Posted on 08/23/2002 7:05:24 PM PDT by narses
WASHINGTON, Aug 23, 02 (CWNews.com) -- The US bishops' committee on the liturgy has said that Catholics should not ordinarily receive Communion while kneeling.
Committee on Liturgy: "The bishops of the United States have decided that the normative posture for receiving Holy Communion should be standing. Kneeling is not a licit posture for receiving Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States of America unless the bishop of a particular diocese has derogated from this norm in an individual and extraordinary circumstance."
Standing is also a sign of respect, and uniformity is important. However, if kneeling is a make-or-break thing for you, then, by all means, kneel.
Never mind.
As long as it incorporates the changes the diabolical revolution desires.
That's total nonsense. After kneeling throughout the Eucharistic Prayer, and after the sign of Peace, you can hardly argue that standing for reception of the Eucharist is a "loss of faith" in the Real Presence.
Ever been to Mass at St. Peter's? Everyone receives the Eucharist standing.
Don't you attend a Tridentine Indult Mass?
This directive, obviously, doesn't apply to you.
For heaven's sake, reception of the Eucharist standing has been the norm for the last twenty years in the Western world. Standardizing a common practice with a directive is hardly revolutionary, much less "diabolical."
This is a bad precedent to put in writing. Priests who have a problem with "holier than thou" Catholics who refuse to CHANGE per the Revolution which tore the communion rails from churches by force should just make the rule for their own church and leave Catholics the option of kneeling at whatever Novus Ordo parish in their diocese allows them to show the Real Presence the traditional measure of respect by kneeling and refusing to handle the host themselves.
I will be interested to see what effect this has next time I'm at my grandparents' church in Florida where a good number of the communicants always kneel ... and, to my knowledge, no one's ever tripped.
Unbelievable!
To heck with the "dioceses of the United States of America" what happened to the one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Amchurch and their evil bishops are the ones in schism with Rome.
I myself genuflect before receiving while standing, but I would never attribute to reverent kneeling while receiving the judgmental description " an attention-getting device". This unfair characterization is beneath you, Sinkspur.
Standing is also a sign of respect,
That's what the liturgists who forbid kneeling during the consecration say, too, but is standing at attention as respectful as kneeling in adoration? Standing is indeed a sign of respect, but obviously not as much so as kneeling.
and uniformity is important.
Again, this is what the folks who forbid kneeling during consecration say. I know we are talking about during communion, but you are parroting their language. It reminds me of the folks, who, when the subject of homeschooling comes up, immediately launch into the mantra "homeschooled children have socialization problems". In this case, whenever the subject of kneeling during consecration or communion comes up, or when someone objects to the elimination of kneelers, the mantra launched is "Standing is also a sign of respect, and uniformity is important." Do the seminaries have you memorize that like the Preamble? You know as well as I do that standing as opposed to kneeling is a part of the effort to change the vertical nature of the Mass to the horizontal. Why not just be honest about it instead of hiding behind liberal talking points?
However, if kneeling is a make-or-break thing for you, then, by all means, kneel.
I know you mean well, Sinkspur, but statements like these make you sound quite condescending. Not a very Christian attitude at all. Did you have a bad day, or what?
The bishop in my diocese has outlawed kneeling completely. One must stand during the Eucharistic prayer.
I think kneeling is a good thing. Standing in line for the Eucharist can diminish the significance of what is actually taking place. One stands in line to receive a Big Mac as well. Kneeling is something that could be reserved for the Lord to signify fealty and adoration. I can't think of anything else I regularly kneel for, so that one gesture would be nice to have. I can't imagine why that practice would change. Got any insight as to why ?
Who are these "folks"? The same bishops who are asking communicants to stand for reception of the Eucharist mandate kneeling during the Eucharistic Prayer, and I'm not aware of any parish in our diocese that doesn't follow this directive.
You know as well as I do that standing as opposed to kneeling is a part of the effort to change the vertical nature of the Mass to the horizontal.
Is sitting during the Liturgy of the Word part of this, too? Why don't we just kneel during the entire Mass?
As to "vertical" versus "horizontal," I don't have a clue as to what you're talking about.
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