Kneeling regaining favor But posture is not always well received

Toledo Blade ^ | 1/11/2003 | JUDY TARJANYI

[Aloysius]

If Catholics were known for anything before the 1960s, it was their habit of kneeling. Kneeling on entering the church, kneeling on leaving. Kneeling during the Mass and especially, kneeling when receiving communion.

Since the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council swept the Catholic Church clean of many such pious practices, however, standing has replaced much of the knee bending in Catholic worship life.

[Land of the Irish]

When new guidelines are issued in the General Instruction on the Roman Missal, she said, the norm will be to stand and the church will have to do extensive "catechesis," or instruction explaining why this is the preferred posture.

More like communist indoctrination, i.e., brainwashing. I'm glad she said extensive, it indicates there may be a large resistance.

The kneeling posture only came in the Middle Ages and came as a result of a lot of heresies that kind of taught people that they were not worthy

Sister, was St. Thomas a heretic?

From St. Thomas' prayer of thanksgiving after Holy Communion:

I thank You, O holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, who have deigned, not through any merits of mine, but out of the condenscension of Your goodness, to satisfy me a sinner, Your unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion be not a condemnation to punishment for me, but a saving plea to forgiveness…

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

we need to do what this community does."

We need to follow the GIRM and the Rubrics and quit taking "progressive" liberties, Georgette.

[RnMomof7]

I do not understand How it is IF that host is REALLY Christ a man could stand in His physical presence .How does one stand in the presence of the most Holy God?

[Scupoli]

I have not seen your name around here before. Welcome:-)

[Polycarp]

the norm will be to stand and the church will have to do extensive "catechesis," or instruction explaining why this is the preferred posture.

What a bunch of crap. First, kneeling was still the norm, but standing was permitted. Then standing was imposed on all but a few parishes. Now standing is supposedly the "norm."

I'm seriously considering starting to kneel to receive communion, as the Vatican has explicitly said that we cannot be refused communion for kneeling. I prefer kneeling, which is the primary reason I like the Indult. (Latin? I don't know it and Latin itself holds no particular attraction for me, except that abuse is nearly impossible under the celebration of the Indult.) Unfortunately, my only "local" Indult Mass is 95 miles away, impossible to commute there routinely.

Anyone else considering returning to the posture of kneeling to receive the Holy Eucharist?

Aloysius,

Welcome.

We have a local historical figure, Prince Demetrius Aloysius Gallitzin, the first priest ordained in the USA, and a convert from Russian Orthodox, who established the Churches throughout much of my diocese.

Is your screen name related to this courageous priest in any way?

[JMJ333]

Every church that I have been to in my diocese kneels. Our church kneels. Thank goodness.

I did go to Midnight Mass about 5 years ago in Atlanta at the oldest church (Sherman didn't burn it down, and instead housed horses there) in Downtown. I barely recognized the Mass and there was no kneeling....except me and my mom. ;)

That really was an interesting experience that I hope never to repeat. When the priest gave th homily, I remember he said something about how he wished Christmas was celebrated every other year.

[NYer]

Every church that I have been to in my diocese kneels. Our church kneels. Thank goodness.

Amazing ... where is your diocese? In my parish, everyone stands. In neighboring churches, they stand through the Consecration, as well. That is because the bishop authorized those churches undergoing renovation to rip out the kneelers. Now, he claims, kneelers are required. So, the churches that had nice kneelers ripped out, and assured their parishioners that standing during the Consecration was 'proper form', must now take up a "kneeler collection" to replace what they already paid someone to remove. Do we wonder why many catholics find it easier to simply switch to a protestant church? They probably feel right at home there.

[Polycarp]

Do we wonder why many catholics find it easier to simply switch to a protestant church?

Or Orthodox, for that matter. While Catholic apologetics fail miserably due to the sex scandals, we're also losing members due to liturgical dissent and profane practices.

I have never been so shaken in my Faith as I have during the last several months. I barely even desire to attend my local N.O. masses, and I've missed Adoration for two weeks running. But its only orthodox, non-schismatic Roman Catholicism for me. There are no other viable options (short of agnosticism.)

God have Mercy on us all.

[Desdemona]

Every church that I have been to in my diocese kneels.

Mine, too. I think there would be anarchy if kneeling went the way the USCCB wants it to.

[JMJ333]

I am in the diocese of Memphis, with bishop J. Terry Steib. Our new pastor is very orthodox and even says prayers in Latin during the novus ordo mass. Its very encouraging. I will pray that things start to turn for your diocese. Keep up your letter writing. You are doing a fine job. :)

[JMJ333]

Anarchy doesn't sound so bad, that is, if it is "under a carapace of accepted theological truths." I pray for Christendom regained. ;)

[Desdemona]

with bishop J. Terry Steib.

How do you like him? Does he still tell great stories?

[RobbyS]

Many Catholics switch because they no longer feel at home in the Church, but they go to fundamentalist churches, not the liberal Protestant churches. But as far as the kneelers are concerned, many bishops have given liberal priests their head but are now being called on their laxity. I was in West Virginia in a new church without kneelers and the priest was trying to say they had NO money for kneelers. I could look out of the window to my right and see the $250,000 rectory that was being finished.

[k omalley]

"extensive catechesis"
Yes, please educate us poor ignorant Catholics who just don't understand. I've been queing up obediently for years but I would far prefer kneeling.

[GenXFreedomFighter]

The Archbishop of Louisville recently suggested bowing before taking communion, in a measure designed to increase reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. My own priest in the diocese of Lexington did him one better. He suggested a deep bow or a genuflexion while the person in front of you takes communion. I normally opt for genuflexion myself, but I did see one person in my parish receive on his knees at Midnight Mass. Has anyone else heard of this practice?

[JMJ333]

I like him. I usually only hear him a couple of times a year because he says Mass at a Cathedral that is about 45 minutes from my house. I always try to make Good Friday Mass because he comes down with two priests and they all get on the altar and lie flat on their face and worship. Its so silent you can hear a pin drop when they do that. Bishop Steib is a great orater and very educated. I have never been disappointed in any of his homilies.

Most Revered Bishop J. Terry Steib

[Desdemona]

Bishop Steib is a great orater and very educated. I have never been disappointed in any of his homilies.

That's what I thought, too. He was an auxilary here before going to Memphis.

[Polycarp]

I normally opt for genuflexion myself,

So do I, though our bishop has literally attempted to forbid it in the past.

but I did see one person in my parish receive on his knees at Midnight Mass. Has anyone else heard of this practice?

Yes, I've seen a few brave souls do so here, and I also know of several occasions here where priests refused communion to those who knelt.

[JMJ333]

Refused communion for kneeling? God forbid someone show the epitmoe of reverence before recieving communion. How disgraceful and sad.