Posture for Holy Communion-Clarified

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Well, S. Francis (amongst many other saints) was hardly practical in many ways, so I would take that as a compliment. I would not wish to be inconsiderate to anyone, however, and, if this situation were an issue for me, I would gladly sit at the very back of the church and receive last, much as Negroes were once forced to sit at the backs of buses.
Do you have an example of a saint who flaunted rejection of the law?

The law is regarding posture. Your comparison is totally invalid. They were not told to stand, and you are not told to stay in the back.
 
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fix:
Exactly. Obedience is not rejecting the authentic interpretation of the Vatican.
Again “may not be denied Communion” is not translated as allowed.
I repeat
At a NO Mass, you cannot be denied Holy Communion, if you kneel, but you are to be instructed regarding the norm, and hopefully will comply the next time.
 
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Mysty101:
Again “may not be denied Communion” is not translated as allowed.
I repeat
Again, the authentic interpreter of the law said the norm was allowed with the understanding kneeling would always be permitted.
 
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Mysty101:
Again “may not be denied Communion” is not translated as allowed.
I repeat
At a NO Mass, you cannot be denied Holy Communion, if you kneel, but you are to be instructed regarding the norm, and hopefully will comply the next time.
Mysty, unfortunately, you are now putting your interpretation over what is presented in the GIRM, with your “hopefully comply next time statement”. In fact, this is nowhere stated in the instruction. As copied from your post #59:
**The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. **Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.
Therefore, if you want to suggest that “‘may not be denied communion’ is not translated as allowed”, then you must also concede that “providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm” is not translated as “will be reprimanded and told to discontinue the practice”.
 
Prot. n. 47/03/L Rome, February 26, 2003
Code:
 This Congregation for Divine   Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has received your   letter dated December 1, 2002, related to the application of   the norms approved by the Conference of Bishops of the United   States of America, with the subsequent *recognitio* of this   Congregation, as regards the question of the posture for receiving   Holy Communion.

 ***As the authority by virtue of   whose recognitio the norm in question has attained the   force of law, this Dicastery is competent to specify the manner   in which the norm is to be understood for the sake of a proper   application***. Having received more than a few letters regarding   this matter from different locations in the United States of   America,*** the Congregation wishes to ensure that its position   on the matter is clear.***

 To this end, it is perhaps useful   to respond to your inquiry by repeating the content of a letter   that the Congregation recently addressed to a Bishop in the United   States of America from whose Diocese a number of pertinent letters   had been received. The letter states: ".**..while this Congregation   gave the *recognitio* to the norm desired by the Bishops'   Conference of your country that people stand for Holy Communion,   this was done on the condition that communicants who choose to   kneel are not to be denied Holy Communion on these grounds. Indeed,   the faithful should not be imposed upon nor accused of disobedience   and of acting illicitly when they kneel to receive Holy Communion".**

 This Dicastery hopes that the   citation given here will provide an adequate answer to your letter.   At the same time, please be assured that the Congregation remains   ready to be of assistance if you should need to contact it again.

 With every prayerful good wish,   I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,
[signed]
Mons. Mario Marini
Undersecretary
 
You really don’t have a clue
And now you feel that it is necessary to resort to* ad hominem* attacks? Sad. Just sad.
And you think THIS is the best choice?? to refuse your Lord because you can’t have it your way???
Is one always required to make a sacramental communion when present at Mass, and not in a state of mortal sin? If so, please advise where I can find this explicated. I always make a spiritual communion, in any case.
I will pray for you.
I will pray for you as well.
Do you have an example of a saint who flaunted rejection of the law?
Actually, if you read closely, I mentioned S. Francis as an example of possible impracticality; not in order to justify breaking a law. In any event, when one receives Holy Communion kneeling at a Mass in the United States celebrated according to the normative rite, one is** not breaking any law,** as the Congregation for Divine Worship has made quite clear.
Your comparison is totally invalid.
I disagree. In any case, it was not so much a comparison as an illustration of what some people are subjected to in order satisfy the wishes for others. You yourself have admitted that I am not being disobedient, but “very unpractical, and inconsiderate.” So, in charity, I have made an offer to receive Holy Communion last, so as to protect those who would be inconvenienced by my receiving on my knees in, say, the middle of the line. This necessitates sitting in the back of the church building, which naturally raises the specter of the treatment of Negroes during segregation. You may disagree, but I can’t see how it makes the comparison (or analogy) “invalid.”

–Paul
 
This necessitates sitting in the back of the church building, which naturally raises the specter of the treatment of Negroes during segregation. You may disagree, but I can’t see how it makes the comparison (or analogy) “invalid.”
Youraction was voluntary, theirs was not.

I will not discuss your refusal to receive, rather than receive standing. I do not need documentation to to convince me never to refuse my Lord.
 
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mtr01:
Therefore, if you want to suggest that “‘may not be denied communion’ is not translated as allowed”, then you must also concede that “providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm” is not translated as “will be reprimanded and told to discontinue the practice”.
I did not say that
The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.
I said that hopefully they will comply, which would be the reason for instructing on the norm. Why else would you give an instruction?
 
Youraction was voluntary, theirs was not.
Strictly speaking this is true, and thus would weaken (but not invalidate) the analogy. However, in order for those who wish to lawfully receive Holy Communion kneeling without being “inconsiderate of those around them” they would* have to* place themselves at the back of the church, so as to be last in line.
I will not discuss your refusal to receive, rather than receive standing.
Fine. Obviously there’s not really much I can do about the things which you will or will not discuss.
I do not need documentation to to convince me never to refuse my Lord.
And no one has asked you to–certainly not me! I just wanted to know if you were aware of any doctrine or legislation which mandated this. I guess that the answer is, No.

–Paul
 
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Mysty101:
I said that hopefully they will comply, which would be the reason for instructing on the norm. Why else would you give an instruction?
The point is, the reason isn’t listed in the GIRM, therefore any speculation on that is just personal interpretation. In fact, the recognitio from the Congregation for Divine Worship is the ultimate authority in interpreting this issue, and their interpretation is at odds with yours. Is it possible that your own personal preference is biasing your interpretation of these texts?

You stated before that your elderly mother almost tripped over someone. Perhaps subconsciously this emotional incident has (understandably) affected your objectivity?

So you know where I stand on the issue, I only kneel for communion when the altar rail is used for communion, otherwise I stand. However, I see nothing wrong with those who want to kneel as their personal expression of reverence to the Lord. In other words I have no preference either way. After examining the evidence pro- and con- stated here and elsewhere, it is clear to me, that kneeling is not disobedient and should not be denied for those who want to do so. Like another poster stated, I don’t kneel in a standing procession, but I would fight for another’s right to do so.
 
The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.
I said that hopefully they will comply, which would be the reason for instructing on the norm. Why else would you give an instruction?

As I read the quote above, it would seem that the reason for the instruction is pretty clear - to make sure that the person kneeling is not doing so because of ignorance of the norm. There is nothing to suggest that “catechisis” translates into “persuasion” or worse “strong-arming”.

Rome has given the faithful a choice in this matter. As long as the faithful are fully informed, they are free to choose.
 
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mtr01:
The point is, the reason isn’t listed in the GIRM, therefore any speculation on that is just personal interpretation. In fact, the recognitio from the Congregation for Divine Worship is the ultimate authority in interpreting this issue, and their interpretation is at odds with yours. Is it possible that your own personal preference is biasing your interpretation of these texts?
Anything is possible, but I do not believe a letter superceds a law. The law has not been changed, so it should be observed.
You stated before that your elderly mother almost tripped over someone. Perhaps subconsciously this emotional incident has (understandably) affected your objectivity?
No, just enforsed my opinion.
 
OK–I do respect and appreciate all your (name removed by moderator)ut. I feel it is very helpful in understanding a situation.

I do understand why many of you prefer to receive kneeling. In the beginning of this discussion, I did think I would prefer it that way (except for the difficulty in kneeling, and worse yet–getting up :eek: ), if the norm were not standing.

Now I am not so sure–I like processions, and we do kneel before and after. I like the people processing, rather than stationary and the Minister moving as at a rail. Stations with a kneeler is a possibility, if practical. In any event, I certainly do not wish to change anything in a Parish or Mass where there are good provisions for kneeling. My only valid criticism of kneeling is when it is not the norm. The fact that it distracts others, and may be a safety hazard is not valid, since this is my opinion.

But let’s be reasonable. To kneel on the floor in the middle of a standing procession (or even at the end) is a distraction, and does call attention to oneself regardless of the intention. Regardless of the “right” to do so, it is certainly not the best choice. Sometimes it is better not to exercise the “right”
 
Mysty,

Now I think maybe you have a problem. The fact that you are so irritated by someone kneeling in a *standing procession *amazes me. Would it also bother you that I wear white after Labor Day? :eek: The letter is not meant to superceded law! It is an authentic interpretation of the law! Accept it. I also am suspicious that the elderly relative tripping is your issue as it was not mentioned until later in either thread. if it was your primary concern then it would have been led first. My kneeling is soemthing that I do for my own personal and intimate reasons. Again, maybe you need to focus on your own recption of the Eucharist and leave the rest of the faithful in peace. The Holy Spirit can help you with this.
 
Now I think maybe you have a problem. The fact that you are so irritated by someone kneeling in a standing procession amazes me. Would it also bother you that I wear white after Labor Day?
I wasn’t of a Church law on clothing. How can you make such a rediculous comparison? I do see that you really don’t know the difference between a law and someone’s preference—do you have such a problem with all authority? Do other laws bother you as much?

I pray that the Holy Spirit will help you in your anger, and also in respecting the law, and your shepherd.

The Bishops did decide that standing was best for the community, regardless of what was said after. Why can’t you accept that?
 
Now I think maybe you have a problem. The fact that you are so irritated by someone kneeling in a standing procession amazes me. Would it also bother you that I wear white after Labor Day?
I wasn’t aware of a Church law on clothing. How can you make such a rediculous comparison? I do see that you really don’t know the difference between a law and someone’s preference—do you have such a problem with all authority? Do other laws bother you as much?

I pray that the Holy Spirit will help you in your anger, and also in respecting the law, and your shepherd.

The Bishops did decide that standing was best for the community, regardless of what was said after. Why can’t you accept that?
 
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Mysty101:
Why can’t you accept that?
Becuase a higher authority, the Vatican, is the final interpreter of the GIRM. Why can’t you accept that?
 
As I said, I think you are incorrect in saying that a letter can supercede a law, but even if it can, I am just asking people to be reasonable when the norm is standing, and everyone else is following the norm.

If there are provisions for kneeling, I have no objections.
 
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Mysty101:
I wasn’t aware of a Church law on clothing. How can you make such a rediculous comparison? I do see that you really don’t know the difference between a law and someone’s preference—do you have such a problem with all authority? Do other laws bother you as much?

I pray that the Holy Spirit will help you in your anger, and also in respecting the law, and your shepherd.

The Bishops did decide that standing was best for the community, regardless of what was said after. Why can’t you accept that?
Whoa! I have no anger problem. I am not bringing this topic up and calling all those who kneel disobedient. Again, me thinks thou doth protest to much. The Vatican has spoken on this issue. Kneeling is permitted. What is your problem with that?
 
People who won’t accept the norm, when they were instructed on it and there are no provisions for kneeling.
 
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