Sitting During Communion?

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It is strange that at the church without kneelers the people are not standing at the places when they would otherwise kneel. I seem to remember reading that many centuries ago churches didn’t have pews or kneelers, everybody stood up. Does anyone remember if that is true? We did stand instead of kneeling on the hard floor at our parish until we finally got our permanent building finished with kneelers. BTW, our kneelers are more comfortable than the pews because at least they have padding and the pews are hard wood.
 
When we lived in Virginia we attended a brand new wonderful Parish. We met at a local public high school in the auditorium. We all grabbed our little kneeling pads before we sat in our wooden flip seats ( which made a hurendous noise whenever we all stood up:) ). Oh, those were the days. Even now if we are late for Mass and are stuck in the back, when it comes time to kneel, we kneel on the hard terrazzo floor and offer up our discomfort as a little mordification to our Lord. By the way, we are the ONLY ones kneeling. Everyone looks at us like we are freaks but the only person we care about is our Lord. I mean His suffering was way more uncomfortable. Why don’t people get that. Praise be to God in the Highest.

Out of respect for our Bishop, we do remain standing during the Agnus Dei and through Communion. It takes everything in my being not to kneel (I personally find it easier to prepare for receiving Christ when I kneel). But Pope John Paul gave our Bishops the right to choose and asked us all to respectfully follow our Bishops wishes and that is what we do, reluctantly.

This is a great post. I was wondering what other diocese follow. Thank you OP.
 
rosarywarrior said:
WOW YOU GUYS ARE BLESSED!!! In the Spokane Dioceses in Washington State, the Bishop who is also president of the Bishops (UCCB?) had determined that we must be respectful to Each other and stand until the very last parishoner has received communion and then sit. Although, we were also told that if this was a hardship then some may sit, and that if others wanted, we could kneel. So if I am kneeling, the people around me are either standing, sitting or kneeling. This type of environment has only opened the door to more spontaneous conversations.

Last Sunday a priest informed us we don’t look uniform so we should all stand. He also said we did NOT have to wait until the Tabernacle was closed since we just received the same Jesus that is in the Tabernacle. So when did we stop the need to thank Jesus or praise and honor Him? aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhh!
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This is the nightmare in Seattle as well.
 
Jeanette L:
I’ve got to say, I’m new at Catholicism and haven’t even received the Eucharist yet, but, having really bad knees, I can’t kneel, so what does a person do then? I feel awkward as it is, but then hearing how everyone freaks out when people don’t kneel, I’m going to feel even more out of place than I already do! :confused:
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For people with medical conditions that make it difficult for them to kneel, the Church does not require them to kneel.
 
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Lrning:
I’m from the Chicago area, and we kneel until the Tabernacle is closed (me & about 20% of the congregation) or the celebrant sits (the majority). Lately, I’ve noticed our priests face the Tabernacle and wait until it is closed before sitting.

I’ve been to 4 or 5 Catholic churches in this area (NW suburbs) and its the same in all. Actually, I’ve attended mass at 3 Chicago parishes too and it was the same, kneel until the Tabernacle is closed or celebrant sits. I’ve been to mass in Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, and Connecticut and never have I seen the congregation sit during Communion!
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This is how we tend to do it in Central Illinois as well…most sit after the priest sits. If he intends to remain standing then he invites us to sit. It seems that I remember it being the tabernacle closing when I was a kid in PA though.
 
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cecilia97:
Thanks…well, I’ve seen it in most every parish I’ve visited here, and even sometimes in the cathedral in Joliet, though it’s better there. Just last month I found a great Poor Clares Monastary with a nice no-frills Mass, so i’m set now. I will PM you if the nuns start singing tunes from Christian rock radio! 😉

c
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Oh, this tells me bunches!!! Simply bunches!!! i will PM you about that part.

When you drive into Joliet, I cannot say enough nice things about St. Mary Nativity, which not only has kneeling, but Perpetual Adoration:

http://www.stmarynativity.com/
 
rosarywarrior said:
WOW YOU GUYS ARE BLESSED!!! In the Spokane Dioceses in Washington State, the Bishop who is also president of the Bishops (UCCB?) had determined that we must be respectful to Each other and stand until the very last parishoner has received communion and then sit.
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Cardinal Arinze ruled on that matter. The local Bishop may mandate a position until an individual has recieved communion, afterward the individual may sit or kneel

adoremus.org/Kneeling-CDW-response03.html

Cardinal George, on behalf of the USCCB submitted a dubium on the subject and the response in binding on all US Bishops
Dubium: In many places, the faithful are accustomed to kneeling or sitting in personal prayer upon returning to their places after having individually received Holy Communion during Mass. Is it the intention of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, to forbid this practice?
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Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the CDW, responded to the question on June 5, 2003 (Prot. N. 855/03/L):
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Responsum: Negative, et ad mensum [No, for this reason]. The mens [reasoning] is that the prescription of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, no. 43, is intended, on the one hand, to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the celebration of Holy Mass, and on the other, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free
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We’re still knelling in Texas!

I was told Thursday night during the RCIA Easter Vigil rehearsal that Bishop Vann of the Fort Worth diocese has requested that everybody remain kneeling until the Tabernacle is closed.

Also, when the person in front of you is receiving the Eucharist, you should bow and make the sign of the cross after receiving the Eucharist.
 
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LeahInancsi:
We’re still knelling in Texas!

I was told Thursday night during the RCIA Easter Vigil rehearsal that Bishop Vann of the Fort Worth diocese has requested that everybody remain kneeling until the Tabernacle is closed.

Also, when the person in front of you is receiving the Eucharist, you should bow and make the sign of the cross after receiving the Eucharist.
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Hooray! And wow, imagine that, crossing yourself after receiving…downright old-fashioned! 😉 Wonder if the RCIAers will be the only ones doing what the Bishop requested for a while.

Thanks, all, for the responses and opinions, I learned a lot!

c
 
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LeahInancsi:
We’re still knelling in Texas!

I was told Thursday night during the RCIA Easter Vigil rehearsal that Bishop Vann of the Fort Worth diocese has requested that everybody remain kneeling until the Tabernacle is closed.

Also, when the person in front of you is receiving the Eucharist, you should bow and make the sign of the cross after receiving the Eucharist.
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👍
 
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chicago:
Just drives you bananas?
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Well, I am bananas, but you knew that.

No, I figured out part of the situation. She’s in good hands, anyway, with the Poor Clares.
 
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