Kneeling to receive in the Mass of Paul VI

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hamburglar

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I have a concerns regarding kneeling to receive Holy Communion in the Mass of Paul VI (what some would call the Novus Ordo).

I would love to kneel while receiving, but I see two problems.

(1) People would be surprised, and since Communion is unfortunately such a rush in many Parishes, I can easily see people tripping over me.

and

(2) It could draw attention to myself. I value the virtue of humility greatly. I am afraid that kneeling may draw attention to me. I do not want to be singled out as one who is “holier” than others, or thinks he is. I would be receiving Him in this way for my own reasons, not to impress others.

Any thoughts?
 
hamburglar said:
I have a concerns regarding kneeling to receive Holy Communion in the Mass of Paul VI (what some would call the Novus Ordo).

I would love to kneel while receiving, but I see two problems.

(1) People would be surprised, and since Communion is unfortunately such a rush in many Parishes, I can easily see people tripping over me.

and

(2) It could draw attention to myself. I value the virtue of humility greatly. I am afraid that kneeling may draw attention to me. I do not want to be singled out as one who is “holier” than others, or thinks he is. I would be receiving Him in this way for my own reasons, not to impress others.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
There are Churches that celebrate the Novus Ordo and they kneel to receive but they have communion rails that were never removed.
It would present problems to kneel without a communion rail.
 
I know what you mean, Hamburglar. Much of my Novus Ordo Mass experience is weighing what I feel I am called to do (bow at the Name of Jesus, receive on the tongue, receive kneeling, crossing myself at the “traditional” times, bowing to the Priest and processional cross, etc.) with not wanting to draw attention to myself lest I come off as, as you said, “holier than thou.”

It is really sad that we have to make such a choice, and that simply by participating in Mass in a traditional way we are made to feel like spectacles. I do not want to be anyone’s focal point; that position is for Christ alone.
 
A priest told me that it was the right of the faithful to kneel for Holy Communion. He said the Vatican confirmed this. He is a very solid priest and I would certainly believe him.
 
Many people who want to pay respect to God are discouraged from this because there is the common attack from liberal Catholics. They are uncomfortable with respect to God as it illustrates their disrespect for God.

Do not let this bother you, humility is best illustrated in conforming to truth, not worrying about looking prideful. People use the accusation of pride to stop people from acting too Catholic in front of them.

Kneel if you need to respect Jesus that way, if you are reflecting the truth of Christ in your actions don’t let people object to it. We know you are not doing it out of pride, just don’t disrupt others while you respect Christ.

God Bless
Scylla
 
I just realized this Sunday at Mass that if one wishes to receive on the tongue, it would probably be better to kneel. People vary greatly in height, and if you are a full foot taller than the Priest or EMHC, then it is quite difficult for them to reach, whereas kneeling any height can reach.

One of the biggest problems I have is with my family badgering me about it if I did it. If I ever don’t receive Communion, they always hound me for that, so I can’t imagine what they would do if I knelt. Also, since Communion seems to be a race for so many people, I can see someone tripping over me.

Perhaps I will try kneeling next time I receive from a shorter EMHC.
 
Receiving Communion the traditional way,kneeing and on the tongue,is quite foreign the the whole ethos of the Ordinary Form, as the ordinary Catholic experiences it in the U.S. It just doesn’t match. And this is when there are no so-called “abuses”. Trying to impose tradition on the OF, therefore, would be an uphill battle all the way. “Swimming upstream”, as it were.:cool:
 
We have a few people in our parish who come from a different cultural background and they kneel and receive on the tongue. It was jarring the first time I saw it, because I hadn’t experienced that for 35 years or more, but people have accepted that it’s their way and we know to be careful if they are ahead of us in the communion line. Now I hardly notice when it happens.

It’s perfectly ok to kneel to receive on the tongue, as confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship. We have an indult to receive standing and in the hand but that doesn’t change the fact that the universal norm is kneeling and on the tongue.
 
I have a similar predicament: I am a recent convert and will be confirmed this Easter, by the Bishop (in the area’s Cathedral). I told the parish priest of the Cathedral that I want to (or plan on) kneeling unless I would be disobeying the Bishop or him in doing so. I was told that it was strongly discouraged and that the Bishop may ask me to stand up before giving me the Eucharist.

Would it be wrong to kneel despite that warning? Does the Bishop have the right to ask me to stand before receiving? Would it be better to double genuflect, then stand and receive on the tongue? What about the reception of the transformed wine? 😊
 
stmaria said:
There are Churches that celebrate the Novus Ordo and they kneel to receive but they have communion rails that were never removed.
It would present problems to kneel without a communion rail.
Click to expand...
Why?
 
hamburglar said:
I just realized this Sunday at Mass that if one wishes to receive on the tongue, it would probably be better to kneel. People vary greatly in height, and if you are a full foot taller than the Priest or EMHC, then it is quite difficult for them to reach, whereas kneeling any height can reach.
Click to expand...
I agree. I sometime go to daily Mass at other parishes since mine is about 20 miles away. I only receive on the tongue now and sometimes it is hard when the priest is shorter than I am. That is no problem at my parish since kneeling at the altar rail is normal. Also, only the priests distribute since we use intinction.
 
nobeerinheaven said:
Would it be wrong to kneel despite that warning? Does the Bishop have the right to ask me to stand before receiving? Would it be better to double genuflect, then stand and receive on the tongue? What about the reception of the transformed wine? 😊
Click to expand...
No, you cannot be denied Communion because you kneel. If I were you, I would go ahead and kneel. I often do not receive the Precious Blood, since by receiving the Blessed Sacrament I receive both the Body and the Blood through that. When I do receive the Blood, I hold the bowl-shape part of the chalice with my right hand and place my left hand, flat, underneath the chalice.
 
At my Mom’s parish, I’ve seen people genuflect before receiving commmunion (ala EWTN), then stand to receive the Host.

To me, it is the best compromise available at this point in time. Communion is not the time nor place to make a statement.
 
If your heart is asking you to kneel to receive Our Lord at Communion, it may be a sign that your soul is yearning for the traditional sacrifice of the Mass. You might consider attending a Traditional Latin Mass.
 
Littlemouse said:
If your heart is asking you to kneel to receive Our Lord at Communion, it may be a sign that your soul is yearning for the traditional sacrifice of the Mass. You might consider attending a Traditional Latin Mass.
Click to expand...
Or a Mass like mine - a Novus Ordo that uses the communion rail.
 
If there are no Altar Rails, then genuflect before you receive. It is the best of both world. It shows profound reverence and keeps the problem of people tripping over you far away!

I always genuflect before reception but if there are Altar rails, I kneel irrespective of what others do. Do what you know to be right and leave the rest to God.
 
I am still wondering why someone would think you need Altar Rails in order to receive kneeling. That is **not **their purpose and never was.
 
palmas85 said:
I am still wondering why someone would think you need Altar Rails in order to receive kneeling. That is **not **their purpose and never was.
Click to expand...
Then what WAS their purpose? And, why the big to-do by some when they were removed?

🤷
 
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