GospelOfMatthew
New member
I bow, very rarely do I see kneeling
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1ke
Guest
He probably can, but I’ve literally never seen this, and I travel extensively and go to church in many different dioceses in the US and abroad.
If the church doesn’t have a rail, there is typically no prie-dieu standing by.
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1ke
Guest
You can do either, but I encourage you to talk to your priest beforehand if you want to start kneeling in order to work out the logistics. I’d hate for you to get tripped over.
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Diaconia
Guest
I’d be delighted and SURPRISED if I could get through a Sunday Mass where each person would say, “Amen.”
Hope springs eternal,
Deacon Christopher
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phil19034
Guest
I agree with this. It would be good to know how fast (and gracefully) you can drop to your knees and get back up without something to help you up.
If you cannot do it quickly, I would suggest you consider getting in the back of the Communion line if you want to kneel.
Also, I would suggest doing it first with a priest or deacon, as you might confuse a lay EMHC if they don’t know that it’s ok to receive while kneeling.
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Mary888
Guest
Cardinal Arinze explains it all again about the freedom to receive kneeling or not and the freedom of dioceses to set their own rules (provided they aren’t inforced as martial laws)
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Dovekin
Guest
Why do you want to kneel? I am not objecting, just wondering what motivates you and what you think of your discomfort.
When the US bishops decided on standing as the normal posture, their explanation centered on Communion as a shared experience. You process as a member of a group whoare joined together as the Body of Christ. In this context, it is normal to feel some discomfort about kneeling on your own. If you choose to do it, let it be a gift to all who receive with you.
When the US bishops decided on standing as the normal posture, their explanation centered on Communion as a shared experience. You process as a member of a group whoare joined together as the Body of Christ. In this context, it is normal to feel some discomfort about kneeling on your own. If you choose to do it, let it be a gift to all who receive with you.
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MikkiD1
Guest
There are a few people at my parish that kneel. As far as I know, there is no one that thinks they are odd. One young man that I know of kneels, but his mother stands. I don’t know if that is because of what she feels called to do , or because of physical limitation. Some of us older folks might not be able to always depend on our knees to allow us to gracefully kneel and rise again without risking mishap. I bow, but I think kneeling seems very reverent.
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Vico
Guest
I have not traveled much to other parishes. Pastor Fr. Joel writes:
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on_the_hill
Guest
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” --St. Ambrose
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on_the_hill
Guest
Irrelevant whether it was disobedient. It’s been decided.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
While you can receive kneeling, and I’ve seen others do it, the main concern is finding space to suddenly kneel down. At almost all of the churches I attend, Communion creates a congestion of people (some elderly or disabled) trying to receive (often in both forms so they have to step from the line for the Body over to another line for the Blood) and get back to their pews without incident. Many churches I attend are historic or are small chapels used for daily Mass, and weren’t designed with a Communion line in mind, much less with space to put up a separate kneeler in the front.
In a church where a significant number of people kneel to receive (whether in line or at a railing), everybody’s used to the kneeling and generally deals with it well. In a church where almost no one is kneeling to receive, there’s a high risk of people tripping over somebody who suddenly kneels in the line. You especially don’t want someone elderly or someone using a cane or walker to be falling over you.
If you already see other people kneeling to receive at your church, you can study their technique and kind of do what they do. If you don’t see this and you’d be the first one, please talk to the priest and get his thoughts before you just all of a sudden do this.
In a church where a significant number of people kneel to receive (whether in line or at a railing), everybody’s used to the kneeling and generally deals with it well. In a church where almost no one is kneeling to receive, there’s a high risk of people tripping over somebody who suddenly kneels in the line. You especially don’t want someone elderly or someone using a cane or walker to be falling over you.
If you already see other people kneeling to receive at your church, you can study their technique and kind of do what they do. If you don’t see this and you’d be the first one, please talk to the priest and get his thoughts before you just all of a sudden do this.
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Mtatum1958
Guest
As stated, youmat receivr standing or kneeling. Consideration should also be given for all the people wanting to receive, as well as space and size (of the transept and congregation). The two parishes in our area are older and have smaller numbers in attendance. There are two kneeler places in the front; the priest stands behind to distribute the Eucharist. This has worked well for weekday Masses. I don’t know how this will be expanded if done on Sunday when communion is offered under both species.
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Miniliz
Guest
Tis_Bearself:
I love what you said. So on the mark! I live in So Cal no Communion rails here. I would love that. I attend evening mass - which is hard to find here. They are all 7-8 am mornings well after I am already at work. Many of us come after work and it is well attended. Many kneel to receive on the tongue, others bow their heads. I am just grateful to be there myself and to see so many faithful there. I don’t even think about how anyone receiving the Body/Blood received Him. That is a very personal choice. Well said
I love what you said. So on the mark! I live in So Cal no Communion rails here. I would love that. I attend evening mass - which is hard to find here. They are all 7-8 am mornings well after I am already at work. Many of us come after work and it is well attended. Many kneel to receive on the tongue, others bow their heads. I am just grateful to be there myself and to see so many faithful there. I don’t even think about how anyone receiving the Body/Blood received Him. That is a very personal choice. Well said
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Kima
Guest
The recievement of The Holy Eucharist isn´t something ordinary. The Holy Eucharist is actually the body and blood of Christ, and we should recieve it in a proper manner. I believe that everyone should for least recieve it on their tounge to properly honor God the way He deserves to be honored.
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Kima
Guest
You don´t need to inform anyone of this. I never did, I just started recieving while kneeling. For me I just go into the line wherever it feels natural. Telling someone is completely unnessecary! During my 1 and 1/2 year where I have at most times been choosing to kneel during the recievement of The Holy Eucharist, I have never experienced anyone that have tripped. Don´t overcomplicate all of these things. Just saying…
Kneel if you want to. I encourage you all to do so, as long as you are physically okay with doing so.
Kneel if you want to. I encourage you all to do so, as long as you are physically okay with doing so.
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Mark121359
Well-known member
This thread is disturbing to say the least. That this whole discussion about whether one should kneel or not is taking place on a Catholic forum is astonishing to me. But when you consider how churches have been sacked; altar rails removed, the removal of statues, the crucifix and the repositioning of the tabernacle among other things, then the whole situation becomes crystal clear. Many church interiors today more resemble a high school gymnasium than a Catholic Church. Modernism at it’s finest!
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
With all due respect, your experience reflects that at the parish or parishes where you attend.
It doesn’t universally apply to all parishes, and we have no idea if the OP has a church with lots of space for him to kneel, or one where he might have difficulty doing it without tripping up someone’s grandma.
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tafan2
Guest
Here is my take on this subject. First of all, let me make it clear, I have absolutely no problem with people who choose to kneel for communion.
The USCCB website states the following:
" The General Instruction asks each country’s Conference of Bishops to determine the posture to be used for the reception of Communion and the act of reverence to be made by each person as he or she receives Communion. In the United States, the body of Bishops determined that Communion should be received standing, and that a bow is the act of reverence made by those receiving."
While the GIRM quoted above in post 2 certainly gives people the option to kneel, my decision is to follow what seems to be the obvious preference of the US Bishops. It is a matter of obedience, at least obedience to the bishops’ intent.
The Vatican saying that communion should never be refused to someone who kneels is not the same as the Vatican saying we can all kneel. The church gives this decision to the national bishops. It seems to me, all the Vatican is saying is that no matter what a nation’s bishops decide, not adhering to the decision does not rise anywhere close to the level of being a just cause to refuse communion. It is very sad the Vatican actually had to issue this statement. But, the main point is that we should do as the national bishops decide. Here in the US, they do give us the choice, but their preference seems to be standing. So I stand. Others who kneel are well within their rights. But that right is not necessarily universal.
I wish the US bishops would decide we should all receiving kneeling, that would be my definite preference.
As to those who claim space problems if you decide to kneel, I am sorry I do not buy into this at all. I go to mass at various parishes on a fairly regular basis, at all of them there are a few who choose to kneel and I have never once seen it causing a problem, even in a very small and packed day chapel. People just do not follow the person in front of them that closely. Kneeling never causes a problem of people tripping, or getting in the way. I believe this argument was initially made to try to get people to stop kneeling, and now a lot of people buy into it. I don’t.
The USCCB website states the following:
" The General Instruction asks each country’s Conference of Bishops to determine the posture to be used for the reception of Communion and the act of reverence to be made by each person as he or she receives Communion. In the United States, the body of Bishops determined that Communion should be received standing, and that a bow is the act of reverence made by those receiving."
While the GIRM quoted above in post 2 certainly gives people the option to kneel, my decision is to follow what seems to be the obvious preference of the US Bishops. It is a matter of obedience, at least obedience to the bishops’ intent.
The Vatican saying that communion should never be refused to someone who kneels is not the same as the Vatican saying we can all kneel. The church gives this decision to the national bishops. It seems to me, all the Vatican is saying is that no matter what a nation’s bishops decide, not adhering to the decision does not rise anywhere close to the level of being a just cause to refuse communion. It is very sad the Vatican actually had to issue this statement. But, the main point is that we should do as the national bishops decide. Here in the US, they do give us the choice, but their preference seems to be standing. So I stand. Others who kneel are well within their rights. But that right is not necessarily universal.
I wish the US bishops would decide we should all receiving kneeling, that would be my definite preference.
As to those who claim space problems if you decide to kneel, I am sorry I do not buy into this at all. I go to mass at various parishes on a fairly regular basis, at all of them there are a few who choose to kneel and I have never once seen it causing a problem, even in a very small and packed day chapel. People just do not follow the person in front of them that closely. Kneeling never causes a problem of people tripping, or getting in the way. I believe this argument was initially made to try to get people to stop kneeling, and now a lot of people buy into it. I don’t.
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