To Knee or Not to Knee...

The other day, I said I would comment on kneeling. The issue of kneeling or not kneeling during parts of the Mass is a subject of great debate. About a month ago (yeah, I know that I am late to the party), the controversy came to a new level of intensity when the pastor of a parish in Orange county warned parishioners that they could be in a state of mortal sin for kneeling after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God). This is when we say "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you..." So to add to the controversy, apparently Orange Bishop Tod Brown (Orange being the diocese not the color of the bishop) backed the pastor, then asked for a retraction and backed the retraction which really wasn't a retraction (you still with me).

To be honest with you, this kind of thing frustrates me to no end. I think both sides need to rethink this issue, because they are both right (well I don't know about the mortal sin thing) and both wrong. Those that are compelled to kneel argue that "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow..." and those that argue to stand site practicality and/or that by his sacrifice Jesus freed us of sin and made us worthy to stand in his presence. Both sides miss the point and more often than not, use their posture as a sign of their (self)righteousness. It is bad enough that the Church is divided into denominational groups, but we can't even find unity within the Catholic faith. And my brothers and sisters, that is what posture is really about - UNITY!

Here is what the General Instruction on the Roman Missal has to say about it.

Paragraph 42

The gestures and posture of the priest, the deacon, and the ministers, as well as those of the people, ought to contribute to making the entire celebration resplendent with beauty and noble simplicity, so that the true and full meaning of the different parts of the celebration is evident and that the participation of all is fostered. Therefore, attention should be paid to what is determined by this General Instruction and the traditional practice of the Roman Rite and to what serves the common spiritual good of the People of God, rather than private inclination or arbitrary choice.

A common posture, to be observed by all participants, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered for the Sacred Liturgy: it both expresses and fosters the intention and spiritual attitude of the participants. (emphasis added)

As for the issue in Orange county:

Paragraph 43

In the dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason. Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.

With a view to a uniformity in gestures and postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the directions which the deacon, lay minister, or priest gives according to whatever is indicated in the Missal.

So if the local bishop determines otherwise, as much as an individual or group might dislike it, they should join their brothers and sisters in unity. I am not saying that you should not argue your point, I just wish you would find someplace other than the Mass to make your point. This goes for the Bishop that asked a woman to stand while she was receiving communion because she was making a scene. No, with all due respect, he was.

St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Philppians (Chapter 2, Verses 1-4 NIV translation)

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

This is not say that we just follow the crowd in blind obedience, but we do need to get over ourselves and be unified with Christ.