Copyright © 2001 by

Rick Swenton
106 Melinda Lane
Bristol, CT 06010-7199
All Rights Reserved

Permission is granted for use of this work in parish liturgy or music programs in a non-commercial setting provided that no fee is charged and that this copyright notice remains on all copies.

"A Suitable Reverence" before Communion
by Rick Swenton

Catholics, old and young, have been taught it was desirable to make a sign of reverence before receiving the Eucharist. Those of us who are old enough can remember receiving communion by kneeling at the communion rail. During these times before the Second Vatican Council, kneeling at the communion rail was considered a suitable sign of reverence. Some people think we are not emphasizing the holiness of the Eucharist and need to return to the older times when this respect seemed more profound.

The reforms of Vatican-II changed the way we celebrate the Mass. The role of the assembly was enhanced and the people were encouraged to take their rightful place as people who celebrate the Mass along with Christ and the priest. No longer was the Mass celebrated by the priest as the assembly watched in silence. In light of the Mass being a celebration, what does it mean to make a sign of reverence before receiving communion?

In many parts of the United States, Catholics approach the altar in procession and make no special act of reverence before communion. In other parts of the country, Catholics genuflect or kneel as they approach for communion. Some people think that a bow or the sign of the cross is necessary. Which one is appropriate or desirable?

There are several Church documents to consider when formulating an opinion. Among them are
- Eucharisticum mysterium 34 (National Council of Catholic Bishops)

- Inestimabile donum (Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship)

They teach that communion while standing is the norm in the United States. They also instruct the assembly that "A common posture, observed by all, is a sign of the unity of the assembly and its sense of community. It both expresses and fosters the inner spirit and purpose of those who take part in it ... For the sake of uniformity in actions and postures, the people should follow the directions given by the deacon, priest or other minister during the celebration." The instruction continues to advise the assembly not to assume their own individual postures during communion.

In the Bishop's letter, it also states that any act of reverence before communion ought "not to interfere with the coming and going of other communicants." Regarding genuflections, the letter states "those who pass before the Blessed Sacrament genuflect, except when they are walking in procession."

So it seems than genuflecting before communion is not a good idea for at least two reasons:

- Genuflecting is a major difference that sets you apart from the others in the procession.

- Genuflecting interferes with the procession and the flow of the other walking people.

One purpose of the Eucharist is to bring God's people together through Christ. We symbolize this through our common expressions.

Making gestures such as the sign of the cross, bowing, or BOTH are just fine, and in fact, encouraged. These personal expressions of faith are yours and do not have any impact on the others in procession with you.

The posture of standing during prayer came from the Jewish people. Jesus embraced the Jewish manner of prayer. The early Church continued to pray the Mass in a standing posture. Standing is the posture of a celebration. The Church leaders of Vatican-II envisioned a Church that celebrated, rather than a church that only bowed its head and prayed in private. While there is a special place for private prayer in our lives, the Mass is not that time. Mass is a time for public, communal prayer. Mass is a time to celebrate the gifts we receive from God: God continues to speak to us through the Word (Holy
Scripture), God gave us Jesus, the Son of God, who continues to give of himself to us daily through the Eucharist, and God gave us each other to love, support and care for one another. During Mass, we celebrate this! We celebrate by sharing the Word from scripture. We celebrate this by sharing Christ's body and blood with each other. We celebrate this by taking Christ with us after Mass to continue sharing Christ with everyone we meet in our daily lives. The celebration is much more effective if we stand and proclaim our faith in the happy knowledge that we are loved with an unconditional love! While we should always have the utmost respect and reverence for the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, we are more importantly commanded by Jesus to "Love one another as I have loved you." What good is revering the Eucharist in church if we don't allow Jesus to change our hearts, transform our lives and influence the way we treat others after Mass?