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lucybeebee
Guest
For All Saints Day, I won’t be able to go to my TLM parish, so I’m going to have to go the the NO offered by my university. Should I attempt to receive kneeling?
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LilyM
Guest
Feel free!
At NO Mass at our Cathedral here, when I go, there are always at least one or two people per Mass who receive kneeling. No-one is put out by it in the slightest.
Don’t specifically recollect it at any other parishes but I’m sure it happens. Shouldn’t be a problem.
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iamscifimike
Guest
I’m sure you know that it’s not the norm, but no-one should stop you.
I haven’t yet had the pleasure of attending a TLM, so i cannot claim to speak from experience. If I saw it, I would think it’s cool. Then again I am very conservative. To fully be in “communion” I would recommend following the norm (except the refraining from a bow part
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I think a good noticeable profound bow would provide better witness. Kneeling might make some people think you’re just a nut, whereas a bow might be perceived as inspiring reverence.
I haven’t yet had the pleasure of attending a TLM, so i cannot claim to speak from experience. If I saw it, I would think it’s cool. Then again I am very conservative. To fully be in “communion” I would recommend following the norm (except the refraining from a bow part
)I think a good noticeable profound bow would provide better witness. Kneeling might make some people think you’re just a nut, whereas a bow might be perceived as inspiring reverence.
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Sr_Sally
Guest
There are people who receive kneeling at my parish. Just be sensitive to the fact that it is probably not the norm and perhaps sit towards the very front or back (rather than right in the middle) so that you do not hold up the communion procession and cause a traffic jam with people falling over you. 
Perhaps you would consider genuflecting but actually receive standing? Our priests stand on the steps up to the sanctuary, so someone kneeling on the floor is quite a bit lower than if they were knelling at a communion rail.
I hope you find a reverant Mass and see the beauty of the Ordinary form.
Perhaps you would consider genuflecting but actually receive standing? Our priests stand on the steps up to the sanctuary, so someone kneeling on the floor is quite a bit lower than if they were knelling at a communion rail.
I hope you find a reverant Mass and see the beauty of the Ordinary form.
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Malcolm_McLean
Guest
No. There’s a strong argument that kneeling should be the norm, but it is not a layperson’s job to make it the norm.
OTOH the “breadline” approach does have a certain symbolism to it.
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palmas85
Guest
There is no requirement that you receive. If you are uncomfortable receiving standing don’t receive. If you did and you feel strongly about kneeling you would more than likely not be in the proper frame of mind to receive anyway.
If you attempt to receive kneeling there could be problems depending on how progressive the pastor at the university is. It is not at all uncommon for Priests and even Bishops to flat out refuse to communicate someone who kneels. In some places it is tolerated but unless you know for a fact that they will commune you, I would forego communion until the next Traditional Mass.
That is of course if you feel strongly about it.
From personal experience I can tell you that many progressive Priests really don’t like to distribute while someone is kneeling or on the tongue while standing for that matter.
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markadm
Guest
The only thing I would say is sometime’s it’s not always pratical–but if it is, then do what you want to!
(When I say practical, I mean literally so. There is one Church I know that just because of the way the communion line is, and the lack of anything to kneel on, conjoined with the priest on the bottom step of the sanctuary makes it impossible to kneel!)
(When I say practical, I mean literally so. There is one Church I know that just because of the way the communion line is, and the lack of anything to kneel on, conjoined with the priest on the bottom step of the sanctuary makes it impossible to kneel!)
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Ankabaranka_87
Guest
I would suggest not to kneel …completely…just like some previous posts have said…
What I would do is bend down on one knee and make the sign of the cross (quickly) prior to your turn …and still receive the Eucharist standing up.
Does this make sense? Most people don’t do this and it may appear strange, but I always think that this way helps me to respect the Eucharist even more.
What I would do is bend down on one knee and make the sign of the cross (quickly) prior to your turn …and still receive the Eucharist standing up.
Does this make sense? Most people don’t do this and it may appear strange, but I always think that this way helps me to respect the Eucharist even more.
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tradconvert
Guest
Yes you should of course receive while kneeling. I also usually attend the TLM, but when I attend a NO mass, on occasion, I always kneel as do a number of others and the priest is always ready to offer me the sacred host on my tongue in the usual way.
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Alphonsus_John
Guest
Whatever form you receive (and I second the bow or genuflect, then receive standing advice), please receive if you can. IMHO, the Eucharist is the greatest Gift God gave us; the closest we get to heaven this side of it. I would’t refuse it because I couldn’t use my preferred body posture.
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thecoach
Guest
You would advise someone NOT to receive because they cant kneel??? Are you SERIOUS??? Talk about ritual over substance!!!
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thedavidwilson
Guest
If our Lord Jesus appeared before you right now, would you remain standing? If you believe in the true presence this should answer your question.
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Genesis315
Guest
You can always receive kneeling. However, when there is another lawful custom practiced at a certain church, I always think its best to follow that particular custom. I think St. Ambrose spoke of that somewhere (I know St. Augustine mentions it in the Confessions in regard to St. Monica doing different things in Milan than she did in Carthage).
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BobP123
Guest
As opposed to passing the ciborium around the pews?
No, seriously, that is interesting. I never thought of it that way. Or maybe I did and didn’t know why it bothered me.
Good point. If every knee should drop at the name of Jesus, then certainly it should drop at receiving Him as well, I would think.
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Brendan
Guest
Correct, that belongs to Rome.
And Rome has approved two Norms in the United States. One is the Universal Norm of kneeling, the US Bishops requested a Particular Norm of Standing, which Rome approved, under the proviso that this norm does not override the Universal Norm of kneeling.
So the lay person cannot make a norm, but in this case, the US layperson may choose between two valid, approved norms without disobedience.
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thedavidwilson
Guest
I agree. While I disagree with what the Bishops have decided (amoung other things) one should not be forced to stand or kneel. I once saw a video on youtube where the bishop of Orange County I beleive would not give communion to a parishoner who was kneeling. He told here that they do not do that there and would not give her communion until she stood. According to your statement this action is just as wrong and forcing someone to kneel in the US in light of the Bishop’s Decision.
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thecoach
Guest
Ah, more unity among the hierarchy. Sheesh.
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lucybeebee
Guest
What I decided on was to go to the mass, but not receive, since I don’t like the idea of receiving the Host while standing. I was also dressed in Sunday clothes, rather than t-shirts and jeans/shorts that the other students were wearing and I wore a mantilla, so I must have really stood out.
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thecoach
Guest
So again, as I responded to someone else, you, who think of the actual Presence of Christ is in the Eucharist, you would not receive Him because you are standing? You would put your own preference for ritual before Christ Himself? Christ addressed such attitudes in the Pharisees, and it wasnt favorable! This is tragic!What I decided on was to go to the mass, but not receive, since I don’t like the idea of receiving the Host while standing. I was also dressed in Sunday clothes, rather than t-shirts and jeans/shorts that the other students were wearing and I wore a mantilla, so I must have really stood out.
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m134e5
Guest
Yes
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