Something that has upset me

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joshkt79

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Please excuse me if I’m posting this in the wrong section, but I really need to vent. I’ve attending mass on a regular basis since I was a child. Even during tough times while in the military. I returned from the military in 2005. My older brother wanted me to move in with him and attend college not far from his home. I agreed. My brother is also faithful in attending mass. In 2006, out grandfather passed away. My grandfather attended church EVERY day. He also was a janitor for the church for over 30 years. One thing my grandfather did while receiving communion was that he would go to a kneeling position, on both knees in front of the priest. He did this for 30 years, and no one at his church ever had a problem with it.

After my grandfather passed away, which my brother and he were very close, my brother decided to pay respect to my grandfather by doing the ame thing he did for 30 years, which is to kneel while receiving communion. We attened mass one Sunday. I was behind him and he kneeled down. The priest looked confused, stepped to the side and motioned for me to proceed. He never gave my brother communion. My brother walked out of church and I followed him. He was very upset and crying. After mass, we waited to talk to the priest. My brother calmly explained what he was doing was honoring our grandfather. The priest told him that it wasn’t traditional. My brother said, “Well, aren’t you supposed to kneel before God?” The priest said, “Well, yes, but if you continue to kneel, people around here will talk.”

I understand what my brother is doing isn’t normal, but it’s not like he’s walking up to the priest, clapping his hands then rubbing them together and then bowing before receiving communion.

Any insight?

Edit: We no longer attended that church after the incident, and my brother stopped receiving communion.
 
That priest was completely out of line. Someone here will surely post the documents that state that no one is ever to be refused Communion for kneeling. I am so sorry to hear that this happened to your family. I hope your brother is able to find a parish that is more in line with the Church.
 
I know a dear 88 year old lady (she also does some other things which would have been more common before Vatican 2 ie: wears a veil on her head, which is scriptural) who kneels for communion, she has firm views on this and i respect her fully. She waits 'til the the end so as not to hold up the queue of those receiving (and because - i think , she was asked to by the priest, he actually didn’t want here kneeling but she was insistent)

(Chatting to her - she gives the same reason for kneeling for communion - At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, i think it is more a practical problem ie: if everyone did this then Communion would take longer)

As she has taken a precedent i’m sure you would be welcome in our parish!
 
Athough I don’t think a priest can refuse someone communion because they kneel. I don’t think it’s right that your brother stopped receiving communion either. I would still receive and try to get this straightened out in the meantime.
 
Contact the bishop. The priest had no right to refuse communion to someone wanting to be more reverend towards the Blessed Sacrament. In fact, what he did was not of the Holy Spirit if you get my drift. Unless, the priest repents, I think the parish may be in danger.

That’s my opinion and privately, I would let him have it. By now we’ve all heard where “obedience to authority” will get us when we turn the other cheek rather than confront abusive and sacrilegious behavior by priests.
 
Tell your brother to find another traditional, not so mod church.

Kneeling is more traditional than standing in the Roman rite and it’s normal. Wow, that priest was given some wrong information.
 
tonyh12 said:
… i think it is more a practical problem ie: if everyone did this then Communion would take longer)…!
Click to expand...
Not with a communion rail!

Anyway, Josh, it may be that your brother will not be able to honor your grandfather in this way at this church, but really the best way to honor your grandfather anyway is to have Masses said for him. The Masses will help him to get out of Purgatory if he is there, and if he isn’t, they will help others, which is also a good thing.

Your brother should be receiving the Eucharist because it is the Body of Christ, not to honor your grandfather, so he should not give the Eucharist up because of this incident, because then he’s giving up Jesus Christ Himself!

Just call the parish office and ask how to have Masses said for someone; it’s usually $10.
 
Josh, I know this is a VERY old threat, but in case you’re still here or for others who want further insight, here is my two cents!

I am 27 years old and I begun kneeling to receive communion about three years ago before I was engaged. I’ve almost been kneeling ever since and every parish I attend for mass (I’ve been around a few for various reasons) I’m almost the only one that kneels and it’s never an issue. Some times it’s difficult for the celebrant or the person offering the body of Christ when they’re not expecting it, but no issues so date.

We need to remember that Priests are human and they too are flawed and make mistakes. In circumstances like that, best speak to someone higher up (diocese) and let them inform the priest that what he did was not from the Holy Spirit.

Josh, I hope your brother has found peace with what happened and has begun receiving communion again.

Peter.
 
I know this is an old thread, but just as an aside because this may help some people who like to kneel to receive.

I attend an Anglican Usage parish, and I have noticed that the “altar rail” approach is used - i.e. the people going up to receive line up along the edge of the sanctuary. Some do kneel and this causes no problems for anyone. So if this is something you want to do, maybe look for an Anglican Use parish (if you are in Britain/USA/Canada/Australia anyway).
 
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