I got in trouble for kneeling to receive Communion

[brigid12]

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

If your priest tells you to stand, then receive on the tongue standing and genuflect in line before receiving. I’m an Anglican convert and although I, like you, felt very strange and unworshipful (is that a word?) receiving standing with only a head bow beforehand, since I started genuflecting beforehand and then receiving on the tongue, I feel much, much, much better! The Communion line doesn’t seem cluttered when I do it that way (actually, putting back the Communion rails would straighten that out ) so the priests don’t seem to mind it as much.

 

[Cathryn]

I believe you need to speak with your Pastor. Tell him what you have told us and ask him to help you work this out with the youth minister. I believe he could help you, and would want to help you.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

At this time he took me back to the Narthex to discuss this further. I asked him how he can possibly say that I am not allowed to do this when the Church Herself says I can. He said that the Bishops say I must do what is customary in the Parish, and it is customary in our Parish to stand.

He then said that if I insist on kneeling, he will kick me out of the youth group and forbid me to lead any retreats or chaperone any activities. I thought that was ridiculous. Around this time, I started crying because I couldn’t believe that I was going to be kicked out if I didn’t stand or deny myself Jesus in the Eucharist, the “source and summit” of a Christian life. In a way, I cannot LIVE without Holy Communion.
…

You do have a choice–stand or leave the youth group.

He said he was really disappointed in me. He said I have problems if I am so attached to a posture instead of focusing on the meaning of the Eucharist. I mentioned that I did not think standing was wrong, just that I personally prefer to kneel to more intimately understand the amazing mystery of the Eucharist.

Try to focus on the communion procession, and subjecting your will—offer these up

He also said it causes disruption, and people get confused when they see someone kneel for Holy Communion. He said it puts me at the center of attention. I replied by saying that is not the purpose of my kneeling. He said it disrupts people and takes their focus off the Eucharist and on to me.

It does, whether or not this is your intent

This youth minister is part of the reason that I have discovered my vocation to the Priesthood. Now he says that although he loves me dearly and loves that I want to be a Priest, but I must be flexible with the customs of the Parish that I would be assigned to. He said that he hoped I change before I “get the collar” or I would be a bad Priest. He said people like that are reasons why Catholics are leaving.

This does seem very harsh, but a priest must respect his pastor. When you are pastor, you may make provisions for kneeling, or before then, try to lobby for kneeling, but it will cause great problems for you if the pastor does not want communicants to kneel, or if no parishioners wish to kneel.
When you are pastor, you may stress your preference, as the pope is doing, but for now it is a better choice to subject your will.

This is absolutely heartbreaking to me. Here’s the big issue: He says that if he sees me ever kneel for Communion, whether this week or at a Sunday Mass, he will not allow me to lead any more activities. Now, leading activities and retreats is very important to me, and the salvation of kids souls can be affected by activities. He said maybe this isn’t the right church for me, and that I might change. The problem with this is that my Parish makes up 25% of all participating youth in the Diocese, and we have some great programs.

This is killing me right now, and I am crying as I write this, as I refrained from receiving today and the Eucharist truly is the source of my being.

I can’t understand why you would refuse HC rather than stand. Seems like a very bad choice to me.

Lux

 

[childofmary1143]

I did read the whole thing–you do not agree with my reasoning.
This is fine. Kneel, if you feel this is more pleasing to Jesus than subjecting your will to the bishop or Priest celebrant.

Lux

Well the Youth Minister is neither the Bishop or Priest and when their Superior (CDWDS) says one can kneel then I don’t see how any sincere True Catholic can tell anyone to do otherwise.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Well the Youth Minister is neither the Bishop or Priest and when their Superior (CDWDS) says one can kneel then I don’t see how any sincere True Catholic can tell anyone to do otherwise.

…and I don’t see how any sincere True Catholic can make a scene over posture, or refuse communion over a preference for posture.
The youth miniser is the “boss” in this situation. We are told how to handle abuse. He did take the first step in speaking to the YM.
If he registers a complaint, how will it be to work with this YM? If kneeling is this important, I doubt he can continue with the youth group. He has a choice. We do not always get our way in every situation.

Lux

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Well the Youth Minister is neither the Bishop or Priest and when their Superior (CDWDS) says one can kneel then I don’t see how any sincere True Catholic can tell anyone to do otherwise.

PS If the Priest celebrant prefers kneeling, wouldn’t he have stepped in this situation?

 

[Jesus_N_Cherie]

You do have a choice–stand or leave the youth group.

Try to focus on the communion procession, and subjecting your will—offer these up

It does, whether or not this is your intent

This does seem very harsh, but a priest must respect his pastor. When you are pastor, you may make provisions for kneeling, or before then, try to lobby for kneeling, but it will cause great problems for you if the pastor does not want communicants to kneel, or if no parishioners wish to kneel.
When you are pastor, you may stress your preference, as the pope is doing, but for now it is a better choice to subject your will.

I can’t understand why you would refuse HC rather than stand. Seems like a very bad choice to me.

Lux

Why should he be focusing on the line rather than Who he will recieve when he gets to the Altar? That’s what is wrong with your line of thinking. Do not give up the fight just because it is difficult. It was difficult for Jesus also, yet He was victorious. We are called to be like Him.

 

[Jesus_N_Cherie]

Well the Youth Minister is neither the Bishop or Priest and when their Superior (CDWDS) says one can kneel then I don’t see how any sincere True Catholic can tell anyone to do otherwise.

:yup: :clapping: :clapping: :yup:

 

[vee8]

Hamburglar take the issue to the priest! Correct me if Im wrong but the priest knows you are kneeling and has no problem with it then one day a youth minister who is not aware that you kneel sees you and has a fit? BTW the youth minister is really out of line saying you are the reason people leave the church. Please talk to your priest the bishop even Rome about this whole issue. The youth minister is not the 266th pope B16 is still 265.

I would also like to say to you that I am in my 20s and while many people my age have fallen away those who remain or revert like me come back very loyal to the Pope, the Eucharist, Mary and so on, so you arent alone. I will say a prayer for you.

 

[Jesus_N_Cherie]

…and I don’t see how any sincere True Catholic can make a scene over posture, or refuse communion over a preference for posture.
The youth miniser is the “boss” in this situation. We are told how to handle abuse. He did take the first step in speaking to the YM.
If he registers a complaint, how will it be to work with this YM? If kneeling is this important, I doubt he can continue with the youth group. He has a choice. We do not always get our way in every situation.

Lux

The youth minister is NOT the boss in this situation. In the office of youth ministry, for the job Ham is being paid for, yes, the youth minister is the boss. As for posture when recieving Holy Communion as the Pope says we can, the youth minister is only like any other lay person.

You are giving way to much authority to a lay person, and over the pope. Do you realize this? Is this your intent? I pray that it is not.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

The youth minister is NOT the boss in this situation. In the office of youth ministry, for the job Ham is being paid for, yes, the youth minister is the boss. As for posture when recieving Holy Communion as the Pope says we can, the youth minister is only like any other lay person.

You are giving way to much authority to a lay person, and over the pope. Do you realize this? Is this your intent? I pray that it is not.

From the original article about kneeling at Papal Masses

However, the pope’s preference for the traditional practice is not meant to “take anything away from the other” permissible form of standing or receiving the Eucharist in the hand, he said.

 

[japhy]

From the original article about kneeling at Papal Masses: However, the pope’s preference for the traditional practice is not meant to “take anything away from the other” permissible form of standing or receiving the Eucharist in the hand, he said.

How is that related to the situation at hand?

 

[Lee_M]

The youth minister has gone too far in his comments to Hamburgler and the issue should be taken to the pastor. This guy has some issues and is closed minded. I would take it above his head.

 

[Jesus_N_Cherie]

From the original article about kneeling at Papal Masses

The key word here is permissable. It is permissable to stand. It is what most people in the Catholic Church in the USA do. But that does not take away that the Universal norm is to kneel, and we are not to be hindered when we elect to do it…except in very special circumstances. That is according to Rome. We are the Roman Catholic Church, not the church of america. And anyone who goes against what Rome teaches is not of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

The key word here is permissable. It is permissable to stand. It is what most people in the Catholic Church in the USA do. But that does not take away that the Universal norm is to kneel, and we are not to be hindered when we elect to do it…except in very special circumstances. That is according to Rome. We are the Roman Catholic Church, not the church of america. And anyone who goes against what Rome teaches is not of the Roman Catholic Church.

Universal norm is to kneel OR STAND ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE BISHOPS CONFERENCE.

Hand or tongue is an option of the communicant. posture is instructed by the bishops. Kneeling is allowed in the US, but the norm is standing.

Lux

 

[japhy]

Universal norm is to kneel OR STAND ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE BISHOPS CONFERENCE.

I still disagree with this; post #127 explains why. Simply put, where kneeling is the posture decided on by the conference, standing is not also permitted (except in cases of necessity); on the other hand, where standing is the posture decided on by the conference, kneeling is also permitted.

 

[Phemie]

I very much agree. Can you imagine accepting Jesus, knowing that it is Him, and chewing Him up!!! Obviously, they are clueless as to the Sacrament they are recieving. Oh, how I wish priests would use the pulpit to teach. We need to pray.

Jesus gave himself to us to eat and drink. I chew. The thin white flour hosts of my childhood have been replaced by thick, whole wheat hosts and in several parishes where I’ve worshipped by parish baked bread (unleavened, licit). The bread, particularly, is impossible to swallow without chewing.

 

[rjs1]

For a long time I have not joined in the Catholic Answers Forums. I only started again recently.

Now I remember why I stopped contributing to these forums. Unlike some other Catholic forums in which I participate, I find that the Catholic Answer Forums rely far too much on purely personal opinion. The Moderators do not intervene enough to keep the topic in line with Church teaching.

We have had numerous posts on this subject telling hamburglar why she can or cannot kneel.

This is all irrelevant.

The teaching of the Catholic Church on this matter is explicit. YOU MAY KNEEL TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION!

On top of this the Holy Father now requires this from those who receive Holy Communion from him.

(Now I think I’ll take a break form Catholic Answers Forums again.)

 

[Phemie]

Universal norm is to kneel OR STAND ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE BISHOPS CONFERENCE.

Hand or tongue is an option of the communicant. posture is instructed by the bishops. Kneeling is allowed in the US, but the norm is standing.

Lux

That makes absolutely no sense. How can a norm be UNIVERSAL if it’s forbidden in 1/2 the countries on this planet? Nowhere is it forbidden to kneel for Communion but it’s certainly forbidden to stand in many countries.

 

[mullenpm]

I must also agree with Jesus N Cherie with respect to the manner of dress of many people coming into Mass.

My church is an historical Basilica and at Mass we have large numbers of tourists. I understand they are on vacation but could the men PLEASE wear long pants to Mass; and the women also — NO SHORTS, please.

Last week one man in the pew immediately in front of me was dressed in shorts (sneakers, with no socks) sat with his legs crossed, laid back in the pew with his arm around the back of his wife and yet, at the Lord’s Prayer he stood with his arms wide in imitation of the Priest. What a show of piety. Sorry, I didn’t mean to judge (yes, I did).