"In the Dioceses of England and Wales Holy Communion is to be received standing, though individual members of the faithful may choose to receive Communion while kneeling. However, when they communicate standing, it is recommended that the faithful bow in reverence before receiving the sacrament."For the life of me, I cannot see what good this new clause is supposed to do, though I can predict a consequence that may not have been intended. With the publication of this norm it will be clearly set down in black and white for England and Wales that people may kneel for Holy Communion if they wish to do so.
(Many of us already knew that, of course: the CDW has responded to cases in the USA, saying that if people kneel down, they must not be refused Holy Communion for that reason, despite the US Bishops' general norm of standing.)
In the GIRM (n.160) it is stated that when the faithful receive Holy Communion standing, they should make "an appropriate sign of reverence." Hence the recommendation in the new norm that they should bow. It is interesting that this new norm contradicts the official CBCEW "Pastoral Guide" Celebrating the Mass which spoke about the "Communion procession" and said (with a reference to GIRM n.160):
"In England and Wales it is through this action of walking solemnly in procession that the faithful make their sign of reverence in preparation for receiving Communion." (n.209)I guess the CDW just wouldn't buy that.
In view of the approval of this new norm, the Archbishop's Council in Westminster has decided that it can see no place for the re-introduction of altar rails in the Diocese, and has informed the Historic Churches Committee of this decision.
Tongue-in-cheek, I suggest that this contravenes accessibility provision. The norm says that people may choose to kneel, but they may have difficulty doing so without something to lean on. If there are no altar rails, would they be within their rights to demand that the altar server go and fetch a prie-dieu? (That was a joke - please don't do that.)
In case it needs to be spelt out to anyone, Universae Ecclesiae n.28 means that this new norm does not apply to celebrations of Mass in the usus antiquior. At such Masses, communicants should kneel unless they are physically unable to do so. In Churches without existing altar rails, it seems that the "shifting the front bench forward" strategy is set to be needed for the next few years.
26 comments:
How very disappointing.
I suspect that if the traditional Latin practice had been standing in the aisle, they would now insist on kneeling at a rail because it is closer to the "reclining at table" account of the Lord's Supper. I know bishops truly mean well, but sometimes their decisions can seem a little childish.
One wonders why political correctness refuses to bend the knee before God !!! It's so very sad and so disgraceful. Thank God for the proper reverences now being used in the Usus Antiquior Masses.
"In the Dioceses of England and Wales Holy Communion is to be received standing, though individual members of the faithful may choose to receive Communion while kneeling. However, when they communicate standing, it is recommended that the faithful bow in reverence before receiving the sacrament."
Like this is going to happen!!. Most mainstream Roman Rite Catholics don't even know what to do when they approach the Eucharist. Looks like another attempt by your leftie Bishops to do what ever they can to keep both forms of the Roman Rite from achieving any form of continuity. In defiance of the Pope's wishes to achieve continuity.
The decision to disallow new altar rails is another clear case of willfully ignoring Summorum Pontificum in the UK.
Put them in anyway! That's how the liberals got everything they wanted... be disobedient until the Vatican gives in.
Actually, Father, it had already occurred to me that I might take a prie-dieu from the front row of the chairs under the organ with me up to communion;I bet others would want to use it too...
The only way I could kneel and then get up again without one would necessitate assistance from a couple of strong men, or even the calling out of the Fire Brigade if fears of Health and Safety (theirs) meant they feared to help me up without a winch.
And we still actually have an altar rail in our church - but it's never used.
At churches where it is customary to receive kneeling Communion is in one kind only and there are no EMHC, which I suspect is the reason for this insertion. I don't think it will cut much ice in South Ken or Edgbaston.
Not really a comment but "the dioceses of England and Wales" reminds me to ask,which was the document that Card. Hume said did not apply to the Ds of E and W?
I can see where this is going. They wanted to get it on paper that the norm is standing. Later on the kneeling bit will simply be phased out. (Kneeling is already made virtually impossible, anyway.) They are trying to build up a sort of local liturgy with its own customs and norms as a bulwark against Rome and tradition.
We were solemnly and fatuously told by our P.P. at my father's dreadful funeral this February (sorry, Dad, but I know you would have said the same) that 'It is the custom in this parish to receive communion under both kinds.' I could not contain a guffaw. Yep, an immemorial custom stretching back over all of 15 years, that we are supposed to hold in awe on account of its great antiquity.
This was the P.P. who explained in a sermon that angels are not individual creatures, but aspects of the Divinity, and that the Bishop of Rome does not have jurisdiction outside his diocese. Funny how heresy so often goes along with a penchant for protestant liturgical practices....oh, wait, not funny at all, is it?
By the way, I cannot agree with Father Shelton that these people 'truly mean well'. I have written to my bishop many times, asking him to rein in specified and repeated liturgical abuses in the parish. He answered once, promising to act, and since then has ignored me when I reported that nothing has changed. I've had enough. I'm sticking with the Old Mass now.
So, no plans by the Bishops Conference to take Summorum Pontificum or Universae Ecclesiae at all seriously then?
We are witnessing the emergence of 'national [Catholic] churches' with only nominal recognition of Rome. Where Rome [The Papacy] may only operate in collegiality with the Bishops' Conferences, whic cannot be forced what they do not want to do. Vernacular expletives deleted!
Actually, I think the exception for 'individual members of the faithful' is a step forward. I was once accused (by Fr Tony Lester, then the Carmelite Provincial) of being 'disobedient to the bishops' because I knelt to receive our Lord. At least no one can use that fatuous line any more.
It is interesting then to view these photos from the re-opening Mass of St Patrick's, Soho Square, celebrated by Archbishop Nichols of people receiving Our Lord on the tongue, kneeling at the altar rail, with communion plate.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/catholicwestminster/5785465317/in/set-72157626858981286
http://www.flickr.com/photos/catholicwestminster/5785465667/in/set-72157626858981286
I find this news bizarre and depressing, but we laypeople often misread these things. I imagine Archbishop Vincent Nichols knows what he's doing.
Shame. There are altar rails at a church I occasionally attend in the week. Everyone kneels and, as a consequence I guess, nearly everyone seems to receive Communion on the tongue.
Tangential, I know, but connected. Does anyone know where I can source a First Holy Communion medal? Are these not given as gifts any more?
I've searched the internet and shops online but they seem to be overstocked with purses, pens, money boxes, white teddies, tiaras, any amount of dross. But no medals.
I found one on Amazon, but it's not brill.
Heeeeeeelp.
Presumably any parish that wishes can apply the Bishops' own principle, and declare that this instuction "doesn't apply" to its parish. A double-edged weapon that could be used by both liberals and trads.
From the age of seven I have walked in procession to the altar rails so I fail to see any logic in this idea that is a sign of reverence. I will not name the parish where recently at a Youth Mass the young people were instructed to pass the sacred host to one another - like giving out sweets. Yes, it happened and it is disgraceful.
I just remembered there is a whole theology behind this standing. I learned from none other than Paul Inwood that pre-Vatican catholics used to grovel before God. Now we are adults and stand up with dignity. So he says.
One step forward (friday fasting and abstinence), another step back. If they're going to mention reception standing, what is their thinking on reception on the tongue?
The really ironic thing is that I have attended induction services in both the Anglican and Methodist churches in my parish in recent years. In both, people knelt at altar rails to receive 'Communion'!
One day we will look back in sheer disbelief at how we have treated Our Lord.
"In England and Wales it is through this action of walking solemnly in procession that the faithful make their sign of reverence in preparation for receiving Communion." (CTM 209)
So, basically, up until now, the Bishops' sign of reverence has been... queueing??
Hey, at least it's something that we Brits are good at! ;-)
On a more serious note, I have never been to a Mass in this country when I have been refused Communion because I kneel and stick my tongue out. Even my reputedly very liberal bishop said nary a word on his visitation to our parish. Perhaps, though, I am just one of the lucky ones.
Given that many of the clergy do not take the slightest notice of anything in GIRM, and have certainly not read it, I doubt this will make much impact. I suggest "business as usual." Sad though.
Nooooooo! Why would the CDW do that?
Since when was there a solemn procession anyway? More like an unholy scrum with old ladies at the back sprinting forward in case they might have to wait an extra two minutes... Sigh.
Fr Finigan's reminder about this not applying to the EF is important.
Communion kneeling on the tongue remains the rule for the EF. Because the EF is a part of the one Roman Rite, and through SP and UE it can (theoretically) be offered in every parish, surely every church needs altar rails?
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