| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
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| receiving Holy Communion | Mary | Saturday, December 1, 2007 |
Question: Watching Mass on EWTN, I noticed that all recipients of Holy Communion either genuflect or kneel beforehand. Is this the correct thing to do? No one at any Mass I attend now ever does this. As a child I recall every one kneeling around the alter to receive communion. I didn`t attend Mass for many years and wonder if this was changed? If its respectful to kneel on both knees when coming into the presence of the exposed Eucharist at adoration, It seems strange not to do the something similar when we are actually receiving this precious gift. |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Mary, If the communicants are not kneeling, then they need to be making some other gesture of reverence before receiving the Sacrament. Genuflecting would do wonderfully, as long as it does not interfere with the procession. I myself have never had a problem with someone crashing into me as I genuflect. The following is from the 1980 document Inaestimabile Donum: 11.The Church has always required from the faithful respect and reverence for the Eucharist at the moment of receiving it. With regard to the manner of going to Communion, the faithful can receive it either kneeling or standing, in accordance with the norms laid down by the Episcopal Conference. "When the faithful communicate kneeling, no other sign of reverence towards the Blessed Sacrament is required, since kneeling is itself a sign of adoration. When they receive Communion standing, it is strongly recommended that, coming up in procession, they should make a sign of reverence before receiving the Sacrament. This should be done at the right time and place, so that the order of people going to and from Communion is not disrupted." The same is also said in the 1967 Eucharisticum Mysterium. (n34a-b) Other signs of reverence that could also do are the Sign of the Cross or a profound bow. Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively. |
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