Must I stop kneeling to receive Communion?

[rachael_a_gale]

I live in South Australia and we have recently been instructed on two new changes to our liturgy. It is now required that we bow before receiving Communion in reverence toward who we are receiving. The priests are saying that we all need to do this so that we are in unity. The problem for me is that I already kneel for Communion out of respect for who I am receiving. I do not want to be disobedient to my bishop or create disunity but it seems to me that we are more divided than ever. Do I have to stop my practice of kneeling for Communion?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) for Australia states:

In Australia standing is the most common posture for receiving holy Communion. The customary manner of reception is recommended to be followed by all, so that Communion may truly be a sign of unity among those who share in the same table of the Lord. When approaching to receive holy Communion, the faithful bow in reverence of the mystery that they are to receive (GIRM 160, source).

This rubric is not phrased in absolutes (e.g., “must be followed by all,” “must bow in reverence”), but respect for the teaching office of the bishops in union with the Vatican, which approved this document, indicates that it would be imprudent for the faithful to ignore the instructions of the bishops.

Recommended reading:

• [The Struggle for Uniformity in the Liturgy (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0312fea1.asp) by Kenneth D. Whitehead