Online Edition - Vol. VIII, No. 5: July-August 2002

About Letters to the Editor
READERS' FORUM

Readers' Forum -- the lively "Letters to the Editor" of the Adoremus Bulletin provides a forum for exchange of ideas, comment and information on the sacred liturgy -- but the letters column is not published online. (See below for a sample letter from the current issue).

If you are reading the Adoremus Bulletin in the "online edition" only, you are missing one of the most popular and useful features of the journal. To become a member of Adoremus -- and receive the "hard-copy" edition, including the "Readers Forum", see Membership page.

We are grateful for your letters. While we read every letter, we get so many that it is impossible to answer or publish all of them. In selecting those to appear in "Readers Forum", preference will be given to subjects of widest interest. Letters should be 250 words or fewer, preferably typed. They may be e-mailed. Please include your name, address, city and state (which may be withheld on request). If a letter refers to a previous issue of AB, please include the date of that issue and name of article. All letters may be edited for publication. Be sure to indicate clearly if your letter is NOT intended for publication.

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Readers' Forum for July-August 2002 -- NRSV Study -- Mysterium (In)fidei? -- Scripture-based Hymns -- Divine Office Chants -- Pinpoints -- Non-Catholic Lectors -- Artificial Flowers? -- Altar girls? -- Adoration Protocol -- Consuming Extra Consecrated Hosts -- Why the "Stand" Demand? -- Piety Banned -- Devil at Work? -- EMs in the Sanctuary -- Elevating the - Collection Basket! -- Psalm swap -- Sanctus article kudos

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Piety Banned
Letter:
My present pastor has me rather upset over the new GIRM spin. He says we may no longer genuflect before, kneel during, nor bless ourselves with the sign of the cross before or after receiving Holy Communion -- all this for the sake of "unity". We must, rather, make a deep head bow before receiving. I've always dropped down on (at least one) knee before/during reception of the Body of Christ. Am I to cease this practice now?

Anna M. Runge
via e-mail

Response:
We are receiving reports from all over the country of people being humiliated for making traditional acts of piety, all in the name of "unity".

Those who compel standing cite "American Adaptation" to IGMR 160, "the norm for reception of Holy Communion is standing". The adaptation also says communicants only make a bow of the head as a gesture of reverence. It also states that "no one is to be denied Communion for kneeling".

The Holy See, in a letter to the USCCB last October 25, expressed a strong desire to protect those who choose to kneel "from imprudent action by priests, deacons, and lay ministers" (see Letter from Cardinal Medina Estévez - AB Dec-01/Jan-02 p 8). But the adaptation to §160 has been rigidly interpreted in some parishes - and even by some bishops - as intending a strict prohibition of all gestures of reverence other than a simple bow of the head. Lay faithful are often told that they are being "disobedient" or "divisive" if they genuflect or kneel.

Clearly the Cardinal's letter did not intend to foster rigidity in applying this new rule. Will they be equally vigorous in applying the rules when 99% of communicants make no gesture of reverence at all?

There is nothing in the rule that prohibits making the sign of the cross. Catholics traditionally cross themselves after receiving Communion.

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