Wanting to receive the Body of Christ kneeling

[archangel04]

The tile pretty much explains it, I wish to receive the Eucharist kneeling and on the tongue. The deal is that I attend the ordinary mass. All of us receive it standing up on the hand or tongue. I wish to do this because I want to give more reverence and worship to the Lord. I don’t want to this withoug asking my priest if this is OK with him.

The only problem I have with this is that I feel people will look at me hence taking glory and attention away from the Lord. This is the last thing I want, I want to do this because I feel I give more glory to Him by doing this. I just wanted to know your opinions on this. Thanks

 

[JS_Cortez]

Tell your priest, just to let him know what you want to do so you don’t have any awkward between the two of you at the moment of communion and then, if you want to make sure people aren’t giving you a second look, arrange to go last. Most people will be too busy getting back to their seats, being in prayer or fussing with their belongings to pay you much mind, I would think.

 

[archangel04]

Tell your priest, just to let him know what you want to do so you don’t have any awkward between the two of you at the moment of communion and then, if you want to make sure people aren’t giving you a second look, arrange to go last. Most people will be too busy getting back to their seats, being in prayer or fussing with their belongings to pay you much mind, I would think.

That is a great idea about going last, I didn’t think about that. Hopefully he will be OK with this request.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Once upon a time, St. Augustine was very puzzled by the fact that, contrary to the use of the other Churches of God, the faithful of Rome fasted on Saturdays.

He expressed his bewilderment to St. Ambrose his spiritual father, who replied, “We do not fast on Saturdays in Milan, but when I’m in Rome, I fast. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

In other words, in these external observances, you should follow the uses of the place where you are.

 

[ljubim]

I have been thinking the same thing lately!!

The people on one of the masses on EWTN do this all the time… maybe 1/3 in the hand, 1/3 on tongue standing, 1/3 on tongue kneeling. Definitely talk to your priest… but if you go to a more progressive church you’ll run into some roadblocks. That would be me… I’m just going to take it in steps so I don’t aleinate them all. (Literally, just receiving on the tongue freaks them out)

… But I suggest you go for that ASAP if that’s what you feel God’s telling you to do.

 

[spotty]

catholic.com/library/liturgy/kneeling_1.asp

thats what settled it for me.

 

[Brendan]

In other words, in these external observances, you should follow the uses of the place where you are.

And the observance in the Roman Church is that the faithful may choose which position they prefer.

Archangel, follow the wise words of St. Augustine and choose which position you personally desire.

 

[archangel04]

… But I suggest you go for that ASAP if that’s what you feel God’s telling you to do.

And the observance in the Roman Church is that the faithful may choose which position they prefer.

Archangel, follow the wise words of St. Augustine and choose which position you personally desire.

Exactly I fee the it’s God telling me to do this, not because I want to (I have a bad knee, why would I want to kneel on floor?) I feel that the Lord deserves it.

It’s funnny because St. Augustine is my Saint I chose for my confirmation. I admire him so much after St. Michael.

 

[malphono]

Once upon a time, St. Augustine was very puzzled by the fact that, contrary to the use of the other Churches of God, the faithful of Rome fasted on Saturdays.

He expressed his bewilderment to St. Ambrose his spiritual father, who replied, “We do not fast on Saturdays in Milan, but when I’m in Rome, I fast. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

In other words, in these external observances, you should follow the uses of the place where you are.

Milan has its own observance (called the Ambrosian Rite, after S Ambrose), so the analogy doesn’t really hold. Particularly so in this simple case where, as the saying goes, Rome has spoken. In the Roman Rite, a person may always kneel to receive, irrespective of any local indult or custom to the contrary.

 

[ljubim]

Exactly I fee the it’s God telling me to do this, not because I want to (I have a bad knee, why would I want to kneel on floor?) I feel that the Lord deserves it.

It’s funnny because St. Augustine is my Saint I chose for my confirmation. I admire him so much after St. Michael.

If people get on your case about this… remember you are loyal to the Pope and Church teaching, not them. The pope has everybody kneel for communion too.

Another option… some of the really old people at my parish sit in the front row and receive kneeling just so they don’t have to get up. If your priest doesn’t like the kneeling on the floor, perhaps you can set up an arrangement this way.

 

[bpbasilphx]

\Exactly I fee the it’s God telling me to do this, not because I want to (I have a bad knee, why would I want to kneel on floor?) I feel that the Lord deserves it.\

**I"m saying nothing against receiving kneeling.

I will say that if you have a bad knee, you might reconsider this. God does NOT want you to damage your body.

He also does not always tell us what we want to hear.**

 

[The_Reginator]

I’ve been going through a similar struggle lately.
I became Catholic at a parish celebrating the Tridentine Mass exclusively. When I had to start assisting/attending an O.F. Mass I continued kneeling.
The priest has recently suggested to me that it is out of pride that I insist on kneeling (and receiving on the tongue during flu season).
I’ve broached this subject in these forums and some hold the opinion that one ‘must submit to mother Church’ – ie, receive in the way that the Church has said is OK and has been proclaimed by the local bishop.
Another idea has been not to call attention to oneself, simply do as the rest of the congregation as it is a sign of unity.
But, should we not kneel before the God of the universe? Or is it more humbling to follow the common practice?
It is not an easy situation to be in. But God doesn’t put us in easy situations often, does He?

 

[archangel04]

\Exactly I fee the it’s God telling me to do this, not because I want to (I have a bad knee, why would I want to kneel on floor?) I feel that the Lord deserves it.\

**I"m saying nothing against receiving kneeling.

I will say that if you have a bad knee, you might reconsider this. God does NOT want you to damage your body.

He also does not always tell us what we want to hear.**

I’ve been going through a similar struggle lately.
I became Catholic at a parish celebrating the Tridentine Mass exclusively. When I had to start assisting/attending an O.F. Mass I continued kneeling.
The priest has recently suggested to me that it is out of pride that I insist on kneeling (and receiving on the tongue during flu season).
I’ve broached this subject in these forums and some hold the opinion that one ‘must submit to mother Church’ – ie, receive in the way that the Church has said is OK and has been proclaimed by the local bishop.
Another idea has been not to call attention to oneself, simply do as the rest of the congregation as it is a sign of unity.
But, should we not kneel before the God of the universe? Or is it more humbling to follow the common practice?
It is not an easy situation to be in. But God doesn’t put us in easy situations often, does He?

My knee isn;t horribly bad, but if it were up to me then I would’nt kneel, but I feel as if this is what God wants. I am sorry but I should atleast try to request permissoin from my priest if I feel that this is what God wants.

QUOTE=The Reginator;6045754]I’ve been going through a similar struggle lately.
I became Catholic at a parish celebrating the Tridentine Mass exclusively. When I had to start assisting/attending an O.F. Mass I continued kneeling.
The priest has recently suggested to me that it is out of pride that I insist on kneeling (and receiving on the tongue during flu season).
I’ve broached this subject in these forums and some hold the opinion that one ‘must submit to mother Church’ – ie, receive in the way that the Church has said is OK and has been proclaimed by the local bishop.
Another idea has been not to call attention to oneself, simply do as the rest of the congregation as it is a sign of unity.
But, should we not kneel before the God of the universe? Or is it more humbling to follow the common practice?
It is not an easy situation to be in. But God doesn’t put us in easy situations often, does He?

I agree He does not. But eternal happyness isnt in this life, it’s in His kingdom.

 

[Timothysis]

I wish to do this because I want to give more reverence and worship to the Lord.

How is kneeling to receive communion any more reverent than receiving standing?

I once read of someone explaining to a Jew the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the fact that He is there within the tabernacle even when Mass was not being celebrated. The Jew replied that if he really, truly believed the God was within the tabernacle, he could never lift his face inside of the Church.

One can receive kneeling and still be irreverent in receiving Christ, while one can receive standing and have the utmost reverence. While our external actions do matter, it is the disposition of our interior self that matters most. The Church I attend has and uses the altar rail every Mass and I can say from personal experience that kneeling **does not ** always equate reverence.

 

[archangel04]

Well I asked my priest today if it was ok. He advised me the he would prefer that I woulndt. He advised me of what the bishops have said and told me that I would be a dirtraction and could also hold up the line.

If this is what the pries has said then so be it. I asked and did what I felt the Lord had told me. Thank you all for your answers.

 

[06convert]

You know in your heart how reverant you desire to be. The bottom line is that if all of us spent 24x7 on our knees it wouldn’t be the reverance the Lord deserves. God knows you desire to be reverant. If the Church thought it were absolutely necessary that we recieve communion on our knees it would be a requirement.

Does your parish have exposition of the blessed sacrament? If not, is there a nearby parish that has exposition? If so, maybe God is calling you to spend an hour with Him in adoration in front of the blessed sacrament. .

 

[archangel04]

Does your parish have exposition of the blessed sacrament? If not, is there a nearby parish that has exposition? If so, maybe God is calling you to spend an hour with Him in adoration in front of the blessed sacrament. .

Interesting that you say that. We dont have have the exposition, but we do have eucharistic adoration on the first Thur of the month. Perhaps that’s what God wants me to do, that is to have the sacrament exposed so that anyone can come and pray before Him. I will pray on that thought.

 

[corsair]

So where is the nearest EF Mass? Nebraska is near the heart of this countries EF Masses. I drive 120 miles each way as often as I can afford the gas.

 

[Shin]

I always receive kneeling, and I thank God for the grace to do so. I do so even if I am the only one at the parish. It is not eye catching, it does not slow the line, and it is no problem whatsoever for anyone - - except people who are against kneeling itself and so desire to make a fuss, of whom, in person at a church I have only met one.

You simply go up there, you kneel down, just like genuflecting, but both knees, you open your mouth, you receive communion, you stand back up again. It is very easy.

It is also very… good to do spiritually for a person, speaking for myself as far as I can judge.

The one problem I met who hated it was a heterodox priest, who had such heretical magazines as ‘U.S. Catholic’ and ‘America’ in his foyer. I was on a trip, it was my first time to this church and the magazines were too late warning, I was out of time this was the Sunday mass.

I went to the church, went in for the mass, and then up the line for Holy Communion and knelt, and he glared at me like Satan himself, and then hissed out in a biting voice, ‘Up’, I knelt, and waited, again ‘Get up!’ as if I had somehow stabbed him in the back.

Then I got up, received in the mouth, and went back to the pew to pray.

Well, sometimes you meet Hell in person, but, it was not something that would ever dissuade me from kneeling, nor am I so weak kneed or lily-livered to let a bad priest stop me from reverencing the Lord Christ as I should, in the best way I should. The peanut gallery is just that. Peanuts before God.

And I encourage others who are desirous of kneeling not to be dissuaded either. It is allowed, it cannot be forbidden by a priest, and it does not ‘create a fuss’ or ‘slow the line’ or ‘draw attention’ or any of those things. The only people who have any problem with it are people who have problems of soul.

And so let us pray for them, and kneel before the Lord Our God.

… You simply go up there, you kneel down, just like genuflecting, but both knees, you open your mouth, you receive communion, you stand back up again. It is very easy. Quick and simple. Give it a try.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

If your pastor tells you to receive standing, do so. He isn’t asking you to do something sinful. Obedience is always more pleasing to God than doing our own will. Having a battle of wills with the priest at communion time can’t be pleasing to God.

I always think that, when planning to receive kneeling, it’s polite to tell the person following you that you plan to do so. This could be done when leaving the pew.