What part of 'kneeling and on the tongue' don't they understand?

H/T to Ron Garcia at Making Things Visible for posting this clip of Cardinal Raymund Burke stating (again) that the Holy Father is sending us a signal - loud and clear.

He has not issued a Motu Proprio on the matter, he does not need to - it is Church Law and, anyway, I am sure that he would rather, instead of imposing the rule, that we respond as children do when sitting around the dinner table, watching their parents for the signal to place both hands together and say Grace.

Observe and follow, pretty simple isn't it?

A video clip that all liberal Catholics should view

Not hard. Very straightforward - why not do as the Holy Father wishes you to and receive Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue - even at Ordinary Form Masses?

A few good starts to the week

First and foremost, in this age when many are falling away from the Faith, mainly out of ignorance or laziness, here is a great post from Ascending Mount Carmel blog.

And another post right on target from James Preece at Catholic and Loving it - so you thought that reception by hand was all part of the Second Reformation did you?

To top it all off we have the Holy Father stating that we have suffered from liturgical abuses and irregularities, thanks to Cathcon - so, no more self expression on the sanctuary, hand clapping, kissing or ad libbing!

What a start to the week....can it get any better than this?

Now this really is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

Photo: http://sthughofcluny.org/category/masses 

A new blog that underpins the petition

Reception of Holy Communion by tongue only is as controversial as, say, mantillas, dress codes in church, women priests and many other current topics.

Not too frail nor too proud to
kneel before Him

It is, however, more important than any other concern and a petition to the Holy Father, asking for withdrawal of the permission to give the Eucharist in the hand, (started by two Australian priests) is now doing the rounds.

Now it appears, those two priests also have a new blog called, disarmingly, Restore Communion on the Tongue The link takes you straight to a recent post quoting from one of the Holy Father's books and giving his views. It is worth reading.
H/T to Kate Edwards of Australia Incognita

So tell me Bishop, what part of "Kneel to receive the Eucharist" don't you understand?

The Holy Father has demonstrated his desire for all who are able, to kneel and for all, (without exception) to receive the Holy Eucharist direct by mouth.
This has been the practice at St Peter's and at Masses celebrated by Pope Benedict wherever he is in the world.

Yet we still have Archbishops, Bishops and priests failing to comply. It is not the sort of instruction that needs putting in writing...the model is there for all to see! Why don't they instruct their priests and get on and do it?

Now, the Holy Father has gone a step further. He has actually said that this is the correct way to receive the host,  the Body and Blood of Christ.

Here are his very words.....



Just do it - please!



"He who is able to kneel before the Eucharist, who receives the Lord's body cannot fail to be attentive, in the ordinary course of the days, to situations unworthy of man, and is able to bend down personally to attend to need, is able to break his bread with the hungry, share water with the thirsty, clothe the naked,
visit the sick and imprisoned," he continued....

Thanks and biretta tip to Fr Simon Henry for the post (here)

Old but good - my version of 'Shine Jesus, shine'

For some obscure reason I found myself singing this beautiful hymn this morning and, much to my surprise then found that the excellent blogger Laodicea had posted the words. It is a great hymn that encapsulates all that we believe regarding receiving the Body of Christ at Holy Communion or worshipping Him at Benediction.

See also, Fr Z's post on Cardinal Canizares Llovera's sermon on how we should receive the Sacrament - kneeling and on the tongue!

I could only find this sung version of the hymn on Youtube, it is a little lacking in oomph and numbers and, what is more, the antics of the altar servers are most off-putting as they prepare the altar for Benediction, strolling on and off, arms by their sides and only the occasional genuflection.

But, it's still a beautiful hymn! -

O Jesus Christ remember when Thou shalt come again.......

Needs to be sung sans piano and with a bit more verve and gusto!

Catholics of England and Wales rise up and kneel down!

That is an exhortation, not a contradiction in terms, and one that calls for careful consideration. I am saying that now is the time for English and Welsh Catholics (and others who may wish to join in) to disobey the Bishops - gulp! Yes, disobey them and kneel to receive Our Lord in Holy Communion.
Stop shilly shallying and just do it! Kneel. It is your right and the right thing to do.
Who will you offend by doing so? Your parish priest? Fellow parishioners? Tough!
Who will you offend by not doing so? - Almighty God.

It doesn't have to be a big thing, just go down on one knee (if you are able) and if you take some flak after Mass remember that Christ took some flak for us also and it was much worse than a nag from one's fellow man.

The Bishops of England and Wales are quite wrong to state that reception of Communion standing should be the norm - so do not stand for it, kneel!

The following piece was written by he who must be obeyed, the Holy Father (when he was Cardinal Ratzinger)

"It may well be that kneeling is alien to modern culture–insofar as it is a culture, for this culture has turned away from the faith and no longer knows the One before whom kneeling is the right, indeed the intrinsically necessary gesture. The man who learns to believe learns also to kneel, and a faith or a liturgy no longer familiar with kneeling would be sick at the core. Where it has been lost, kneeling must be rediscovered, so that, in our prayer, we remain in fellowship with the apostles and martyrs, in fellowship with the whole cosmos, indeed in union with Jesus Christ Himself. "

H/T to Roma Locuta Est and The Muniment Room

Rome wants it.........so please do it for the Feast of Corpus Christi

And ever afterwards. I am referring, of course, to the reception of the Body of Christ on the tongue and kneeling.

The Bishops of England and Wales may say one thing but the message from Rome and the Holy Father is loud and clear - "do it"

My thanks to Fr Simon Henry for his excellent post on the subject which you may read at Offerimus Tibi Domine