Kneeling Prior to receiving the host

[Cat]

---

You know Cat—someone in your condition does not necessarily have to attend Mass—I mean if you can barely walk and all. If you notify your parish --someone can be sent to your home.

I know and I appreciate the reminder. It’s kind of you to mention the option.

But as long as I can still crawl, I will attend Mass. I spent 47 years as a Protestant, and that means I missed out on 47 years of Holy Mass. I’m trying to make up for all that I missed out on.

If I could (I work), I would attend daily Mass. I wish there were vesper Masses every weekday, because I would be there. And if it’s on TV (we don’t have cable, so I’m talking about the local broadcast), I watch.

Besides, the best thing for osteoarthritis is to KEEP MOVING! Mobility decreases with less activity. It’s painful, but you have to oil the joints.

I can walk–but I have a very hard time with balance if my ankles or knees give way. What happened last weekend is that something took me by surprise, my ankle turned over, and then my knee gave way, and I fell. It doesn’t take much. I’m extremely careful when I sit down because if the chair rolls just an inch or so, it startles me and I’ll fall. Sometimes when I stand up, the orthotic implanted inside my ankle doesn’t seem to be where it should be, and I’ll lose my balance.

Certainly walking further behind people is a good idea, and do that already. I’ll probably eventually give in and use a cane or a (yuck) walker. This weekend, I used my crutch–it made me feel more secure and gave me something to lean on if I felt like I was going to fall.

Another reason I attend Mas is that I play piano (no walking necessary, and no pedal board, like on the organ!), although depending on how my bishop answers my questions about the appropriateness of piano and guitar in Mass, I may end up quitting that forever!

I’m going to make a suggestion here–for all of you who kneel–kneel for those who can’t. I’ve always had gimpy knees, even when I was young and slim and healthy, so kneeling has never been easy for me. But now, it’s virtually impossible (I can manage one of those one-knee lean-forward type kneels during Mass–looks pretty dumb, but as long as I can do it, I’ll do it). So kneel for us, too, OK?

But please–consider, if you kneel, going up last to receive Holy Communion. One of the posters above berated me because I would like to see people not kneel in the Communion line, just because of my problems. Well, if that poster and the rest of you will re-read my post, you’ll notice that I made two suggestions for those who would like to kneel and receive Holy Communion. (1) Ask the parish to allow a “kneeling line” where everyone who goes forward kneels. (2) Kneelers go up at the very end of the Communion to receive. Now, I made both of those suggestion charitably, keeping in mind that there are Christians who truly feel uncomfortable standing to receive Holy Communion. I think that my two suggestion would accomodate everyone–those who prefer to kneel, and those like me who have problems with any irregularities in the Communion line.

But instead of noticing and commenting on these two suggestions, at least one poster called me “lame” (nice irony) and suggested in return that I wrap my legs in bubble wrap.

I would think that kneeling to receive the Lord in Holy Communion (the “best” way, according to many) would make people more like Jesus–kinder and more loving, and humble toward those who are weaker in body, mind, and spirit.

 

[Shin]

The responsibility is on the person in line not to walk right into the person in front, or be ‘startled’ by such an unusual thing as a handstand… no wait it’s just kneeling.

I am sorry but, there’s no need for special kneeling lines. This is just mountain out of a molehill discouragement when people should give encouragement.

Normally the person who steps up to receive gets a wee bit more space than everyone else too you know, out of respect and the fact the person is going to to turn and move – away after receiving.

 

[Sancto_Spiritu]

I know and I appreciate the reminder. It’s kind of you to mention the option.

But as long as I can still crawl, I will attend Mass. I spent 47 years as a Protestant, and that means I missed out on 47 years of Holy Mass. I’m trying to make up for all that I missed out on.

If I could (I work), I would attend daily Mass. I wish there were vesper Masses every weekday, because I would be there. And if it’s on TV (we don’t have cable, so I’m talking about the local broadcast), I watch.

Besides, the best thing for osteoarthritis is to KEEP MOVING! Mobility decreases with less activity. It’s painful, but you have to oil the joints.

I can walk–but I have a very hard time with balance if my ankles or knees give way. What happened last weekend is that something took me by surprise, my ankle turned over, and then my knee gave way, and I fell. It doesn’t take much. I’m extremely careful when I sit down because if the chair rolls just an inch or so, it startles me and I’ll fall. Sometimes when I stand up, the orthotic implanted inside my ankle doesn’t seem to be where it should be, and I’ll lose my balance.

Certainly walking further behind people is a good idea, and do that already. I’ll probably eventually give in and use a cane or a (yuck) walker. This weekend, I used my crutch–it made me feel more secure and gave me something to lean on if I felt like I was going to fall.

Another reason I attend Mas is that I play piano (no walking necessary, and no pedal board, like on the organ!), although depending on how my bishop answers my questions about the appropriateness of piano and guitar in Mass, I may end up quitting that forever!

I’m going to make a suggestion here–for all of you who kneel–kneel for those who can’t. I’ve always had gimpy knees, even when I was young and slim and healthy, so kneeling has never been easy for me. But now, it’s virtually impossible (I can manage one of those one-knee lean-forward type kneels during Mass–looks pretty dumb, but as long as I can do it, I’ll do it). So kneel for us, too, OK?

But please–consider, if you kneel, going up last to receive Holy Communion. One of the posters above berated me because I would like to see people not kneel in the Communion line, just because of my problems. Well, if that poster and the rest of you will re-read my post, you’ll notice that I made two suggestions for those who would like to kneel and receive Holy Communion. (1) Ask the parish to allow a “kneeling line” where everyone who goes forward kneels. (2) Kneelers go up at the very end of the Communion to receive. Now, I made both of those suggestion charitably, keeping in mind that there are Christians who truly feel uncomfortable standing to receive Holy Communion. I think that my two suggestion would accomodate everyone–those who prefer to kneel, and those like me who have problems with any irregularities in the Communion line.

**But instead of noticing and commenting on these two suggestions, at least one poster called me “lame” (nice irony) and suggested in return that I wrap my legs in bubble wrap.
**
I would think that kneeling to receive the Lord in Holy Communion (the “best” way, according to many) would make people more like Jesus–kinder and more loving, and humble toward those who are weaker in body, mind, and spirit.

THAT IS A LIE.

I haven’t gotten upset during this entire exchange, but this is RIDICULOUS.

You have caught me up in your melodramatics and ascribed to me things I DID NOT SAY. I NEVER called YOU lame. I called your ARGUMENT lame, which it most certainly was.

I also asked if you walked around in bubble wrap because you said you’d fall over if someone whispered to you during Mass, another patently ridiculous statement. I never said ANYTHING about your legs or made fun of you for being handicapped in ANY way.

I’m reporting your post because it is a ridiculous, libelous mischaracterization of my posts and makes me look like someone who makes fun of handicapped people, which I most CERTAINLY did not.

I expect an apology and the editing of your post to remove that libelous section.

 

[Michael_Francis]

***Thread closed pending review by this forums Moderator.

---

 

[Jean_Anthony]

I see you people can’t discuss this topic without attacking each other and being generally rude and uncharitable. If I were to pass out infractions I’d have to give one to nearly everyone.

Personal attacks are not welcome nor necessary to any discussion on CAF. Keep that firmly in mind when posting or don’t post!

If another member is rude, do report it but DO NOT RESPOND WITHIN THE THREAD.