Why Kneel for Communion

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I briefly remember kneeling at the Communion rail, I’m 50 and by the time I received my first Eucharist the kneeler was yanked from the area before the altar and sent to areas unknown.

I’m a revert to the Church - perhaps that tells the story of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s right there.

I’d like to kneel to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. It’s fitting, I think.

To follow Moses, the Magi, and the angels who also kneeled before God.
 
I want preVatican kneeling as well with the railing back! I think it shows submission to our Lord and savior in the forum of the eucharist. I think it also shows respect for the transfiguration from holy spirit to the holy bread and win to blood and flesh of Jesus Christ. Rather befitting a Lord and Savior of the entire world like the least we could actually do. I might share this to someone that has been asking about this recently at my college. It’s to me a question of tradition versus modernism and which you prefer I suppose. Some people are sort of probably freaked out about this though but I’m not. I also like genuflecting before and after the pews and not turning my back on the tabernacle as well.

God bless,
pPeter
 
You may be interested (and/or disheartened, as the case may be) in this notice published in my Church’s bulletin the past few weeks regarding “how to receive communion”:😃

REMINDERS TO THE PARISH ON HOW TO RECEIVE COMMUNION
The new General Instruction on the Roman Missal 2002 has been implemented. Most of them are of a minor adaptation from the previous GIRM. Here are the reminders to all of our parishioners in regards to these new adaptations and changes.

Below is an outline of receiving the Eucharist at the Mass according to the New GIRM.

The following are reminders to ALL COMMUNICANTS on HOW TO RECEIVE COMMUNION as one comes forward to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Please remind others in your family of these same expectations and requirements.
STANDING is the appropriate gesture to receive the Eucharist. It is a sign of unity and oneness when we do so, as called for by our US Bishops. [GIRM #160]

Either BOW BEHIND the Communicant who is in front of you AS THEY ARE RECEIVING, or BOW WHEN YOU APPROACH THE EUCHARIST UNDER THE FORM OF BREAD OR WINE. A SIMPLE BOW IS ONE FROM THE NECK!
NEVER GENUFLECT while in procession to receive the Eucharist. This is reserved for the adoration of the Eucharist in the Eucharistic Chapel. (It can be dangerous as the person behind you in procession could fall over you!) [GIRM#274]

If receiving IN THE HAND, one is to have ONE HAND ON TOP OF THE OTHER. Wait until the minister has placed the Eucharist into your hands, and then, use the lower hand to place the host into your mouth. DO NOT PICK or SNATCH at the Eucharist. DO NOT USE ONLY ONE HAND to receive the Eucharist. DO NOT PLACE YOUR HANDS SIDE-BY-SIDE to receive the Eucharist.

If receiving ON THE TONGUE, one is to OPEN ONE’S MOUTH WIDE ENOUGH so that the minister may place the Eucharist securely on one’s tongue. DO NOT SNATCH at the host. DO NOT BITE DOWN until the minister has safely removed his or her fingers from the mouth area.

One needs to RESPOND VERBALLY, “AMEN” when the minister offers you the Eucharist with the phrase, “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ”.

One must CONSUME the Eucharist immediately. DO NOT WALK AWAY WITH THE HOST! If receiving FROM THE CUP, ONE IS TO DRINK FROM THE CUP. INTINCTION, that is the Communicant dipping his or her host into the Precious Blood, IS FORBIDDEN.
Drinking from the cup is OPTIONAL for all communicants. If a communicant chooses to DRINK FROM THE CUP, please hold the cup WITH TWO HANDS. DRINK a small portion and then return the CUP TO THE MINISTER WITH TWO HANDS.

One may either KNEEL or BE SEATED as you return to your pew after receiving communion for some time of quiet prayer and reflection.

Gestures while at the Eucharistic Liturgy (Mass)
GENUFLECTION is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament in adoration.
Since the tabernacle is reserved in the chapel, to enter or exit the pew in the main part of the Church, a PROFOUND BOW is appropriate. This gesture is made towards the Table of the Lord (Altar). Other gestures that are made include STANDING, SITTING, KNEELING, A SIGN OF PEACE and walking on PROCESSION to receive the Eucharist.
 
That sounds right, that is the prescribed posture of the USCCB. Its good that they make it absolutely clear to everyone, especially the bowing part. Many people do not bow.
 
Your parish needs to conveign a recommision of ideas about the communion in my humble opinion. I agree with the Pope on this one completely! Why isn’t kneeling a sign of unity? I wonder as its saying “Weare equal to the life and blood of Christ?” Completely proposterous if you ask me personally. Also the genuflection is quite horrid to say the least. I know that we have two or so people that I hang out with genuflection is a given without exceptions. Maybe ask your priest like I would if I was you man. I’m going to ask about this definitely cause its not like that everywhere surely. I’m not sure if its like that here though cause I’m blind ya see. Good luck with some reforms of the olden variety.

God bless,
Peter
 
Peter5 said:
Your parish needs to conveign a recommision of ideas about the communion in my humble opinion. I agree with the Pope on this one completely! Why isn’t kneeling a sign of unity? I wonder as its saying “Weare equal to the life and blood of Christ?” Completely proposterous if you ask me personally. Also the genuflection is quite horrid to say the least. I know that we have two or so people that I hang out with genuflection is a given without exceptions. Maybe ask your priest like I would if I was you man. I’m going to ask about this definitely cause its not like that everywhere surely. I’m not sure if its like that here though cause I’m blind ya see. Good luck with some reforms of the olden variety.

God bless,
Peter
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Careful, the 5 other different Rites of the Church stand to receive Communion exclusively. Standing is not a boastful posture to receive.

Also, standing is a sign of unity, if all would stand as prescribed by the USCCB for the dioceses in the US celebrating the Ordinary Form of the Mass. What was quoted accurately reflects the prescriptions of the USCCB. I do not know how we can even question it. It is what is in the GIRM for the US.
 
jenkiedad said:
You may be interested (and/or disheartened, as the case may be) in this notice published in my Church’s bulletin the past few weeks regarding “how to receive communion”:😃
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They sure do like the CAPS LOCK key. :rolleyes:

~Liza
 
Realistically, our heart’s disposition is what counts in receiving. Imagine: “What were you arguing about on the way to Gethsemane?” And Peter spoke up saying, “We were in disagreement over our posture at the Lord’s supper”
 
po18guy said:
Realistically, our heart’s disposition is what counts in receiving.
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I have to agree. Only in America do we get our knickers in a twist over this. In Europe, standing is the norm and was well before 1962.

In Native American parishes, you wouldn’t be caught dead kneeling at anytime during the mass. The highest respect you can pay your God is to stand upright and “look Him in the eye”. Kneeling is disrespectful to the extreme.

Why can’t we just obey our Bishops and maintain unity until they issue a GIRM that states “everyone should kneel”? The Bishops have their reasons for their decisions. We commit the sin of prideful arrogance whenever we trumpet our own opinion over theirs in these matters. This is NOT a democracy, people. Obey your Bishop! It seems to me that one could view standing to receive communion as a sacrifice and practice some humility, for heaven’s sake (and I mean that).
 
rosary_kat said:
I have to agree. Only in America do we get our knickers in a twist over this. In Europe, standing is the norm and was well before 1962.

In Native American parishes, you wouldn’t be caught dead kneeling at anytime during the mass. The highest respect you can pay your God is to stand upright and “look Him in the eye”. Kneeling is disrespectful to the extreme.

Why can’t we just obey our Bishops and maintain unity until they issue a GIRM that states “everyone should kneel”? The Bishops have their reasons for their decisions. We commit the sin of prideful arrogance whenever we trumpet our own opinion over theirs in these matters. This is NOT a democracy, people. Obey your Bishop! It seems to me that one could view standing to receive communion as a sacrifice and practice some humility, for heaven’s sake (and I mean that).
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I was going to vote that we all recline at table, receive in the hand, and pass it along, just the original communicants did at the last supper. Talk about original! Seems silly though, huh?
 
rosary_kat said:
…
In Native American parishes, you wouldn’t be caught dead kneeling at anytime during the mass. The highest respect you can pay your God is to stand upright and “look Him in the eye”. Kneeling is disrespectful to the extreme.
…
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While growing up in Arizona in the '40s and '50s where my father was an Indian agent, I had occasion to attend Mass many times at parishes located on reservations.
They stood, sat, and knelt at the same times as we did in the off reservation parishes.
 
My goodness, even Protestants (Anglicans and Lutherans) kneel for their communion.

I love when someone tells me, “I stand for communion and take it in the hand because I am an adult Catholic.” :confused: What does that even mean?

And some of those people are not whacked-out folks, many are what I would call orthodox OF Catholics.
 
rosary_kat said:
In Native American parishes, you wouldn’t be caught dead kneeling at anytime during the mass. The highest respect you can pay your God is to stand upright and “look Him in the eye”. Kneeling is disrespectful to the extreme.
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Not all Native Americans; The Yupic and Inupiaq sit or kneel with eyes downcast as a sign of respect… in both directions. Meetings with elders are interesting… everyone stares at the head elder’s feet or lap. A direct stare is for dressing down… or picking opponents in sports and games… or romance… or watching instruction, including dance.
 
HCC said:
My goodness, even Protestants (Anglicans and Lutherans) kneel for their communion.

I love when someone tells me, “I stand for communion and take it in the hand because I am an adult Catholic.” :confused: What does that even mean?

And some of those people are not whacked-out folks, many are what I would call orthodox OF Catholics.
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The Byzantine Rite, Alexandrian, Syriac, Maronite, and Chaldeans stand to receive Communion. Further, the Coptic (Alexandrian) and Chaldean Churches also receive CITH. So to say a Catholic would receive standing and in the hand is accurate even from a traditional standpoint.
 
I view the eucharist communion as being the actual body of Jesus Christ not the Last Supper bread. The physical matter doesn’t supposedly right? I don’t care cause if you met Jesus Christ would you fall on your knees or stand tall to talk to him head on? I would rather at least bow completely if possible in my opinion. However, my views don’t mean much in the catholic world cause aint well read in it.
 
ConstantineTG said:
The Byzantine Rite, Alexandrian, Syriac, Maronite, and Chaldeans stand to receive Communion. Further, the Coptic (Alexandrian) and Chaldean Churches also receive CITH. So to say a Catholic would receive standing and in the hand is accurate even from a traditional standpoint.
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As a Roman Catholic, I was never aware of these rites up to recently. Using them to excuse the introduction of CITH to our rite, standing, is disinengenuous. It’s like ‘rubric-shopping’ and in my opinion fits in well with cafeteria Catholicism.

Roman Catholics changing over to CITH, standing, from COTT, kneeling, makes no sense in the context of Western culture. Especially given Who you are in the Presence of.

Also: I read a report of an interview, recently, with some UK ‘Young People’; the alien specie the priests and religious were so keen to chase after in to 70’s and 80’s in my own Youth, with folk masses and the like.

From memory, one said he liked Catholicism because you can choose what you believe(!).
 
I think kneeling for Holy Communion is a good practice because it shows Jesus how much we love Him and how subservient we are to Him. 👍

Of course, when I go to the Divine Liturgy at the Melkite church, we express all these same meanings by standing. In the Eastern tradition, standing is a sign of respect. We are standing for Our King.
 
Peter5 said:
I view the eucharist communion as being the actual body of Jesus Christ not the Last Supper bread. The physical matter doesn’t supposedly right? I don’t care cause if you met Jesus Christ would you fall on your knees or stand tall to talk to him head on? I would rather at least bow completely if possible in my opinion. However, my views don’t mean much in the catholic world cause aint well read in it.
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I think you are dead on Peter5. I totally agree with you.

Who am I to meet the Creator of the Universe as a peer, standing before Him “face to face”? No - I am His humble servant, in awe of His greatness, and so I come before Him on my knees, and as a little child I open my mouth to receive Him.

Sadly so many don’t get this. It is pride that keeps people on their feet, and humility that brings them to their knees.

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
A very interesting article on kneeling to receive Holy Communion.

chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1344719?eng=y

~Liza
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well, the new Churches being built dont even have kneelers of any kind anymore. so, if you want to kneel, you would have to go to a Tradiitional Mass. as the new churches continue to be built, the people no longer even know that once we were supposed to kneel. this is the plan. to do away wiht the kneelers eventually.
 
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