Kneeling during Consecration and Elevation of the Holy Eucharist.

[jmcrae]

What no one has mentioned so far, unless I’ve missed it, is the Eastern connection. Several times I’ve asked anti-kneeling priests to explain their position and each time they said something along the lines of kneeling being a penitential posture not appropriate for mass, as reflected in the fact that the Eastern Churches don’t have kneeling at their liturgies. For this reason I think that to some extent it represents an Easternization of the Latin Rite.

I think you’re right, since I have also noticed that these same priests like to bring Eastern Rite priests to their Retreats and to their Youth events.

 

[Brendan]

Most people who do not kneel have been directed not to kneel for various reasons, by the priest presiding, the bishop of the place, or other priests, so they don’t kneel because they are obedient.

the rest of us cannot kneel due to various physical limitations. I can kneel, I just can’t get back up unassisted.

The Virtue of Obedience is that of conforming one’s Will to that of the one in authority.

It would seem that the GIRM does not give the authority to decide of the conditions permitting another posture than kneeling resides with the priest or the bishop.

The priest is not the determiner on if one’s health is sufficent to kneel, the person themselves are.

Likewise, the determination of space. A smaller person could rightly decide that they have sufficent room to kneel while a larger person could arrive at a different conclusion.

A mother holding a young child could, by the use of Reason, determine that it is more prudent to sit, while the father and other children, not so encumbered, might kneel.

Thus the authority that the GIRM provides clearly is to the indivdual themselves, and the virtue of obedience is not at issue.

 

[WrestledwithGod]

In the specific situation where one is feeling the inclination to kneel, in the GIRM it does state that it is best to in a sense “Follow the Crowd” or be obedient, If one is to do a different, personal practice then they must first present it to the Priest who is presiding over the Mass. (I.E. If the norm is to stand during communion in your parish, then you should ask the Priest if he would allow you to kneel)

In the case of kneeling during the Consecration, it does State in GIRM 43 quote “In the Dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by ill health, or for reasons of lack of space, of the large number of people present, or for another reasonable cause. However, those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the Priest genuflects after the Consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.”

Note, that the changing of the Posture requires the Diocesan Bishop to change it, therefore, not giving that Authority to the priest. In the case of a priest doing so, it is suggested further in GIRM 43… “For the sake of uniformity in gestures and bodily postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the instructions which the Deacon, a lay minister, or the Priest gives, according to what is laid down in the Missal” Therefore, be obedient, but bring up the missal in which case it does give explicit instruction to kneel.

Overall, be patient with your priest, or if you are visiting a Parish, be patient as well, do not draw attention to yourself by causing a commotion; It would be better to allow the posture to continue and focus to remain on the Eucharist, than do that.