What Does GIRM 160 for the USA Really Say? | Fr. Z’s Blog

Kneeling for Holy Communion in 1973. Image via Wikipedia

When the new English translation of the Roman Missalis released, it will sport a new translation of the GIRM, theGeneral Institution/Instruction of the Roman Missal.

There are, of course, adaptations for the USA and other Anglophone regions.

As it happens, the Congregation for Divine Worship has … tweaked some items.  I am sure this was to harmonize the language of the GIRM with the language of the rest of the Roman Missal.  However, tweaks may have been tweaked for other reasons.

For example, take a look at GIRM 160 for the USA.  The Latin is found on the USCCB website.

LATIN:
… Fideles communicant genuflexi vel stantes, prout Conferentia Episcoporum statuerit. Cum autem stantes communicant, commendatur ut debitam reverentiam, ab iisdem normis statuendam, ante susceptionem Sacramenti faciant.

OLDER USA ADAPTATION VERSION:
… The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.

NEWER USA ADAPTATION VERSION:
… The norm established for the Dioceses of the United States of America is that Holy Communion is to be received standing, unless an individual member of the faithful wishes to receive Communion while kneeling (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction, Redemptionis Sacramentum, March 25, 2004, no. 91).

The rest of GIRM 160 remains as it was.

There is no mention of addressing the instances “pastorally” or giving “properly catechizing” people who kneel to receive their GOD.

In other words, when people kneel to receive Almighty GOD, priests and other ministers are to give Communion to the person and keep their mouths shut.

Thanks Fr. Z! I’ve been at Mass where the celebrant refused to give Holy Communion to a person kneeling. I was shocked and told the chancery I would never refuse Holy Communion to anyone kneeling. On the other hand, I was distributing Holy Communion at a Mass when a local Baptist bishop (we all knew he was not a Roman Catholic) came up to receive. I looked at the pastor and he said to give the man Communion. I obeyed but I was upset about that sacrilege for quite awhile.  

Deacon John