Is it permissible to receive communion from the cup kneeling?

[David_B]

I’ve had discussions with people saying that it is not allowed to received the species of Consecrated Wine kneeling at the rail. The only experience I’ve had where I’ve seen an altar rail present (actually a couple prie dieu’s) and the option to receive under both kinds was at a Benedictine monastery…the host was received kneeling but the cup received standing.

 

[Brendan]

I’ve had discussions with people saying that it is not allowed to received the species of Consecrated Wine kneeling at the rail. The only experience I’ve had where I’ve seen an altar rail present (actually a couple prie dieu’s) and the option to receive under both kinds was at a Benedictine monastery…the host was received kneeling but the cup received standing.

Recieving the chalice while kneeling is problematic form a logicstical perspective.

But that does not mean that both species cannot be recieved at the rail via inticntion.

That was the means that my parents recieved their First Holy Communion in pre-Vat II Ireland, and it’s the common means at our parish today.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I’ve had discussions with people saying that it is not allowed to received the species of Consecrated Wine kneeling at the rail. The only experience I’ve had where I’ve seen an altar rail present (actually a couple prie dieu’s) and the option to receive under both kinds was at a Benedictine monastery…the host was received kneeling but the cup received standing.

If the minister is standing while the recipient is kneeling it seems like there’s a great possibility of spilling the Precious Blood. For that reason alone it seems to be a bad idea whether it’s allowed or not.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’ve had discussions with people saying that it is not allowed to received the species of Consecrated Wine kneeling at the rail. The only experience I’ve had where I’ve seen an altar rail present (actually a couple prie dieu’s) and the option to receive under both kinds was at a Benedictine monastery…the host was received kneeling but the cup received standing.

It’s not permitted to receive either form kneeling. A person is not to be denied Communion because they are kneeling, that does not mean that it is acceptable. Generally kneeling is the posture for reception at a communion rail, the Chalice is not normally offered when a communion rail is used.

 

[NoPlaceLikeRome]

It’s not permitted to receive either form kneeling.

I am almost certain this is untrue, particularly in places with an altar rail where one is expected to receive kneeling. Do you mean “In the US it is not the norm to receive kneeling?”

FWIW, I went to an Anglican Use parish for the first time last week, and they had a system where the priest went down the altar rail giving the Body and a ?deacon? followed, holding the Chalice and placing it at the mouth of whomever wanted to receive thence.

But if you mean in the ordinary run of things, should one present oneself kneeling for the Precious Blood as one sometimes presents oneself kneeling for the Body, it doesn’t seem like the best plan. Legally, I have no idea.

 

[Pax_Vobiscum_57]

Recieving the chalice while kneeling is problematic form a logicstical perspective.

But that does not mean that both species cannot be recieved at the rail via inticntion.

That was the means that my parents recieved their First Holy Communion in pre-Vat II Ireland, and it’s the common means at our parish today.

Hi Brendan!! The first time I ever experienced intinction was at your parish. There are no words to describe the power of receiving both species in that manner.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I am almost certain this is untrue, particularly in places with an altar rail where one is expected to receive kneeling. Do you mean “In the US it is not the norm to receive kneeling?”

FWIW, I went to an Anglican Use parish for the first time last week, and they had a system where the priest went down the altar rail giving the Body and a ?deacon? followed, holding the Chalice and placing it at the mouth of whomever wanted to receive thence.

But if you mean in the ordinary run of things, should one present oneself kneeling for the Precious Blood as one sometimes presents oneself kneeling for the Body, it doesn’t seem like the best plan. Legally, I have no idea.

Yes, that is correct. As I have said before my answers are all from the perspective of the U.S. norms.

 

[Phemie]

If the minister is standing while the recipient is kneeling it seems like there’s a great possibility of spilling the Precious Blood. For that reason alone it seems to be a bad idea whether it’s allowed or not.

Why does the posture of the communicant relative to the minister increase to possibility of spilling? The minister hands the communicant the chalice, communicant drinks and hands it back. How does kneeling affect that?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Why does the posture of the communicant relative to the minister increase to possibility of spilling? The minister hands the communicant the chalice, communicant drinks and hands it back. How does kneeling affect that?

Because if the communicant is down low and the minister is up high there’s an angle involved that would seem to increase the possibility of spillage as the chalice is handed over.

 

[Oxnrach]

I’m very new to Catholicism, but I was always told that kneeling to receive the eucharist was the proper form, but because people started receiving standing more and more it was basically forgotten, just like I have heard technically you are only to receive the body of Christ on the tongue, not in the hand.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m very new to Catholicism, but I was always told that kneeling to receive the eucharist was the proper form, but because people started receiving standing more and more it was basically forgotten, just like I have heard technically you are only to receive the body of Christ on the tongue, not in the hand.

In the United states the normal posture is standing. Kneeling is the normal posture when using a communion rail as we did in the past, (and maybe the future) usually only receiving the Host or Communion by Intinction.

 

[pjn6444]

I receive both kneeling. There is no altar rail. I figure if I receive under one species while kneeling I should do the same for the other. Are they not both the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ? It seems odd to me to receive the first while kneeling and the second while standing.

 

[Brendan]

In the United states the normal posture is standing. Kneeling is the normal posture when using a communion rail as we did in the past, (and maybe the future) usually only receiving the Host or Communion by Intinction.

Sorta.

Standing is a Particular Normative posture. But the CDWDS said that that norm was not approved in such a way as to override the Universal Norm of Kneeling. A particular norm only supercede a Universal norm when it is specifically approved to do so.

So both are technically Normative and thus it is neither disobedient or illict to kneel.

 

[Brendan]

Hi Brendan!! The first time I ever experienced intinction was at your parish. There are no words to describe the power of receiving both species in that manner.

I’m very glad it was spritually beneficial

When my niece (who had just made her First Holy Communion) came to my son’s First Holy Communion, she recieved the Eucharist intincted for the first time.

Her comment was “Wow, that was so cool, I wish we did that”

In fact, it was my son who convinced us to join the parish. We went there because a friend of our attended the parish. We went on a weekday and my son couldn’t figure out why we were going to Mass on something other than a Sunday, He complained the whole way there. After Mass, he looked at us in awe and said “Daddy, let’s go back again. THAT’s where I want to make my First Communion”

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I receive both kneeling. There is no altar rail. I figure if I receive under one species while kneeling I should do the same for the other. Are they not both the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ? It seems odd to me to receive the first while kneeling and the second while standing.

It seems odd to me that you would purposefully ignore the Bishops directives, for your own preferences.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Sorta.

Standing is a Particular Normative posture. But the CDWDS said that that norm was not approved in such a way as to override the Universal Norm of Kneeling. A particular norm only supercede a Universal norm when it is specifically approved to do so.

So both are technically Normative.

I normally don’t ask this but you will need in this case to provide the document and paragraph. What I have read is that anyone who kneels is not to be denied the Eucharist and is to be instructed on the proper posture at a later time.

 

[Brendan]

I normally don’t ask this but you will need in this case to provide the document and paragraph. What I have read is that anyone who kneels is not to be denied the Eucharist and is to be instructed on the proper posture at a later time.

Congregatio de Culto Divino et Disciplina
Sacramentorum
Prot. N. xxxx/02/L
Rome, xx February, 2003

This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has received your letter dated xx December 2002, related to the application of the norms approved by the Conference of Bishops of the United States of America, with the subsequent recognitio of this Congregation, as regards the question of the posture for receiving Holy Communion.

As the authority by virtue of whose recognitio the norm in question has attained the force of law, this Dicastery is competent to specify the manner in which the norm is to be understood for the sake of a proper application. Having received more than a few letters regarding this matter from different locations in the United States of America, the Congregation wishes to ensure that its position on the matter is clear.

To this end, it is perhaps useful to respond to your inquiry by repeating the content of a letter that the Congregation recently addressed to a Bishop in the United States of America from whose Diocese a number of pertinent letters had been received. The letter states: “… while this Congregation gave the recognitio to the norm desired by the Bishops’ Conference of your country that people stand for Holy Communion, this was done on the condition that communicants who choose to kneel are not to be denied Holy Communion on these grounds. Indeed, the faithful should not be imposed upon nor accused of disobedience and of acting illicitly when they kneel to receive Holy Communion.”

This Dicastery hopes that the citation given here will provide an adequate answer to your letter. At the same time, please be assured that the Congregation remains ready to be of assistance if you should need to contact it again.

With every prayerful good wish, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Mons. Mario Marini
Undersecretary

As far as particular law not overriding universal law without a specific mandate, that is what I learned in my Canon Law classes. I’m sure Deacon Cameron can verify.

It is the exact same reason that any priest can say the OF Mass in Latin, regardless of the particular norms of his country, and would not be disobedient, because the OF Mass in Latin is the universal normative language.

But that premise is collaberated by the CDWDS statement above.

Not only is it not disobedience, it is not illict ( that is contrary to the law).

And this comes from the legislative source specified in Canon 16 for authentic interpretation.

 

[AHapka]

Why does the posture of the communicant relative to the minister increase to possibility of spilling? The minister hands the communicant the chalice, communicant drinks and hands it back. How does kneeling affect that?

You can debate whether or not it increases the chance of spilling, but it does make it harder for the Eucharistic Minister or EMHC to handle issues that might arise.

For example, I am an EMHC at my church. We have several disabled people and people who cannot walk sitting in the front row on the side pews. Once, while I was the minister of the Precious Blood, I gave the Blood to an elderly lady while I was standing and she was sitting.

After she had received the Blood, she inadvertently dropped the chalice.

It fell several inches before I was able to react and because I was at a different level it took me longer to catch it. Luckily, I was able to catch it in midair without spilling any of the Blood. However, I can see that being at a different level made it much more difficult and longer to react. Hence why I now bend down to a person’s level if they cannot stand.

In any event, if someone did present themselves kneeling I would not deny them communion (namely because I can’t and it’s not my job to), but I would bring it to the Priest’s attention.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

As far as particular law not overriding universal law without a specific mandate, that is what I learned in my Canon Law classes. I’m sure Deacon Cameron can verify.

It is the exact same reason that any priest can say the OF Mass in Latin, regardless of the particular norms of his country, and would not be disobedient, because the OF Mass in Latin is the universal normative language.

But that premise is collaberated by the CDWDS statement above.

Not only is it not disobedience, it is not illict ( that is contrary to the law).

And this comes from the legislative source specified in Canon 16 for authentic interpretation.

The “XX” make it difficult to verify this document. If it is a valid document it still does not give permisson to ignore a Bishop’s Conference norms, recognized by Rome.

 

[Walking_Home]

The “XX” make it difficult to verify this document. If it is a valid document it still does not give permisson to ignore a Bishop’s Conference norms, recognized by Rome.

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One must keep in mind—it falls to Rome to declare how the norms that have been approved are to be applied. While Rome did approve the U.S. norm of standing —the condition was that the universal norm of kneeling not be abrogated. The document verifies that the universal norm of kneeling is not to be abrogated by priests and/or bishops.