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Caesar
Guest
Even in Rome? Oh, you do not know how much your post has saddened me…
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adrift
Guest
It is clear that a Bishop may not require one to stand after reception of Communion as stated in the following letter.
Kneeling in the Mass
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Yes
Guest
You are also wrong.
You are trying to suggest that this is similar to the the communion/kneeling controversy and you could not be more incorrect.
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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.*
I too have no use for those who feel they know better than the Church and demand to receive while kneeling – after all they cannot be denied and that is “almost” like receiving permission. Apparently they ignore the catechesis their pastors provide for them outside of the Mass on the reasons for the norm.
No such directive/instruction exists for posture after receiving Holy Communion. It is 100% up to the communicant. There is no call for catechesis for those who sit, stand OR kneel.
The posture we assume after receiving Holy Communion in the Latin Rite is 100% up to the communicant. Any pressure to kneel, stand OR sit is wrong.
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KatieD
Guest
Add to all of this the fact that some of us don’t even have kneelers in our churches! I was lamenting this fact last week at our Liturgy Committee meeting, and the head of the committee informed me that we don’t need them, in Rome there aren’t kneelers and they stand, and standing is the most respectful posture we can have. I said that I respectfully disagreed and that I hoped we would have kneelers again at some point. If Jesus Christ walked into the room, we would fall on our knees before Him. Since He is present to us in the Eucharist, we should be on our knees (excepting those of course, who cannot kneel for medical reasons). I don’t believe we should thumb our noses at our bishops if they have given guidelines.
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Aramis
Guest
“Let us stand aright, let us stand in awe, to offer the Holy Oblation in Peace…”
-Divine Liturgy of St John.
Standing is, in many cultures, a sign of respect. Standing in Awe is a pretty good descriptor of the level of attention one should have for the consecration.
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childofmary1143
Guest
Kneeling is a sign of adoration. We must adore our God.
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wannabee
Guest
we will have to agree to disagree on this point 
I stand - when I am at Liturgy on Sundays it is a Resurrection Day - it is Easter again . Kneeling is penitential how can I be penitential on such a joyful day ?
The Tones we use on Sundays are called Resurrectional Tones
Nah - I kneel when the rubrics say I should - otherwise I stand and so does my parish even though our Temple has pews.
I stand - when I am at Liturgy on Sundays it is a Resurrection Day - it is Easter again . Kneeling is penitential how can I be penitential on such a joyful day ?
The Tones we use on Sundays are called Resurrectional Tones
Nah - I kneel when the rubrics say I should - otherwise I stand and so does my parish even though our Temple has pews.
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Donna_Maria
Guest
When in Rome do as the Romans do . . .
Good for you KatieD! I’m glad you spoke up about the kneelers. I hate it when they try to pull the Europe-knows-best-trump card. Rome, like the rest of Europe, is in a spiritual and moral disaster. Why would we want to justify our behavior with theirs?
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adrift
Guest
I was in Rome in 2000. The congregation knelt.
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TantumErgo90
Guest
Rome stands more than in the US. They kneel for the consecration but stand for the rest of the Eucharistic Prayer. I’m not sure if they knell for the Ecce Agnus Dei. I know that the USCCB requested that the US kneel for the entire Eucharistic Prayer, and it was approved. However, that is not the universal norm.
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Aramis
Guest
Kneeling is a sign os shame, remorse, or mourning in most cultures.
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Monkey1976
Guest
I’m in the choir at our parish. In the “new” choir area, there is no possible room for us to kneel, or even for all of us to see the Elevation. I truly wish that we could use the choir loft, but it’s been explained to me that , “According to Vatican II, the choir is supposed to be part of the assembly”. Is this correct?
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TantumErgo90
Guest
I’m not 100% sure, but I don’t think that is correct. Because I know that many post-Vatican II churches are made with separate choirs. I think that if your parish has a choir loft, it should be used, but that is my opinion.
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wannabee
Guest
well now
I wonder why Choir lofts were built in the first place ?
Could it be that from there ,thanks to good acoustics , they could really lead worship ?
the RC Parish I used to be in , and where I sang in the Choir was a lovely old Church with a good 3 manual Organ and a real Choir loft . When we sang there we could be heard when necessary - we could see what was going on , and if we needed to cut something because Fr had finished processing down the aisle , we could. If we needed to add something in eg an extra hymn during Communion - we could.
Then someone had the bright idea that we should be downstairs with the rest of the congregation - so we dutifully tried it - total disaster
No-one could hear us. I’m told they keep trying the experience still and it’s still no better.
Now where they put the Choir , noone can see them , the choir can’t see what’s going on , there is a time lag between them and the Organ.
Grrrh
I wonder why Choir lofts were built in the first place ?
Could it be that from there ,thanks to good acoustics , they could really lead worship ?
the RC Parish I used to be in , and where I sang in the Choir was a lovely old Church with a good 3 manual Organ and a real Choir loft . When we sang there we could be heard when necessary - we could see what was going on , and if we needed to cut something because Fr had finished processing down the aisle , we could. If we needed to add something in eg an extra hymn during Communion - we could.
Then someone had the bright idea that we should be downstairs with the rest of the congregation - so we dutifully tried it - total disaster
No-one could hear us. I’m told they keep trying the experience still and it’s still no better.Now where they put the Choir , noone can see them , the choir can’t see what’s going on , there is a time lag between them and the Organ.
Grrrh
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BobP123
Guest
It matters if you’re kneeling to have the person in front of you stand. He or she blocks your view and I would consider it selfish of that person. (Watch me get scolded for saying that.) In any event kneeling somewhat levels the playing field for short and tall people, reverence aside.
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BobP123
Guest
This may or may not be true. At some of the churches, choir members as well as organists are paid and not even Catholic.
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Cat
Guest
I play piano in a 100 year-old Catholic church that has a choir loft in the balcony.
It isn’t used anymore because many of the old people can’t climb the stairs to get up into it. The organist resigned when he turned 80 in large part because he couldn’t climb those stairs.
Heck I have a hard time climbing those stairs! (Occasionally a cantor will use the balcony because they don’t feel comfortable in the front.).
An elevator has been installed in the church, but it wouldn’t be practical to run it up to the balcony (it’s already expensive enough to run it from the basement to the sanctuary level).
Sad but these are the times we live in. I’m sure the acoustics are better, but if the people can’t get up there, what are you gonna do? Be happy that you have a pianist and a cantor instead of no music. And that’s the way these people are–absolutely delightful to me and no complaints ever about the music I provide for them.
Now ideally the answer is to get more young people interested in singing in the choir. But it doesn’t seem to be happening at this church. Most of the parishioners are elderly.
It isn’t used anymore because many of the old people can’t climb the stairs to get up into it. The organist resigned when he turned 80 in large part because he couldn’t climb those stairs.
Heck I have a hard time climbing those stairs! (Occasionally a cantor will use the balcony because they don’t feel comfortable in the front.).
An elevator has been installed in the church, but it wouldn’t be practical to run it up to the balcony (it’s already expensive enough to run it from the basement to the sanctuary level).
Sad but these are the times we live in. I’m sure the acoustics are better, but if the people can’t get up there, what are you gonna do? Be happy that you have a pianist and a cantor instead of no music. And that’s the way these people are–absolutely delightful to me and no complaints ever about the music I provide for them.
Now ideally the answer is to get more young people interested in singing in the choir. But it doesn’t seem to be happening at this church. Most of the parishioners are elderly.
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Orogeny
Guest
Why? If it is good enough for a Papal Mass, why is it not good enough for the rest of us?
By the way, the same thing happened at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua.
Peace
Tim
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Brendan
Guest
Could be, but not in Heaven
If they are kneeling in Heaven, what could they be remorseful of? Are they not joyful and full of Awe?
And is their example something we should NOT emulate?
Is not the Mass Heaven on Earth?
Phil 2:9-11
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PaixGioiaAmor
Guest
Only partially true. Nothing wrong with a choir loft.
But I don’t want to take this thread off topic. I would suggest you open a new thread, because actually, I would like to talk about this.
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