Kneeling For Communion In The Novus Ordo

[oremus1]

many catholics have a strong preference for the traditional latin mass, where Communion is kneeling and on the tongue, Deo gratias.

 

Unfortunately, in the Novus Ordo, the norm is standing and in the hand.

 

The current GIRM allows kneeling for communion in the Novus Ordo. But I have only ever seen one person do that in many years. I also have heard tales of people being told by priests not to do it.

I try to avoid the Novus Ordo as much as possible. But sometimes it cannot be avoided.

Obviously kneeling to receive Communion should be permissible and indeed, preferable.

 

Does anyone do this? How? Do  you just go up and kneel at the font of the line, and the priest comes up to you?

What happened to you afterward? Did the priest say anything? Did any hippies come up to you after mass and say you are trying to draw attention to yourself (since apparently they can read souls ...) and lecture you not to do it? What about the "Extraordinary Ministers", who are numerous and far from extraordinary in the majority of parishes (see Redemptionis Sacramentum)? Despite Communion on the tongue kneeling being a legitimate choice, I am fairly sure those who do it (in the 'New Mass' ) will be persecuted.

 

[I am not talking about the subjective 'I have reverence in my heart...' I am talking about objective and external only. If you need more expansion on why one may prefer Communion kneeling and on the tongue, google youtube and Bishop Schneider. ]

[Perigrina]

I prefer the EF, but it is usually only accessible to me on Sundays.  Since I normally attend Mass every day, that means I frequently attend the OF.  I always kneel to receive Communion.  If I have reason to think that there will be a problem with this, then I do not go up to receive.

 

Around here, I have been able to find several parishes in which a significant minority of the daily communicants receive kneeling.  We line up with the people who are receiving in the hand and kneel when we get to the front.  This is less than ideal and I usually just kneel on one knee so I don't get stuck there.  I have noticed other people who do this, but some just kneel on both knees.

 

If I am at a parish where I do not see anyone else doing it, I try to discuss it with the priest first.  I do not want to risk being the cause of a scene during Mass.  I have only once been told by a priest that he disapproves and I just avoid attending Mass there.  (It is only fair, I don't approve of him, ether. :) )

 

I have never received negative comments from a parishioner.  I have not been criticized for covering my head at Mass either.  I have gotten several positive comments about that. Back when I still attended OF on Sundays, I did get a lecture from a fellow choir member who noticed that I only receive Communion from the priest or deacon and never from an EMHC. I went to the pastor to ask him if it was OK for me to do it and he said it was fine and I should ignore her.

[Credo in Deum]

Yes, I've kneeled. No, the priest did not say anything or freak out. And, no "hippies" or parish members attacked me for it. They also know I'm a visitor and that I attend the EF regularly, and yet despite this SHOCKING INFORMATION (sarcasm), when I visit I am always received with charity and as part of their parish. I consider myself fortunate to be able to be an honorary member of the parish and I would do anything to help their parish. I love them and they love me, and out of respect for their norms I always wait to receive last so my kneeling does not disrupt the line.

Catholics loving Catholics, Deo Gratias!

[oremus1]

Yes, I've kneeled. No, the priest did not say anything or freak out. And, no "hippies" or parish members attacked me for it. They also know I'm a visitor and that I attend the EF regularly, and yet despite this SHOCKING INFORMATION (sarcasm), when I visit I am always received with charity and as part of their parish. I consider myself fortunate to be able to be an honorary member of the parish and I would do anything to help their parish. I love them and they love me, and out of respect for their norms I always wait to receive last so my kneeling does not disrupt the line.

Catholics loving Catholics, Deo Gratias!

Thanks. I will wait until the end. It is wonderful that your parish are so nice about it
 

Unfortunately I had heard some horrible stories. you may remember the previous GIRM implied that those who kneeled were 'poorly catechised' and even now, I can imagine they will be classed by many as 'prideful'. Once I went to a Novus Ordo and genuflected before communion (in the line) and was told it was prideful, and the Lord only cares about what is in your heart...despite 'a sign of revrerence' being exhorted before communion ( I think this was in the GIRM or else somewhere else).



 

[Perigrina]

I think it will help, if you avoid imagining bad possible reactions that people might have.  I see these stories and comments online, but my real life experience has been quite different.  Focus on your reasons for doing these things without thinking about other people.

[AccountDeleted]

Yes, I've kneeled. No, the priest did not say anything or freak out. And, no "hippies" or parish members attacked me for it. They also know I'm a visitor and that I attend the EF regularly, and yet despite this SHOCKING INFORMATION (sarcasm), when I visit I am always received with charity and as part of their parish. I consider myself fortunate to be able to be an honorary member of the parish and I would do anything to help their parish. I love them and they love me, and out of respect for their norms I always wait to receive last so my kneeling does not disrupt the line.

Catholics loving Catholics, Deo Gratias!

 

Now this is really Catholic! I just love it when, instead of beating each other up for our differences, we can appreciate each other for what unites us. Beautiful post. :heart:

 

 

 

Thanks. I will wait until the end. It is wonderful that your parish are so nice about it
 

Unfortunately I had heard some horrible stories. you may remember the previous GIRM implied that those who kneeled were 'poorly catechised' and even now, I can imagine they will be classed by many as 'prideful'. Once I went to a Novus Ordo and genuflected before communion (in the line) and was told it was prideful, and the Lord only cares about what is in your heart...despite 'a sign of revrerence' being exhorted before communion ( I think this was in the GIRM or else somewhere else).



 

 

You know, I hope you have a really nice experience because I have been at lots of NO Masses where people kneel (on one knee or two) and receive on the tongue, and so far, I haven't seen any bad reactions to it. But I do believe that this could happen because people can be judgmental of each other in both the EF and NO 'camps'. That's why I loved Credo's post and I encourage you to do what feels right to you and just pray that your experience is equally free from conflict. I know I wouldn't blink an eyelash if you kneeled down and received on the tongue while I was standing behind you because I would be focusing on the fact that I myself was just about to receive Jesus. :) 

 

Catholics loving Catholics. Beautiful. 

[oremus1]

Now this is really Catholic! I just love it when, instead of beating each other up for our differences, we can appreciate each other for what unites us. Beautiful post. :heart:

 

 

 

 

You know, I hope you have a really nice experience because I have been at lots of NO Masses where people kneel (on one knee or two) and receive on the tongue, and so far, I haven't seen any bad reactions to it. But I do believe that this could happen because people can be judgmental of each other in both the EF and NO 'camps'. That's why I loved Credo's post and I encourage you to do what feels right to you and just pray that your experience is equally free from conflict. I know I wouldn't blink an eyelash if you kneeled down and received on the tongue while I was standing behind you because I would be focusing on the fact that I myself was just about to receive Jesus. :)

 

Catholics loving Catholics. Beautiful. 

One would hope that everyone could be like that.

 

Unfortunately in some parishes and indeed diocese, it is very polarised, and even despite the revised GIRM, some priests themselves disagree with it and explain why communion standing on the tongue is better. I had a friend who this happened to, the priest had a rant at her, even though she cited Redemptionis Sacramentum and the GIRM, she just doesnt recieve communion at all when she (rarely) has to go to that Novus Ordo mass.

[AccountDeleted]

One would hope that everyone could be like that.

 

Unfortunately in some parishes and indeed diocese, it is very polarised, and even despite the revised GIRM, some priests themselves disagree with it and explain why communion standing on the tongue is better. I had a friend who this happened to, the priest had a rant at her, even though she cited Redemptionis Sacramentum and the GIRM, she just doesnt recieve communion at all when she (rarely) has to go to that Novus Ordo mass.

 

 

That is a shame -- hopefully she can find a more loving and accepting NO when she can't attend the EF. This issue just seems way too polarizing to Catholics. I understand why, but it is a shame. We are all Catholics after all.

[HisChildForever]

I've only attended the EF a handful of times. I don't kneel at the OF but I do receive on my tongue--unless I'm receiving from an extraordinary minister who's shorter than me, because that makes me paranoid. I remember two summers ago I was on vacation and when I approached the priest to receive on the tongue he sort of berated me. It's hard to explain, but the tone of his voice was condescending like he was talking to a child. He first basically stared at me, so I was thinking um okay and put out my hands, but then he asked which way I was receiving and when I said tongue he made a snide comment about opening my mouth more (first time that ever happened). Now this church was VERY crowded and I'm at the front of the line. I honestly felt so embarrassed. Suffice to say, unless I see a lot of people receiving on the tongue while I'm at church on vacation, it's going to be on the hands from here on out. 

[AccountDeleted]

I've only attended the EF a handful of times. I don't kneel at the OF but I do receive on my tongue--unless I'm receiving from an extraordinary minister who's shorter than me, because that makes me paranoid. I remember two summers ago I was on vacation and when I approached the priest to receive on the tongue he sort of berated me. It's hard to explain, but the tone of his voice was condescending like he was talking to a child. He first basically stared at me, so I was thinking um okay and put out my hands, but then he asked which way I was receiving and when I said tongue he made a snide comment about opening my mouth more (first time that ever happened). Now this church was VERY crowded and I'm at the front of the line. I honestly felt so embarrassed. Suffice to say, unless I see a lot of people receiving on the tongue while I'm at church on vacation, it's going to be on the hands from here on out. 

 

 

When I was in Singapore at the Cathedral there (Novus Ordo Mass), one day the priest made an announcement before Communion, telling us all that if we wanted to receive on the tongue, could we please open our mouths wide and stick our tongues out so he could actually put the host on the tongue and not make him try to squeeze it into a tiny opening. He told us it was completely up to us how we received, but that we shouldn't make it more difficult for him. He didn't mention anything about kneeling but I don't recall any problems for those who did.

 

The only other time I have heard a priest give instructions on how to receive was in a small chapel at a cemetery - where the EF was not the usual form, so just prior to Communion, the priest told us to come kneel on the steps (there was no Communion rail) and wait for him to come to us, and told us that he would speak the words Body of Christ in Latin when he got to us, but we were not to answer amen, just stick out our tongues and then after we had received, we could get up and go back to our places.

 

It is certainly easier to receive on the tongue at an EF Mass because the communion rail makes kneeling easier, and the altar boy holding the paten takes away worry about the host being dropped and  one is not expected to say amen while also opening their mouth. The NO Mass really isn't set up for receiving on the tongue easily, but whichever way a person receives, they are receiving Our Lord and so each person should be treated with respect and not made to feel bad about their choice.

[mortify ii]

I've kneeled and had a priest ask me to stand up so I can receive Communion..

[AccountDeleted]

I've kneeled and had a priest ask me to stand up so I can receive Communion..

 

 

Don't scare him, he'll be afraid to even try!

[Ash Wednesday]

In my experience, nobody that kneeled or received on the tongue was turned away or told off, even at churches that don't have the communion rail. But maybe I was just fortunate. The masses I often attend is ordinary form but has the communion rail. 

 

Everyone has the right to kneel and receive on the tongue, nobody has the right to tell them to stand up, and anyone that gets huffy about it should worry about their own soul. End of discussion. 

 

P.S. I don't know if I've ever actually seen a hippie at mass before. I thought they went out into the forest and hugged trees on Sundays instead.

 

Edited June 29, 2014 by Ash Wednesday

[chrysostom]

There's never been an issue when I've knelt for communion, but one time when I received standing on the tongue after genuflecting, the priest before giving me communion said "please don't genuflect".  More than anything else I felt confused, especially as I was a clueless two-months baby Catholic.  But that was once.  If there's any trend I can report from my experience, it's that people don't bother me when I kneel.

Edited June 29, 2014 by chrysostom

[AccountDeleted]

There's never been an issue when I've knelt for communion, but one time when I received standing on the tongue after genuflecting, the priest before giving me communion said "please don't genuflect".  More than anything else I felt confused, especially as I was a clueless two-months baby Catholic.  But that was once.  If there's any trend I can report from my experience, it's that people don't bother me when I kneel.

 
 
It reminds me of the old story about the couple who had a donkey ...
 

A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home, a boy commented:

“Very stupid. Why neither of them ride on the donkey?“

Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked besides them. Later, an old man saw it and commented:

“The husband is the head of the family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?”

Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey. Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented:

“How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman.”

The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented:

“Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you.”

Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.

It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river.

You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future.

Thus, do not be too bothered by others words if our conscience is clear.

Edited June 29, 2014 by nunsense