A few reasons that occur to me for the norm, that could be useful as explanations.
- Safety for others in the procession. There is more chance someone tripping if someone kneels, particularly if it happens unexpectedly.
People should slow down in the communion line if they risk tripping over someone who stops to kneel. People who kneel should be careful not to be too sudden about it either.
- Safety for the person kneeling. There is more effort required for someone to get onto their kneels and back to their feet.
That should be up to the individual communicant. If you have someone who insists on kneeling, but causes a disruption because they have trouble getting back up, the priest should talk to them and ask them to kneel in their pew (and he will bring them communion), or to receive standing.
- Back ache for the Communion minister. If someone is kneeling the Communion minister will be required to bend over further to give them Communion.
Offer it up! Sorry- I’m sure priests got backaches before the 70’s, when everybody knelt- and I’m sure that’s what they did.
- Dignity of the laity. By standing the lay people are receiving Communion in a manner more similar to the way the priest does at Mass.
It is not undignified to kneel before God. We are not God- or equal to Him. He is the King of Kings, and it is appropriate to kneel before Him.
I am sure if it were practical to do so, the priests would kneel, and would crawl around on their hands and knees from the consecration to the end of Mass- to show reverence to God. As it is, it is only practical for the laity to kneel to receive.
- Single posture adding to the beauty of the celebration. From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):
“42. The gestures and posture of the priest, the deacon, and the ministers, as well as those of the people, ought to contribute to making the entire celebration resplendent with beauty and noble simplicity, so that the true and full meaning of the different parts of the celebration is evident and that the participation of all is fostered.52 Therefore, attention should be paid to what is determined by this General Instruction and the traditional practice of the Roman Rite and to what serves the common spiritual good of the People of God, rather than private inclination or arbitrary choice.
A common posture, to be observed by all participants, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered for the Sacred Liturgy: it both expresses and fosters the intention and spiritual attitude of the participants.”
Who is to say that common posture should not be kneeling? It worked just fine for centuries.
- Less time to receive Communion standing. It would take longer for people to kneel to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Thus more Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion would be required for the distribution of Communion in a reasonable time.
Actually, my experience has been the opposite. When people receive kneeling at the communion rail, the priest walks up and down the row, distributing communion to each person who is already waiting- and he doesn’t have to wait for them to move so the next one can come up.
- More space required for kneeling. If everyone were kneeling, perhaps the first row of seats would need to be removed. So the church would only be able to seat fewer people.
You need about two feet between the altar and the first row of pews in the front of the church for a communion rail. If that’s a problem, they should move the altar further back (preferably all the way to the wall, but that’s for a different thread).
- It is the decision of the Conference of Bishops. The GIRM is explicit about this being their decision:
“390. It is up to the Conferences of Bishops to decide on the adaptations indicated in this General Instruction and in the Order of Mass and, once their decisions have been accorded the
recognitio of the Apostolic See, to introduce them into the Missal itself. These adaptations include
• The gestures and posture of the faithful (cf. no. 43 above);
…
• The manner of receiving Holy Communion (cf. nos. 160, 283 above);”
- Expense of kneelers. Having a kneeler, the way Benedict XVI does, takes time to set up. At www.kneeler.com such a Prie Dieu costs $US 210 plus $US 30 shipping. One in front of each Communion minister adds up.
Then don’t have any communion ministers- have a communion rail and let the priest distribute communion alone. Let only consecrated hands touch the Sacrament.
- Avoiding individualism. From the GIRM:
"95. … Thus, they are to shun any appearance of individualism or division, keeping before their eyes that they have only one Father in heaven and accordingly are all brothers and sisters to each other.
- Indeed, they form one body, whether by hearing the word of God, or by joining in the prayers and the singing, or above all by the common offering of Sacrifice and by a common partaking at the Lord’s table. This unity is beautifully apparent from the gestures and postures observed in common by the faithful."
Have everybody kneel…individualism avoided.
I’m no a fanatic traditionalist by any means, but in these days where indifference and sacrilige against the Eucharist is sadly all too common, we need people to show profound reverence towards the Blessed Sacrament. A simple way to do this is to receive Our Lord on our tongue and on our knees.
I don’t remember the last time I received communion standing- I pray that whenever it was, it was my last time to do so.
) was real loosy goosey regarding kneeling, our parish was still standing during the consecreation, (please excuse spelling…New Yrs lack of sleep) I think I was the only one kneeling. Father Nadeau is an awesome priest! He is now further up Maine (USA) bringing more parishes together, and these parishes will be catechetised properly. I think I better go back to bed.