Kneeling to Receive Communion

[msproule]

otm:

I don’t see it as a lament; as bright as he is, if he wanted to lament somethiing he would be eminently capable. He makes two statements: the very first, that it be done in reverence (what ever posture), and second, that the signs (posture) we use change over time.

Unfortunately, at this time we can only imagine what was truly behind his words. We could go around in circles forever fighting each other on that!

As I read it again, Cardinal Ratzinger is for the most part stating facts (as I will paraphrase here): The signs of reverence we use have changed in the course of time (fact). At one time we knelt and with good reason (fact). Now where once there was kneeling, there is now standing (fact).

Surrounding these facts he thoroughly explains the basis for kneeling. Curiously, he does not explain the basis for standing (gratefully, we have the USCCB for that ). Instead, he stresses that the act of standing should be done in a manner that somehow recreates the “attitude of kneeling…the most impressive physical expression of Christian piety”. I am sorry, but I can only interpret this to signify his acceptance of standing, not his *promotion *of it. As I see it, he is trying to make the best of an unfortunate situation. As Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect for the CDF, he could not overturn the Bishops’ rightful decision to establish norms for the reception of Holy Communion, nor could he stop communicants from standing.