No kneeling after Communion?!

[JMWorthy]

I recently moved to a different state and have been trying to find a “home parish.” The city I’ve moved to has serveral parishes (excuse me… “Catholic Communities”) to choose from so I thought this would be easy.

After attending Mass at a few different parishes, I became bothered that none of the parishes knelt after receiving Communion. Obviously I have the option of doing this on my own, but I didn’t think I should feel out of place doing so.

I will admit my previous parish did things a little differently and confused me at first… Rather than kneeling once you returned to your pew, we would remain standing and sing and then kneel and pray as a community after the last person received Communion. So when I moved and attended Mass in my new hometown, I thought maybe that was what would happen. Nope, no kneeling after Communion…

I’m sure I’m making a bigger deal out of this than I should, but my husband (who is Protestant) and I just had a discussion about how the way Protestant churches did their “Last Supper” during their services. And it seemed like the Catholic churches I was attending were becoming more Protestant.

I’ve always felt Communion is the most humbling part of Mass and looked forward to my time of prayer. It seems to me that standing and singing takes away from the reverance of Communion.

Am I just blowing this way out of proportion?

 

[benedictgal]

I recently moved to a different state and have been trying to find a “home parish.” The city I’ve moved to has serveral parishes (excuse me… “Catholic Communities”) to choose from so I thought this would be easy.

After attending Mass at a few different parishes, I became bothered that none of the parishes knelt after receiving Communion. Obviously I have the option of doing this on my own, but I didn’t think I should feel out of place doing so.

I will admit my previous parish did things a little differently and confused me at first… Rather than kneeling once you returned to your pew, we would remain standing and sing and then kneel and pray as a community after the last person received Communion. So when I moved and attended Mass in my new hometown, I thought maybe that was what would happen. Nope, no kneeling after Communion…

I’m sure I’m making a bigger deal out of this than I should, but my husband (who is Protestant) and I just had a discussion about how the way Protestant churches did their “Last Supper” during their services. And it seemed like the Catholic churches I was attending were becoming more Protestant.

I’ve always felt Communion is the most humbling part of Mass and looked forward to my time of prayer. It seems to me that standing and singing takes away from the reverance of Communion.

Am I just blowing this way out of proportion?

There is no hard and fast rule regarding the posture after Holy Communion. According to Francis Cardinal Arinze, the Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments:

There is no rule from Rome that everybody must stand during Holy Communion. There is no such rule from Rome. So, after people have received Communion, they can stand, they can kneel, they can sit. But a bishop in his diocese or bishops in a country could say that they recommend standing or kneeling. They could. It is not a law from Rome. They could – but not impose it. Perhaps they could propose. But those who want to sit or kneel or stand should be left reasonable freedom.

I hope this helps.

 

[JRKH]

Go ahead and kneel.
At my parish most remain standing as well but that does not prevent me from doing what I believe to be proper. I kneel and pray, thanking Christ for His great gift to me. I remain kneeling until the vessels are cleaned and then I sit down.

Peace
James

 

[centurionguard]

There is no hard and fast rule regarding the posture after Holy Communion. According to Francis Cardinal Arinze, the Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments:

I hope this helps.

The fact as you say there is NO RULE from the Vatican on posture makes it seem so confusing at best for parishioners worldwide.Francis Cardinal Arinze left it to the ordinary bishops of each diocese as per custom of the local people. But this too is not clear because every bishop has his own idea on posture which then gets broken down to the whims of the local parish priest as seen in the obvious confusion from one parish to another.

Why so much confusion and NO uniformity? We are after all one happy universal family in the Catholic Church. In the TLM there was far more uniformity as seen in the Catholic Church today. Forty-five years ago mostly all Catholics knelt during the consecration. In todays modern Catholic Church, posture its a free-for-all…do what ever you wish.

 

[benedictgal]

The fact as you say there is NO RULE from the Vatican on posture makes it seem so confusing at best for parishioners worldwide.Francis Cardinal Arinze left it to the ordinary bishops of each diocese as per custom of the local people. But this too is not clear because every bishop has his own idea on posture which then gets broken down to the whims of the local parish priest as seen in the obvious confusion from one parish to another.

Why so much confusion and NO uniformity? We are after all one happy universal family in the Catholic Church. In the TLM Mass there was far more uniformity as seen in the Catholic Church today. Forty-five years ago mostly all Catholics knelt during the consecration. In todays modern Catholic Church posture its a free-for-all…do what ever you wish.

However, the posture after Communion should not be rigidly determined. The bishop can suggest, but, he cannot impose. That is the point, with all due respect, that you are missing.

Now, the posture during the Consecration is another matter entirely. There, the posture calls for kneeling:

Is that the same thing with the consecration? Can they kneel during the consecration?

A bit different there. The rule from Rome would sanction where the bishops said, “in our country we want people to kneel throughout the consecration”. From our office in Rome we will support that. So it is a bit different. But sometimes during the consecration – suppose it is open-air or it rained and it is muddy – you could not kneel there. But in the normal church it is possible to kneel.

And that’s the normal thing: to kneel during the consecration – and even, as in this country, to kneel from the beginning – just before consecration – right down to just before the Our Father. And that is okay.

Now, there are many countries where the faithful stand at the Memorial Acclamation. In the United States, we kneel throughout the entire EP until the Pater Noster.

 

[the_phoenix]

I kneel after Communion, regardless of what other people do or don’t do, and whether or not there are kneelers. Fortunately, I found a good home parish where everyone kneels after Communion.

I once attended an outdoor Mass at Old Fort Niagara at a historical reenactment event depicting the siege battle of 1759. Since so many people camp out that weekend, a genuine Catholic priest comes to say Mass on Sunday morning so that people can fulfill their obligation to attend. He dresses in the period garb of a French Jesuit. That day, I was wearing my authentic beaded full-length wool Iroquois dress, and knelt in the muddy grass. No big deal, mud washes out easy enough.

If you attend a Latin Mass, you’ll kneel for sure.

 

[NPC]

Now, there are many countries where the faithful stand at the Memorial Acclamation. In the United States, we kneel throughout the entire EP until the Pater Noster.

Generally in Ireland, we kneel immediately following the Sanctus right through until the Pater Noster. The only people who stand for the memorial acclamation are those in the choir

As for standing after Holy Communion, that is something that would be quite alien to us - I’ve never seen nor heard of that posture being the norm (via a bishop’s proposal). Normally people kneel to pray after receiving - in my diocese at least we then stand for the final blessing (this posture symbolising our preparedness to be sent out to “love and to serve the Lord”).

 

[centurionguard]

However, the posture after Communion should not be rigidly determined. The bishop can suggest, but, he cannot impose. That is the point, with all due respect, that you are missing.

Now, the posture during the Consecration is another matter entirely. There, the posture calls for kneeling:

Now, there are many countries where the faithful stand at the Memorial Acclamation. In the United States, we kneel throughout the entire EP until the Pater Noster.

However, the posture after Communion should not be rigidly determined. The bishop can suggest, but, he cannot impose. That is the point, with all due respect, that you are missing. /QUOTE]

Actually I do understand the part you quoted. Its just when you see inserts in the Church Bulletin stating Standing Only during consecration from different parishes I get upset. Seventeen years ago I left a once home parish because of the audacity in which the parish priest and parish council enforced this new posture issue. And this still occurs in my Archdiocese. Confronting the bishop as many people have in a humble polite manner is to no avail. For the last 18 years I have made a new parish home which is the only surviving parish in the English deanery that kneels during consecration. But that too is now being challenged within the administration of the parish.

adoremus.org/0210MassGesturesPostures.html

 

[benedictgal]

However, the posture after Communion should not be rigidly determined. The bishop can suggest, but, he cannot impose. That is the point, with all due respect, that you are missing. /QUOTE]

 

[JerrySeibert]

Kneel if you so choose. I look out of place as I am a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. So, while the majority of the Church has already been at their seat for a few minutes I may only have a few seconds it seems. Some think me strange as when the Priest finishing purifying the vessels most sit down whild Fr. is walking back to his Chair. And then he sits and prays for a few moments.
Everyone in the Church is seated and I am still praying. I typically go from kneeling to standing when Father stands up.
I’m proud of this. Most do not take the time to appreciate their time in Mass.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I recently moved to a different state and have been trying to find a “home parish.” The city I’ve moved to has serveral parishes (excuse me… “Catholic Communities”) to choose from so I thought this would be easy.

After attending Mass at a few different parishes, I became bothered that none of the parishes knelt after receiving Communion. Obviously I have the option of doing this on my own, but I didn’t think I should feel out of place doing so.

I will admit my previous parish did things a little differently and confused me at first… Rather than kneeling once you returned to your pew, we would remain standing and sing and then kneel and pray as a community after the last person received Communion. So when I moved and attended Mass in my new hometown, I thought maybe that was what would happen. Nope, no kneeling after Communion…

I’m sure I’m making a bigger deal out of this than I should, but my husband (who is Protestant) and I just had a discussion about how the way Protestant churches did their “Last Supper” during their services. And it seemed like the Catholic churches I was attending were becoming more Protestant.

I’ve always felt Communion is the most humbling part of Mass and looked forward to my time of prayer. It seems to me that standing and singing takes away from the reverance of Communion.

Am I just blowing this way out of proportion?

Well the Church does not specify that you kneel AFTER returning to your pew from receiving Holy Communion, You can if you want to. (I do, even if there are no kneelers)

They are properly called Catholic parishes or churches.
Christian “Communities” are gatherings of Baptized Cahristian who do not have the fullness of the Sacraments, Apostolic Succession and therefore a valid priesthood through Holy Orders.

 

[pro_multis]

If you cannot find an “ordinary form” “faith community” that kneels after communion, and it is a big deal to you, you can go to a trad parish.

 

[peary]

I recently moved to a different state and have been trying to find a “home parish.” The city I’ve moved to has serveral parishes (excuse me… “Catholic Communities”) to choose from so I thought this would be easy.

After attending Mass at a few different parishes, I became bothered that none of the parishes knelt after receiving Communion. Obviously I have the option of doing this on my own, but I didn’t think I should feel out of place doing so.

I will admit my previous parish did things a little differently and confused me at first… Rather than kneeling once you returned to your pew, we would remain standing and sing and then kneel and pray as a community after the last person received Communion. So when I moved and attended Mass in my new hometown, I thought maybe that was what would happen. Nope, no kneeling after Communion…

I’m sure I’m making a bigger deal out of this than I should, but my husband (who is Protestant) and I just had a discussion about how the way Protestant churches did their “Last Supper” during their services. And it seemed like the Catholic churches I was attending were becoming more Protestant.

I’ve always felt Communion is the most humbling part of Mass and looked forward to my time of prayer. It seems to me that standing and singing takes away from the reverance of Communion.

Am I just blowing this way out of proportion?

It depends on the diocese and the directive of the bishop. Some bishops have sent the directive that all churches in their diocese will not kneel during Communion, or during consecration. The faithful are to remain standing. Other bishops allow it. I remember in a Wisconsin diocese where a former bishop directed the people to stand during Consecration; when the new bishop came in, he reversed the discipline.

In Europe and most parts of the world, the faithful stand for the Consecration. For me personally, my knees are quite bad and it is difficult for me to kneel. I usually kneel partially with most of my body sitting on the pew. For me, it would be much easier just to stand.

In my humble opinion, I feel that there is too much up/down/up/down/kneel/sit movements during Mass. Sometimes I feel like it’s an exercise!

 

[paperwight]

discipline.

In Europe and most parts of the world, the faithful stand for the Consecration. For me personally, my knees are quite bad and it is difficult for me to kneel. I usually kneel partially with most of my body sitting on the pew. For me, it would be much easier just to stand.

In my humble opinion, I feel that there is too much up/down/up/down/kneel/sit movements during Mass. Sometimes I feel like it’s an exercise!

Whereabouts in Europe? Not in Spain nor in the UK, at least.

 

[NPC]

Whereabouts in Europe? Not in Spain nor in the UK, at least.

Not in Ireland either I can’t remember not kneeling at Masses in Spain, Portugal, France, Austria…I don’t believe I’ve ever been to a Mass where the faithful stand at the Consecration - it just seems odd not to kneel when Christ comes among us…

 

[Phemie]

They are properly called Catholic parishes or churches.
Christian “Communities” are gatherings of Baptized Cahristian who do not have the fullness of the Sacraments, Apostolic Succession and therefore a valid priesthood through Holy Orders.

Are there not ‘Catholic Communities’? I belonged to one such, language based community in the archdiocese in which I resided. We had a chaplain but did not have parish status because we were too small a group.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

If you cannot find an “ordinary form” “faith community” that kneels after communion, and it is a big deal to you, you can go to a trad parish.

I would contact the dioceses and ask, I assume that they have a list of both.