Have you knelt for Holy Communion or notice other kneeling and wonder why? Kneeling is an act to lower oneself before the Lord. Taylor Marshall provides a good counter argument of the importance for kneeling in his lived streamed video about how Cardinal Cupich urged Catholics to stand while receiving Holy Communion. Taylor would continue to talk about receiving Holy Communion via the tongue, which is, more of a centuries-old custom. In America, it’s actually been requested by the Bishop conferences that allows permission for American Catholics to receive Holy Communion from the hand.

The significance behind receiving standing up is usually how fast a Mass will take if everyone young and old was required to kneel for Communion. The video argues about how if peopled kneeled it would actually be faster, but I haven’t found any concrete evidence to support those claims. I do see where this could be coming from because I personally attend mass with a few hundred people and could see that kneeling would probably increase time. Although that is the case, I do agree with Taylor about how we shouldn’t try to be rushing mass and the importance behind the Communion Procession. Where I differ is that in accordance with Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 91, any of Christ’s faithful should not be denied Holy Communion just because they decide to kneel or stand and the same can be said for receiving by tongue or hand.

These questions do a great job in bringing discussions about the church’s procedures and if keeping to tradition is necessary when the church makes changes to try and accommodate our current time. If anything, you should be prepared to receive the Lord in a respectful manner and understand its importance. Don’t treat Holy Communion as if you where just being given a piece of bread.