A Monk During Lent

[Shin]

'I will relate what happened at that time in a certain monastery, but I do not wish to give the name of the monk, who is still alive, for fear that when this account comes to him he may become vainglorious and lose merit. A young man came to the monastery and presented himself to the abbot with the proposal to pass his life in God's service. The abbot made many objections, explaining that the service there was hard, and he could never accomplish what was required of him. But he promised that he would call on the Lord's name and accomplish it all. And so he was admitted by the abbot. After a few days during which he proved to all that he was humble and holy, it happened that the monks threw out of the granary about three chori of grain and left it to dry in the sun and appointed this monk to guard it. And while the others were taking refreshment and he was left to guard the grain, the sky suddenly became overcast, and a heavy rain with roaring wind came swiftly in the direction of the heap of grain. Upon seeing it the monk knew not how to act or what to do. He thought however that even if he called the rest considering the great quantity of grain they would not be able to store it in the granary before the rain, and so giving up everything else he devoted himself to prayer, beseeching the Lord not to allow a drop of the rain to fall on the wheat. And when he threw himself on the ground and prayed the cloud was divided, and although there was a heavy downpour all around, if it is right to say so, it did not dampen a single grain of the wheat. And when the other monks and the abbot became aware of the coming storm they came quickly to take the grain within, and saw this miracle, and looking for the man in charge of the grain they found him close by stretched out on the sand praying. The abbot on seeing this prostrated himself close to him, and when the rain had passed and the prayer was finished he called to him to arise, and gave orders to seize him and punish him with stripes, saying: "My son, you must grow in the fear and service of God with humility, and not be puffed up with prodigies and miracles." He ordered him to remain shut up in his cell seven days, and to fast as if he were at fault, in order to keep vainglory from forming an obstacle before him. At the present time, as we learn from men of the faith, the same monk is so abstemious that he eats no bread in the forty days of Lent and drinks only a cup of barley-water every third day. And may the Lord with your prayers deign to keep him as is pleasing to himself until his life is ended.'

St. Gregory of Tours

[Brigid]

It sometimes puzzles me that we don't throw ourselves on the ground (as this monk did) at the Consecration and walk down the aisle of the Church on our knees for Holy Communion. I once heard on a Catholic Radio station that a Lutheran wife of a Catholic man once said to him that if Catholics really believed in the Real Presence that we would only approach Holy Communion on our knees. Makes a person think how little we must really believe (or what chickens we are - like yours truly). Of course, I know that any of you who get to go to a TLM Mass do only receive on your knees. However, how did the Novus Ordo Masses lose this? It's so sad! Sure encourages you to pray to St. Vianney for priests.

[Shin]

It sometimes puzzles me that we don't throw ourselves on the ground (as this monk did) at the Consecration and walk down the aisle of the Church on our knees for Holy Communion. I once heard on a Catholic Radio station that a Lutheran wife of a Catholic man once said to him that if Catholics really believed in the Real Presence that we would only approach Holy Communion on our knees. Makes a person think how little we must really believe (or what chickens we are - like yours truly). Of course, I know that any of you who get to go to a TLM Mass do only receive on your knees. However, how did the Novus Ordo Masses lose this? It's so sad! Sure encourages you to pray to St. Vianney for priests.

There's a kneeling mass down here I used to live, St. Michael's, with the new liturgy -- The priest there sometimes will do a high Latin mass for special occasions. The priest does the new liturgy rather like the old, he is quite precise, every gesture. They still have the Communion rail there. So these places are quite rare of course, but they do exist.

I kneel for all the masses I go to, to receive, new or old liturgy, but am the exception at the new. Of course, since I am not so old, I can do this even when it isn't provided for with kneelers. It's just like genuflecting.. but two knees down, not one. Once I began it, I could not stop. I simply can't.

There's a famous series of steps that people for acts of penance go up and down on their knees.. but I forget where it is. If only I remembered the story! It is a very good one.

[Patricia]

I usually genuflect before receiving Holy Communion. But kneeling (with both knees) would be more devout.
The famous series of steps......is it the steps at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Mexico, by any chance?

[Brigid]

I usually genuflect before receiving Holy Communion. But kneeling (with both knees) would be more devout.
The famous series of steps......is it the steps at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Mexico, by any chance?

I genuflect before receiving, also, unless I'm at a church that doesn't have pews to hold onto so that I can. Kneeling on two knees would be most difficult/awkward (and irreverent) for me, as their isn't anything to hold onto. In Adoration there is something to hold onto and I can take my time getting up. So far the priests haven't said anything to me about it and it's been a year since I moved near it. The other parish in the area has a rock band playing during Mass, so apparently I've found the most reverent one.

When the flu season is over, I can go back to receiving on the tongue as I prefer that also, however since the priests and the bishop of our diocese has requested that in charity to the congregation, that during flu season we receive in the hand (only a request, not a mandate), I have done so.

[Patricia]

Yes, same reason here. Standing up after kneeling would be awkward without something to hold on to.

[Consecrated one]

Ditto on the receiving and the kneeling