Standing until all have received Holy Communion
Mr. Slavek,
Thank you for your response. I have recently been made aware that both Bishop Bruskewitz in Nov. 2000 and Cardinal George in May, 2003 have sent dubiums to Rome about this matter of standing instead of kneeling immediately after receiving Holy Communion. The responses from the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome in both cases said that sitting or kneeling at such times could not be restricted. The information is available from the Adoremus website (July/August 2003 Bulletin) and from the Catholic News Service website (July 17, 2003). But our local pastor says if we do not stand in obedience to what he says (and he says it comes from the Bishop)then we are in a state of culpable sin.
Thank you,
Frank
QUESTION from Frank on December 20, 2003
He says the Cardinals who were head of the CDWDS (Estevez and Arinze) have no authority in this matter. Is it now a sin to do what the Vatican has approved when the bishop or pastor choose not to follow the ruling from Rome?
ANSWER by Mr. Jacob Slavek on December 24, 2003
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Dear Frank, This is getting complicated and I sorry that it has to take place at all. First of all I wouldn't really worry about serious sin on your part, I don't think the Lord would blame you for anything. Reading into the documents though I would think that it would be best to do what the priest says, again for the purpose of uniformity. After all there really is nothing wrong with standing at this point, especially since you are allowed to kneel afterwards. Voice your disapproval if you please, don't be sure that it will fall on deaf ears. Mr. Slavek |