Is kneeling for Communion at an OF allowed?

[reindeer]

I attend a traditional church wherein communion is taken by kneeling, unless the person
is in a wheelchair, etc.
At NO churches I’ve seen communicants both kneel and stand.
reindeer

 

[ProVobis]

Redemptionis Sacramentum #91 Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.

It is not licit to deny COTT. However, they may ostracize you for being out of step with them or to give you COTT reluctantly or both. (I even had the priest place the Host sloppily on my tongue last week. He must have forgotten how to do it or I must have caught him off guard.) The EF is about the only safe haven for COTT and kneeling.

 

[floresco]

Congregation de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum
Prot. n. 47 / 03 / L
Rome, 26 February 2003

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”.

When I saw Cardinal Arinze making this point in the videos I was wishing for some sort of official documentation. This is just the sort of thing I wanted. It and your other quote make the situation perfectly clear. I am left wondering about the lack of clarity in the GIRM passage quoted by the OP. Was the ambiguity deliberate so that those who wished to receive kneeling could be discouraged? Even if not deliberately obscured, the facts about receiving while kneeling are not well-known and they should be. Yet another troubling issue to add to the list.

 

[Momofmyangels]

When I saw Cardinal Arinze making this point in the videos I was wishing for some sort of official documentation. This is just the sort of thing I wanted. It and your other quote make the situation perfectly clear. I am left wondering about the lack of clarity in the GIRM passage quoted by the OP. Was the ambiguity deliberate so that those who wished to receive kneeling could be discouraged? Even if not deliberately obscured, the facts about receiving while kneeling are not well-known and they should be. Yet another troubling issue to add to the list.

Although I did not like it, this was my thought also…that the ambiguity was so that we could/would be discouraged from receiving kneeling and so that we couldn’t question it either. Why is this so? What is so very wrong with showing such respect? These questions can’t be answered, I know because in my young life I have seen my parents be repeatedly treated terribly by priests for receiving Communion kneeling and now I am experiencing it with my family as well. And, the priests have been given ample opportunity to tell us why they object so passionately to people kneeling and we’ve yet to get one single reason why. The subject is either dismissed or the priest leaves with a red face without uttering a word. I’ll never understand it.

 

[Aramis]

It’s permitted, but the priest is permitted also to instruct the individual as to the norms… after the mass. Each time, if the priest so chooses.

Communion kneeling can be a problem; even so, few pastors will deny people the option. But we so often hear about those few…

I’ve seen one chap communed kneeling most of the time at the local roman parish for daily mass.

 

[GwenL]

Communion kneeling can be a problem; even so, few pastors will deny people the option. But we so often hear about those few…

.

Please be specific. How can communion kneeling be a problem?

 

[Momofmyangels]

Communion kneeling can be a problem; even so, few pastors will deny people the option.

Depends where you live…few pastors will allow people the option…where I live.

 

[Student09]

What is so very wrong with showing such respect? These questions can’t be answered, I know because in my young life I have seen my parents be repeatedly treated terribly by priests for receiving Communion kneeling and now I am experiencing it with my family as well. .

You and your parents are very brave to persist in your conviction in spite of these trials.

 

[floresco]

At a parish I visited recently, I read a message in the bulletin saying that communicants who kneel are well-intentioned but misunderstanding what it means to be reverent.

As I was thinking about this thread, it occurred to me that whoever wrote that bulletin must think that the Pope misunderstands what it means to be reverent.

 

[CB_Catholic]

It is not licit to deny COTT. However, they may ostracize you for being out of step with them or to give you COTT reluctantly or both. (I even had the priest place the Host sloppily on my tongue last week. He must have forgotten how to do it or I must have caught him off guard.) The EF is about the only safe haven for COTT and kneeling.

The Dominican parish I sometimes attend has the OF and has an altar rail. The people kneel for Communion, but they receive either in the hand or on the tongue. In that parish no one stands for Communion unless they cannot kneel. They have altar boys, but they do not use patens, so the altar boys do not assist at Communion. I have seen the altar rail used for kneeling at other OF parishes I’ve visited, too. Some churches did not remove them. But it is not all that common to see.

 

[damooster]

There were links to two videos. I noticed this comment about the condition on the first one: youtube.com/watch?v=Ap1KL2D5ae4

I’m glad to see that you seem to have resolved this in your own mind and are finding some peace on the question.

THANK YOU!!!

I have been facing this dilemma for quite some time: I want to kneel for Holy Communion, but I’ve read the GIRM and interpreted the “norm” as law. I saw myself entering a cycle of kneeling, but then being counseled on the “norm” after every Mass, so I kind of gave it up and just started attending the EF Mass.

During the video you linked, a comment pops up and mentions documentation we can refer to if we want to kneel. I Googled it and sure enough, the document says:

“… 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”.

Now, my only question is: what’s a Prot.? How official is this? I’ll print one of these up and carry it around with me if I think it will protect me!

 

[floresco]

Now, my only question is: what’s a Prot.? How official is this? I’ll print one of these up and carry it around with me if I think it will protect me!

I’m not sure what prot. stands for. I’d guess “protocollum” since that means “record of a transaction” or “minutes of a meeting”. It is an official record of the Congregation’s decision and is authoritative. I think it is worth printing it up and taking it with you.

I only receive kneeling, even when at OF and I try to talk to the priest before the Mass and warn him. This way he isn’t taken by surprise and there is less risk of causing a spectacle that will be a distraction from the Sacrament. If, after discussion, a priest were to say, “Well I won’t give you Communion if you are kneeling,” then I wouldn’t go up. But that has never happened to me. (But I don’t bother asking when the priest looks really liberal. I just don’t receive then.)

 

[Bob_Aliano]

Here is the Answer.

A person IS ALLOWED to recieve the Eucharist KNEELING AND ON THE TONGUE. Or, just kneeling, or just on the tongue. A Priest can NOT deny someone the Holy Eucharist for kneeling, recieveing on the tongue, or whatsoever. To put it in a nutshell.

Hence we are discouraged not denied.

 

[Bob_Aliano]

I think that your reasoning is faulty on both arguments. I kneel for communion every single day at my OF Mass.

Kneeling causes no disruption if people use normal consideration of others. If you are so close to me to stumble when I kneel, you are way too close. I do, however, adapt for the possibility that people might be following me too close. For daily Mass, when we form two lines that converge on one priest, I go to the back of the line. For Sunday Mass, when we form one line, I say to the person behind me “I kneel to receive, please don’t trip.” I also lag a bit on the person in front of me, and when it’s my turn I rapidly walk ahead and kneel. This creates a bit of a gap behind me. You’d have to speed up with me to stumble.

Kneeling places me in the absolutely perfect position for communication. Even our tallest priest doesn’t have to make any unusual adjustments. Catholics received kneeling for centuries and I don’t think anyone thought it an unusual or awkward position, and I’d sure like to see the writings from centuries of priests about how difficult is was to administer communion to a kneeling person.

Receiving standing is the norm in the U.S., but kneeling is always allowed. There is a parallel: receiving on the tongue is the norm in the U.S. (and everywhere) but in the hand is allowed in the U.S.

My bottom line: When the Lord of the universe is calling me to communion with Him, I can imagine no better posture than to receive Him kneeling and on the tongue.

Not my reasoning but the Pastor’s, take it up with him if you wish.

I generally leave ample space between the person ahead and myself, usually have trouble keeping up in fact, but that doesn’t mean I’m safe. I have a great deal of trouble maintaining my balance during the “shuffle” gait up the aisle and if the person ahead suddenly dropped to his/her knees it would be a challenge for me, trust me. If many want to kneel for communion the parish should install kneelers at the communion distribution sites around the altar.

I’m certainly old enough to remember when we laity would never dare to touch a consecrated host with anything but our tongue and I certainly remember when we all knelt at the altar rail for communion, I also remember that rail had a step built in to enable one to kneel and arise safely. In those days there was no person immediately behind us when we knelt, we filled spaces at the rail as they became available. I don’t really care which rite(s) we use but we really should standardize each and stop all this silly bickering.

 

[ProVobis]

I’m certainly old enough to remember when we laity would never dare to touch a consecrated host with anything but our tongue and I certainly remember when we all knelt at the altar rail for communion, I also remember that rail had a step built in to enable one to kneel and arise safely.

And there was nothing in the Vatican II documents or anything from the Vatican that ordered the removal of the communion rails either.

 

[GwenL]

Not my reasoning but the Pastor’s, take it up with him if you wish.

What is your pastor’s reasoning? Does he give a reason, or simply state that kneeling will cause a problem?

I wonder how many people have actually seen anyone trip, or stumble, or fall due to someone kneeling or genuflecting. Really, aren’t you already kind of anticipating that the person in front of you is going to stop somewhere, somehow, in front of the priest to receive? I’ve yet to see anyone receive “on the run.” I fail to see how someone suddenly stopping to kneel in front of you would be a problem…they are not kneeling halfway up the aisle, but in front of the priest, exactly where you would expect them to stop anyways.

I was getting into a multitasking rut…proceed up the line, bow when the person in front of me receives, step up and say “Amen,” receive, step out of the way, don’t you dare slow things down, someone might rear end you. It got to where I was thinking more about speeding up the line than I was thinking about Jesus. Kneeling gets me a moment where I’m not worrying or thinking about anything other than receiving the Lord.

Yep, the altar rail is better, by far. But we have to start somewhere.

 

[Aramis]

What is your pastor’s reasoning? Does he give a reason, or simply state that kneeling will cause a problem?

I wonder how many people have actually seen anyone trip, or stumble, or fall due to someone kneeling or genuflecting. Really, aren’t you already kind of anticipating that the person in front of you is going to stop somewhere, somehow, in front of the priest to receive? I’ve yet to see anyone receive “on the run.” I fail to see how someone suddenly stopping to kneel in front of you would be a problem…they are not kneeling halfway up the aisle, but in front of the priest, exactly where you would expect them to stop anyways.

I was getting into a multitasking rut…proceed up the line, bow when the person in front of me receives, step up and say “Amen,” receive, step out of the way, don’t you dare slow things down, someone might rear end you. It got to where I was thinking more about speeding up the line than I was thinking about Jesus. Kneeling gets me a moment where I’m not worrying or thinking about anything other than receiving the Lord.

Yep, the altar rail is better, by far. But we have to start somewhere.

I myself nearly tripped over the guy last week. Another day, he missed kicking my shins by about 2", and I was in the other line!

Since then, he’s taken to putting his feet out at about 45° from the line. I don’t know if it’s because someone else talked to him, or he noticed his own hazard factor.

 

[Layman]

COTT is the norm and cannot be denied.
CITH is an indult, a permission and can be allowed or denied.

 

[Bob_Aliano]

What is your pastor’s reasoning? Does he give a reason, or simply state that kneeling will cause a problem?

I wonder how many people have actually seen anyone trip, or stumble, or fall due to someone kneeling or genuflecting. Really, aren’t you already kind of anticipating that the person in front of you is going to stop somewhere, somehow, in front of the priest to receive? I’ve yet to see anyone receive “on the run.” I fail to see how someone suddenly stopping to kneel in front of you would be a problem…they are not kneeling halfway up the aisle, but in front of the priest, exactly where you would expect them to stop anyways.

I was getting into a multitasking rut…proceed up the line, bow when the person in front of me receives, step up and say “Amen,” receive, step out of the way, don’t you dare slow things down, someone might rear end you. It got to where I was thinking more about speeding up the line than I was thinking about Jesus. Kneeling gets me a moment where I’m not worrying or thinking about anything other than receiving the Lord.

Yep, the altar rail is better, by far. But we have to start somewhere.

Pastors don’t necessarily give reasons for their decisions.

I’m sorry my disability gets in your self-centered way!

 

[GwenL]

I’m sorry my disability gets in your self-centered way!

Thank you for your charity and kindness. I will be praying for you, that you might find the peace to not need to attack others.

In my post, I stated that I anticipate the fact that people might not be expecting me to kneel. I go to the end of the line, or tell the person behind me that I will kneel. Please tell me how that is “self-centered.”