Kneeling to recieve Communion

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MiserereMei25

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I atteneded a parish on a trip in indiana. I knelt to receive communion but the priest gave me a nasty look and gasped. (not exaggerating).

Is it illicit to kneel to receive communion at a Novus Ordo Mass? I just feel like I’m worshiping Jesus in a personal way by kneeling to receive him. I honestly am asking if I should halt doing this?
 
MiserereMei25 said:
Is it illicit to kneel to receive communion at a Novus Ordo Mass? I just feel like I’m worshiping Jesus in a personal way by kneeling to receive him. I honestly am asking if I should halt doing this?
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No, it’s not illicit.
 
Wow. Of course you can kneel. I’m so upset at his reaction. We get enough resistance from the world but in the house of God too from his priest no less. I’m sorry you had to deal with that. Unbelievable.
 
MiserereMei25 said:
Is it illicit to kneel to receive communion at a Novus Ordo Mass?
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No.

But the priest may have had some grief from some of his own parishioners who might have decided to receive kneeling to make a point in the past.

You ever hear the proverb “when in Rome do as the Romans”? That’s a paraphrase of the remarks of Ambrose of Milan, and it specifically had to do with different church protocols in Rome as opposed to his native Milan.

As a rule of thumb, its usually probably best to observe and do as the others in attendance, especially if you are in a different place than your usual residence.
 
phil19034 said:
The Vatican has stated that everyone has the right to kneel if they wish.
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Just because someone has the right to do something, doesn’t mean it is always prudent to do it.

Sometimes there is a real distraction factor.
 
I don’t know about this. I used to be distracted at Mass because of all the chatty people (still am sometimes) and sometimes I would find myself getting upset at how someone is dressed but I have tried, thanks to good advice, to put back my focus on receiving our Lord. I don’t kneel when receiving, I honestly feel very clumsy like I would fall and it’s true I may feel embarrassed because it hasn’t come naturally yet. However I have seen people kneel while in line for communion and it wasn’t distracting, it was nice. But even now when I receive I usually have my eyes a bit lowered until my turn.
The nasty look and gasp no less of the priest who loves the Lord and represents Him is abhorrent. Especially for something not only permissible but admirable to some and just as respectful to our Lord.
 
In the US the norm is to receive standing. You can’t be prohibited from kneeling, but it’s not encouraged. As stated above, if you don’t want to make a spectacle of yourself, do as the Romans do.
 
I live in NY and some kneel and some don’t, I’d hardly call it a spectacle. Quite frankly the priests reaction was the spectacle!
 
The priest reaction was inconsiderate no matter how large or small the Mass.
 
The priests reaction is, frankly, irrelevant, your disposition and your awareness of what is you are receiving is all that matters.

You would likely get a similar reaction if you went to an Extraordinary Form mass and tried to receive in your hand standing.

Bottom line, I recommend we pay no mind to the reaction of others … even the priest
 
Augustinian said:
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phil19034:
The Vatican has stated that everyone has the right to kneel if they wish.
Click to expand...
Just because someone has the right to do something, doesn’t mean it is always prudent to do it.

Sometimes there is a real distraction factor.
Click to expand...
I’m sorry, but I totally disagree. Now, of course there is some common sense that should be used though.

For example: If your knees are good enough to quickly kneel in front of the priest and quickly get up, there is no issue. HOWEVER, if it takes a while for you to kneel and/or get back up then one should either not kneel or wait until the end of the communion line as to not hold up the line.

At our Cathedral, a handful of people kneel during daily mass. It’s no big deal because they get down and back up quickly, without issue.

When my knees were good, I could do the same thing. But now, I really need a help getting back up, so I won’t do it anymore unless the altar rail is being used

Regardless, a Priest is not allowed to tell anyone they can’t kneel to receive communion.

And while the norm in the US is to receive standing up (and it used to be discouraged), the Vatican has told the USCCB that kneeling is an option for the laity and that they are not allowed to actively discourage the laity from kneeling.

God Bless
 
Augustinian said:
You ever hear the proverb “when in Rome do as the Romans”? That’s a paraphrase of the remarks of Ambrose of Milan, and it specifically had to do with different church protocols in Rome as opposed to his native Milan.
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I just want to point something out about the “when in Rome” comment.

That wasn’t simply about different protocols.

It was a totally different Rite. St Ambrose and Milan were NOT celebrating the Roman Rite, which was being celebrated in Rome. Milian was celebrating what is today called the Ambrosian Rite.

So it wasn’t a matter of simply different customs or diocesan protocols. It was a totally different set of rubrics, and totally different liturgy, etc.

So the “when in Rome” argument doesn’t work here because receiving communion while kneeling and on the tounge are canonical rights that every lay person has when attending mass in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

God Bless
 
Receive the Lord of the Universe in whatever posture you want, standing or kneeling.

Everyone should receive as they wish, I am glad you are at Mass.

The priest is the servant of the Liturgy, not its master. He has no business scowling or scolding anyone for how they receive.

Listen to the beautiful way we receive in the Divine Liturgy:
  • The servant (or handmaiden) of God Christopher receives the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his (or her) sins and for eternal life. Amen.
Thanks to all who reverently come to receive their King,
Deacon Christopher
 
I don’t think it’s illicit but I’ve personally seen only two people, a couple, do it.
 
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Our mass is OF and there are altar rails and everyone kneels.
 
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Augustinian said:
Just because someone has the right to do something, doesn’t mean it is always prudent to do it.

Sometimes there is a real distraction factor.
Click to expand...
If I knelt without having something to grab onto as I was going toward the floor and back up again, I’d fall.
 
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