3 (slightly ranty) suggestions for when you are ordered to stand until everyone has received Holy Communion

Santiago de Cuba - Garde au Mausolée José Marti
A common bodily posture (Cuba)

In North America, it seems that there is a fashion (for that is the kind of thing that it is) for Bishops and priests to order the holy people of God, once they have returned to their place after Holy Communion, to remain standing until the last person has received Holy Communion. As a priest I find it baffling that some of my brethren feel the need to regiment the faithful in this way. I understand the concept of a “common bodily posture” being a sign of unity, though I think its value is exaggerated. Allowing people to kneel, sit or stand as they prefer, during a time of silent prayer after Holy Communion is not likely to cause any great spiritual disunity, whereas telling people to stand, contrary to a centuries old tradition of kneeling after Holy Communion, will cause disunity, anger and frustration.

Just to give a reference point: in the traditional Roman liturgy, on the sanctuary, the clergy in choir would kneel until the celebrant had consumed the second ablution, that is, until the Blessed Sacrament was no longer present on the altar. Knowledgeable lay people would follow this custom, but some might sit down sooner, either because of infirmity or lack of knowledge. Nobody would normally interfere.

So what freedom is allowed to a good and devout lay person who has always knelt down to pray after receiving Holy Communion and is now confronted by the spectacle of the parish priest asking the diocesan liturgy official to read a prepared statement before Mass from the office of the Archbishop telling everybody to stand up until the last person has received Holy Communion? (I am not making this up. In a time of unresolved sexual and financial scandal, there are bishops who devote time to such utterly pointless interference with the devotion of their people.)

Must a lay person obey such an instruction? No. the Bishop or parish priest does not have the authority to forbid people from kneeling or sitting after Holy Communion since the Holy See has specifically responded to a Dubium on the question, stating that this is not the intention of n.43 of  the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. (For the text of the Dubium and response, see: https://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWCLAR.HTM)

In the older form of the Roman rite, there was so much less inclination to boss the people about, that it was not thought necessary to include any instructions in the Ritus Servandus as to their bodily posture.

So what is a poor layperson to do in the face of this imperiousness? Naturally I would suggest going to the Traditional Latin Mass if it is available within a reasonable distance but sadly this is not the case in many places. So here are three suggestions which I have managed to express without employing any rude words:

1. Stay standing and recite the Rosary, the prayer to St Michael, the prayers from the Roman Missal in thanksgiving for Holy Communion, or whatever prayers you choose, offering up the annoyance of it all in reparation for the scandal caused by the immorality of some of the clergy.

2. Start coughing and spluttering loudly and make your way in an embarrassed fashion to the car park where you can miraculously recover and recite the Rosary (etc. as above) until the majority of the congregation have left, then return, kneel down, and make your thanksgiving in the Church.

3. Take a leaf out of the book of an old priest and teacher I knew, who made this response to a superior in a different context. When challenged, take the priest or other liturgical enforcer by the arm gently and politely, and go to a window or door. Gesture out over your city and say to him,

“I AM NOT your problem.
THAT IS your problem.”

UPDATE
This post was updated in response to a reader supplying information about the Dubium submitted to the CDW and their response. For more information, see the post: A document I missed, a twofold annoyance, and a retraction.


Popular posts from this blog

1962 Missal pdf online

The Church Music Association of America and Jeffrey Tucker of the New Liturgical Movement have made available the 1962 Missal online in pdf format (72Mb). The file is hosted at Musica Sacra , the website of the CMAA, thanks to a generous gift from Fr Robert Skeris While you are at it, take a look at the articles clarifying the rules for music at Low Mass and music at High Mass .
Read more

Plenary indulgences not impossible

Dilexit Prior in Letters from a Young Catholic asked some useful questions today about indulgences. I thought it would be best to do a post here especially to cover the controversial question of detachment from venial sin. But first the other questions: The conditions for gaining a plenary indulgence Pope Paul VI set down a number of norms relating to indulgences at the end of Indulgentiarum Doctrina . Norm 7 states: To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary to perform the work to which the indulgence is attached and to fulfil three conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. It is further required that all attachment to sin, even to venial sin, be absent. If this disposition is in any way less than complete, or if the prescribed three conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will be only partial, except for the provisions contained in n.11 for those who are “impeded.” It is worth reading the other norms bec
Read more

Request for Novena to Blessed Pius IX

Image
A priest friend of mine is ill in hospital. He has a special devotion to Blessed Pius IX. Could I ask you, of your charity, to say a Novena for his speedy recovery. Novena In Honour of Blessed Pius IX Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, hear our prayers and glorify your servant Pius IX, who consecrated the Universal Church to you. (Our Father...) O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you, hear our prayer and glorify your servant Pius IX who declared you Immaculate. (Hail Mary...) Saint Joseph, spouse of the most pure Virgin Mary, hear our prayer and glorify your servant Pius IX who declared you the Patron of the Universal Church. (Glory be...) Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Mary, our Hope, and Saint Joseph hear our prayers and glorify your servant Pius IX , granting to us through his merits and intercessions the graces which we ardently desire: that the glory of God be revealed through Father's illness. (Our Father..., Hail Mary..., Glory be
Read more

Saint Gabriel

Image
The angels call for our veneration and awe as part of God’s creation. Part of the destructive modernism of the 1970s included advice to Catholic school teachers that they should not talk to children about angels. This wrought lasting damage which continues to need rectifying. We should include in our prayers a heartfelt recourse to our own Guardian Angels. The Archangel Gabriel “God is my strength” would be terrifying were he to appear to any of us. Our Lady was “troubled” at the word of Saint Gabriel and wondered at the manner of the salutation. Immediately, according to his mission, the awesome messenger explained himself. Modern retelling of the event is often reduced to the jejune “Mary said Yes to God”. In fact, she said “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word”. This conveys more accurately the flawless faith and trust of the Immaculata. In the infinitely wise providence of the Father, we now know the structure of the event in even more detai
Read more

God bless America!

Image
I wish you all a very happy Fourth of July over there in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I thought I was a bit late but then realised that it is still early evening for you. I hope you had an enjoyable day. For the video this year, here is Kate Smith IN 1938 introducing the new composition "God Bless America."
Read more