The Veil Commentary On the Loss of Reverence
In the Revised Adaptation to the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani for the Church in the United States (effective April 25, 2002), the American Bishops state: (160 para. 2)
“. . . The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the diocese of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.
When receiving Holy Communion in the hand, the communicant bows his or her head before the sacrament as a gesture of reverence . . . ”
Pope John Paul II
“I did not revoke what one of my predecessors has said about this . . . my dear priests and my dear brothers and sisters, only Communion on the tongue and kneeling is allowed . . . I say this to you as your bishop!
(Sermon, March 1,1989,SS Nome Di Maria Church)
On Communion in the hand: “There is an apostolic letter that the existence of this special permission is valid. But I tell you, that I am not in favor of it…neither will I recommend it!”
Nov. 1980,Germany (101 Times,Vol.4,No.2,1992,tel.908-689-8792,USA)
The recent U.S. norm, stated above, takes aim at the very few Catholics whose religious sensitivity urges them to fall on their knees before our Lord. It is an arrogant act to suggest that proper catechesis requires only standing, as the additional articles* explain.
The Veil of Innocence does respect those reverent Catholics who are following an ancient Eastern Catholic tradition of bowing reverently before receiving Holy Communion and also those who wish to kneel.
As it stands now, those who prefer to kneel feel awkward and apparently uneducated, according to the American Bishops. Furthermore, practically no one pauses to bow reverently before our Lord at Holy Communion.
Now is the time in response to this new norm for all reverent Catholics to demand from their pastors, encouragement and a place to kneel to receive Holy Communion. Furthermore, they should insist that in the absence of kneeling, that bowing is essential and needs to be enforced.
Kneeling, reverently bowing – but never casually – should our Lord be approached.
The problem is that irreverence and arrogance are the common themes in both the liturgy and classroom sex-education issues. This liberalism, in both areas, has served to muddy the waters, blurring religious vision – a sense of the sacred – so that what was once clear and correct is now old fashion. Tradition yields to confusion.
