Benedict XVI Calls for the Return of Kneeling for Communion
Here is a translation I received of great news from Pope Benedict, published by Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Sunday, June 15, 2008. I'd appreciate a verification of the translation from any of our French-speaking readers. (Thanks D.B.)
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After the rehabilitation of the 'tridentine' Latin Mass and the reappearance of lace albs, Benedict XVI on Sunday went a step further in bringing back former liturgical practices by distributing communion to the faithful who knelt on a prie-dieu.
This return to a practice which fell into disuse over the past forty years occurred during an outdoor Mass celebrated by the Pope at Brindisi with some 60,000 people in attendance.
Benedict XVI had done the same at a previous Mass on May 22 at the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome, but the event had less impact because the congregation was much smaller.
The faithful chosen to receive communion from the hands of the pope must now kneel before him on a prie-dieu and receive the host in the mouth.
Since the liturgical reform that followed the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the current practice, deemed to be less intimidating, calls for the Faithful to receive the host (a piece of unleavened bread believed to be 'the body of Christ') standing and in their hands before placing it in their own mouths.
They could still opt to receive the host in the mouth, but standing.
The practice of kneeling, which has never been banned, remained confined to traditionalist parishes.
By using this practice himself, Benedict XVI intends to set an example for the entire Church - particularly the clergy.
'We Christians kneel before the Blessed Sacrament (the host) because, therein, we know and believe to be the presence of the one true God' he said on May 22.
'I am convinced of the importance of giving the host once again to the faithful directly in the mouth without them touching it' and 'the return of kneeling during Communion as a sign of respect' he added.
The liturgical changes introduced by Benedict XVI during the past months all favor a return to practices thought to have been abandoned after the great wind of reform following Vatican II.
Comments (3)
This is great news! Hope the U.S. Bishops are taking notice.
Posted by Annunciata | June 18, 2008 9:20 PM
Posted on June 18, 2008 21:20
I was traveling on Corpus Christi and attended the Novus Ordo Mass in Branford, CT. The lowlight of the Mass was a woman in her thirties who attended in running shorts, sneakers and a t-shirt. She couldn't be missed as she spent nearly four minutes standing to the left of the Sanctuary with her back to the congregation while she signed a list of some sort.
Though the priest improvised freely during Mass, he gave a good homily on the importance or showing respect for Christ, truly present, in the Eucharist.
At Communion time I had to jump lanes to get in the priest's line. When I got to him I knelt and received Communion on the tongue. He seemed surprised but didn't hesitate to give me Communion. I hoped he would connect my action to his words and think about their implication.
It's encouraging to here this kind of good news.
Posted by obm | June 20, 2008 9:25 PM
Posted on June 20, 2008 21:25
very good, this is Our Lord and not a cookie, we should give our Lord the best and I feel that kneeling is the best form of humility we could show to God.
Posted by Paul K. Geers , President of the Latin Mass Society of Quincy in Illinois | June 23, 2008 11:26 PM
Posted on June 23, 2008 23:26