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EWTN Ask the Experts forum:

Genuflection before communion forbidden by bishop

Question from Dr. Brian J. Kopp on 12-13-1998:

Dear Father,

Below is a letter our local Bishop just sent to all the priests in this Diocese (Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, PA) in which, for all intents and purposes, he forbids genuflection before receiving the Eucharist. The specific paragraph is directly below in quotes:

"Should an individual of this Diocesan Church wish to make a further sign of reverence just prior to receiving Holy Communion, that sign is to be that of the sign of the cross. In any case, making the sign of the cross in silence should precede receiving Holy Communion rather than follow. Thus, in order to seek uniformity of movement and posture, I direct the sign of the cross to be the sign of reverence prior to the reception of Holy Communion.

Uniformity in Liturgy is desirable as a sign of our unity in Jesus Christ. It expresses our oneness in the Eucharistic Lord and of our reverence and love for the Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood. This uniformity of word and movement will enhance the expression of our liturgical celebration of unity in Christ as we of the one Household gather around the one table and eat and drink the one bread and cup that is Jesus the Lord."

Can he do this? Are the faithful who practice genuflection before Communion required to be obedient to this "Directive," which seems to be a denial of our right, expressed by Fr. Regis Scanlon, OFM in a file in EWTN's library online, to show a form of "latria" at reception of Communion? Any help you can offer would be appreciated.

Dr. Brian J. Kopp
Johnstown, PA

Answer by Fr. John Trigilio on 12-14-1998:

SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM (Vatican II) said:
"#22 (1) Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See, and, as laws may determine, on the bishop. (2) In virtue of power conceded by law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of bishops' conferences, legitimately established, with competence in given territories. (3) Therefore no other person, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority."

The General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) #21 says:

"However, it is for the Bishops' Conference to adapt the postures and gestures here described as suitable for the Roman Mass"

EUCHARISTICUM MYSTERIUM # 4 and INAESTIMABILE DONUM # 11 state that to receive Holy Communion kneeling is a sign of reverence in itself. When not
kneeling, SOME form of reverence is encouraged. The Bishop can even REQUIRE it.

My reading of the texts, however, is that while the Bishop has the authority to mandate that some form of reverence be given when receiving Holy Communion while standing, he can only say that the sign of the cross is the bare MINIMUM but he cannot say that a genuflection is not allowed. The law affords him parameters on what is the minimum required but he does not have the authority to curtail the EXTRA reverence given by a genuflection. ONLY the Holy See itself or the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) can do that, as stated above. Hence, the local bishop can say that in his diocese, AT LEAST the sign of the Cross will be made prior to receiving Holy Communion OR he could require a bow of the head or he could mandate a genuflection. My reading of the law, however, is that an individual bishop does not have the prerogative of the Episcopal Conference or the Holy See to prohibit someone from going beyond the minimum requirement WITHIN REASON. Ergo, someone cannot disrupt the Communion line by kneeling for a long period of time (they should do that in the pew or at the altar rail). To
exclude genuflection seems to go beyond the scope the law allows. Msgr. Peter Elliott agrees with this in his book, "Liturgical Question Box, p. 114 (copyright 1998, Ignatius Press) and again in his book "Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite", #336 (copyright 1995, Ignatius Press)

For him to proscribe genuflection would be as unlawful as to prescribe someone to stay standing. The law does not give that much latitude to any one pastor or bishop. The unity and uniformity of liturgical gestures is not limited to the parish or even the diocese but since we live in the Catholic church, it should be a more universal unity and uniformity. Hence, the law is clear that Rome on behalf of the universal church and the Episcopal
Conference on behalf of the nation can make such decisions.
--Fr. Trigilio