Kneeling before we accept communion

[Kima]

I think this statement is part of the problem. When one puts forward their personal preferences as the best/finest/most reverent form, you instantly lose credibility. The quality of one’s gestures is not measured by an objective standard… in other words, one manner is not better than another. In fact, there are multiple completely Church sanctioned ways for people to receive communion…

Where the trouble starts is when people start judging others for not being reverent enough or not doing a specific gesture or not being properly disposed.

Why not simply say that ‘I prefer to receive kneeling’ or ‘I prefer to receive standing’ because of ‘insert reason’ here… Instead this topic of conversation seems to always deteriorate in to this way is better than that… seems like senseless bickering to me

I believe kneeling for the Eucharist is the better way to recieve. Of cource I do!
But know that even though I kneel for the Eucharist and others don´t I´m no better than them. The thing is that it seems to me that, given that it indeed is Christ Himself we receive, we should try to treat Him like we would if we saw Him in person. And if you had Christ Himself right before you, wouldn´t you kneel for Him? I know I would want to…

Kneeling as an act itself seems to many as humiliating and the greatest form of reverence. I would want to give Him my greatest way of expressing reverence as long as my knees let me. I respect that some people may not because of their health, but I would for at least want to receive the Eucharist on my tounge, while standing (the reason for that is that I believe that only clergy should touch the Eucharist as their hands are consecrated, which ours is not. So I am one of those who consistently stand in line to receive from the priest).

For at least Vatican II let everyone decide so it is up to each and every one of us how we would like to receive Our Lord.

 

[PBWY]

I don’t reserve any judgment for those who choose not to kneel. That’s really not up to me.

I am, however, grateful for my parish at which we have rails, and where everyone (except for a couple elderly in wheelchairs), kneel and receive on the tongue. It is a heartwarming display of physical reverence and is a big reason why I feel at home there. I’m so accustomed to it that when I visit other parishes, it always jars me a bit to see people receiving in their hands, while standing. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong - that just means I’m not used to it. No one gets huffy if I kneel and receive on the tongue at those parishes. And if they do…oh well.

We all have our own ways of being reverent. That’s why some women cover their heads and some don’t. Women who don’t wear a head covering aren’t any less reverent than women who do. The important part is that we are actively trying to be reverent to the Real Presence and aren’t just going through the motions. Much reverence is silent and inward. Just because it isn’t displayed in a physical, visual sense doesn’t mean it is not there.

 

[Bushum]

given that it indeed is Christ Himself we receive, we should try to treat Him like we would if we saw Him in person. And if you had Christ Himself right before you, wouldn´t you kneel for Him?

If I didn’t know any better I would have thought I wrote that post! I have used the exact same explanation, including the priest’s consecrated hands, when I had to explain to my wife why I want to sit in the pews on the side where the priest stands. Needless to say I agree 100%. When we come face to face at the end of days I can’t imagine anything less than falling on our faces and weeping for joy. Kneeling is the least I can do without being disruptive.

 

[awesomecatholic]

Bowing or kneeling works. The church has said a bow is sufficient, so that is good enough for me.

 

[Kima]

I have used the exact same explanation, including the priest’s consecrated hands, when I had to explain to my wife why I want to sit in the pews on the side where the priest stands.

I am one of the sneaky ones who sneak into the line no matter where I choose to sit in Church.

When we come face to face at the end of days I can’t imagine anything less than falling on our faces and weeping for joy. Kneeling is the least I can do without being disruptive.

Totally agreed! I look forward to that day!

 

[Crusader13]

You know what’s funny, in my parish the pews that empty for the line that the Priest administers communion always fill up first! Then when the line gett too long, the ushers direct people to move to the other line where the deacon is administering Holy Communion, but typically only a small number will switch lines. The majority stay in the line for the Priest even thought it makes for a longer wait.

 

[Wampa]

This thread is largely a copy of the conversation three months ago in:

Kneeling or Bowing for the Holy Eucharist? Liturgy and Sacraments

I want to share my concerns about the practice of receiving the Holy Eucharist. I am a recent convert from 2018 and normally I will Bow like the rest of the congregation but I want to kneel but feel scared because nobody does it. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[YourNameHere]

Avoid the evil eye in all things!

 

[13pollitos]

I think at times people get caught up on the notion that outward posture denotes internal posture. If someone is only bowing because they believe it somehow makes them better because it is the posture the bishops have determined that is prideful. If someone is kneeling to show they are more holy or as a way of thumbing their nose at the bishops they too are prideful. What matters is the internal and that is unseen by anyone except God, so we don’t get a say about it.

 

[godisgood77]

You know what’s funny, in my parish the pews that empty for the line that the Priest administers communion always fill up first! Then when the line gett too long, the ushers direct people to move to the other line where the deacon is administering Holy Communion, but typically only a small number will switch lines. The majority stay in the line for the Priest even thought it makes for a longer wait.

That is funny… and a little sad.

Seems like a good portion of the parish you mention are not well catechised if they believe that receiving from a priest is somehow better than receiving from a deacon or minister. Unfortunate…