Dear Catholic Exchange:
I make a monthly pledge and I am so thankful for Catholic Exchange. I use your Bible studies personally, and all your news, resources, etc.
I always get great answers to any question I send you guys. Here's a tough one.
Our family is serious about our faith, and we have one son who takes his faith very seriously. He has, since he was young, always genuflected before receiving Communion. We always kneel for the consecration despite the fact that over the past few years there's always some new rule or request from our parish about standing vs. kneeling, etc. We kneel anyway.
Last week, he was told by our pastor that he may not genuflect. I was not sure what is right, so I told him God will reward his obedience, until we find out what's right. He chose not to go up and receive. It felt awful.
Do you or any of your experts know what the actual rules are?
Thanks & God Bless,
Sandy Seplowe
Dear Sandy,
Thank you for writing in and for your monthly support. It is a pleasure to serve you.
It is my understanding that a profound bow when one is next in line to receive — reverencing both the Blessed Sacrament and the communicant in front of us — is the way we are presently being encouraged to receive Holy Communion.
My advice to your son (and this may sound radical, but Christianity is nothing if not radical) is to humbly extend the hand of friendship and fidelity to your pastor and inform him that he would be happy to switch over to this modest bowing gesture. Denying himself the Eucharist is certainly not the solution.
It would have been nice had your pastor taken the time and demonstrated the loving care to explain this alternative to your son. But, alas, he is a fallen sinner, like the rest of us! And in any case, Humble Pie is a lovely dish that will earn your son powerful graces.
In JMJ,
Tom Allen
Editor-in-Chief
Catholic Exchange
***
Dear Catholic Exchange,
Here's some news for our encouragement.
I met an American in China yesterday and her student, Christina — a Chinese woman. Christina was very excited when she learned that I was the Chinese editor of CE.
“Oh, really? CSS is very, very good. Our parish priest is leading us in your CSS. I read the Bible before but
I didn't understand it as deeply as I do now!” she said.
I find many Chinese Catholic Internet users know CSS over here.
God bless,
Paul Pann
CE Chinese Editor
Paul:
This is cool news! Thanks for passing it on. It's thrilling to know that scripture is being read and studied in China!
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
***
Editor's Note: To contact Catholic Exchange, please refer to our Contact Us page.
Please note that all email submitted to Catholic Exchange or its authors (regarding articles published at CE) become the property of Catholic Exchange and may be published in this space. Published letters may be edited for length and clarity. Names and cities of letter writers may also be published. Email addresses of viewers will not normally be published.
