Or at least, one would think this is uncontroversial, but I keep finding opposition to it, and I just don't know what to make of it. When in the congregation I have knelt all my life, but for no apparent reason the servers in my parish don't (which I'm naturally trying to change), the congregation in my cathedral don't, and I've never seen any of the Deacons in my diocese on their knees.
To me this is a natural idea. At the moment when the Body and Blood of Christ become present, we must be in the proper attitude to adore him. The priest can't, because he's got legitimate other things to do, but the rubrics allow for this by giving him his adoration time in a genuflection after each consecration, everyone else should be on their knees!
I have a constant monologue of complaints about liturgical abuses running through my head during some Masses*. With so many little things to improve upon, kneeling is where I have fixed my attention as the first step to improving the liturgy. Why?
There are, of course, several reasons. Complaints about the current state of the Church's liturgical life almost always seem to centre around a lack of reverence, and the apparent refusal of people to get on their knees must be related to that. What the liturgy is should be obvious from looking at it, and people kneeling is a pretty clear sign. As reverence is increased in one aspect, so should the reverent frame of mind spread to the rest. But the reason I have singled out, which is not unrelated, is belief in the true presence. We believe that God literally shows up and is there on the altar in a way that we can point at him and say "look, this is God"**. It should be clear to all, whether they believe it or not, that anyone who thinks this happens in the Mass should kneel for the event***. If you claim to believe this, get on your knees. How can we teach something if we do not act like it is true?
As an altar server I take it as my duty to lead the people in this. Serving the altar is a strange thing because on the one hand there is no more effective an invisibility cloak, if worn correctly, than an alb; on the other if you forget to stand or sit, the congregation will move very slowly. The people may not notice you, but they will take their lead from you. Kneeling is therefore very important to me, knowing that others follow.
But if the people follow the example of the servers, how much more will they take the example of the Deacon, one of whose liturgical functions is to instruct the people in their bodily posture? They have been instructed and ordained: is it too much to expect that they follow the rite? GIRM 179 "From the epiclesis until the Priest shows the chalice, the Deacon usually remains kneeling." Now, granted, the use of the word "usually" here could mean almost anything, but I am certain that one thing it does not mean is "never", which is the interpretation in my Diocese.
Finally a note on unusual circumstances. I recently went on pilgrimage with my Diocese and the servers did a different thing each Mass. The Master of Ceremonies was clearly always unsure of what to do with them****. The Masses he served alone were fine: he knelt. But when there were other servers he didn't feel comfortable leading them into kneeling on a stone floor. For this situation I will say three things. First: most people can kneel on a stone floor. If they can't, they will sort themselves out somehow: don't worry about them. Second: if you really aren't going to kneel, the rite indicates you should stand and offer a profound bow when the Priest genuflects. Third: never just sit down. Just. Don't.
* this is a defect in myself, and I suggest that anyone who does not share it should avoid picking it up since effective prayer becomes a lot harder
** although the more usual phrase is "ecce agnus dei"
*** shh, don't mention the Eastern Rites
**** he's our newest seminarian, and obviously knows what to do, so he'll get there...
No comments:
Post a Comment