Standing during communion vs. kneeling?

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our church is merging with another, in the church that is closing down they kneel in their pews during communion, while we were told to remain standing until the last person have been served. I don’t remember exactly how it was put to us to adopt this change. all I remember is years ago we kneel during the communion then once reicieving it we come back to our pews and knell again in prayer. but then a couple years ago the priest said there was a new rule or order or whatever you’d call it from our diocese the bishop said we should stand during the entire time during communion he said a quote " the first shall become last and the last become first"

when the new church parishoners have mass with us next sunday, I’m sure they will wonder and ask us why we stand instead of kneel like they did. I don’t remember the reason that was given to us and I want to be able to tell them if I am asked.

apparently it is up to the priest to decide wether we knell or stand. and ours decided we should stand. as of the merger our priest left to go to another church. so the priest from the church that closed will be our new priest. he saw the difference and decided that the parishoners will decide. if the majority stands then eventually all will stand but if the majority knells then maybe it will go that way.

I just want to know about that rule and where or who decreed it ? and I brought this up because someone on this thread said catholics knell during comunion and that is not so in our church. and possibly many others.

I was also told that when a merger of two churches happens the merged church has to come up with a new name that will reflect the two church communitys that merged.

we however were allowed to keep our church name. because its an historic church. in an historic district of town. so the other church lost its church building and name while we lost our priest but kept our church building and name.
 
lawanda said:
our church is merging with another, in the church that is closing down they kneel in their pews during communion, while we were told to remain standing until the last person have been served. I don’t remember exactly how it was put to us to adopt this change. all I remember is years ago we kneel during the communion then once reicieving it we come back to our pews and knell again in prayer. but then a couple years ago the priest said there was a new rule or order or whatever you’d call it from our diocese the bishop said we should stand during the entire time during communion he said a quote " the first shall become last and the last become first"

when the new church parishoners have mass with us next sunday, I’m sure they will wonder and ask us why we stand instead of kneel like they did. I don’t remember the reason that was given to us and I want to be able to tell them if I am asked.

apparently it is up to the priest to decide wether we knell or stand. and ours decided we should stand. as of the merger our priest left to go to another church. so the priest from the church that closed will be our new priest. he saw the difference and decided that the parishoners will decide. if the majority stands then eventually all will stand but if the majority knells then maybe it will go that way.

I just want to know about that rule and where or who decreed it ? and I brought this up because someone on this thread said catholics knell during comunion and that is not so in our church. and possibly many others.

I was also told that when a merger of two churches happens the merged church has to come up with a new name that will reflect the two church communitys that merged.

we however were allowed to keep our church name. because its an historic church. in an historic district of town. so the other church lost its church building and name while we lost our priest but kept our church building and name.
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After the Great Amen (when we stand from having knelt since the Sanctus - per the USCCB with approval from the Vatican) we process up and receive then on returning to the pew we can choose (according to Card. Arinze - prefect of the CDWS at the time of the Vatican decision) to sit or kneel or stand. It is our choice and even the Bishop of that diocese can’t tell us differently, according to the Cardinal. So before receiving it is the choice of the Bishop and after receiving it is our own choice. The pastor has no say.

As far as kneeling to receive, the norm established for the US is standing, however noone can be refused communion for kneeling, per the Vatican.
 
right after we said 'lord I’m not worthy to recieve you…ect. we all stand and remain standing untill everyone is served then when the priest sit down, we all sit down together. after recieveing communion some people will knell and pray once they return to their pews but then would stand after praying until we all sit down together. I guess I will ask some of the older memebers of my church where i can find information about that .
 
We stand until every one of us has received Holy Communion, including the distribution to and the (inaudible) blessing of the ministers taking Holy Communion to the homebound, which is done by the priest. After that, there is the option to sit or kneel; some kneel only until the Blessed Sacrament is returned to the tabernacle, then sit.
 
Kneeling in the Mass
In some dioceses the faithful are still being told that they must stand at various times during the Mass when they are accustomed to kneeling by the liturgical tradition of the Roman Rite, by universal law, or are moved by devotion. They are told to do this for the sake of unity, and it is sometimes stated, or strongly implied, that they are disobedient if they do not. These occasions include: when an entire parish or diocese unlawfully institutes an adaptation at some point in the Mass, such as standing at the Consecration, or, when a bishop lawfully establishes a particular norm for his diocese to stand after the Agnus Dei (as permitted by GIRM 43), or, when a parish or diocese insists that everyone must stand after their Communion until all have received, and similar instances. See Authority in the Liturgy for some general legal principles.

The below letter from the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments clarifies the obligation of the faithful in such circumstances.

Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Chairman of the Bishops Committee on the Liturgy, received the following clarification concerning the right interpretation of the “General Instruction of the Roman Missal” on the posture of the faithful from their own reception of Communion until the period of sacred silence after all Communions have been received (at which time they may sit or kneel as they prefer).

Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

5 June 2003

Prot. n. 855/03/L

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?

Responsum: Negative, et ad mentem. The mens is that the prescription of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, no. 43, is intended, on one hand, to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the celebration of the 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.

Francis Cardinal Arinze
Prefect

Related Documents:

Congregation Responses on Denying Communion

Congregation Responses on Posture and other Matters
Answered by Colin B. Donovan, STL
 
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