A couple of days ago, Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago, issued a pastoral letter called “As We Pray.” In it, the cardinal seems to discourage the faithful from kneeling for communion at parishes where everyone else stands for it. He reiterates the Holy See’s guidelines for receiving the sacrament and that his been approved by the USCCB and that dropping to one’s knees can be disruptive. Gus talks about how he drops to one knee when he receives communion and respectfully disagrees with the cardinal’s take on this. He opens the phones up to listeners to get their thoughts on the subject.
And it's Friday, so Gus does an extended round of Prayer Time with listeners.
Per the discussion on today’s broadcast concerning kneeling to receive the Eucharist and the Cardinal over the Chicago Dioceses, this is what the GIRM states: The current General Instruction of the Roman Missal (the document which governs how Mass is celebrated) re-iterates that every Catholic can choose whether to receive Communion while standing or kneeling (GIRM 160). By this precept, what Cardinal Cupich has required of his Faithful is in direct contradiction of the GIRM as established by the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith of the Roman Catholic Church
When I was a child we received Communion standing and took it in the mouth or in our hands. But I remember some people would take Communion and the genuflect before turning away. I always thought it was a sign of respect to God. So to those who kneel, I believe they are showing respect to Our Lord. Is there not a saying that the Penitent Man is humble before God. So I would think it is a sign of respect to our Lord.