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

[TheSurvivor]

1. You do not think it narcissistic to make your wishes more important than safety issues when being in a long line that is quite close together?
2. I see not one thing wrong with receiving in the kneeling position, but maybe the Pastor has a plan for those who wish to receive in that manner. He might want you to only be in the line where a priest is as compared to the line with a lay person. It makes sense that the priest would appreciate a heads-up, especially if no one has received kneeling in recent history.
3. If you attended a FSSP church and you decided it was your right to receive standing up, don’t you think that it would be appreciated if you notified the priest first?
4. (Ps: thank goodness you are your own person, and not a Voris clone…)

1. No, because as Brendan 64 pointed out, there is no safety hazard; if there were, the one who was kneeling would not be responsible for any accident. Two, because kneeling is not done in selfish disregard for others, but for reverence of the Most High Christ.
2. This would be like someone asking a Wal-Mart manager if he had any special plans for one who would like to park properly, being as no one has in recent memory.
3. I would hope someone would tell me how foolish and narcissistic I was for thinking I could possibly ever even come close to having a “right” to stand (or even kneel which is a much more humble posture) before the Infinite Majesty and Might of God the Son in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Now, if one is attending the Extraordinary Form of Mass one should follow the 1962 Missal (as I believe Father Charles Grondin said).
4. Yes, I am my own person, (and an admirer of Michael Voris) however, I am not as holy as he.

God Love you

 

[floresco]

When I first started kneeling to receive (I had learned this was the practice at papal Masses) I discussed it with my pastor. I was not asking for permission, since I knew I did not need it, but asking advice about the practical aspects of it, such as not creating disruptions in the line up.

When I went to an unfamiliar parish, I tended to simply not receive. I had heard of priests who refused Communion to people who knelt (even though they should not do this), I was concerned that an incident like this would distract others at Mass.

 

[ProVobis]

If you attended a FSSP church and you decided it was your right to receive standing up, don’t you think that it would be appreciated if you notified the priest first?

Actually standing to receive in the EF is not that uncommon, if one wishes to do so. No biggie. Even if one isn’t able to approach the communion rail, an usher can be notified and communion will be brought to them.

 

[grotto]

The “smoke of Satan” causes confusion and the sheep scatter. Liberalism is a tool used to cause hesitation and doubt, social/political correctness leading souls to loose their Faith.
Receiving the Holy Eucharist requires the soul to be reconciled with God (mortal sin absent) and a posture of reverence as instructed by the Catholic Church. “Norms” used to hinder the exercise of devotion and adoration are like the “fine print” at the bottom of a disclaimer.

We need to recognize this “smoke” and practice the courage of our Faith. Adoration of the Holy Eucharist, the Presence of Jesus in the Host, the Sacrifice of the Mass, ask a soul to seek and find Our Lord. This is why our posture and demeanor are such a large part of how we try to be humble, contrite, attentive, as we commune with Our Lord.

If we are discouraged to express our Faith a loss occurs - directions requesting people to stand, meeting, greeting and chatty conversations up and down the rows distracting the prayers of the Mass, shuffling up to casually receive in the hand, dozens of people touching with hands and mouth to a chalice, returning to remain standing, these are basic postures that weaken.

Never give way to pressures that you know in your heart are slighting our Lord - be an example and let them throw tomatoes at you!

 

[Denise1957]

The “smoke of Satan” causes confusion and the sheep scatter. Liberalism is a tool used to cause hesitation and doubt, social/political correctness leading souls to loose their Faith.
Receiving the Holy Eucharist requires the soul to be reconciled with God (mortal sin absent) and a posture of reverence as instructed by the Catholic Church. “Norms” used to hinder the exercise of devotion and adoration are like the “fine print” at the bottom of a disclaimer.

We need to recognize this “smoke” and practice the courage of our Faith. Adoration of the Holy Eucharist, the Presence of Jesus in the Host, the Sacrifice of the Mass, ask a soul to seek and find Our Lord. This is why our posture and demeanor are such a large part of how we try to be humble, contrite, attentive, as we commune with Our Lord.

If we are discouraged to express our Faith a loss occurs - directions requesting people to stand, meeting, greeting and chatty conversations up and down the rows distracting the prayers of the Mass, shuffling up to casually receive in the hand, dozens of people touching with hands and mouth to a chalice, returning to remain standing, these are basic postures that weaken.

Never give way to pressures that you know in your heart are slighting our Lord - be an example and let them throw tomatoes at you!

Well said.

 

[paperwight66]

Oh come on. Kneeling to receive Communion is potentially endangering the safety of others? Have we really reached a point where people are not expected to take responsibility for their own basic safety through opening their eyes and looking where they are going?

.

I really must protest at this. Our congregations have a substantial number of older parishioners. Inevitably, a person’s sight deteriorates as part of the ageing process.

I have mentioned in a previous post how a partially-sighted lady in our church fell over an inconsiderate person in front of her in the Communion queue, and was never the same again.

Believe me, if she could have ‘opened her eyes and looked where she was going’, don’t you think she would have?

People are living longer, but they are not always with perfect sight. Cataracts strike, and much else.

 

[Brendan_64]

I really must protest at this. Our congregations have a substantial number of older parishioners. Inevitably, a person’s sight deteriorates as part of the ageing process.

Dear oh dear, so kneeling to receive Communion is now an act that endangers the well-being of others?

I have mentioned in a previous post how a partially-sighted lady in our church fell over an inconsiderate person in front of her in the Communion queue, and was never the same again…

So someone kneeling to receive Communion is an inconsiderate person?

While I sympathise with the lady who fell, blame for this cannot be attributed to a person in front of her kneeling to receive.

Believe me, if she could have ‘opened her eyes and looked where she was going’, don’t you think she would have?

People are living longer, but they are not always with perfect sight. Cataracts strike, and much else.

Are you suggesting that the Church bans kneeling to receive Holy Communion on health and safety grounds?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Really?

Would it be that much of an inconvenience for the person who wants to receive kneeling to talk with the Pastor first? Not for permission (which we all know is not needed), but to just work out some logistics, so that there are no mishaps.

Dear oh dear, so kneeling to receive Communion is now an act that endangers the well-being of others?

So someone kneeling to receive Communion is an inconsiderate person?

While I sympathise with the lady who fell, blame for this cannot be attributed to a person in front of her kneeling to receive.

Are you suggesting that the Church bans kneeling to receive Holy Communion on health and safety grounds?

 

[Brendan_64]

Really?

Would it be that much of an inconvenience for the person who wants to receive kneeling to talk with the Pastor first? Not for permission (which we all know is not needed), but to just work out some logistics, so that there are no mishaps.

No mishaps? Are we really saying that we inform the priest because kneeling can be potentially dangerous to others and that special arrangements should be made to minimise that risk? Is that where we are head, an environment that strives to be risk-free? Will we next have to complete a parish ‘risk-assessment’ form as a risk has been identified and we have a legal duty to take action to minimise this risk in order to safeguard parishioners?

Should we also inform our priest whenever we plan to light a votive candle, due to the risk of a person burning their clothing (which did actually happen at my church)?

 

[floresco]

Really?

Would it be that much of an inconvenience for the person who wants to receive kneeling to talk with the Pastor first? Not for permission (which we all know is not needed), but to just work out some logistics, so that there are no mishaps.

This is exactly what I did. It was neither difficult nor inconvenient.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Brendan 64, are you being obtuse on purpose?

In the US, the NORM is to receive standing!

No one is saying that kneeling is not acceptable, but since the NORM is standing, anything that is different very well could throw someone off and an accident could happen. If it were me who wanted to kneel, and someone not expecting it tripped over me, I would be mortified.

So, yes, I think it would be the right thing to do to talk to my priest and ask him how he would like me to proceed. That is what common courtesy is, and if we can’t at least have that in Church, the world is in much worse trouble than I thought.

 

[floresco]

No mishaps? Are we really saying that we inform the priest because kneeling can be potentially dangerous to others and that special arrangements should be made to minimise that risk?

In a parish that is not set up for receiving while kneeling, doing so is potentially awkward or even dangerous. The pastor may have suggestions on how to minimize this.

The dignity of the Sacrament requires that we do what we can to avoid situations in which people bump into each other or trip over each other.

 

[estesbob]

In a parish that is not set up for receiving while kneeling, doing so is potentially awkward or even dangerous. The pastor may have suggestions on how to minimize this.

The dignity of the Sacrament requires that we do what we can to avoid situations in which people bump into each other or trip over each other.

I sit in the front pew during daily mass on the central aisle and I had never seen
the one person who kneels causing any problems for those behind him . I’ve also never noticed that either the priest or anybody else in the church has any problem whatsoever with those who choose to kneel. I think this whole thread is a solution looking for a problem

 

[grotto]

Brendan 64, Duck, here come the tomatoes!

 

[kozlosap]

This is exactly what I did. It was neither difficult nor inconvenient.

I have been wondering why there are several posters that think simply asking the Pastor his wishes in regards to receiving in a manner which is not the norm is so abhorrent? Everybody understands that you have the RIGHT to receive kneeling, but is being disrespectful to the Pastor part of that too?

 

[Brendan_64]

I have been wondering why there are several posters that think simply asking the Pastor his wishes in regards to receiving in a manner which is not the norm is so abhorrent? Everybody understands that you have the RIGHT to receive kneeling, but is being disrespectful to the Pastor part of that too?

Perhaps then those people who wish to hold hands (or adopt the orans position) during the Our Father, or leave their pews to shake hands with others during the Sign of Peace ought to inform the priest beforehand? These go against the norm and, unlike kneeling to receive, are actually disapproved of by the Church. Is it not disrespectful to the priest that these people do not first inform the priest of their intentions.

 

[floresco]

Perhaps then those people who wish to hold hands (or adopt the orans position) during the Our Father, or leave their pews to shake hands with others during the Sign of Peace ought to inform the priest beforehand? These go against the norm and, unlike kneeling to receive, are actually disapproved of by the Church. Is it not disrespectful to the priest that these people do not first inform the priest of their intentions.

It is unlikely that anyone who does these things has any idea there is problem with them or intends any disrespect. People tend to imitate the behaviour of those around them and think it is acceptable.

 

[Brendan_64]

It is unlikely that anyone who does these things has any idea there is problem with them or intends any disrespect. People tend to imitate the behaviour of those around them and think it is acceptable.

And is there a problem with kneeling to receive that a person wishing to do so should notify the priest beforehand? Is kneeling to receive done with any intention of disrespect?

It seems that things that are contrary to the norms of the Church and are actually disapproved of by the Church are somehow accepted as being OK and can be carried out without even informing the priest, whereas something such as kneeling to receive which is approved of and encouraged by the Church is something that we need to inform the priest of beforehand.

 

[CB_Catholic]

And is there a problem with kneeling to receive that a person wishing to do so should notify the priest beforehand? Is kneeling to receive done with any intention of disrespect?

It seems that things that are contrary to the norms of the Church and are actually disapproved of by the Church are somehow accepted as being OK and can be carried out without even informing the priest, whereas something such as kneeling to receive which is approved of and encouraged by the Church is something that we need to inform the priest of beforehand.

Brendan, you are so far off the point, it is amazing. I replied to a comment that said somebody didn’t need to “grovel” to the priest about this. I replied that asking a priest about something was NOT grovelling, and that it was rather disrespectful to talk like that.

But you have taken the whole thing so off track that it’s unbelievable. Nobody has claimed one must go to the priest for permission. The only claim was that it is not proper and is disrespectful to call such an action as asking a priest something “grovelling”. You are making a huge issue out of this one comment and I think it is time you just let it go. No one is arguing that a person needs to approach a priest about this, just that it is perfectly respectful to do so, and certainly not “grovelling”. But that is not even the topic of the thread, and it has been pretty well derailed. Enough is enough.

 

[Brendan_64]

I’m simply responding to the posts of others. At no point have I ever mentioned the term ‘grovelling’, I simply think it is unnecessary to approach the priest about this beforehand. If someone chooses to genuflect directly before or after standing to receive ought they too approach the priest beforehand to inform him? It is just not necessary.