Should a Catholic listen to their conscience or the Archbishop in matters concerning their posture at Mass?
One should always obey the dictates of one’s conscience, especially a conscience that is well formed and moulded in the teachings and traditions of the Church.
In regards to the letter of Cardinal Cupich’s letter requesting Catholics to receive Holy Communion while standing only and not while kneeling, one freedom to kneel down when receiving Communion is still an option.
Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago, in a letter published this week in the archdiocesan newspaper, urged Catholics to stand while receiving Holy Communion and not make gestures that draw attention to oneself.
In the letter, published in Chicago Catholic, Cardinal Cupich said “the norm established by [the] Holy See for the universal Church and approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is for the faithful to process together as an expression of their coming forward as the body of Christ and to receive holy Communion standing.”
The cardinal goes on to state that “nothing should be done to impede any of these processions” and that “disrupting this moment only diminishes this powerful symbolic expression, by which the faithful in processing together express their faith that they are called to become the very Body of Christ they receive.”
Cardinal Cupich Asks Catholics ‘to Receive Holy Communion Standing’ in Chicago Archdiocese
The Cardinal does not forbid receiving Communion while one is kneeling. He is clearly encouraging the faithful to stand when going to communion.
Besides this the Cardinal can not know the proper internal dispositions of more traditional Catholics to receive Communion while one their knees as an act of supernatural piety towards the Sacred Body of Christ.
Even Rome permits both kinds of liturgical posture while going to Communion.
[90.] “The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined”, with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. “However, if they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that they give due reverence before the reception of the Sacrament, as set forth in the same norms”.
[91.] In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that “sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them”. Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.
[92.] Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.
Redemptionis Sacramentum On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist
I personally find it offensive that Cardinal Blasé Cupich thinks that receiving the Holy Eucharist on one’s knees seems to imply that such faithful are drawing ”attention to themselves”. After all the consecrated host in the Body of Christ! It only fitting to receive it on one’s knees!!!