ON KNEELING FOR COMMUNION
It seems that some people are uncomfortable with kneeling for Communion. And it is sad that some of our religious leaders, such as the Bishop of Chicago, do not like it. According to the provisions of canon law, they stipulate: “the norm… is that Holy Communion is received standing, unless the faithful desire to receive Communion kneeling” and that according to Redemptionis Sacramentum, IT IS NOT PERMITTED TO DENY HOLY COMMUNION TO ANY OF CHRIST’S FAITHFUL BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PERSON WISHES TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST KNEELING OR STANDING.”
What does the prelate of Chicago say? “Nothing should be done to prevent any of these processions… no one should make a gesture that calls attention to himself or that interrupts the progress of the procession. That would be contrary to the norms and tradition of the Church…”
Standing in line or in a processional line to receive Christ is not like standing in line to enter a sporting event. Standing in line and kneeling is an act of piety and faith, that the one we are going to and addressing is Christ himself, and when we get to Him, we kneel in an act of adoration. It seems that this respected prelate has forgotten this fact. In our parish and in many others in the archdiocese we respect the documents of the church and the teaching they give us: Code of Canon Law, canon 213.
The congregation for divine worship and the discipline of the sacraments expresses the right of the faithful to kneel to receive Holy Communion, as well as the illicit attitude of priests who deny it to them.
By Rev. Raul Sanchez