Kneeling for Communion- Trouble

[Catholicpotato]

I’m not saying you’re not humble.

I am saying that you don’t seem to appear humble to adults with your actions.

I’m not making any judgements about your actions at all, I’m not in your church.

But a lot of the adults in your church are, and some of them may be judging you to be a smart alecky teenager, and that really isn’t going to be of much help to you as you build your own life.

I dont think that anyone would think a teen is being flip or smart alecy by showing due adoration to our Lord. And if they do then that is sure a judgemental and horrible way to look at a fellow Catholic. Its teens like the OP that could teach the majority in the pews a thing or two. Too bad they are just too busy adoring thier Savior to preach to others.

 

[ChristisRisen32]

I’m not saying you’re not humble.

I am saying that you don’t seem to appear humble to adults with your actions.

I’m not making any judgements about your actions at all, I’m not in your church.

But a lot of the adults in your church are, and some of them may be judging you to be a smart alecky teenager, and that really isn’t going to be of much help to you as you build your own life.

How do you suggest I appear humble?

 

[benedictgal]

How do you suggest I appear humble?

Keep doing the best you can. Accept the persecution as a gift from God. Remember: Jesus spent some time on his knees at Gethsemane. St. Stephen was martyred on his knees. Offer up the insults for your parents.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

to the OP…it’s too bad that you can’t talk with your parents…you know…you desire to receive your way…I desire to receive mine. I was thinking that they could sort of “sandwich” you in so that the person behind you (one of your family) would ALWAYS know that you are going to kneel. Then…what would be the big deal? Maybe they think that you are judging them? and are defensive about it. You did say that they were not as pious…that would put me on edge. Think about it…

 

[valentino]

its a shame that you aren’t allowed to show your reverence by kneeling to recieve.Before Vatican 2 about 50 yrs.ago everyone knelt.In the EF they still do kneel to recieve.If i were you I would probably not kneel since that seems to be the practice and I don’t think you’ll change anybody’s mind.Although Im sure that there are some who don’t think you are strange for kneeling they are probably in the minority.If you feel that you shouldn’t recieve our Lord standing up then continue to kneel.Im sure Jesus would be very pleased that you care to honor Him in this way.I’ll just add that If you were in my parish I wouldn’t think you strange at all.I always bow when I recieve and I always recieve on the tongue like I always have.Most recieve in the hand but I’ll never change unless they tell me I have to recieve in the hand.

 

[Paxvobis]

My heart really goes out to you.

I’m a teenager, go to the Ordinary Form mass most of the time and have been receiving Communion on the tongue while kneeling for about seven months.

I go to Mass with my grandmother (my parents only go to Mass at weddings and funerals) and she has no problem with it.

I’ve had two incidents with family about it though:

First, at Christmas I went to Mass with my other grandmother, who holds some liberal positions on the liturgy (she goes to ‘Mass’ at a ‘Catholic’ womynpriest congregation). After she saw me do it, she tried to convince me that I was too smart to do it. She said something about how the Church only did that because people were too dumb to understand the Eucharist.

Second, apparently she told my Dad because when I went to Mass with him for a family occasion he told me to “receive the Eucharist the regular way” because not doing so is “embarrassing.” Fortunately, he let me receive on the tongue while standing (which I did). I then proceed to let him know that receiving holy communion on the tongue while kneeling is the “regular way” and special permission is needed to do it any other way.

In the end, I can’t make any suggestions for your situation but I can say that if my parents didn’t say not too (but only made fun of me for it) I would continue to do so. Who cares what they say? How you receive Holy Communion is between you and Jesus and whatever makes you most comfortable should be what they care about.

Never mind, I can make a suggestion: maybe if you positioned yourself in the pew so that you’re the last person in your family receiving they’ll be too focused on their own communion to notice you.

 

[At_Trent]

Okay so I’m getting very frustrated at the moment. I’m a teenager living at home with my family and we go to Mass every week. My parents are both Catholic, but not heavily spiritual. My dad is very knowledgeable about the Church and knows doctrine backwards and forwards, but he lacks a lot of the piety that I seek. My sister went to Catholic school, and likes being Catholic, but not really that active in her faith. Recently, I’ve decided that in order to maximize my reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist, I will kneel and receive it on the tongue. However, I’m getting frustrated. I get many stares at Mass from the EMHCs because NO ONE else does it. Additionally, my own family has made rude remarks about this. My sister said that it was “embarrassing” to do this because it holds up the line a little longer. My dad and her started laughing at me after Mass today saying that I’m making so many people perplexed by my weird “posture” and that I might as well “entirely prostrate on the ground to make a scene”. What should I do about this? Should I just stop kneeling for communion? I’ve talked to our associate pastor before Mass the first time I did it and he said it was fine. I know I’m allowed by the Church but I don’t like all this backlash I’m getting from my family and the stares from the laity.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Tony

Keep kneeling. Wait and see. Others will follow.

 

[ChristisRisen32]

My heart really goes out to you.

I’m a teenager, go to the Ordinary Form mass most of the time and have been receiving Communion on the tongue while kneeling for about seven months.

I go to Mass with my grandmother (my parents only go to Mass at weddings and funerals) and she has no problem with it.

I’ve had two incidents with family about it though:

First, at Christmas I went to Mass with my other grandmother, who holds some liberal positions on the liturgy (she goes to ‘Mass’ at a ‘Catholic’ womynpriest congregation). After she saw me do it, she tried to convince me that I was too smart to do it. She said something about how the Church only did that because people were too dumb to understand the Eucharist.

Second, apparently she told my Dad because when I went to Mass with him for a family occasion he told me to “receive the Eucharist the regular way” because not doing so is “embarrassing.” Fortunately, he let me receive on the tongue while standing (which I did). I then proceed to let him know that receiving holy communion on the tongue while kneeling is the “regular way” and special permission is needed to do it any other way.

In the end, I can’t make any suggestions for your situation but I can say that if my parents didn’t say not too (but only made fun of me for it) I would continue to do so. Who cares what they say? How you receive Holy Communion is between you and Jesus and whatever makes you most comfortable should be what they care about.

Never mind, I can make a suggestion: maybe if you positioned yourself in the pew so that you’re the last person in your family receiving they’ll be too focused on their own communion to notice you.

Thank you for sharing your story. I’m glad another teenager is interested in their faith and receiving Him reverently About being the last person of my family to receive communion- that really won’t work because my parents don’t receive. They sit in the pew and watch.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Thank you for sharing your story. I’m glad another teenager is** interested in their faith and receiving Him reverently ** About being the last person of my family to receive communion- that really won’t work because my parents don’t receive. They sit in the pew and watch.

See…I’d be careful about statements like that. You can’t judge the interior of someone’s heart by how they are receiving. Someone who receives CITH does not mean that they are not reverent about it.

But I am sorry that your parents give you a hard time about how you receive.

 

[stephraim]

Keep kneeling. Wait and see. Others will follow.

It’s true. I’ve been receiving kneeling on the tongue for almost a year, and in that time, I’ve seen other parishioners begin to receive in the same manner.

 

[ChristisRisen32]

See…I’d be careful about statements like that. You can’t judge the interior of someone’s heart by how they are receiving. Someone who receives CITH does not mean that they are not reverent about it. .

Please look at some of my earlier posts. I said I don’t mind how someon receives communion. If it’s in the hand, I don’t care. As long as someone is reverent. Just because I said to Paxvobis his posture was reverent, didn’t mean I was excluding other postures.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Tony

 

[Not_Sure_1]

just remember, if anyone looks at you funny or your parents disdain you for your respect for the Eucharist, Jesus came not to bring peace, but a sword.

 

[lizaanne]

But your parents are NOT asking you to do something sinful by asking you to receive Holy Communion standing. This is allowed in most places in the U.S. It is not sinful to receive the Lord Jesus standing (and in the hand).

They are MOCKING him, and LAUGHING at him for receiving Christ on his knees, and you think that’s ok? Because THEY are embarrassed, the one who is trying to be devout has to stop?

Insanity.

Keep kneeling, keep receiving on the tongue and don’t listen to the voices of impiety. It will be good in developing you a thicker skin in the service of God rather than of human respect. God is first. All else is afterwards.

:clapping:

Exactly Shin, you get it.

~Liza

 

[MissRose73]

To the OP, continue to kneel for Communion as there is no rule saying you cannot do so. I think those assisting the priest with distribution need to be better educated and more tolerant. Also, the rest of his family needs to respect the way he chooses to receive the Eucharist. Most people choose to stand and receive in the hand, their choice. Others, the tongue with or without kneeling - their choice.

No one batted an eye at kneeling at the EF form Mass I went to, and ALL who went up and received were kneeling with the host on the tongue at the Communion rail.

 

[ChristisRisen32]

To the OP, continue to kneel for Communion as there is no rule saying you cannot do so. I think those assisting the priest with distribution need to be better educated and more tolerant. Also, the rest of his family needs to respect the way he chooses to receive the Eucharist. Most people choose to stand and receive in the hand, their choice. Others, the tongue with or without kneeling - their choice.

No one batted an eye at kneeling at the EF form Mass I went to, and ALL who went up and received were kneeling with the host on the tongue at the Communion rail.

I have never been to an EF Mass. Should I? I’ve heard they’re pretty interesting

 

[MissRose73]

Yes, it was a very different experience. It gave me a better understanding of Mass, and I hope to be able to attend again when I am able.

Check with your local diocesan website to make sure the one you go is not illicit.

Another good page to check is… ecclesiadei.org/masses.cfm

I have never been to an EF Mass. Should I? I’ve heard they’re pretty interesting

 

[Dorothy]

Thank you for the reply. Here’s the pickle I’m in though. My parents force us to sit in the same spot at Mass everytime. That section of the church is always an EMHC. Whenever I go without my family, I sit in the pews that will lead to Father. Also, I’ve tried waiting at the end of the line but again, my parents don’t like that. I don’t know why. I’m not doing this to make a point at all. Like I said, I have no issue with other ways to receive communion, I just don’t prefer those ways for me, personally.

Let me just share what I would do if I were you. Of course, you have to make up your own mind.

I would want to please my parents and not inadvertently make myself ostentatious. It is possible to be very reverent interiorly, without causing members of your family to make a fuss about it. The Lord knows what is in your heart. I would see it as an act of humility to do what your parents wish.

 

[beafedor]

I too kneel before I receive and my husband has been telling me I’m not fast enough and it’s blocking the line but then yesterday I saw *him *kneeling. I was amazed!

Do as the Holy Spirit is telling you to do. Take courage! You have a mustard seed and you shouldn’t be afraid to use it!

 

[ChristisRisen32]

Yes, it was a very different experience. It gave me a better understanding of Mass, and I hope to be able to attend again when I am able.

Check with your local diocesan website to make sure the one you go is not illicit.

Another good page to check is… ecclesiadei.org/masses.cfm

Thanks for the link. There’s a church about 20 minutes away I could go to sometime.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Tony

 

[ChristisRisen32]

I too kneel before I receive and my husband has been telling me I’m not fast enough and it’s blocking the line but then yesterday I saw *him *kneeling. I was amazed!

Do as the Holy Spirit is telling you to do. Take courage! You have a mustard seed and you shouldn’t be afraid to use it!

That’s awesome!