Kneeling or Bowing for the Holy Eucharist?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Carywilson84
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Using space and tripping as arguments only seems to be used because they don´t prefer people to recieve it while kneeling.
 
I personally am happy to say I don’t care whether people stand or kneel when receiving. I attend a couple Masses where several people kneel each Mass and it is fine, there is space for it, everybody is used to it and it works great.

I attend a couple other churches where Holy Communion is often a difficult traffic jam with everybody standing, and if someone knelt in the middle of all that they would have to take special care.

Maybe it’s because of my job involving liability, or because I spent many years dealing with partly disabled people (my parents) trying to get up to Communion or making some arrangements for them to get communion without falling (like the priest coming to their pew), but my main concern is fall hazards. I have absolutely no idea why people wouldn’t just take that at face value, but whatever, you’re free to think what you like. Leaving this thread now as it seems to be devolving. The lesson I get from this thread is that no matter how practical one’s view is, it will apparently be taken as against traditional practice, which makes no sense to me given that I actually go regularly to Masses where people kneel with no problem. It just doesn’t work that easily in every single church.
 
Last edited:
Kima said:
Using space and tripping as arguments only seems to be used because they don´t prefer people to recieve it while kneeling.
Click to expand...
Not at all. The OP wanted to bow and asked for advice, and received it. Reception of communion within the mass is a communal event,and consideration to all should be taken into account.
 
Wampa said:
I suggest that you talk to your priest about it; he may well have direction for you
Click to expand...
I think this is the best advice for the OP. The OP appears to be feeling nervous about starting this practice. What better way to feel at peace about it than getting direct feedback from the pastor?
 
Carywilson84 said:
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?
Click to expand...
Yes. At the risk of sounding overly harsh.
Why would you be concerned with what other people think of you kneeling before your God?

Now, having established that you can and should, and what others think is irrelevant, a piece of advice.
When you kneel, go forward onto your knee, do not push a leg backward lest you trip the guy behind you.
 
Actually it comes from catching myself from falling once and someone behind me catching me, another time, as the person in front of me suddenly dropped to their knees. They did so to genuflect, rather then kneel, but either way, I almost hit the floor.

Come on people, if you are going to kneel or genuflect, do it after you take a step forward. Don’t shoot your leg back between mine and hope for the best. I didn’t move to take up space, both times, the person simply dropped down.
 
Kima said:
Using space and tripping as arguments only seems to be used because they don´t prefer people to recieve it while kneeling.
Click to expand...
No, that’s not true. Some of us have seen some very close calls. You might want to consider that others may have different experience than you.
 
angel12 said:
40.png
Kima:
Using space and tripping as arguments only seems to be used because they don´t prefer people to recieve it while kneeling.
Click to expand...
No, that’s not true. Some of us have seen some very close calls. You might want to consider that others may have different experience than you.
Click to expand...
Indeed, that’s so. A dear partially sighted lady fell badly in the Communion line in our parish precisely because somebody knelt and she tripped over their leg because she wasn’t expecting it to be there.

As well as the injury she sustained (a blow on the head from the edge of a pew), it completely took away her confidence, and she deteriorated from living confidently and getting out and about, to being housebound and eventually sinking.

So all of you claiming that kneeling in the line is your right, please think a little. And listen to those of us who have seen when it goes wrong.
 
Kima said:
You don´t need to inform anyone of this.
Click to expand...
No, you do not. It would, however, be charitable and a courtesy. It could anticipate and prevent problems that may arise by someone kneeling.
Kima said:
Don’t overcomplicate all of these things
Click to expand...
It does not need to do this. It would be a one-off courtesy.
Kima said:
Kneel if you want to.
Click to expand...
But do not let your wishes trump everyone else’s. Show courtesy to the clergy and your fellow communicants and do not cause an accident.
 
You have permission to kneel and your reasons can be your own. You should do so reverently and logically. I’ll second other’s sentiments about worrying what others think. It’s entirely the wrong focus. You are Catholic, at a Catholic sacrifice of the Mass. Feel free to act like it no matter what you may think others ste thinking about you. I gave up even considering what others thought of me at Mass years ago.
 
Hoosier-Daddy said:
I’ll second other’s sentiments about worrying what others think. It’s entirely the wrong focus.
Click to expand...
And let me object! Considering others is always the right focus. Do you really want to kneel before the Lord, who gave his life for each of us, without considering dangers you might be creating for his people? What kind of “devotion” is that?
 
Dovekin said:
Do you really want to kneel before the Lord, who gave his life for each of us, without considering dangers you might be creating for his people? What kind of “devotion” is that?
Click to expand...
Kneeling before my God is dangerous?
Surely you cannot be serious.

In line, people watch what is in front of them. This is to keep people from running into the person in front.
Most can easily discern if the person in front of them has dropped to their knees.
 
That would be one lady falling and one having to be caught twice before she did. I am sure people could add others. Our parish is better than half elderly or disabled and I could see there being a problem here. I think the wisest advice I have heard is talk to your pastor.
 
Last edited:
I understand the point that it is probably not common for people be tripping over those who kneel left and right at every Mass.

But some seem to be speaking as though its simply not possible that it could ever happen. That seems overly optimistic to me. And even having it happen once is cause for concern. It should at the very least lead us to seek solutions as to how to avoid such a thing. That doesn’t have to mean that people can never kneel to receive Communion. But it might mean doing something differently—whether it be going to the end of the line or something else.

The bottom line is that the OP’s best bet is to talk to the pastor and follow his advice.
 
Hoosier-Daddy said:
You have permission to kneel and your reasons can be your own. You should do so reverently and logically. I’ll second other’s sentiments about worrying what others think. It’s entirely the wrong focus. You are Catholic, at a Catholic sacrifice of the Mass. Feel free to act like it no matter what you may think others ste thinking about you. I gave up even considering what others thought of me at Mass years ago.
Click to expand...
I have a problem with the narrow focus, as if only you and God are involved in communion. Communion is specifically about the community being formed. It is about the Body of Christ being formed.

You are a Catholic, at a Catholic sacrifice of the mass. The person next to you is a Catholic. As is the person behind you. Rejoice that they are with you. Do not behave in a way that hurts them, physically or in any other way. As I said in my first post above, receive with whatever posture you want, but receive in a way that is a gift to all those around you. Be grateful for everyone who is receiving this same gift from God. Rejoice that Jesus came to give that gift to them. And to you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top