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

[zab]

I think it is pleasing to Christ when we defer to other’s wishes, even if those wishes are not perfect. Especially when those wishes come from those whose position should be respected.

A priest makes an overreaching demand for this and that…so what? Is he commanding you to sin?
This exaltation of “my rights” is a symptom of individualistic modernism run amok, irony noted.

(not saying we don’t have rights, I’m noting that our rights are not to be exalted above proper obedience, root of which is “ob-audiere”, “to listen”. Maybe we fear that obedience leads us to slavery? Is that a well founded fear or is that the deceiver whispering in our ear?)

Yes, and sometimes that is the hardest, most humble thing to do- to defer to other’s wishes.

 

[Brendan]

At our abbey all of the monks receive kneeling.
One thing a monk will never do is disobey his abbot. Most abbots will decree a uniform standard for this sort of thing, at least those of our congregation…

My point being, if the Abbot had decreed that any individual monk may either kneel or stand, at his discretion, there would be no disagreement, no accusations of disobedience on those who choose to kneel vs stand, no attempts by the celebrant priests to enforce their preferred position over others.

Is that a correct statement?

But that is exactly what is happening at times in the parishes. A decree by the highest authority has been made, but yet calls of disobedience are made on some who choose to exercise positions that have been permitted by the highest authority.

 

[Sirach2]

I think it is pleasing to Christ when we defer to other’s wishes, even if those wishes are not perfect. Especially when those wishes come from those whose position should be respected.

This exaltation of “my rights” is a symptom of individualistic modernism run amok, irony noted.

It simply comes down to “I will win this debate”, and the only way to do that is with the very faulty battle cry of “The document says…”

I’ve yet to personally see or hear anyone harassing someone who chooses to kneel. A straw man statement, for arguments’ sake.

 

[OraLabora]

My point being, if the Abbot had decreed that any individual monk may either kneel or stand, at his discretion, there would be no disagreement, no accusations of disobedience on those who choose to kneel vs stand, no attempts by the celebrant priests to enforce their preferred position over others.

Is that a correct statement?
.

Not in a Benedictine context as it would go against the spirit and letter of the Rule to allow individual will to prevail over community will as ratified by the abbot. Exceptions would of course be made for infirmities, but in general the abbot would decree one way of doing for the entire community after consulting them in chapter.

In Benedictine monasticism the individual always effaces himself and would not want to stand out. It’s the same principal that applies to their chant: no individual voice stands out, the community chants… or stands and kneels as a community…

As Clem pointed out it is a lesson in humility respect the lawful wishes of others. For me at least that is very much in keeping with Benedictine spirituality, one of the oldest and most traditional in the Church (1500 years). There are many ways of being “traditional” besides a narrow reading of the letter of the law and standing fast for ones rights.

While it’s true that the priest may be wrong in insisting unless he has a legitimate reason such as say back trouble that makes leaning forward difficult, one has to ask what would be achieved by going to the wall over this rather than offering it up?