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Views from the Choir Loft

Vatican Breaks Its Silence On Kneeling For Communion In The USA

Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2014

878 Kneeling for Communion VER since I confirmed that our Mass texts are copyrighted and sold by various entities (even non-Catholic ones) we’ve been receiving tons of mail. Outraged Catholics are wondering how a practice so wrong continues.

A similar case can be seen in kneeling for Communion in the USA. Here’s what the Vatican said in 2003:

“…while this Congregation gave the recognitio to the norm desired by the Bishops’ Conference of your country that people stand for Holy Communion, this was done on the condition that communicants who choose to kneel are not to be denied Holy Communion on these grounds. Indeed, the faithful should not be imposed upon nor accused of disobedience and of acting illicitly when they kneel to receive Holy Communion.”   (source)

Still, some priests continue to abuse those who kneel for Holy Communion.

Here in Texas, I’ve witnessed such abuse several times. I clearly remember an incident two years ago, when a young child knelt down to receive Communion. The priest yelled, “Get up! Don’t kneel. We’re on a journey! We’re on a journey!” I was horrified, and this incident left a weird feeling in the back of my throat.

AS WE’VE MENTIONED, the Church in the United States has recently clarified its position—pardon the pun!—on kneeling for Communion (SEE BELOW), but I have doubts whether this will end the persecutions. Years ago, my friend wrote to Rome about the illicit sale of indulgenced texts. The Vatican responded that his concerns were totally correct, but we must be patient. As Aurelio Porfiri noted, Rome usually moves at a very slow pace.

For the record, here’s what the USCCB said in 2012:

No. 160 of the GIRM states clearly there that the “norm” established for the United States for reception of Holy Communion is standing. In the 2003 GIRM, it stated that no one should be refused Communion if they kneel, but that afterward they should be properly catechized. In the current edition, the exhortation to catechesis is removed and the exception to the norm of standing is left to the discretion of the faithful: “unless an individual member of the faithful wishes to receive Communion while kneeling.” The Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 91, is then cited.
Source:   BCDW Newsletter, January 2012


I’ve been told that, as a Cardinal, Pope Francis served on the Congregation for Divine Worship, but nobody has been able to confirm which years he served. It would be interesting to know whether he was there for the 2002-2003 rulings on kneeling for Communion. I don’t expect media folks will care too much about the facts, because they seem too busy fabricating misinformed nonsense about Pope Francis.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: United States Catholics Can Kneel For Communion Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“After the Second Vatican Council, the impression arose that the pope really could do anything in liturgical matters, especially if he were acting on the mandate of an ecumenical council. Eventually, the idea of the givenness of the liturgy, the fact that one cannot do with it what one will, faded from the public consciousness of the West.”

— Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

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