I got in trouble for kneeling to receive Communion

[mullenpm]

belgiumwaffle9, I take extreme exception with this statement of your’s:

‘Most Catholics who receive communion receive irreverently, and most probably have not gone to confession in years or believe in transubstantiation, not to mention other basic tenets of faith.’

How could you possibly know what MOST Catholics do, how often they go to Confession and/or what they believe in.

 

[childofmary1143]

…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 OP didn’t make **ANY **scene whatsoever. The YM did, so by your opening paragraph, it can be said, in your own words that the YM is not a sincere True Catholic.

As for working for the YM in the future, I doubt that would be a problem as one of them is going to get “fired” and it shouldn’t be the OP as the OP hasn’t done anything wrong.

Finally regarding about the Priest, he may not have intervened yet because he doesn’t know what has happened and even if he does, its irrelevant because CDWDS has said what the OP did was acceptable.

 

[Brian123]

Keep kneeling and receive the eucharist on the tongue.

That’s how I was raised and it’s correct. After being away from the church for a couple decades give or take and returning I am shocked at the liberalism of receiving the eucharist.

I am one of only a few who receive on the tongue and I stand because I don’t have the guts to kneel and create a scene but I should but I’m a wimp.

Some even take the eucharist back to the pew and sit down and then take it while kneeling! I’m not making this up.

Keep kneeling…maybe it will catch on and I respect your courage.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

The OP didn’t make **ANY **scene whatsoever. The YM did, so by your opening paragraph, it can be said, in your own words that the YM is not a sincere True Catholic.

As for working for the YM in the future, I doubt that would be a problem as one of them is going to get “fired” and it shouldn’t be the OP as the OP hasn’t done anything wrong.

Finally regarding about the Priest, he may not have intervened yet because he doesn’t know what has happened and even if he does, its irrelevant because CDWDS has said what the OP did was acceptable.

As I said, sometimes it is best to give up a right, especially when you wish to work for someone who does not believe there is a right. Did you read the response from Fr McNamara in the Zenit article?

I personally prefer standing, but I do kneel, if I attend a Mass where kneeling is the practice.

And I do resent the attitude of some who prefer kneeling, saying that this is more reverent.

Lux

 

[hamburglar]

Dear ‘hamburglar’,

First off, I apologise for “following the crowd” and referring you as a female.

Secondly, I am so utterly aghast at that “Youth Minister” I couldn’t read all your story until I had composed myself.

I think its high time that the Priest, Bishop, and/or the CDWDS be brought into this. Is it possible you can tell us the name of your parish and city in which you live in?

The parish is St. Robert of Newminster in Ada, Michigan. Here’s our website: strobertchurch.org

 

[childofmary1143]

As I said, sometimes it is best to give up a right, especially when you wish to work for someone who does not believe there is a right.

That is the most ridiculous statement I have heard on this thread.
It makes no difference if the “boss” doesn’t believe there is a right.

Did you read the response from Fr McNamara in the Zenit article?

Have you read the CDWDS Official Church Documents and how it substantiates the OP’s position?

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

Methinks the “time to make a scene” is not during mass, but afterward, in private.

I agree with this. Work your personal issues out away from the rest of the church.

Sounds like it has a lot to do in this particuliar situation with the youth minister and the OP carrying the “employer/employee” relationship to the church also. Sounds very “Southern Baptist” to me, where deacons typically are business owners and their emploees are just congregation. Sounds like both people could handle this better.

If I were the OP I would be the grown up here and talk to the man in private.

Actually my opinion is since it is not mandatory to kneel and standing is the norm, why even make this an issue? Sounds like the OP is the one that is on tenious ground wanting to prove a point that “he is right” and is using the church as his weapon.

 

[childofmary1143]

Actually my opinion is since it is not mandatory to kneel and standing is the norm, why even make this an issue? Sounds like the OP is the one that is on tenious ground wanting to prove a point that “he is right” and is using the church as his weapon.

Because the OP didn’t make this an issue. The YM did by disrupting the Mass.

As has been stated on this thread too numerous to count, the OP has the right to kneel.

The YM is wrong. Period. End of discussion of whether the YM is right or wrong. I don’t know how much more clearer it can get.

 

[ethelzguy]

… why even make this an issue? Sounds like the OP is the one that is on tenious ground wanting to prove a point that “he is right” and is using the church as his weapon.

While I don’t know the OP personally, when I see incidents such as these I tend to agree. When you have 700 people lined up for Communion, and one (or two or three) decide they must kneel at the front of the line, it creates a clear disruption for others, and brings attention to ones self, at a time that we are supposedly focused on Christ in the Eucharist.

There are countless other ways to demonstrate one’s reverence without making a scene to prove a point and bring attention to one’s self.

 

[LRThunder]

While I don’t know the OP personally, when I see incidents such as these I tend to agree. When you have 700 people lined up for Communion, and one (or two or three) decide they must kneel at the front of the line, it creates a clear disruption for others, and brings attention to ones self, at a time that we are supposedly focused on Christ in the Eucharist.

There are countless other ways to demonstrate one’s reverence without making a scene to prove a point and bring attention to one’s self.

Why do you assume someone assumes a reverent posture just to make a point or bring attention to themselves? Isn’t that rather judgemental?

Sometimes a person is reverent because it’s the right thing to do, and not to make a point or draw attention to themselves. As the saying goes, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

 

[Brendan]

and brings attention to ones self, at a time that we are supposedly focused on Christ in the Eucharist.

.

So why don’t you focus on Christ in the Eucharist instead of on those who choose to kneel.

It’s not your job to pass any judgement on their actions.

Why do you really care of someone chooses to kneel or not?

You go and recieve the Eucharist the way you want, and let others do the same.

 

[ethelzguy]

So why don’t you focus on Christ in the Eucharist instead of on those who choose to kneel.

It’s not your job to pass any judgement on their actions.

Why do you really care of someone chooses to kneel or not?

You go and recieve the Eucharist the way you want, and let others do the same.

Fine. Kneel, stand on your head, whatever…but then don’t whine when others take notice. When you do something that stands out from the rest, and then complain when others take note, you asked for it.

Like the woman who is well-endowed, and wears skin-tight blouses with plunging necklines, then feigns offense when men ogle…

 

[ethelzguy]

It’s not your job to pass any judgement on their actions.

But, you’re all on the bandwagon, judging the person who commented to the person who kneeled for Communion?

Pot meet Kettle…

 

[ethelzguy]

I wonder how many people would be defending my rights here, if I were to go to a TLM and insist on standing and receiving in the hand?

 

[japhy]

Sounds like the OP is the one that is on tenious ground wanting to prove a point that “he is right” and is using the church as his weapon.

There are countless other ways to demonstrate one’s reverence without making a scene to prove a point and bring attention to one’s self.

hamburglar’s first post in this thread 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. … [The youth minister] 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. … 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?
I don’t think hamburglar considers his preference to receive while kneeling (which he has done for a year) “making a scene”. It was not disruptive until the youth minister made it an issue of contention. hamburglar is allowed to receive Communion while kneeling, and the Church has made it clear that people who do this are not to be made to feel like they are being disobedient or behaving illicitly. The youth minister’s “scare tactics” are the issue here.

And I think it is the youth minister who is “using the church as his weapon”, making hamburglar’s involvement with the youth ministry incumbent upon his receiving Communion how the youth minister dictates. What “attack” has hamburglar launched with his mighty weapon of the Church?

Furthermore, a Catholic has rights (namely here, the right to receive Communion while kneeling); but it sounds like some are saying he should just suck it up and deal with the fact that his rights are being denied him, and that, because they deal with the Church, pursuing those rights would be “using the church as his weapon”.

 

[japhy]

Like the woman who is well-endowed, and wears skin-tight blouses with plunging necklines, then feigns offense when men ogle…

Immodesty in dress is not at all comparable to kneeling to receive Holy Communion.

 

[japhy]

I wonder how many people would be defending my rights here, if I were to go to a TLM and insist on standing and receiving in the hand?

If it’s permitted where you are attending the Extraordinary Form, I would defend your right to do so. But I’m sure you would not be doing it to prove a point or make a scene.

 

[Phemie]

Actually my opinion is since it is not mandatory to kneel and standing is the norm, why even make this an issue? Sounds like the OP is the one that is on tenious ground wanting to prove a point that “he is right” and is using the church as his weapon.

Churches have been known to use weapons in the fight against kneeling. One family was actually arrested and charged with disturbing a religious service. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, which ruled that they had not disrupted the service in any way (they had knelt to receive, been denied Communion and returned to their pew).

 

[benedictgal]

I wonder how many people would be defending my rights here, if I were to go to a TLM and insist on standing and receiving in the hand?

Actually, and I think youi would know better than that, the posture of standing is not licit in the EF. The posture is to kneel and receive on the tongue. You can’t mix and match between the OF and the EF. The valid options in the OF are to either kneel or stand. The only posture for the EF is to receive Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue. Therefore, under the EF, you would not have the right to stand and receive Our Lord in your hand. The only exception to the kneeling, to my knowledge, would be if you had a serious impediment that would prevent you from kneeling.

 

[plh]

The parish is St. Robert of Newminster in Ada, Michigan. Here’s our website: strobertchurch.org

What happened in that diocese? I grew up in GR, left MI in 1972. I was raised Congregational but tagged along to mass with friends through jr high and high school. It took forever, but because of what I experienced just watching way back then, I finally converted in 2001. There must have been a huge change over the years (or following Vatican II) in that diocese. By the way, our youngest priests here in the Diocese of Charleston, SC are keeping everything in line with the magisterium. Our middle-aged and older priests are very good also. I never would have thought an area like GR/Ada would have gone in the direction it seems to have. God bless.