So, if I am to understand you correctly, I am wrong in humbling myself before the Creator of the universe. I am wrong to bow down to my King instead of giving him a nod? I defer to the teachings of the Church. And I have discussed this with priests and others I trust, and not just some nameless poster on a message board who claims the GIRM says one thing, but does not provide the text. Unless you provide real proof, I will continue to kneel before my Lord, and receive on the tongue. I am not worthy to look at the Host, let alone touch Him with unconsecrated hands. What if a stray crumb remains on my hand–it is still the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord. Instead of scolding others for showing respect to the Lord, I suggest you reflect on the teachings of the Church on the Eucharist, and think about the marvelous gift we have in th Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
The following is from the GIRM, paragraph 160, copyright 2003 including adaptions for the United States. The underlining is mine.
"160. The priest then takes the paten or ciborium and goes to the communicants, who, as a rule, approach in a procession.
The faithful are not permitted to take the consecrated bread or the sacred chalice by themselves and, still less, to hand them from one to another. The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.
When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister. The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand, at the discretion of each communicant. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood."
I did not say you were wrong in humbling yourself before the Creator of the universe. I simply said that the bishops of the United States, with the approval of Rome, have decided how that humbling is to be shown. And I would suggest that it is humbling to follow the bishops’ request when one may wish to do otherwise.
and the GIRM doesn’t say to nod; it says to bow the head; there is a difference and that is in the intent of the indivuidual. a nod of the head is usually a bit abrupt and less profound.
So now you are provided the text (it was available to you on the internet, but I would agree that finding things in it can be a bit of a search).
If a crumb remains in your hand, it isn’t rocket science. You consume it.
And I spend time in our chaple, which provides 24 hour Perpetual Adoration; I spend time teaching what the Church has always taught about the Eucharist in RCIA, and have contemplated what a gift we have received for decades.
I also don’t have my panties in a twist about the issue; no one has anointed me to be a member of the Liturgy Police. I did, however, as a part of our liturgy committee, attend the class when the last issue of the GIRM came out, and I try to teach people what the bishops of the United States, in union with Rome, have set out for the celebration of Mass, as I feel that reverence is due Our Lord, and one of the ways of showing that reverence is by following the rules Rome has approved; contrary to the liberals who feel they can play fast and loose with them, and contrary to those on the other end of the spectrum who feel they know better than the bishops and have been granted an indult by Rome based on their self-perceived holiness.
Some people mistake my following the rules for my opinion of what the rules should be. I grew up before Vatican 2, served Mass daily including during my vacations to my grandparents farm where I attended daily Mass and was the only server available; I have done everything in the Mass prior to Vatican 2 from candle bearer to server to thurifer to Master of Ceremonies and not only learned a lot but also enjoyed it very much. Whatever I say about following the GIRM does not mean that I think it is the best choice, nor does it mean that I am more comfortable doing that than what I did as a child, as the postures of the faithful hav changed somewhat. and since you don’t know me - your comment about an unnamed poster - I would suggest that you do not try to judge what I think or how I feel, unless perhaps you are a mindreader. And I suspect you are not.
If you want to genuflect, please, do so. I am not going to be there to stop you, and if I was there, I would not say anything to you unless you brought it up. There are about 2 or 3 individuals I see in my parish (over 1000 families) who do so and I have never said a word to them or to anyone else about it directly (and I say directly because I do teach those in RCIa, but not in reference to others).
