Would you leave if the church mandated communion on the toungue and kneeling?

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asd72 said:
I was just reading recently about St Therese of Lisieux and something that happened to her came to mind reading what you have experienced. She was on kitchen duty and her superior, for some reason that I can’t remember, ordered her to sit on the table and do nothing while she did the washing up. Anyway a group of nuns superior to both of them happened to come by and see Therese not helping, not realizing she had been ordered not to help and she was simply being obedient! They all made judgmental comments about her implying laziness etc and Therese felt humiliated but accepted it as suffering which would help her to grow in humility and she resisted the urge to defend herself.

I know you feel you can’t endure these comments right now, but I just thought I would share in case you relate. God sees the truth even if we are judged unjustly by others.
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Thanks, that does help a lot.
 
EasterJoy said:
I think the best response to “well sometimes you just have to endure the pain” or “maybe if you lose weight” is to just stare at them with your mouth slightly open, as if their cluelessness is intensely bewildering to you, rendering you speechless. Just keep staring at them until they either get their leg into their mouth up to the knee or they find their own way to excuse themselves and walk off. Otherwise, if they just keep babbling, you could eventually just shake your head in bewilderment and wander away. Or you could say, “I… I just don’t even know what to say to a comment like that, I just don’t know where…I’m just without words” and then wander away, repeating your bewildered refusal to respond as necessary.

(I am now picturing your assailant repeating this interchange to her husband at the breakfast table. I hope that when the victim tries to stifle his honest response, the coffee doesn’t come out of his nose.)

I shouldn’t be that way, but I just wanted to point out that you could be thankful that you don’t have to share your kitchen or your bed with a busybody like that!
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Thanks that so true. I totally love your idea, I think I will try that. I am totally for them making those changes, just not sure how I could implement it in a way that makes me feel comfortable.
 
Irishgal49 said:
Thanks that so true. I totally love your idea, I think I will try that. I am totally for them making those changes, just not sure how I could implement it in a way that makes me feel comfortable.
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If you can do the single eyebrow raise, that might be a useful tool as well.

I’m sure people should be taught as children that it is EXTREMELY rude ever to make personal comments to people one does not know very, very well. The idea of going up to a stranger and suggesting that they lose weight, well, my parents would die immediately in order to have the opportunity to spin in their graves.

Even I (with continuous but largely useless catechesis as a child) know that it is sinful to speculate about why someone doesn’t go to Communion, or even to notice or remember, as far as it is in my control. I should imagine that whether someone kneels or not, although of course less serious, falls into the same basket. You might consider mentioning your dilemma to your priest, in case he can work a reminder about this into a homily sometime without it seeming obvious.

I really hope that nothing I said earlier was taken by anyone to mean that anyone should just “endure the pain.” That was certainly not my intention. I was merely mentioning that sometimes pain can be a spiritual benefit. Let me make it clear: When I know it’s going to hurt if I kneel, I don’t do it. I wouldn’t kneel at all if a doctor had told me not to. But she hasn’t, so sometimes when I kneel it hurts unexpectedly, and God gives me some grace because of it.

It is hard for me personally to understand doing anything nearly as drastic as leaving the Church just because people are rude, but I realize it is different for different people. I mean, if someone actually came up to me and told me to lose weight, I am quite capable of saying to them, “Did you seriously just walk up to a stranger and tell them to lose weight? What were you, raised in a barn? Oh, and incidentally, are you aware that you’re not fooling anyone with that dye job/toupe/outfit appropriate to someone half your age?” 😃 (Well, really I’m only capable of actually saying the first two sentences. The rest would just be said really loud inside my head.) It hasn’t happened (and not because I’m too skinny, because I’m not), and now I almost wish it would. 😉

–Jen
 
revert_jen said:
If you can do the single eyebrow raise, that might be a useful tool as well.

I’m sure people should be taught as children that it is EXTREMELY rude ever to make personal comments to people one does not know very, very well. The idea of going up to a stranger and suggesting that they lose weight, well, my parents would die immediately in order to have the opportunity to spin in their graves.

Even I (with continuous but largely useless catechesis as a child) know that it is sinful to speculate about why someone doesn’t go to Communion, or even to notice or remember, as far as it is in my control. I should imagine that whether someone kneels or not, although of course less serious, falls into the same basket. You might consider mentioning your dilemma to your priest, in case he can work a reminder about this into a homily sometime without it seeming obvious.

I really hope that nothing I said earlier was taken by anyone to mean that anyone should just “endure the pain.” That was certainly not my intention. I was merely mentioning that sometimes pain can be a spiritual benefit. Let me make it clear: When I know it’s going to hurt if I kneel, I don’t do it. I wouldn’t kneel at all if a doctor had told me not to. But she hasn’t, so sometimes when I kneel it hurts unexpectedly, and God gives me some grace because of it.

It is hard for me personally to understand doing anything nearly as drastic as leaving the Church just because people are rude, but I realize it is different for different people. I mean, if someone actually came up to me and told me to lose weight, I am quite capable of saying to them, “Did you seriously just walk up to a stranger and tell them to lose weight? What were you, raised in a barn? Oh, and incidentally, are you aware that you’re not fooling anyone with that dye job/toupe/outfit appropriate to someone half your age?” 😃 (Well, really I’m only capable of actually saying the first two sentences. The rest would just be said really loud inside my head.) It hasn’t happened (and not because I’m too skinny, because I’m not), and now I almost wish it would. 😉

–Jen
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You are nicer than me. I would tell them off. I’m 29, and have a knee injury from rugby that means kneeling, walking up excessive stairs, etc is very painful. I can walk around, etc., but I have to take it easy when it hurts a lot. I get a lot of people assume that I’m being lazy, but I want to not have a metal knee before I’m 30. If I were to kneel during the Mass, I would need to go the ER.

In my old parish, some old lady hissed at me to kneel, because I would go to Hell. I told her, “then I’ll see you there. Be sure to bring your SPF, I don’t want you to burn.” All while having a sweet smile on my face. 😃 I don’t take crud from mean Catholics. My old parish in America was horrible for judgmental people, so I’m slightly scarred from Catholics as a whole.
 
Here’s the deal, everyone.

I’ve been receiving Holy Communion on my tongue for the last few years because I got used to it after my foot surgery (I was using crutches and didn’t have my hands free). I have never had any perception or “feeling” that receiving on my tongue was “more reverent” or “more meaningful” than receiving in my hand. I don’t have any emotional high from receiving on the tongue. I don’t think that I have grown faster in my soul because I started receiving on the tongue. I don’t feel “closer to Christ” or “more spiritual.”

To me, it’s not my actions that make Holy Communion meaningful–it’s Jesus’ action of giving Himself to me.

But a few weeks ago, the EMHC dropped the Host as she was giving it to me on my tongue. She was shorter than me, quite overweight, and not very coordinated, and she was distracted by her baby grandson who was sitting with his mom in a pew close to the front of the church.

This never happened while I was receiving in my hand. I was upset, but not unduly so, since I accept that we are flawed human beings and Christ is forgiving. The EMHC handled the situation correctly.

But still, it was upsetting, and I’m guessing that others, especially the more traditional types who also receive on their tongues, were upset, too. (We have quite a few of these people in our large parish; I would say that about 25% of the people receive Holy Communion on the tongue, and many of these kneel before receiving.)

It’s not pleasant or restful to see Christ fall to the ground. I am now quite nervous about receiving Jesus on my tongue.

So here’s what I am doing now. While I am in line, I assess the physical attributes of the EMHC or priest. IF they are taller than me, or at least the same height, AND if they appear calm and comfortable with their work of distributing Holy Communion, I will receive on my tongue.

But if they are SHORTER than me, and appear a bit nervous or flustered or uncoordinated, or have some other physical condition that seems to impede fine motor movements (e.g., a pronounced tremor of the hands, or a very crooked back that makes it painful for them to reach up), I will not take a chance. I will receive Holy Communion in my very steady and strong hand.

To me, this is all about reverence for the Lord Jesus, not about my personal preference. If receiving in the hand means a more reverent Holy Communion, then I will do so, and vice versa.
 
Almighty God please be with the six who have voted otherwise on the poll. Please grant them the graces that they are in most need of to come to closer Union with You and Your Church. Please grant them the graces that they are in most need of and grant them the enlightenment of your Spirit to shed light upon the areas that they are struggling with in their lives. I ask that they may be healed in all areas that they are in need of healing in accordance with Your Divine and Most Perfect Holy Will. I ask that your love and peace may innundate their lives so that Union with You matters to them above all.

May the most just, the most loveable, and the Most High Will of God be done, be fulfilled, be praised and exalted above all things forever. Amen.
 
No, I definitely would not. I would never leave the Church for any reason, much less because the Church decided to make receiving the Eucharist more reverent.
 
I would be SO tempted to ask them to call my doctor and educate him/her, since they obviously know more about my condition than the doctor.
But of course, then I’d have to confess failing (again!) in charity . . .
Irishgal49 said:
I spend an hour a day in adoration and someone came up to me and “informed me” that I should be kneeling in front of the monstrance when it get in and out of the pew. I explained that I have severe degenerative arthritis and they said, “well sometimes you just have to endure the pain”…they don’t get it, I will not be able to get up and the doctor has said that putting pressure on my knees isn’t good. Sadly have the same arthritis in my hip and my neck. It’s hereditary as my father has it and his neck is totally fused from it. I’ve had people say, “Maybe if you lose weight” and I have to launch into a long explanation of how this is NOT osteoarthritis. And how to you explain my neck then? Should my head lose weight. I get tired of the explanations ant this is in a church where we stand but a lot of people kneel and almost everyone already receives COTT. I would simply not be able to stand the constant barrage from certain people. Sorry I’m not a super holy person or not someone that can “endure” comments. I just do not want to go through all that.
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Eric_Olsen said:
I hear so much back and fort about this argument and just curious to see if people would actually leave for another church or stay if/when Rome mandates communion on the toungue kneeling. Please give response for your answer.
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It makes absolutely NO sense to profess to be Catholic and belief in Christ in the Eucharist only to up and leave if/when a position of adoration (and tradition mode of reception of the sacred species) is mandated in respect to Holy Communion. If that is God, why not be glad to fall to your knees before him, and receive him in such a fashion that there is no [ordinary] chance that any part of the sacred species will be wasted?

– Nicole
 
I think it would be quite petty and sophomoric to leave the Church simply because kneeling and taking the Eucharist on the tongue would be mandated. They are only increases of respect and worship for the God we owe everything to - you can’t tell me those two little things are too hard to do for Him.

And I hardly think you would be criticized for doing otherwise if you are infirm or sick or have joint problems. It’s not like you’re going to be looked-down upon [at least in my parish] for sitting instead of kneeling when you have a hard time with your joints.
 
revert_jen said:
If you can do the single eyebrow raise, that might be a useful tool as well.

I’m sure people should be taught as children that it is EXTREMELY rude ever to make personal comments to people one does not know very, very well. The idea of going up to a stranger and suggesting that they lose weight, well, my parents would die immediately in order to have the opportunity to spin in their graves.

Even I (with continuous but largely useless catechesis as a child) know that it is sinful to speculate about why someone doesn’t go to Communion, or even to notice or remember, as far as it is in my control. I should imagine that whether someone kneels or not, although of course less serious, falls into the same basket. You might consider mentioning your dilemma to your priest, in case he can work a reminder about this into a homily sometime without it seeming obvious.

I really hope that nothing I said earlier was taken by anyone to mean that anyone should just “endure the pain.” That was certainly not my intention. I was merely mentioning that sometimes pain can be a spiritual benefit. Let me make it clear: When I know it’s going to hurt if I kneel, I don’t do it. I wouldn’t kneel at all if a doctor had told me not to. But she hasn’t, so sometimes when I kneel it hurts unexpectedly, and God gives me some grace because of it.

It is hard for me personally to understand doing anything nearly as drastic as leaving the Church just because people are rude, but I realize it is different for different people. I mean, if someone actually came up to me and told me to lose weight, I am quite capable of saying to them, “Did you seriously just walk up to a stranger and tell them to lose weight? What were you, raised in a barn? Oh, and incidentally, are you aware that you’re not fooling anyone with that dye job/toupe/outfit appropriate to someone half your age?” 😃 (Well, really I’m only capable of actually saying the first two sentences. The rest would just be said really loud inside my head.) It hasn’t happened (and not because I’m too skinny, because I’m not), and now I almost wish it would. 😉

–Jen
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Well, as much as we’d like to step in, those of us not burdened with the pastoral office of correcting others have no more room to correct busybodies than they have to correct their chosen victims. (Rescuing victims, however, is a great work of mercy!!)

St. Thérèse of Lisieux commented that she often thought how she’d like to correct others before she became novice mistress. Once she had been given the responsibility to correct others, however, she always gave thanks when she witnessed behavior in need of correction committed by a sister who was no longer a novice, so that she didn’t have the job of addressing it.

Be careful about wanting to correct others, then, particularly adults. The Lord may just give you that work as your duty, and it isn’t fun!

Having said that, collaring someone who was minding her own business is not the same as throwing out an opinion when an opinion is asked for, provided it is held as an opinion when it is that and not the teaching of the Church. So if someone were to ask how to handle it, raising the possibility that they could ask themselves if their pain might be endurable could be done. It is something that just needs to be done with care, making it clear that it is meant as something to consider, not a judgment or a directive.
 
Nope, I wouldn’t leave.

I don’t tend to get hot under the collar about these things.

There are things I am very unhappy about in the Church, but I can’t think of anything at the moment that would make me leave the Church.
 
There really is no reason to leave your faith, if for any reason the mandate is to receive on the tongue, instead of the hand, then so be it, I do this on occasion anyway(to keep in practice). As for the kneeling, well I can not see some of the elderly kneeling and getting up, no offense, but if you have, as I do, an artificial knee, then kneeling is OK, but not full pressure from your body. Kneeling on the kneeler is comfortable, not on marble, or on floor rugs.❤️
I would think that the church would have some exceptions to the kneeling for elderly, handicapped, etc. to many exceptions for it to be mandated by the church; however there is the old practice of receiving and bowing at the alter that may be something that is more realistic.
 
I have rarely received Communion on the Tongue since Communion in the Hand was allowed.

But if COTT was mandated, so be it.

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
 
Since I did not leave when for all practical purposes the American Church mandated standing for Communion and strongly discouraged COTT, why would I leave if they came back to their senses and started doing things right again?
 
roadsend said:
Since I did not leave when for all practical purposes the American Church mandated standing for Communion and strongly discouraged COTT, why would I leave if they came back to their senses and started doing things right again?
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On the bright side for you…at least they are doing away with the “pastoral” sentence when they are talking about the norm for the US.😃
 
=Eric_Olsen;8247194]I hear so much back and fort about this argument and just curious to see if people would actually leave for another church or stay if/when Rome mandates communion on the toungue kneeling. Please give response for your answer.
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NOT ME!

I’d be the answer to many prayers,
 
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