TO KNEEL OR NOT TO KNEEL

Published October 31, 2007 Issue of The Saint
by Alissa Schafer, Saint Reporter

“Please do not kneel during the
consecration.”
Spoken at the first campus mass at
Bukowski Chapel this fall, these words
immediately raised a red flag. Isn’t the
Catholic teaching that the
congregation should kneel during the
Eucharistic consecration? Why are
Aquinas students being instructed to
stand? Confused, I did some research.
The third edition of the General
Instruction of the Roman Missal
(GIRM) states that one “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 or some
other good reason. The faithful kneel
after the Agnus Dei unless the
Diocesan Bishop determines
otherwise.”
According to the diocesan office of
Grand Rapids, Bishop Hurley has made
no such exceptions. Therefore, Aquinas
is choosing not to kneel because of the
GIRM’s “other good reasons” —
specifically, the lack of space.
While standing may be technically
acceptable in Bukowski, how does one
reconcile this interpretation with the
words of Pope Benedict: “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.”
Considering Bukowski’s space and
kneelers dilemma, I believe that the real
issue here is one of attitude. Obviously,
kneeling at Bukowski is entirely possible
— most students freely choose to kneel
after communion regardless of said
space issues. Should they not also be
free to kneel during the consecration?
Instruction to remain standing, although
an understandable effort towards unity,
is uncalled for.
Which is more important: a uniform
physical posture or freedom to worship
in a way that draws you closer to God?
Kneeling symbolizes deep respect
and submission. When we kneel, we are
humbling ourselves before God,
offering our complete selves, body,
mind and spirit, as a prayer. While
standing is a form of honor as well, there
is a power in kneeling that cannot be
negated.
Philippians 2:10 states that “at the
name of Jesus every knee shall bow.” It
is fitting, then, to kneel before His very
presence in the Eucharist, or to have
the option to do so without feeling
ostracized.