Bishop of Parramatta


	Each month Bishop Manning answers questions from the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper. Click here to view a pdf of the latest issue. To review previous questions and answers from the Bishop visit the archive.
	February 2004 Questions Bishops are asked Catholic Outlook, February 2004 By Bishop Kevin Manning Q: A friend of mine is especially pious and believes he should kneel to receive Holy Communion. However, he was told recently that he should not kneel to receive Holy Communion but should stand with the rest of the communicants. What should he do? A: Thank you for your question. It is similar to a number of questions that I have received recently. It seems that a certain association is advising its members, against the wishes of the Australian Bishops, to kneel to receive Holy Communion. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal indicates that those processing to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord should make a sign of reverence, to be determined by the Bishops of each country or region, before receiving Communion standing. The Bishops of Australia have determined this sign will be a bow, a gesture through which we express reverence and give honour to Christ who comes to us as our spiritual food. We need to understand that the postures and gestures by which we engage at Mass are not only the vehicle of our prayer as human beings, composed of body and spirit, but they also have another very important function. Our common postures and gestures are both a symbol of our unity as a community and a means of nurturing and deepening that unity. We are not free to change these postures to suit our own individual piety. The Church makes it quite clear that our unity of posture and gestures are an expression of the One Body formed by the baptised with Christ our Head. I suggest your friend seek the advice of his pastor who will explain to him what solidarity as a Christian community entails, and that people and groups who choose to kneel when everyone else stands make themselves quite singular by choosing to be different, and out of tune with the Eucharistic community.

Q: A friend of mine is especially pious and believes he should kneel to receive Holy Communion. However, he was told recently that he should not kneel to receive Holy Communion but should stand with the rest of the communicants. What should he do?

A: Thank you for your question. It is similar to a number of questions that I have received recently. It seems that a certain association is advising its members, against the wishes of the Australian Bishops, to kneel to receive Holy Communion.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal indicates that those processing to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord should make a sign of reverence, to be determined by the Bishops of each country or region, before receiving Communion standing.

The Bishops of Australia have determined this sign will be a bow, a gesture through which we express reverence and give honour to Christ who comes to us as our spiritual food.

We need to understand that the postures and gestures by which we engage at Mass are not only the vehicle of our prayer as human beings, composed of body and spirit, but they also have another very important function.

Our common postures and gestures are both a symbol of our unity as a community and a means of nurturing and deepening that unity.

We are not free to change these postures to suit our own individual piety. The Church makes it quite clear that our unity of posture and gestures are an expression of the One Body formed by the baptised with Christ our Head.

I suggest your friend seek the advice of his pastor who will explain to him what solidarity as a Christian community entails, and that people and groups who choose to kneel when everyone else stands make themselves quite singular by choosing to be different, and out of tune with the Eucharistic community.