from the Anglican tradition, it goes against my every fiber to stand to receive our Lord. I suppose it is something I will become used to, but it just seems inherently wrong.

Paul
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top