Pope's Mass/kneeling and receiving communion on the tongue?

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missal

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Hi,
I don’t know if this subject is being discussed…however, the Pope’s Mass in Southern Italy with kneeling and receiving communion on
the tongue has ruffled a few feathers here.
Do you think we will Ever have our communion rails used again.?
🤷
 
missal said:
Hi,
I don’t know if this subject is being discussed…however, the Pope’s Mass in Southern Italy with kneeling and receiving communion on
the tongue has ruffled a few feathers here.
Do you think we will Ever have our communion rails used again.?
🤷
Click to expand...
Why worry about it? A set up like the pope used could be done anywhere.
 
Eilish_Maura said:
Why worry about it? A set up like the pope used could be done anywhere.
Click to expand...
Very true!!

A few weeks ago, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, I had the chance to attend my first TLM in over 40 years. It took place at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in the diocese of Covington, Ky.

The Cathedral was renovated a few years back and the altar rail was removed. When the new bishop arrived and began offering the EF (formerly the “Indult”) he used the first pew all the way across for the reception of Holy Communion. Well, that’s what we did on the Feast of the Sacred Heart…everyone filed into the first pew and received Communion on their knees and on the tongue.

Even the modern churches that don’t have communion rails can use the “first pew” for reception of Holy Communion for those who wish to receive this way. I hope it catches on. And GOD BLESS our Holy Father for leading the way by example!
  • Westy
 
missal said:
Hi,
I don’t know if this subject is being discussed…however, the Pope’s Mass in Southern Italy with kneeling and receiving communion on
the tongue has ruffled a few feathers here.
Do you think we will Ever have our communion rails used again.?
🤷
Click to expand...
Recieving on the tongue is the norm…recieving in the hand is the exception (even though in most places people recieve in the hand…which is not the norm)

Many chuches still have their communion rails and some churches continue the kneeling while recieving at the rail…very few but some churches ( i am talking about the OF Mass) do it.

Interestingly the Lutheran Church here in town kneels at their altar rail… [edited]
 
Here is an explanation as to the reasoning behind the Holy Father’s action. It comes from Msgr. Guido Marini, the Holy Father’s MC, courtesy of Chiesa magazine:
As for communion placed by the pope on the tongues of the faithful, kneeling – during his recent visit to Santa Maria di Leuca and Brindisi – Marini affirms that this will become “a regular practice at papal celebrations.” And he continues:
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«In this regard, it must not be forgotten that the distribution of communion in the hand remains, from the juridical point of view, a dispensation from the universal law, conceded by the Holy See to the bishops’ conferences that have asked for it. The practice adopted by Benedict XVI tends to emphasize the continued validity of the norm for the whole Church. In addition, one might also note a preference for the use of this manner of distribution which, without taking anything away from the other, better highlights the truth of the real presence in the Eucharist, aids the devotion of the faithful, and makes it easier to enter into the sense of mystery. In our time, pastorally speaking, it is urgent to recover and emphasize these aspects.»
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What Pope Benedict is doing is leading by a very concrete example. People tend to forget that receiving Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue is the universal norm, while standing and receiving Holy Communion is an adaptation, valid, but, still an exception to the norm. Like all adaptations, this one can be rescinded at any time.
 
It is also a nice model in that it shows a parish does not have to do any remodeling.
 
I have seen the double kneelers (usually used for weddings) used for the purpose of kneeling to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist. That would work as well.
 
missal said:
Hi,
I don’t know if this subject is being discussed…however, the Pope’s Mass in Southern Italy with kneeling and receiving communion on
the tongue has ruffled a few feathers here.
Do you think we will Ever have our communion rails used again.?
🤷
Click to expand...
Does it really matter…?
 
PatienceAndLove said:
I have seen the double kneelers (usually used for weddings) used for the purpose of kneeling to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist. That would work as well.
Click to expand...
The use of two single kneelers would slow down the communion process. Having a full communion rail would make communion faster and more reverent. The full rail allows the person that receives to have say a prayer and then get up and allow the next group to receive from the priest thus eliminating the use of EMHCs.
 
KathleenElsie said:
The use of two single kneelers would slow down the communion process. Having a full communion rail would make communion faster and more reverent. The full rail allows the person that receives to have say a prayer and then get up and allow the next group to receive from the priest thus eliminating the use of EMHCs.
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The “point” was to reinforce being able to kneel to receive and not to eliminate EMHCs or not to bring back altar rails.
 
Eilish_Maura said:
The “point” was to reinforce being able to kneel to receive and not to eliminate EMHCs or not to bring back altar rails.
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Some posters have said that kneeling would slow down the process so I just pointed out that the communion rail can speed things up.

Also since EMHCs are only to be used in extraordinary cases the rail would make it less necessary to use them in some cases.

I understood the point. I also have read the many objections. From building expense to tripping over those of us that want to kneel and everything in between…
 
KathleenElsie said:
Some posters have said that kneeling would slow down the process so I just pointed out that the communion rail can speed things up.

Also since EMHCs are only to be used in extraordinary cases the rail would make it less necessary to use them in some cases.

I understood the point. I also have read the many objections. From building expense to tripping over those of us that want to kneel and everything in between…
Click to expand...
Having been in parishes where lining up to receive at the edge of the sanctuary (emulating what happens when there is a rail) I have not seen it slow down or speed up the process.

There are different issues that affect use of EMHCs - such as offering both species, offering option to stand or (safely) kneel - so I can’t imagine rails making much difference.
 
oh, it DOES matter, my friends.

What our Holy Father is emphasizing is proper Reverence for the Blessed Sacrament… something we do a pretty miserable job of as a whole

It comes down to the most fundamental expression of who we are as Catholics: Either it is bread we are receiving, or it is JESUS!!!

If it’s Jesus, “every knee will bow”

HOW we show reverence for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament has the power to convert hearts. I received in the hand for nearly 40 years and thought nothing of it…and that, I think,is the point. If we think about what we are doing, I’m sure most of us will hit our knees!!**
 
I can understand kneeling for HC, since standing is the usual norm for the EP at Papal Masses. When we kneel for the EP, I can certainly understand standing for Holy Communion, with a reverent Communion procession. Perhaps this is the reason the USCCB chose the kneeling norm for the EP.

When I was in Spain, they stood for the EP, and also for Holy Communion. I didn’t like it, but I followed the custom, since I was a guest.

Lux
 
Lux_et_Tenebrae said:
I can understand kneeling for HC, since standing is the usual norm for the EP at Papal Masses. When we kneel for the EP, I can certainly understand standing for Holy Communion, with a reverent Communion procession. Perhaps this is the reason the USCCB chose the kneeling norm for the EP.

When I was in Spain, they stood for the EP, and also for Holy Communion. I didn’t like it, but I followed the custom, since I was a guest.

Lux
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Actually, one kneels from at the epiclesis to the Memorial Acclamation. Then, at the Memorial Acclamation, they stand. So, to say that they kneel at the EP without making a distinction is erroneous.

I live on the Texas side of the border with Mexico and have gone to Mass in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. They kneel at the epiclesis all the way to the Memorial Acclamation. In other words, they kneel at the consecration. At the Memorial Acclamation, they stand.

Furthermore, watch the Papal Masses. The faithful kneel for the first part of the Eucharistic Prayer. Then, they stand at the Memrial Acclamation and remain standing throughout the second part. To say that everyone stands at the EP without noting the fact that they kneel for the first part is wrong.

By the way, what the Holy Father is doing by his stance on the issue of receiving Holy Communion is that he is reminding us that the universal norm is to receive Our Lord kneeling and on the tongue. Standing and on the hand is an adaptation, albeit valid, but an adaptation, just the same.

There are those, unfortunately, who may not be able to tell the difference between what a universal norm is as opposed to an adaptation.
 
missal said:
Hi,
I don’t know if this subject is being discussed…however, the Pope’s Mass in Southern Italy with kneeling and receiving communion on
the tongue has ruffled a few feathers here.
Click to expand...
OH THE HORROR!!
Do you think we will Ever have our communion rails used again.?
🤷
Click to expand...
I sure hope so!
 
benedictgal said:
Actually, one kneels from at the epiclesis to the Memorial Acclamation. Then, at the Memorial Acclamation, they stand. So, to say that they kneel at the EP without making a distinction is erroneous. .
Click to expand...
That is correct. The GIRM, as published by Rome for the whole Church has the faithful kneel from the Epiclesis to the Memorial Acclamation. The US bishop asked to extend the kneeling to the Great Amen.

But yes, the faithful worldwide generally should be kneeling at somepoint during the Eucharistic Prayer. The length is determined by geography.
 
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