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Standing After Communion
This letter was read in the parishes of the Raleigh Diocese
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In recent months I have received countless letters from the people of our
diocese expressing pain, distress and anger at our decision about the proper
posture of the faithful after each had received Holy Communion. As was the
case in many other dioceses, the text of no. 43 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, "that the people
stand until the period of sacred silence has begun", was interpreted to mean
that each person would remain standing after their individual reception of
Holy Communion until the distribution
of Holy Communion was complete and everyone wishing to had received the
Eucharist.
Because of the widespread and longstanding practice of individuals returning
to their places to kneel or sit in private prayer after individually
receiving Holy Communion, the implementation of this interpretation has
caused much consternation and frustration in our diocese and others as well.
It is both sad and regrettable that an instruction intended to strengthen
and enhance the reality and sign of our unity, as members of the Body of
Christ should have, instead, caused division and divisiveness.
Recognizing the concerns of the faithful and their Bishops, Cardinal Francis
George, O.M.I., Chairman of the Liturgy Committee of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote to the Congregation for Divine Worship
and Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome for clarification". In many
places, he wrote, "the faithful are accustomed to kneeling or sitting in private prayer after
returning to their places after having individually received Holy Communion
during Mass. Is it the intention of the Roman Missal, he asked, to forbid this practice?"
On July 3, Cardinal George communicated the response of Cardinal Francis
Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of
the Sacraments to all Bishops.>br>
".the prescription of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,no.43, is
intended, on the one hand, to ensure within broad limits a certain
uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the
celebration of the Holy Mass, and on the other,to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those who wish to kneel
or sit would no longer be free." In short we are to remember and practice
one of Pope John XXIII's favorite quotes "In essentials, unity; in
non-essentials, diversity; and in all things, charity."
I am writing this before I return on Friday from a meeting of the bishops of
the Atlanta Province because I want to make sure that you tell our people at
the Masses this Sunday that their Shepherds have heard them, and that I
personally want them to know they may continue to kneel or sit in private
prayer after they receive Holy Communion. We would all do well to remember the words of the communion rite
for this Sunday, "The Lord keeps in our minds the wonderful things he has
done. He is compassion and love: he always provides for his faithful" (Ps
111:4-5).
I send my prayers and best wishes..
Fraternally in the Lord,
F. Joseph Gossman
Holy See Affirms Customary Kneeling During Communion Rite
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