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Author: Jimmy Akin
Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."
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16 thoughts on “VIDEO: Can You Kneel for Communion?”
Great video, Jimmy. This is definately a greatly disputed topic.
You can but it can really be bad if you trip someone and cause a ‘scene’ I believe to receive Holy Communion on the tongue can throw some people into a tizzy all by itself.
I only received in the hand during a major flu epidemic and the bishop ordered not only no sacramental wine but no Holy Communion on the tongue. That was for health of the community and I felt it was right and good. But after it was over I returned to my old ways.
I also fold my hands in prayer for the Our Father and not raise my arms up like Pentacostal Evengelical, it reminds me too much of a protestant prayer, hands around the table thing. I suppose my prejudice stems from my godfather marrying in a protestant church and his wife trying to convert the rest us.
As with all ‘rights’ of this sort, those who kneel (when most others stand) should consider the safety of those nearby who may not be expecting someone to kneel suddenly. Tolerance and consideration go a long way – for all concerned.
As an aside, I have seen some people receive the Host kneeling but the Precious Blood standing – this seems inconsistent.
I also suggest that we should not think or act as if “waiting in a buffet queue/line for communion” but as being in a “procession, expectant, preparing to receive our Saviour …”
I receive on the tongue unless I know it will be very inconvenient for the minister (Priest or EMHC) otherwise.
I receive at ‘table’ i.e. the communian rail, with table linnen. Shoulder to shoulder with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
If someone brings up ‘tripping’ I wonder how for centuries nobody ‘tripped’ when kneeling rails were in (before they were taken away for no reason) or if tripping never occurs outside while walking? If a person behind a kneeling one can’t figure out not to hurdle them that is the issue with the one tripping. Communion isn’t a race to receive & rush back so tripping shouldn’t happen anyways.
Excuses, excuses… The way Catholics received Holy Communion up until 1965 was kneeling and on the tongue. That is 2,000 years of Tradition, not 40 years of tradition. The Holy See has declared that Catholics may receive in the hand IF proper reverence and honor is given to the Eucharist. Do you think that is happening in most parishes? Kneeling to receive Our Blessed Lord is a symbol of respect and adoration. When one is lucky enough to be given an invitation to dine with the Queen of England, proper dress and manners are not just expected, but demanded. Even down to a simple handshake is done with honor and reverence. If that is demanded for a human queen, what should be expected toward the King of the Universe??? I cannot kneel anymore so I must stand–holding onto a cane–when I receive Our Lord. However, I do not saunter up to the Holy of Holies as if I were in line for free cookies. Before I receive, I make a reverent bow and Sign of the Cross. I receive the Holy Species on the tongue out of love and reverence for our Lord, who died a brutal and ignominious death on the Cross for me. I keep that in mind before, during, and after I receive.
Nice vid. Although what you say is true, I have heard some Bishops and Priests are still still doing everything they can to eliminate the ‘kneelers’ from their services. Hopefully the Popes next move will be to ‘restore decency and order’ by insisting upon a return to kneeling (restoring altar rails) and Communion on the tongue. As a ByzantineCatholic Christian our ages old Tradition and practice is to receive standing, receiving under Both Kinds, on the tongue by Intinction. There is also an element of sobriety and sanctity which envelopes Eastern Churches during reception that is long missing from Western (Anglican/Episcopal, Lutheran, Roman Rite Catholic) Churches since the Liturgical Reforms of Vatican II which were adopted by Anglicans/Episcopalians and Lutherans right after the release of The NOVUS ORDO MISSAE. Out of all things Catholic, they ruined their own worship by grabbing on to that! LORD HAVE MERCY!
Thank you for the information. We are blessed with two parishes in our city that allow all to kneel
for Holy Communion. Why must we now fight for what was once the rule???
My priest has personally forbidden me to kneel during Communion. He brought up the issue of tripping and when I started to explain why that shouldn’t happen, he gave me such a dirty look that I just shut up.
The line is moving very slowly and people are not (nor should they be) looking around or conversing with one another. They’re moving forward slowly so there is no reason why there should be tripping. It doesn’t happen when I go to other parishes and kneel.
Who the heck started that crazy notion anyways?
I would love to receive Jesus kneeling, but until that option is expressly offered in the parish, it feels like I’m drawing attention to myself or doing it to assert my rights. All I want to do is receive Jesus in a humble, reverent way. I think one way of doing that is receiving Holy Communion the way the pastor asks you to, even if you prefer doing it another way.
Tripping could be a concern in our parish especially when receiving the Precious Blood while kneeling — at some stations there is an EM distributing at the front and another in front of the first pew. It creates quite a bit of congestion.
I am an EMHC at a church here in Florida. I am appalled at how many Catholics receive communion. Most of them don’t bow before receiving it and when they receive it, they practically grab it from you before you can say, “The Body of Christ.” We also have the Blood of Christ and people treat it like a shot glass at a bar. People drink so much that we never have enough for the entire parish. With the snowbirds coming back down, it’s going to get even worse. People also leave as soon as they receive communion. It’s sad, it’s a mass, not McDonald’s.
Sue in Buffalo wrote: My priest has personally forbidden me to kneel during Communion.
The priest has no authority to do that. If you want, you may contact the bishop or papal nuncio to clarify ot for him.. Documents are very clear that, although the norm in the U. S., a kneeling person may not be forbidden to receive. The Holy See will back you to the hilt on this, unless you are causing mischief, which seems unlikely.
The Chicken
The whole GIRM directive on standing for Communion was merely descriptive and not prescriptive. Fr. Z pointed this out a couple of months ago in one of his posts.
Some U.S. bishops even demanded clarification on that point when they voted for the statement in ’02. It was only a descriptive statement that noted the custom and norm of standing to receive. It was not a liturgical law. To this day, this norm has no force of liturgical law in mandating standing.
For the whole tripping issue, which I find ridiculous as regardless of whether one is kneeling or standing during our communion reception there’s always space given to the person next in line between the priest and the communicant. One goes up to the priest/minister, while the other maintains a good distance behind near the front bench to allow the person in front of them to go up and receive communion.
I receive kneeling, and perhaps consciously sit at the back so I can go last in line and avoid being any potential hassle to anyone.
Given that there are usualy multiple lines for communion, if I were a priest in a parish, I’d personally make it a point to teach about the history of standing versus kneeling, the changes and the current Church position and make an effort to accomodate both. Perhaps by having a small kneeler in front of the priest so those who are receiving kneeling can come up to ‘me’ and those receiving standing can go to the co-celebrating priest/ministers on either side of me. Simple stuff like that can go a long way. And everyon’e all about ‘diversity’ and stuff these days so let’s use that in an encouraging and useful way.
Wow I must cofnses you make some very trenchant points.
Great video, Jimmy. This is definately a greatly disputed topic.
You can but it can really be bad if you trip someone and cause a ‘scene’ I believe to receive Holy Communion on the tongue can throw some people into a tizzy all by itself.
I only received in the hand during a major flu epidemic and the bishop ordered not only no sacramental wine but no Holy Communion on the tongue. That was for health of the community and I felt it was right and good. But after it was over I returned to my old ways.
I also fold my hands in prayer for the Our Father and not raise my arms up like Pentacostal Evengelical, it reminds me too much of a protestant prayer, hands around the table thing. I suppose my prejudice stems from my godfather marrying in a protestant church and his wife trying to convert the rest us.
As with all ‘rights’ of this sort, those who kneel (when most others stand) should consider the safety of those nearby who may not be expecting someone to kneel suddenly. Tolerance and consideration go a long way – for all concerned.
As an aside, I have seen some people receive the Host kneeling but the Precious Blood standing – this seems inconsistent.
I also suggest that we should not think or act as if “waiting in a buffet queue/line for communion” but as being in a “procession, expectant, preparing to receive our Saviour …”
I receive on the tongue unless I know it will be very inconvenient for the minister (Priest or EMHC) otherwise.
I receive at ‘table’ i.e. the communian rail, with table linnen. Shoulder to shoulder with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
If someone brings up ‘tripping’ I wonder how for centuries nobody ‘tripped’ when kneeling rails were in (before they were taken away for no reason) or if tripping never occurs outside while walking? If a person behind a kneeling one can’t figure out not to hurdle them that is the issue with the one tripping. Communion isn’t a race to receive & rush back so tripping shouldn’t happen anyways.
Excuses, excuses… The way Catholics received Holy Communion up until 1965 was kneeling and on the tongue. That is 2,000 years of Tradition, not 40 years of tradition. The Holy See has declared that Catholics may receive in the hand IF proper reverence and honor is given to the Eucharist. Do you think that is happening in most parishes? Kneeling to receive Our Blessed Lord is a symbol of respect and adoration. When one is lucky enough to be given an invitation to dine with the Queen of England, proper dress and manners are not just expected, but demanded. Even down to a simple handshake is done with honor and reverence. If that is demanded for a human queen, what should be expected toward the King of the Universe??? I cannot kneel anymore so I must stand–holding onto a cane–when I receive Our Lord. However, I do not saunter up to the Holy of Holies as if I were in line for free cookies. Before I receive, I make a reverent bow and Sign of the Cross. I receive the Holy Species on the tongue out of love and reverence for our Lord, who died a brutal and ignominious death on the Cross for me. I keep that in mind before, during, and after I receive.
Nice vid. Although what you say is true, I have heard some Bishops and Priests are still still doing everything they can to eliminate the ‘kneelers’ from their services. Hopefully the Popes next move will be to ‘restore decency and order’ by insisting upon a return to kneeling (restoring altar rails) and Communion on the tongue. As a ByzantineCatholic Christian our ages old Tradition and practice is to receive standing, receiving under Both Kinds, on the tongue by Intinction. There is also an element of sobriety and sanctity which envelopes Eastern Churches during reception that is long missing from Western (Anglican/Episcopal, Lutheran, Roman Rite Catholic) Churches since the Liturgical Reforms of Vatican II which were adopted by Anglicans/Episcopalians and Lutherans right after the release of The NOVUS ORDO MISSAE. Out of all things Catholic, they ruined their own worship by grabbing on to that! LORD HAVE MERCY!
Thank you for the information. We are blessed with two parishes in our city that allow all to kneel
for Holy Communion. Why must we now fight for what was once the rule???
My priest has personally forbidden me to kneel during Communion. He brought up the issue of tripping and when I started to explain why that shouldn’t happen, he gave me such a dirty look that I just shut up.
The line is moving very slowly and people are not (nor should they be) looking around or conversing with one another. They’re moving forward slowly so there is no reason why there should be tripping. It doesn’t happen when I go to other parishes and kneel.
Who the heck started that crazy notion anyways?
I would love to receive Jesus kneeling, but until that option is expressly offered in the parish, it feels like I’m drawing attention to myself or doing it to assert my rights. All I want to do is receive Jesus in a humble, reverent way. I think one way of doing that is receiving Holy Communion the way the pastor asks you to, even if you prefer doing it another way.
Tripping could be a concern in our parish especially when receiving the Precious Blood while kneeling — at some stations there is an EM distributing at the front and another in front of the first pew. It creates quite a bit of congestion.
I am an EMHC at a church here in Florida. I am appalled at how many Catholics receive communion. Most of them don’t bow before receiving it and when they receive it, they practically grab it from you before you can say, “The Body of Christ.” We also have the Blood of Christ and people treat it like a shot glass at a bar. People drink so much that we never have enough for the entire parish. With the snowbirds coming back down, it’s going to get even worse. People also leave as soon as they receive communion. It’s sad, it’s a mass, not McDonald’s.
Sue in Buffalo wrote:
My priest has personally forbidden me to kneel during Communion.
The priest has no authority to do that. If you want, you may contact the bishop or papal nuncio to clarify ot for him.. Documents are very clear that, although the norm in the U. S., a kneeling person may not be forbidden to receive. The Holy See will back you to the hilt on this, unless you are causing mischief, which seems unlikely.
The Chicken
The whole GIRM directive on standing for Communion was merely descriptive and not prescriptive. Fr. Z pointed this out a couple of months ago in one of his posts.
Some U.S. bishops even demanded clarification on that point when they voted for the statement in ’02. It was only a descriptive statement that noted the custom and norm of standing to receive. It was not a liturgical law. To this day, this norm has no force of liturgical law in mandating standing.
For the whole tripping issue, which I find ridiculous as regardless of whether one is kneeling or standing during our communion reception there’s always space given to the person next in line between the priest and the communicant. One goes up to the priest/minister, while the other maintains a good distance behind near the front bench to allow the person in front of them to go up and receive communion.
I receive kneeling, and perhaps consciously sit at the back so I can go last in line and avoid being any potential hassle to anyone.
Given that there are usualy multiple lines for communion, if I were a priest in a parish, I’d personally make it a point to teach about the history of standing versus kneeling, the changes and the current Church position and make an effort to accomodate both. Perhaps by having a small kneeler in front of the priest so those who are receiving kneeling can come up to ‘me’ and those receiving standing can go to the co-celebrating priest/ministers on either side of me. Simple stuff like that can go a long way. And everyon’e all about ‘diversity’ and stuff these days so let’s use that in an encouraging and useful way.
Wow I must cofnses you make some very trenchant points.