My bishop has recently mandated standing during the liturgy where I am not comfortable

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I remember reading about this years ago. The pastor wound up getting transferred not long after his power play, which ultimately failed and the people went right back to kneeling. Nothing like alienating an entire parish.
Every parish I’ve been to in the last year has kneeled except one. That exception is coincidentally a “progressive” parish in one of the most far left cities in the country. I kneeled and that’s when I found out. Nobody said a word.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-28-me-kneel28-story,amp.html
 
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Kneeling has been the norm in our parish and diocese since I first dipped my toes in the Tiber in 2004. Those who have mandated standing have called it an expression of unity or reverence, but I can’t bring myself to see it that way. If Jesus is really on the altar, I at least want to be on my knees; I would prefer to be on my face, but there isn’t room. In my own mind, standing seems to be almost a posture of arrogance and defiance in the face of authority.

There is a further reason, peculiar to me as an individual, why I prefer kneeling. I am a geezer, and while I don’t have a “bad back” as such, the muscles in my back seize up when I have to stand still for long periods of time. Kneeling is much more comfortable (more accurately, much less painful) for me.

D
 
As the article indicates, standing may be reverent–but kneeling is adoration. Thank God for bishops like SF Archbishop Cordileone!
 
Dovekin said:
The US Bishops’ explained that the Communion Procession was a time of unity, so we should stand in solidarity with those who receive after us.
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Nothing on that page indicates it was authored by the “U.S. Bishops”. There is no signature at the bottom, nor is it the text of some official document voted on by the bishops. It’s an explanation, likely written by an anonymous staff person.

Not that it says anything wrong. It’s just not an official document from the USCCB.

It reiterates the part of the GIRM (with U.S. adaptations) that says the norm for receiving Communion in the U.S. is standing, but I don’t see where it says anything about remaining standing as everyone receives. I may have missed it as I read it quickly.
 
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docrock1 said:
my new bishop says to stand, am I obliged to obey?
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This thread has been lively. 🙂 But in answer to your basic question, I would say it depends on the manner of his asking. Sometimes bishops “mandate” something, other times they “strongly encourage”, and still other times they merely “suggest.” If he is just suggesting it, then you would not be obligated to obey. If he’s making it a mandate, then I’d say you should go along with it.
 
Joe_5859 said:
Nothing on that page indicates it was authored by the “U.S. Bishops”.
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At the top of the page it says ”United States Conference of Catholic Bishops” right next to their logo. At the bottom they claim copyright. There is no other indication of authorship as you have said, so the presumption is that it is their creation.

With my memory of the vote on this issue and the materials they distributed after it, I feel comfortable saying this expresses their opinion.
Joe_5859 said:
[GIRM] says the norm for receiving Communion in the U.S. is standing
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The core message of this page is “ Over and over again the prayers of the liturgy and the norms of the General Instruction emphasize this fundamental concept of the unity of the baptized, stressing that when we come together to participate in the Eucharistic celebration we come, not as individuals, but as united members of Christ’s Body.”

I could cite several more examples of that message from this brief document. Immediately after it states the norm as you quoted, it says: “the significance of unity in posture and gesture as a symbol of our unity as members of the one body of Christ should be the governing factor in our own actions.”

How would you implement that “governing factor”? By adopting postures that differ from those receiving? Leaving the building as if you are done, no point in staying? Kneeling in adoration of the Body of Christ which you have become?

I am surprised the document is not clearer on this issue, but the point is still obvious imo.
 
Exegete said:
The “NO”? You mean the Mass of Pope Pail VI, known alternatively as the Ordinary Form of the Mass?
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Novus Ordo.

Pope Pail…? I’ve never heard it called that – just the “Novus Ordo”. 🤔 😉
Rob2 said:
When was the NO promulgated in your diocese ?
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Same time as it was promulgated in the Church universal. 🤷‍♂️
Dovekin said:
The US Bishops’ explained that the Communion Procession was a time of unity, so we should stand in solidarity with those who receive after us.
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Umm… that’s not what that quote says. It doesn’t say anything about “those who receive after us.” It talks about unity in posture and gesture at the point in time when receiving the Eucharist, not about what we do prior to or following our participation in the Eucharistic procession.
 
Gorgias said:
The significance of unity in posture and gesture as a symbol of our unity as members of the one body of Christ should be the governing factor in our own actions.
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Umm… that is what the quote says. The whole context of the handout is being a sign of unity by having a shared posture.
 
This happens every summer when we go vacation in another Diocese. It is announced we will stand. Half the church does and half doesn’t. So much for unity of posture.

It is very hard to be obedient when Bishops and Priests are not obedient to the published rubrics themselves.
 
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Should people stand or kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer?​

This is answered in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal , number 43:

In the Dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus ( Holy, Holy, Holy ) until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by ill health, or for reasons of lack of space, of the large number of people present, or for another reasonable cause. However, those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the Priest genuflects after the Consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei ( Lamb of God ) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.
 
Thank you, thank you. So clear and concise, everyone can understand. I pray there will be no further minimizing Our Lord Presence in the Holy Eucharist, no more hiding Him away, more teaching on the why and how of the Holy Mass. We must not let our Faith slide away. Thank you again for post.
 
Dovekin said:
Umm… that is what the quote says.
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Actually, no, it doesn’t. It talks about what we do when we receive. It doesn’t address what we do after we receive.
The whole context of the handout is being a sign of unity by having a shared posture.
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If that were true, then we’d all be sharing in the posture of bowing each time any of us received. We’d look like a field of chickens, pecking at feed.

Since that’s clearly not what’s being understood by everyone, then why would we suggest that we all stand in unison (if we’re not being asked to bow over and again in unison)? 😉
 
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Bruised_Reed said:
You replied to me. I got a notification. No worries, I have to make an effort to find and the general reply button.
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the genera reply is also treated by the software as a reply to the last post.
Gorgias said:
Pope Pail…? I’ve never heard it called that – just the “Novus Ordo”. 🤔 😉
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The typo aside, every major revision has been referred to as such.

Novus Ordo referred to Pope Paul’s, which was labeled as such. It is not used for the later versions, including the latest, which is simply labelled as the order of the Mass, and referred to as the Ordinary Form.
Gorgias said:
It doesn’t address what we do after we receive.
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It would, though, be amusing to watch either people trying to kneel or stand their way back to their seats. . . .😜😱 (“Why,” asked the visitor, “are they all doing the bunny hop???”)
 
One of the nice things about being Catholic is that we don’t have to worry about making a lot of these decisions. The bishop is the chief liturgist for the diocese and he’s tasked with deciding. All we have to do is allow him to do his job.
 
I’ve not gotten a notification for an immediate subsequent reply before this though, notably on other recent threads.
 
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