Infirmity and the Tridentine Mass

[Saintlucy]

How does one behave at a Tridentine Mass if one can’t genuflect, kneel or approach Communion kneeling?

 

[Melchior_1]

Unpopular opinion alert, based strictly on what I have observed interacting with those who favor the Extraordinary Form. By no means I am saying this is true everywhere;

Some folks will likely say “it doesn’t matter”, but it does in a sense. From what I have seen, there’s a large emphasis placed on the “externals”, so you might be judged or feel judged unless you are elderly or have an visible physical disability,

In any case, for Communion reception, talk to the priest for his idea(s) on how to handle that. For the rest of the Mass, sit at the back where no one can see you.

 

[OldCAFMember]

We have a few such folks in our FSSP parish. They usually sit when others kneel, with some preferring to sit forward a bit in their seat, as opposed to their backs against the back of the pew. When they come to the communion rail, they simply stand. No one has ever said anything, and I doubt that they care.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Christ, or His Church, does not expect the impossible. One can sit at Mass if one cannot kneel. We can receive sitting in a wheelchair, or standing if one cannot kneel. I would speak to the priest about the proper procedure.

 

[TradidiQuodEtAccepi]

I’ve been to masses offered by priests of various groups, including the FSSP and SSPX. My experience and observations are…if one truly has a legitimate reason that renders him incapable of genuflecting or kneeling, he would still be expected to do his best in making another pious gesture. For example, the elderly could make a generous bow instead of genuflecting.

Not sure if this makes sense, but to me it is comparable to the obligation… in that, if one truly has a valid reason for not being able to attend mass, divine law still obliges one to sanctify the sabbath. Similarly, if one cannot conform to the usual norm of genuflecting towards the blessed sacrament, for a truly justifiable reason, he should still practice a pious deed to the best of his ability.

There is a very aged senior at the local mission, who is blind and has problems walking (he needs a walker). Instead of genuflecting, he always does his best to make a low bow. Although he doesn’t have good knees, he still kneels throughout most of the mass, until his knees hurt too much, and he choose to sit but leans forward in his pew. This seems very evident that he is doing all he can, and I admire him greatly for it.

 

[Anne1964]

Our Diocesan Vocations Director has a TLM on the first Sunday of the month and this past Sunday he addressed the issue of people who cannot kneel to receive Communion. He told them not to worry about that and to simply stand at the altar rail.

I have arthritis in my knees and I cannot genuflect although I can kneel for short periods. Once my knees give out I switch to a half-sitting half-kneeling position. No one has ever said anything to me about it.