In all my memory growing up, and in my experience going to my (admittedly orthodox) church out here in California, we sat or kneeled during the period when you're waiting to get in line to go to Communion.
I always used this time to pray and reflect - and to decide if it was indeed right for me to even receive Communion, given what my life was like at the time. (Yes, I know, go to confession, but still, literally receiving the Lord into me when I'm acting like an ass six days out of the week, or not really having the faith, just seemed to be the wrong thing to do.)
During this time, there was/is music going on in the background, and maybe a soloist is singing a hymn. Between the reflection, prayer, and background music, it was one of my most cherished times in the Mass.
Now, when I go back to Michigan (Dioceses of Lansing) where I grew up, the entire congregation stands up and sings some loud processional while people are receiving Communion. I find this really irritating, as with the standing (and thus raising of the kneelers) and all the noise, it makes it impossible to reflect and pray both before and after I receive communion. Given just what Communion is to true Catholic believers, I think it's entirely appropriate to pray and reflect at that time.
I've been told that parishoners are still allowed to kneel and sit during this period, if they insist (cough), but with everyone standing up and putting the kneelers up, it makes it practically impossible. Last time I tried to politely suggest to a priest back in Michigan the concept of reserving some pews to those who like to kneel during this part of the Mass, I got barked at before the sentence could even finish leaving my mouth.
So, fellow Catholic FReepers of an orthodox bent, what's the story here? Do you all stand and sing during Communion, making it a loud processional? Or do you allow people to kneel and pray? What's the official Vatican rule? And am I the only one in this situation? Thanks.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/LITURGY/KNEELING.TXT
long story short -- you have the right, the laudable right to kneel. I hate to say it, but that priest sounds like a jerk.
Great freeper name! Mind sharing how you came to choose it?
As for what you have described from the (RC) diocese of Lansing, I would suggest that you consider 'looking East'.
Although it is not widely known in our Western world, the Catholic Church is actually a communion of Churches. According to the Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, the Catholic Church is understood to be "a corporate body of Churches," united with the Pope of Rome, who serves as the guardian of unity (LG, no. 23). At present there are 22 Churches that comprise the Catholic Church. The new Code of Canon Law, promulgated by Pope John Paul II, uses the phrase "autonomous ritual Churches" to describe these various Churches (canon 112). Each Church has its own hierarchy, spirituality, and theological perspective. Because of the particularities of history, there is only one Western Catholic Church, while there are 22 Eastern Catholic Churches. The Western Church, known officially as the Latin Church, is the largest of the Catholic Churches. It is immediately subject to the Roman Pontiff as Patriarch of the West. The Eastern Catholic Churches are each led by a Patriarch, Major Archbishop, or Metropolitan, who governs their Church together with a synod of bishops. Through the Congregation for Oriental Churches, the Roman Pontiff works to assure the health and well-being of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
While this diversity within the one Catholic Church can appear confusing at first, it in no way compromises the Church's unity. In a certain sense, it is a reflection of the mystery of the Trinity. Just as God is three Persons, yet one God, so the Church is 22 Churches, yet one Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes this nicely:
"From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God's gifts and the diversity of those who receive them... Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions. The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church's unity" (CCC no. 814).
Although there are 22 Churches, there are only eight "Rites" that are used among them. A Rite is a "liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony," (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 28). "Rite" best refers to the liturgical and disciplinary traditions used in celebrating the sacraments. Many Eastern Catholic Churches use the same Rite, although they are distinct autonomous Churches. For example, the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are distinct Churches with their own hierarchies. Yet they both use the Byzantine Rite.
To learn more about the "two lungs" of the Catholic Church, visit this link:
The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15).
To locate an Eastern Catholic Church in your community, follow the following link:
Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S.
A Roman rite Catholic may attend any Eastern Catholic Liturgy and fulfill his of her obligations at any Eastern Catholic Parish. A Roman rite Catholic may join any Eastern Catholic Parish and receive any sacrament from an Eastern Catholic priest, since all belong to the Catholic Church as a whole. I am a Roman Catholic practicing my faith at a Maronite Catholic Church. Like the Chaldeans, the Maronites retain Aramaic for the Consecration. It is as close as one comes to being at the Last Supper.