Kneeling while receiving Communion

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Shewis,
That is indeed a very heartwarming thing to hear - someone with such devotion. If I was in your shoes, I perhaps would have the same apprehensions but when it comes down to it - it is between you and God. šŸ™‚ Honestly, do what you feel is right. The Holy Spirit always has a way of inspiring us towards more closeness with God. It is a beautiful thing. God bless!
Lady
 
NeedsMercy said:
Maybe someone here can remember the thread, but someone posted a link to a video about a priest who went to a busy street in some very busy city and took out a monstrance and exposed the Blessed Sacrament. Believe it or not, people began to kneel right there in the street. It was awesome! Donā€™t let anyone stop you from adoring Him in the manner you wish!
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?

youtube.com/watch?v=cZ5aYoSr3Hg&feature=player_embedded
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=574584

Was it this one?
 
Angel_Bradford said:
If you are going to kneel, I would advise you to be last in line so no one will trip over you when you kneel.
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Exactly. Iā€™ve seen this happen in my parish and as the communicant was rising she bumped into the priest and almost sent the ciboria flying. That would have been awful.

If someone kneels to receive, they should never judge others who donā€™t. I know this happened. I have personally been challenged as to why I donā€™t kneel when receiving. I have bad arthritis in my knees. Since God sees the heart, He knows that I am kneeling there, even if my body cannot cooperate.

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

:gopray:
 
Thank all of you for your insights, most I which I donā€™t think I would have come up with myself. Please pray for me as I continue my journey and I will do the same for you. God Bless You!
 
Angel_Bradford said:
If you are going to kneel, I would advise you to be last in line so no one will trip over you when you kneel.
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This is such a cliche that it means nothing anymore. This whole ā€œpeople are going to trip if you kneelā€ is a myth. When Iā€™m receiving communion where there is no communion rail, no one has ever tripped over me when I knelt to receive. Further, I have never witnessed anyone trip over anyone else. Even others have stressed that tripping has never been an issue.

There is Canadian case law out of Nova Scotia where a parish tried to criminally prosecute a group of people for kneeling to receive communion, thus ā€œinterrupting a religious service.ā€ The Court basically told them to go away and quit wasting the Courtā€™s time and tax payersā€™ money on frivolous nonsense.

If you feel called to kneel, then kneel. Donā€™t worry about other people.
 
I read a comment that was posted here awhile back about this very same thing and this is what I remember:
ā€œIf we really believed that Jesus was truely present in the Echarist, would we ever get off our knees?ā€:gopray:
Soā€¦if God is calling you to recieve him on your knees, by all means go with it, just make sure you donā€™t trip anyone in the process.
 
kayla said:
I read a comment that was posted here awhile back about this very same thing and this is what I remember:
ā€œIf we really believed that Jesus was truely present in the Echarist, would we ever get off our knees?ā€:gopray:
Soā€¦if God is calling you to recieve him on your knees, by all means go with it, just make sure you donā€™t trip anyone in the process.
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But then ask yourself, how is it Jesus calls others to receive while standing which is the norm, but you feel called to kneel?

Jim
 
kayla said:
I read a comment that was posted here awhile back about this very same thing and this is what I remember:
ā€œIf we really believed that Jesus was truely present in the Echarist, would we ever get off our knees?ā€:gopray:
Soā€¦if God is calling you to recieve him on your knees, by all means go with it, just make sure you donā€™t trip anyone in the process.
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If we really saw the Eucharist for what it truly is, we would fall to the ground prostrate and be paralyzed with awe and unable to move. šŸ˜‰
 
JimR-OCDS said:
But then ask yourself, how is it Jesus calls others to receive while standing which is the norm, but you feel called to kneel?

Jim
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Jesus doesnā€™t call us to stand to receive. After Vatican II people who didnā€™t know what they were doing got over-zealous and ripped out the communion rails. In our Rite we should be kneeling, as that is the proper custom. No where in the documents of Vatican II does it speak of standing to receive communion. I have faith that as the reform of the reform takes place we will see a return to receiving communion on the tongue while kneeling at the communion rail.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
But then ask yourself, how is it Jesus calls others to receive while standing which is the norm, but you feel called to kneel?

Jim
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Jesus does not call aIl of us to serve in the way. I serve the way Jesus calls me to serve, and let my neighbor serve in the way he is called.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
The norm established by the Bishops is to receive while standing. A priest can not refuse a person who decides to kneel, but the person should be given some instruction on why we stand.

People who stand to receive, are being no less reverent than those who choose to kneel, so to suggest that kneeling is a more reverent way when you make yourself stand out from the others, can be a problem in itself. But you have to discern your motive for doing so.

You should also understand what reverence means.

Anyway, in my parish, we stand to receive and itā€™s so small, if some one decided to kneel, it would create an obstacle for others. Also, because the parish is small, the priest and deacon remain on the step before the isle. If a person knelt, they would be inordinately lower than the priest and heā€™d have to bend over to reach them.

So, use good judgment when you decide to do something out of the norm from your congregation. There are probably sound reasons for a community doing as they do.

Jim
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The GIRM clearly states that the laity are free to receive communion whist kneeling. That nonsense about instructing them about the norm has been removed from the GIRM. Kneeling isnā€™t so much about reverence as it is about as a sign of humility.
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
The GIRM clearly states that the laity are free to receive communion whist kneeling. That nonsense about instructing them about the norm has been removed from the GIRM. Kneeling isnā€™t so much about reverence as it is about as a sign of humility.
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But the GIRM also states that the local Bishops establish the norm.

The USCCB have established standing as the norm for receiving Holy Communion.

Are our Bishops not being reverent toward Jesus by establishing this norm?

Are they some how deficient in their duties as shepherds of Christ Church?

Jim
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
Jesus doesnā€™t call us to stand to receive. After Vatican II people who didnā€™t know what they were doing got over-zealous and ripped out the communion rails. In our Rite we should be kneeling, as that is the proper custom. No where in the documents of Vatican II does it speak of standing to receive communion. I have faith that as the reform of the reform takes place we will see a return to receiving communion on the tongue while kneeling at the communion rail.
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Youā€™re accusing the Bishops for having the Communion rails removed because of being over-zealous.

Guess what? The Bishops can just as easily return the altar rails and have us all kneel, but they havenā€™t been guided by the Holy Spirit to return this as the norm.

So, until then, be obedient to the Bishops and donā€™t place yourself above them.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Youā€™re accusing the Bishops for having the Communion rails removed because of being over-zealous.

Guess what? The Bishops can just as easily return the altar rails and have us all kneel, but they havenā€™t been guided by the Holy Spirit to return this as the norm.

So, until then, be obedient to the Bishops and donā€™t place yourself above them.

Jim
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Just for clarification when a Bishop sets a NORM, it doesnā€™t mean acceptable way it actually has to be HOLY SPIRIT led? Meaning every decision made in governing the Church protocols is SPIRIT LED?
 
houseofsaul said:
Just for clarification when a Bishop sets a NORM, it doesnā€™t mean acceptable way it actually has to be HOLY SPIRIT led? Meaning every decision made in governing the Church protocols is SPIRIT LED?
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But are you suggesting that the norm they set is against the Holy Spirit?

The Conference of Bishops set the norm, and Iā€™m sure they pray about it first.

Yes, the Holy Spirit guides them. If not, we might as well ignore them completely.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
But are you suggesting that the norm they set is against the Holy Spirit?

The Conference of Bishops set the norm, and Iā€™m sure they pray about it first.

Yes, the Holy Spirit guides them. If not, we might as well ignore them completely.

Jim
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I believe I started my question ā€œJust for clarificationā€, meaning I was looking to understand. It really bothers me the way some of the most DEVOUT CATHOLICS on this forum react to questions or even friendly debate. I am not asking anyone to change their beliefs or views, but when all claim to be the Church that Jesus instituted and how HE taught with love, maybe it would behoove those who insist on EDUCATING us IGNORANT folk in that same love.

In other words, Sacred Scripture is Holy Spirit inspired, Apostolic Tradition is taught from Jesus himself and Holy Spirit guided, Catechism is to be based from both of the former mentioned.

And since GIRM stands for **General Instruction **of the Roman Missal, I was asking if document is held to same standard as Catechism, Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition.
 
houseofsaul said:
I believe I started my question ā€œJust for clarificationā€, meaning I was looking to understand. It really bothers me the way some of the most DEVOUT CATHOLICS on this forum react to questions or even friendly debate. I am not asking anyone to change their beliefs or views, but when all claim to be the Church that Jesus instituted and how HE taught with love, maybe it would behoove those who insist on EDUCATING us IGNORANT folk in that same love.

In other words, Sacred Scripture is Holy Spirit inspired, Apostolic Tradition is taught from Jesus himself and Holy Spirit guided, Catechism is to be based from both of the former mentioned.

And since GIRM stands for **General Instruction **of the Roman Missal, I was asking if document is held to same standard as Catechism, Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition.
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OK.

The GIRM isnā€™t held to the same standard as the Catechism, because it can change and the norms established can vary(according to Church Laws) according to the local conferences of Bishops.

The teachings in the Catechism can not be changed by a conference of Bishops, but only by a council of Bishops along with the Pope. This is my understanding as far as the Catechism goes.

Hence, the USCCB has established that kneeling while receiving is the norm in the United States. A person who presents themselves for reception of Holy Communion can not be refused if they decide to kneel.

However, they should receive pastoral instruction on the norms.

Jim
 
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