I want to kneel while receiving Jesus but no one else does

[Share_love]

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.

Looks like you got to my message just before I deleted it because I felt like the question was already properly answered! Haha.

It’s definitely one of those things where you want to make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. You don’t want someone else to get hurt because they didn’t know you were going to kneel, and you also don’t want to develop a “holier than thou” attitude over it if no one else wants to kneel. I have personally found that receiving on the tongue while standing works well at the Ordinary Form of Mass because of the uniformity of standing and that receiving on the tongue while kneeling works well at the Extraordinary Form, because the Extraordinary Form has rails and everyone is uniform in their kneeling as well, unless that would cause the person a great deal of physical pain.

To the OP, I would say to pray about it and to perhaps talk to your local priest and see what he thinks, but if your conscience is telling you to kneel and you follow that, the priest cannot deny you the Eucharist because of it.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Again, Kirk O does not need anyone’s permission, as Rome has already given it.

God Love you

God love you too

“Need” isn’t the issue. It was a poor choice of words on my part, and I apologize for any misunderstanding stemming from it.

I would ask, just as a courtesy, if I were going to do something out of the ordinary for the parish. Like Clare, I work in a parish. I see the sort of things she describes. Asking makes intent and expectation clear. I don’t see how that can be a bad thing.

 

[Elizium23]

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.

That’s a crying shame. Nobody should be “corrected” or discouraged from showing reverence.

To the OP: kneel. You don’t need anyone’s permission or approval.

 

[Duane1966]

Two points.

If you feel Jesus calling you to kneel, then kneel. I would just make sure that I was last in line to help the flow of things.

There is nothing wrong with standing when you would rather be kneeling to help the flow of things. God knows what is in your heart, and how you really wish to revere Him, as I heard on the radio the other day by Fr. Riccardo. On the other hand, if you do not kneel (when you think you should be), just because of other people looking at you and what they might think, then you are exhibiting cowardice before the Lord (I have shamefully been there many times in my life).

One final note, I do not buy the observation that someone behind in line may not see you and trip over you, just as much chance of them bumping into the back of the person in front of them when everyone is standing.

 

[paperwight66]

.

One final note, I do not buy the observation that someone behind in line may not see you and trip over you,

Well, it certainly happened to a partially-sighted lady in our parish, and she never fully recovered from the injuries and shock to her confidence.

You do realise that when a person kneels or genuflects, their foot tends to stick out behind them and isn’t always visible until too late?

 

[pianistclare]

Whether or not any of us think this is licit, illicit, or more pious or less pious is immaterial.
The person should talk to their priest. The priest knows it’s allowed. No one should ever approach something like they are going to “school” the rest of the congregation or their pastor.
Speak to the priest, OP. Courtesy and obedience is always a good thing.
No way to find out unless you ask. Good luck.

 

[Invictus_88]

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.

As laudable as it is to encourage faithfulness to the priest, this is not quite correct.

Catholics are entitled to receive kneeling, irrespective of the preferences of the local priest or the prevailing habit of the area.

Further: vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/details/ns_lit_doc_20091117_comunione_en.html

 

[Elizium23]

Whether or not any of us think this is licit, illicit, or more pious or less pious is immaterial.
The person should talk to their priest. The priest knows it’s allowed. No one should ever approach something like they are going to “school” the rest of the congregation or their pastor.
Speak to the priest, OP. Courtesy and obedience is always a good thing.
No way to find out unless you ask. Good luck.

Kneeling is the right of all the faithful. It is enshrined in our tradition and our highest liturgical law. I think instead of groveling to the pastor to discuss this as if you need permission for it, perhaps you can just send a signed letter, politely conveying the fact that you wish to exercise your right to kneel for Holy Communion. Then if the pastor contacts you in order to “catechize” you on why it is a bad idea, you will immediately know that this is the wrong parish for you, or for that matter, anyone who considers his canonical rights to be important.

 

[Share_love]

Kneeling is the right of all the faithful. It is enshrined in our tradition and our highest liturgical law. I think instead of groveling to the pastor to discuss this as if you need permission for it, perhaps you can just send a signed letter, politely conveying the fact that you wish to exercise your right to kneel for Holy Communion. Then if the pastor contacts you in order to “catechize” you on why it is a bad idea, you will immediately know that this is the wrong parish for you, or for that matter, anyone who considers his canonical rights to be important.

 

[godisgood77]

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.

Simply not true… I can’t in good conscious allow this to pass without commenting on it. Other comments are correct… It is your choice and you should decide without regard for the opinions of others, but should consider the norms laid down by your bishops conference.

My recommendation would be to speak to your pastor and prayerfully make a choice, but definitely do not invest much time or mental energy in a simple external gesture… Your heart and mind are what is important.

 

[Brendan_64]

Simply not true… I can’t in good conscious allow this to pass without commenting on it. Other comments are correct… It is your choice and you should decide without regard for the opinions of others, but should consider the norms laid down by your bishops conference.

It is the norm of the Church, dispensation from this norm, for any Bishop’s conference, is permitted only through an indult.

In bishop’s conference areas where no indult has been granted then you are not within your rights to receive Communion in the hand and standing, whereas receiving kneeling and on the tongue is permitted universally by the Church because this is the universal liturgical norm and this cannot lawfully be denied anywhere to those wishing to recieve in this manner (regardless of whether an indult to receive standing and in the hand has been granted and decided upon as the local ‘norm’).

 

[CB_Catholic]

Kneeling is the right of all the faithful. It is enshrined in our tradition and our highest liturgical law. I think instead of groveling to the pastor to discuss this as if you need permission for it, perhaps you can just send a signed letter, politely conveying the fact that you wish to exercise your right to kneel for Holy Communion. Then if the pastor contacts you in order to “catechize” you on why it is a bad idea, you will immediately know that this is the wrong parish for you, or for that matter, anyone who considers his canonical rights to be important.

So you consider discussing the matter as an adult with one’s Pastor is “groveling”?

That sure doesn’t convey an attitude of respect toward the hierarchy and legitimate authority, let alone common courtesy, does it?

 

[Brendan_64]

So you consider discussing the matter as an adult with one’s Pastor is “groveling”?

That sure doesn’t convey an attitude of respect toward the hierarchy and legitimate authority, let alone common courtesy, does it?

But the priest does not have authority on this issue. Any member of the faithful is entitled to kneel to receive Communion and cannot be lawfully denied this, the local parish priest has no authority to insist otherwise. There is no need to discuss this with him.

 

[CB_Catholic]

But the priest does not have authority on this issue. Any member of the faithful is entitled to kneel to receive Communion and cannot be lawfully denied this, the local parish priest has no authority to insist otherwise. There is no need to discuss this with him.

That is not the point. Calling discussing something with one’s pastor “grovelling” shows a lack of respect and common courtesy. Whether there is a need or not. Here is the definition for grovelling:

dictionary.reference.com/browse/grovelling

Now you tell me how appropriate this is.

 

[Brendan_64]

That is not the point. Calling discussing something with one’s pastor “grovelling” shows a lack of respect and common courtesy. Whether there is a need or not.

The issue is that there is no need at all to discuss this with the parish priest, let alone seek his permission or approval. This is an issue over which he has no authority.

 

[R_H_Benson]

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.

If you want to kneel, then by all means, KNEEL! Don’t worry about “drawing attention to yourself”. If people are so easily distracted by someone else’s Church approved and pious action at the reception of Holy Communion, that is something they need to discuss with a holy priest - not you! This is a beautiful tradition of the Church and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

God bless you as you witness to the Real Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist! You are doing NOTHING wrong.

 

[estesbob]

With all due respect I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill. If you want to receive on the tongue kneeling do so. Nobody cares how you receive as long as you are reverent.

 

[Ignatius]

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.

Just focus on Jesus. Whenever I do this and I find myself standing before Jesus Christ, The Creator of the Universe, The Lord of Lords and King of Kings; my knees just give out and I find myself on my knees reverently open to receive Him. I can’t do anything about it.

 

[Ignatius]

Another thing that might help dissipate the distractions and worry about others:

Keep this in mind: youtube.com/watch?v=Yrptq-js2wY

 

[agnes_therese]

Again, Kirk O does not need anyone’s permission, as Rome has already given it.

God Love you

Nonetheless, it would certainly be courteous of him.