Receiving the Eucharist the reverant way....

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Fludgecow101

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Why should we receive the Eucharist on our knees and on our tongue? We should because the Eucharist is Jesus!! Therefore should we not receive Jesus with the most respect and reverance we could ever give!? His He not our Savior and creater? Do we not kneel down s and here on earth with great respect?Then why do we give a mere bow to to the King of Kings?!?! Why after over 1900 years of receiving him on our knees and on our tongue do we show him Him very little respect and reverance?! Is it because(as many excuses people give to not kneel before God) we might cause someone to trip behind us? Is it because we are too lazy or disrespectful to kneel down and receive Jesus on our tongue be it is too painful? Do we think now we can stand up to God and receive Him on our unconsecrated hands because we are all of a sudden worthy enough to do?!! Or, is it because many people just don’t realize that it is Jesus Christ Himself they are about to receive?!!?!?(We musn’t blame most of those people though, many preists don’t remind them of the miracle that just happened during mass.[Or maybe they weren’t paying attention during the mass when a priest did.]) We must not abuse the gift that Jesus gave us! Also thank Jesus after receiving Him for everything he blesses us with and now would be the perfect time to talk to Him about everything as He is in our hearts.
If you think receiving the Eucharist standing up to Him instead kneeling down and on our unworthy hands instead of our tongues, then please reply why you thinks so. Remember, this is Jesus Christ himself we are privleged to receive!!!
 
Hello Fludgecow101,

Oddly, I agree with you as to my feelings–I strongly prefer to kneel and receive on the tongue, but I must point out that you stand in opposition to the teaching of the Church. The Holy See has explicitly permitted the faithful in the US, which is where you live, according to your profile, to receive standing and in the hand. It doesn’t seem wise to place ourselves above the Holy See, does it?

Additionally, as I pointed out in response to one of your other posting on another thread, there is evidence that reception in hand was practice by the primitive church:

From St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s Catechetical Lectures (AD 300s):

newadvent.org/fathers/310123.htm
  1. In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?
If you could show me the error of what I have said, I would be grateful.

Paul
 
Why should we receive the Eucharist on our knees and on our tongue? We should because the Eucharist is Jesus!! Therefore should we not receive Jesus with the most respect and reverance we could ever give!? His He not our Savior and creater? Do we not kneel down s and here on earth with great respect?Then why do we give a mere bow to to the King of Kings?!?! Why after over 1900 years of receiving him on our knees and on our tongue do we show him Him very little respect and reverance?! Is it because(as many excuses people give to not kneel before God) we might cause someone to trip behind us? Is it because we are too lazy or disrespectful to kneel down and receive Jesus on our tongue be it is too painful? Do we think now we can stand up to God and receive Him on our unconsecrated hands because we are all of a sudden worthy enough to do?!! Or, is it because many people just don’t realize that it is Jesus Christ Himself they are about to receive?!!?!?(We musn’t blame most of those people though, many preists don’t remind them of the miracle that just happened during mass.[Or maybe they weren’t paying attention during the mass when a priest did.]) We must not abuse the gift that Jesus gave us! Also thank Jesus after receiving Him for everything he blesses us with and now would be the perfect time to talk to Him about everything as He is in our hearts.
If you think receiving the Eucharist standing up to Him instead kneeling down and on our unworthy hands instead of our tongues, then please reply why you thinks so. Remember, this is Jesus Christ himself we are privleged to receive!!!
You don’t seem to realize that your personal opinion is just that, your personal opinion and nothing more. Receiving holy communion on one’s tongue while kneeling is not intrinsically more respectful nor more reverent. You might perceive it to be, you may have been taught that it is, but that doesn’t make it so. You want to limit others to what you personally feel is best when the Church allows options. Good luck. I hope you don’t spend too much time in a state of frustration as others follow what the Church actually allows and not what you feel the Church should actually allow.
 
In March of 2002 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sought and obtained a specific communion posture norm for the United States:

GIRM 160. 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.

Not once have I ever heard anyone who demands to kneel say or write anything like: “I did receive proper catechesis from my pastor after Mass and now I realize the importance of the norm. As difficult as I might find it to be obedient, I am going to follow the norm and offer-up any pain I might feel to God and His Son.”

Not once.
 
Hello Fludgecow101,

Oddly, I agree with you as to my feelings–I strongly prefer to kneel and receive on the tongue, but I must point out that you stand in opposition to the teaching of the Church. The Holy See has explicitly permitted the faithful in the US, which is where you live, according to your profile, to receive standing and in the hand. It doesn’t seem wise to place ourselves above the Holy See, does it?

Additionally, as I pointed out in response to one of your other posting on another thread, there is evidence that reception in hand was practice by the primitive church:

From St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s Catechetical Lectures (AD 300s):

newadvent.org/fathers/310123.htm
  1. In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?
If you could show me the error of what I have said, I would be grateful.

Paul
Please see point #9 here:
catholic-pages.com/mass/inhand.asp
 
Thank you for a very interesting reference. I just skimmed through it and intend to return to it when I have the time necessary to digest it fully.

Please understand that I am not suggesting that I personally think the practice of receiving in the hand, nor standing, is good or what I am most comfortable with. I am a traditionalist and very much wish to pay homage to my savior by kneeling before him. I am merely pointing out that to claim that the currently permitted norm in the US is wrong is to put oneself in opposition to the Church.

Paul
 
Why should we receive the Eucharist on our knees and on our tongue? We should because the Eucharist is Jesus!! Therefore should we not receive Jesus with the most respect and reverance we could ever give!? His He not our Savior and creater? Do we not kneel down s and here on earth with great respect?Then why do we give a mere bow to to the King of Kings?!?! **Why after over 1900 years of receiving him on our knees and on our tongue do we show him Him very little respect and reverance?! **
Really? and how do you think the early Christians received?

Acording to the bible, the Apostles reclined at table at the Last Supper. Do you think they knelt to receive after the institution of the Eucharist?

Lux
 
In March of 2002 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sought and obtained a specific communion posture norm for the United States:

GIRM 160. 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.

Not once have I ever heard anyone who demands to kneel say or write anything like: “I did receive proper catechesis from my pastor after Mass and now I realize the importance of the norm. As difficult as I might find it to be obedient, I am going to follow the norm and offer-up any pain I might feel to God and His Son.”

Not once.
  1. the norm was granted with the condition that those who kneel are not to be imposed upon, even under the grounds of unity or obedience.
  2. I know of only one case where there was pastoral catechesis (my brother by our old pastor): overwhelmingly those who have objected to kneeling have done so in the most unseemly fashion.
 
Really? and how do you think the early Christians received?

Acording to the bible, the Apostles reclined at table at the Last Supper. Do you think they knelt to receive after the institution of the Eucharist?

Lux
No, because they were bishops. We in the pews don’t directly follow what Christ did and said there, because we cannot. Even though Christ said “Do this in Remembrance of me”, I cannot confect the Eucharist, I cannot do what He asks, as I am not a priest.

Likewise, most of the Last Supper Narrative does not apply to you and me.
 
Ps Maybe kneeling is reverant,but true reverence is shown more in the heart than the posture
 
No, because they were bishops. We in the pews don’t directly follow what Christ did and said there, because we cannot. Even though Christ said “Do this in Remembrance of me”, I cannot confect the Eucharist, I cannot do what He asks, as I am not a priest.

Likewise, most of the Last Supper Narrative does not apply to you and me.
What of the Blesed Mother? And all the early christians who received did not kneel.
 
Ps Maybe kneeling is reverant,but true reverence is shown more in the heart than the posture
yes, you should defiantly show reverance in the heart, but as a christain, do you just believe in and love God in the heart, or do you also show it? i can’t say i respect someone and not show it;)
 
Are you saying that a communion procession, with a bow before receiving is not reverent?

But kneeling after your Pastor has requested you to stand is?
 
If we could truly comprehend that Christ is present in the Eucharist, I doubt that any faithful person would be able to enter a church.

We should all receive reverently, whether kneeling or standing, on the tongue or in the hand.

I go to mass at an older church that still has and still uses the altar rails. Watching the congregation, I don’t see any more reverence kneeling than I do when I attend another church that doesn’t have the railings. Though I think that we need to return to the norm of receiving on the tongue and kneeling, I , nevertheless, don’t think that it makes things more reverent. It’s like we used to say; put on your best behaviour. I think the same can be said for kneeling. Now if only we could get everyone involved in the singing and responses instead of sitting and standing there like a statue…🤷
 
Thank you for a very interesting reference. I just skimmed through it and intend to return to it when I have the time necessary to digest it fully.

Please understand that I am not suggesting that I personally think the practice of receiving in the hand, nor standing, is good or what I am most comfortable with. I am a traditionalist and very much wish to pay homage to my savior by kneeling before him. I am merely pointing out that to claim that the currently permitted norm in the US is wrong is to put oneself in opposition to the Church.

Paul
Read these…ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWMEMOR.HTM, %between%, cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=56354, unavoce.org/cith.htm (that one answers your question about st.cyril.: up: ),aquinas-multimedia.com/catherine/hand.html, catholic-pages.com/mass/inhand.asp, andtldm.org/news2/cih.htm. these articles are good too for everyone else:)
 
Are you saying that a communion procession, with a bow before receiving is not reverent?

But kneeling after your Pastor has requested you to stand is?
No, but do you really think giving a little bow is very reverent considering this is Jesus you are about to receive?! Do you seriously not realize that being able to receive Jesus is one of the most greatest gifts? Is giving a little bow all you can really do to show reverence and respect to God?!

Also my pastor never requested anything from me,he has never even talked about receiving the eucharist. : up:
 
No, but do you really think giving a little bow is very reverent considering this is Jesus you are about to receive?!
Do you really think that kneeling for a few seconds and then getting up and walking away is that reverent?
 
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