March 22, 2016, 11:11a.m. – THE HEAD of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has announced that kneeling during the most important part of Holy Mass would be returned, as is practiced in the rest of the Universal Church.
In a pastoral letter dated March 19, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the CBCP president, said the practice of standing during the Memorial Acclamation, in which the faithful affirm Christ’s death, resurrection and future return, was a mere liturgical adaptation that did not have Vatican approval.
“We must abandon the practice of standing after the consecration until the Amen as we do not have the authority to make such an adaptation nor do we have the authority to implement it,” Villegas said in his pastoral letter.
As a result, the faithful must kneel “after the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy Lord …) until the end of the Eucharistic prayer” or the “Great Amen.”
The decision was made by the CBCP Permanent Council, based on the Philippine Edition of the Vatican-approved Roman Missal of 2011. The issue was raised during the 112th CBCP Plenary Assembly in Cebu last January, when the country hosted the International Eucharistic Congress.
In 1990, the “Guidelines for the Eucharist” allowed the faithful not to kneel during the Memorial Acclamation. This was also included in the Philippine Adaptations to the General Instructions of the Roman Missal 2002 proposed during the 86th CBCP Plenary Assembly. Liturgists wanted the faithful to stand during the Memorial Acclamation and kneel after the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God.
Villegas said no “recognition” or formal reply was granted by Rome as regards the two proposed guidelines. According to canon lawyers, no answer or silence from Rome means that the recognition has not been given, he said.
The prelate pointed out that kneeling is an important part of Christian culture. “We cannot abandon or set aside the culture of kneeling in favor of the culture that says as free men we must face God on our feet. Bending the knee before the tabernacle in genuflection, kneeling down at the celebration of the Eucharist, kneeling down to adore the exposed Blessed Sacrament—these are little but sublime acts of adoration that we must preserve and protect.” Lea Mat P. Vicencio
Thank God for this!! As someone who has lived in the United States for over 20 years now, but grew up in the Philippines– I was just appalled at this lack of veneration for the most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord during the sacrifice of the Mass, in a country that purports to be mostly Catholic! People were distracted, not even paying attention to the most Holy Sacrifice that is being offered for the salvation of our miserable souls! I counted the horrendous disasters that befell the Philippines starting from the time people stopped kneeling– these were among the worst the country has experienced. It is about time the Eucharist is venerated for the priceless Gift that that God gave us. This is not even about culture– it is simply about the proper form human beings need take when in the presence of Almighty God.
We must to adore Christ, it’s really timely because most of our brother’s And sister’s dont know how to adore, in this way they can now recognize that the purpose of kneeling it’s not about ‘part of the mass’ that’s why we kneel, the purpose of kneeling is about knowing that Jesus is present in the altar of sacrifice. We must to teach people that the Host in the Holy mass is the real GOD Jesus Christ. Kudos to CBCP! Mabuhay!
Kneeling is very important during EUCHARISTIC PRAYER, why? very clear in PHILIPPIANS 2:10 ” EVERY KNEE SHALL BEND IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST” it is written in the Bible why we dont kneel, we are offspring of MOTHER MARY in GEN. 3:15, and we are not the offspring of devils. IF THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN KNEELING TO THE SON OF GOD and why we do not kneel? because of our PRIDE- the beginning of all sins as well as the roots of all sins-according ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.
When are the bishops going to address the Tagalog version of the mass: e.g.
Latin: Dominus vobiscum ; Et cum Espiritu Tuo
English : The Lord be with you; And with your Spirit
Pilipino: Ang Diyos ay sumainyo; At sumainyo rin. (sa halip na -At ang inyong Spiritu).
Now this is interesting because this practice is only in the United States Conference. The reason why is because the Bishops of the US emphasize the importance of the entire Eucharistic Prayer as whole. The rest of the Church in other countries kneels, as far as my experience and knowledge, only during consecration. So the United States Bishops was able to obtain special permission to do this pratice ONLY within their conference.
Br.Jude Emmanuel, OFMCapuchin