Is it inappropriate to kneel at communion at some Masses?

[em3boone]

it doesn’t matter whether or not you kneel or stand. As long as you recieve the host in a respectable manner your fine. Some see kneeling as a more reverent way to take the comunion but it doesnt really matter

In response to an interview in December 2008 Cardinal Cañizares Llovera stated regarding the best way to receive the Eucharist: “What does it mean to receive communion in the mouth? What does it mean to kneel before the Most Holy Sacrament? What does it mean to kneel during the consecration at Mass? It means adoration, it means recognizing the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist; it means respect and an attitude of faith of a man who prostrates before God because he knows that everything comes from Him, and we feel speechless, dumbfounded, before the wondrousness, his goodness, and his mercy. That is why it is not the same to place the hand, and to receive communion in any fashion, than doing it in a respectful way; it is not the same to receive communion kneeling or standing up, because all these signs indicate a profound meaning.”

The Good Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship would seem to disagree with you a bit.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Here is how it went in our church. I knelt to receive and the priest said “Get up!” I opened my eyes and he was glaring at me. “Get up.” He said again. “You have to receive like everyone else does.” I don’t know what you would call it but I call it EVIL. I doubt that this fellow would be much impressed with any document you could produce.

While the kneeling posture for Communion is permitted in the Ordinary Form, singularlizing yourself by kneeling might not be a good idea, either.

 

[maurin]

Quite frankly I don’t “see” how you’re in a position to arbitrarily dismiss concerns with the elderly, some with canes, young mothers with youngsters clinging to them and possibly distracting them, cramped spaces between altar platforms and pews, etc. and possible issues with people triping over legs that aren’t where they’d expect to find them, especially if perhaps 2 in a hundred are kneeling. Is the personal gesture of kneeling more important to you than someone’s safety?

quite frankly, Matt, there are a number of things you don’t “see”, but dive right in talking about them anyway! That’s not a bad thing. The bad thing is that you don’t ‘listen’ when you’ve finished talking. That’s the definition of a monologue, not a dialogue.

 

[maurin]

While the kneeling posture for Communion is permitted in the Ordinary Form, singularlizing yourself by kneeling might not be a good idea, either.

You’re right basil, it’s not a good idea. It’s a great idea. the light on the lampstand, the city on the hill–the sowing of some seed!

 

[giuseppeTO]

While the kneeling posture for Communion is permitted in the Ordinary Form, singularlizing yourself by kneeling might not be a good idea, either.

Being rebuked in public for reverencing the Blessed Sacrament, as opposed to honoring the ‘cult of man’, was a good penance for me.

 

[Sr_Sally]

…which is why I will never step foot in a diocesan church to attend a Mass in the OF.

You are painting with too broad a brush here. I don’t doubt that this has happened to you, but I have seen people receiving on their knees in several different diocesan churches and know of many others. I personally genuflect just before I receive but stand again to actually receive as the priests are standing up on the sanctuary steps and when I am kneeling I am too low.

I will pray for the priest yu described and pray that life’s situations won’t cause you to ever miss your Sunday obligation because of your pride in never attending an OF Mass.

 

[giuseppeTO]

You are painting with too broad a brush here. I don’t doubt that this has happened to you, but I have seen people receiving on their knees in several different diocesan churches and know of many others. I personally genuflect just before I receive but stand again to actually receive as the priests are standing up on the sanctuary steps and when I am kneeling I am too low.

I will pray for the priest yu described and pray that life’s situations won’t cause you to ever miss your Sunday obligation because of your pride in never attending an OF Mass.

Thank you for the prayers, sister. I can ALWAYS use more. I also pray for the priest(s) who cause the faithful to fall away from the faith, in direct opposition to their mission and calling. Not to fear in my case, since it drove me to the Mass of Pius V which is a much better place.

The problem is not so much with the OF, although it certainly has its problems. The problem is rather with the inconsistencies one finds in the diocesan churches. One never knows when one will find a charitable and loving priest who respects those who choose to kneel in the physical presence of Our Lord or the anti-priest I described above.

Our close friends of the same parish also observed the reverence of genuflecting before receiving communion (while standing) until the same priest made the comment from the pulpit that “…those who think they are ‘holier than thou’ by genuflecting before receiving the Blessed Sacrament are only worshiping the butt of the person in front of him”. As outrageous as this may sound, I assure you that this is the verbatim quote. So be careful where you choose to genuflect. Since the same thing happened to my wife in a different city (buffalo, NY as opposed to San Diego, CA), the problem is definitely widespread. One just never knows.

The only one who can fix these problems is the Holy Father since the shepards of the diocese are either AWOL or are in agreement.

 

[Sr_Sally]

That is a truly horrifying quote! I am glad that the “butt in front of me” is usually someone from my family! I thank God once again that we live in a conservative diocese where pious practices are encouraged. I will remember you in Adoration today. Please do also pray for me.

 

[giuseppeTO]

That is a truly horrifying quote! I am glad that the “butt in front of me” is usually someone from my family! I thank God once again that we live in a conservative diocese where pious practices are encouraged. I will remember you in Adoration today. Please do also pray for me.

Will do … God Bless you and your family and the faithful of your diocese.