Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Kneeling while receiving revisited

Archbishop Vincent Nichols from Westminster (across the Pond), has published a pastoral letter about receiving Holy Communion. It strikes just the right tone and is applicable in all places where the usual practice has been to receive in the hand. Read about it here. The letter is here.

Redemptionis Sacramentum is quoted in the archbishop's letter and states: “It is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing” (91). Although Mgr. Guido Marini, the Papal MC, has said that the Holy Father’s preference for communicants to receive Holy Communion on the tongue whilst kneeling better sheds light on the truth of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, he did so “without taking anything away from the other”, i.e. from standing to receive Holy Communion on the hand, where this is permitted (see the L’Osservatore Romano, 26 June, 2008). [Emphasis added]

Unfortunately, we are living in a parish where a certain theological ideology is almost exclusively promoted and it is up to the laity to become educated on what the UNIVERSAL Church has proclaimed is right and proper, rather than what we are being spoon fed by our leadership. I sincerely hope that the next bulletin will repudiate the "I've got a question" filler article and explain that receiving communion while kneeling or genuflecting, is just as licit as standing. Note that our wise Holy Father did not 'take anything away from the other'. This is a perfect example of tolerance and respect for Catholic brethren.

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