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Kirk_O
Guest
What should I do? I don’t want to draw attention to myself (hey look at me). I already am one of the very few who receive Him on my tongue. The last thing I want to do is distract people from Jesus.
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fastenatingguy
Guest
Why not find a church that is “friendly” (already offering while kneeling at the rail)?
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Invictus_88
Guest
Not kneeling could then become a sort of vanity, of wanting to be thought of as ‘nice’, or wanting to be approved of by the congregation in conforming to their expectations.
If you are uncomfortable kneeling to receive, perhaps make sure you have made a good confession before Mass, perhaps pray well before going up to receive, and perhaps offer up your discomfort as a spiritual mortification?
This very likely deepen your experience of reception of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as being a good example. There may be other just like you, who do not feel comfortable giving such public deference to God.
If you are uncomfortable kneeling to receive, perhaps make sure you have made a good confession before Mass, perhaps pray well before going up to receive, and perhaps offer up your discomfort as a spiritual mortification?
This very likely deepen your experience of reception of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as being a good example. There may be other just like you, who do not feel comfortable giving such public deference to God.
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Brendan_64
Guest
I know exactly how you feel, I feel that I am in the same position.
In a rather ‘liberal’ parish it is difficult and I have often thought that perhaps for me to kneel to receive could in itself actually be looked upon as a type of vanity. Having people look at you and think that you are making a spectacle of yourself does not seem to be conducive to receiving Communion, I have also thought that to do so would be seen as my making a point which again isn’t conducive to receiving Communion and could actually foster division. Or perhaps these are just excuses for cowardice on my part?
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Invictus_88
Guest
If loving and humble deference to God causes division, it only divides insomuch as it distinguishes the faithful and the unfaithful.
I wonder though, if it might cause instead an increase of humbleness and love?
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pianistclare
Guest
Other than finding a “kneeling” parish, you just have to speak to the priest and ask.
A face to face heartfelt discussion will go a long way to understanding each other’s position (if it differs from yours) and may open eyes on both sides.
All you can do is humbly ask, and then do as he directs.
You know, you may kneel when you return to your pew.
Do what you CAN do with piety and trust that the Lord knows your heart.
Peace.
A face to face heartfelt discussion will go a long way to understanding each other’s position (if it differs from yours) and may open eyes on both sides.
All you can do is humbly ask, and then do as he directs.
You know, you may kneel when you return to your pew.
Do what you CAN do with piety and trust that the Lord knows your heart.
Peace.
F
friardchips
Guest
I find, though no no lack of respect intended your way, that when people go on their knees when everyone else doesn’t that it kind if gives the impression that they are trying to stand out. And I certainly think what is most important is in your heart as opposed to the external action; nevertheless, your piety is your faith and that is your concern, so I would recommend speaking to your priest about it as he will be able to advise, or find someone you believe to be a holy person in your parish, and ask them. I don’t see that if the priest doesn’t have a problem with it why you can’t. Although it is nice sometimes out of respect for the place and the people to adhere to the way they do things. Please seek advice from your priest and trust what you are told.
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James214
Guest
I recently left a parish where a large number of people knelt, and after going through several parishes (including one where on one occasion I got odd looks from the EMHC and on another the priest almost dropped the host) finally settled on my new home. There a few knelt and no one behaved as if it was out of the ordinary. To me I saw kneeling as the greatest degree of reverence I could personally give to the Body of Christ. Benedict said something along those lines so I thought I was just following what the Holy Father said was the best way to receive.
A few months later I went through EMHC training and during practice I knelt like normal, and my pastor took the time to educate me that while the universal norm allows for standing or kneeling, there is a US norm established for the purpose of maintaining a universal communion posture, which is to stand. Pastors are instructed not to refuse communion to anyone who still kneels but to approach individuals on a case by case basis.
My pastor said to me that as a normal parishioner he wasn’t going to say anything about it but that he would prefer to have me receive while standing because as an EMHC people would assume I, a visible, acting member of the Mass, knew more about the “proper” ways of behavior and he wouldn’t want me to by my actions encourage someone who probably shouldn’t kneel for health reasons to attempt to do so anyway, and maybe not be able to get back up…but he wasn’t going to tell me I couldn’t still go by my preference. After thinking about it I decided that I should follow what the USCCB establishes – just because I personally feel it’s a better to kneel and I’m not forbidden to doesn’t mean there aren’t better reasons for standing.
Reat further: Communion Posture
[SIGN]Viva Jesus![/SIGN]
A few months later I went through EMHC training and during practice I knelt like normal, and my pastor took the time to educate me that while the universal norm allows for standing or kneeling, there is a US norm established for the purpose of maintaining a universal communion posture, which is to stand. Pastors are instructed not to refuse communion to anyone who still kneels but to approach individuals on a case by case basis.
My pastor said to me that as a normal parishioner he wasn’t going to say anything about it but that he would prefer to have me receive while standing because as an EMHC people would assume I, a visible, acting member of the Mass, knew more about the “proper” ways of behavior and he wouldn’t want me to by my actions encourage someone who probably shouldn’t kneel for health reasons to attempt to do so anyway, and maybe not be able to get back up…but he wasn’t going to tell me I couldn’t still go by my preference. After thinking about it I decided that I should follow what the USCCB establishes – just because I personally feel it’s a better to kneel and I’m not forbidden to doesn’t mean there aren’t better reasons for standing.
Reat further: Communion Posture
[SIGN]Viva Jesus![/SIGN]
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TheSurvivor
Guest
Do it! This is the Church’s preferred method, that is, kneeling and on the tongue.
May God Bless you
Also, I personally thank you for your reverence.
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TheSurvivor
Guest
I believe the link you provided is outdated. The current GIRM, if I am not mistaken, does not say “Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.”
God Love you
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TheSurvivor
Guest
Kirk O is under no obligation to find a new parish so others will not be uncomfortable/upset at his or her kneeling/reverence; nor is Kirk O obliged to ask or even notify the priest.
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alphawoman
Guest
Kneel.
I think people are often far more self-conscious than is merited. Other people really don’t care what you do; they’re focused on their own affairs. So enjoy in your own way!
I think people are often far more self-conscious than is merited. Other people really don’t care what you do; they’re focused on their own affairs. So enjoy in your own way!
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UpUpAndAway
Guest
Speak to your pastor first, and if he is all right with you doing so then go ahead and do so. I started kneeling to receive when I saw two other people doing it, a husband and wife. Since they were already receiving this way, I didn’t need to ask my pastor for his approval because I figured he’d already given it to them. That family has since moved away and I’m now the only one who receives while kneeling. No one blinks. It’s not a big deal. YMMV, but I receive while kneeling everywhere I go, even while traveling, and no one has ever reproached me for it.
I hope you are able to receive as you feel called to. If you cannot, then as Clare says, do what you can with piety. The Lord knows your heart. God bless.
I hope you are able to receive as you feel called to. If you cannot, then as Clare says, do what you can with piety. The Lord knows your heart. God bless.
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TheSurvivor
Guest
Again, Kirk O does not need anyone’s permission, as Rome has already given it.Speak to your pastor first, and if he is all right with you doing so then go ahead and do so. I started kneeling to receive when I saw two other people doing it, a husband and wife. Since they were already receiving this way, I didn’t need to ask my pastor for his approval because I figured he’d already given it to them. That family has since moved away and I’m now the only one who receives while kneeling. No one blinks. It’s not a big deal. YMMV, but I receive while kneeling everywhere I go, even while traveling, and no one has ever reproached me for it.
I hope you are able to receive as you feel called to. If you cannot, then as Clare says, do what you can with piety. The Lord knows your heart. God bless.
God Love you
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pianistclare
Guest
Nobody said anything about obligation.
Anyone not happy with their parish may seek one that suits them.
Don’t read anything combative in to my post, please.
A talk with the priest is the best way to handle this. Don’t you believe that the priest in charge of a parish is the best advisor for any parishioner?
Why would a person not go to their priest with any issue of such importance to them?
It’s a forum. He asked, I put in my 2 cents.
I work in a parish. I see the results of instances where people sit in a pew and stew, fret, and wonder what will happen when the sensible thing to do is to go speak to whomever can give them an answer.
Internet advice, they can take or leave.
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MaryT777
Guest
Well said.
Mary.
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friardchips
Guest
Nobody said anything about obligation.
Anyone not happy with their parish may seek one that suits them.
Don’t read anything combative in to my post, please.
A talk with the priest is the best way to handle this. Don’t you believe that the priest in charge of a parish is the best advisor for any parishioner?
Why would a person not go to their priest with any issue of such importance to them?
It’s a forum. He asked, I put in my 2 cents.
I work in a parish. I see the results of instances where people sit in a pew and stew, fret, and wonder what will happen when the sensible thing to do is to go speak to whomever can give them an answer.
Internet advice, they can take or leave.
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friardchips
Guest
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Share_love
Guest
No one can stop you from receiving on the tongue while kneeling. I personally receive on the tongue while standing at the Novus Ordo Mass, and if I’m attending the Tridentine Mass, I kneel at the Communion rail and receive on the tongue. If the way you wish to show reverence to the Real Presence is by kneeling, I don’t think that would distract people from Jesus at all; I think it would be a great way for people to get closer to Him because they would see how seriously you take reception of the Sacrament.
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MaryT777
Guest
The issue in our parish was someone not expecting a person to kneel and standing too close and nearly tripping over them, and some trying to kneel that really have a hard time getting back up steadily. We have a lot of elderly people so I don’t think the reason priests ask for parishioners to refrain from doing that are for safety type reasons.
We also has some man prostrate himself on the floor before receiving and he was aske to refrain from doing that also.
God Bless,
Mary.
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