Dear Community Members,

Thank you for your feedback about our celebration of liturgy at the 11:00 AM Mass in the Community of St. Malachi. As we reviewed the many responses we received regarding our posture during the Eucharistic prayer, it was clear that there was no clear consensus from the Community. The responses reflected a diversity of experiences and liturgical piety among Community members.

In our reflection and discussion, the Liturgy Committee determined that this was not a matter of voting for what we would prefer. Rather, we came to realize this calls for prayerfully discerning which posture would most promote the "full, conscious, and active participation in litugical celebrations called for by the very nature of the liturgy." (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 14)

We would like to invite you to an evening of prayer and discernment so that we may further explore the issue of prayer posture during the Eucharistic Prayer. Please make every effort to join us at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 10, in church.

In Christ,

June 27, 2000

Dear Fr. Tony,

I find myself at odds with the CSM Liturgy Committee's decision to "take a more active role in the Eucharist" by adopting a standing posture during the Eucharistic prayer. Speaking as a father of elementary school-age children, I have found this portion of the Mass to be the most engaging for my kids, for two reasons. One reason is that it is nearly always the same. Readings, prayers and songs change from week to week, but a young child can rely on, even memorize, the Eucharistic prayer. The other reason is that they can see what's going on. It's much easier to see the altar by peering over or around kneeling adults than standing adults, especially at a crowded 11:00 Mass. If the CSM is truly interested in ALL of us taking a more active role, should we thus exclude the children, hindering their ability to see and experience this, the climax of the liturgy?

For that matter, what's wrong with showing a little more reverence during this, the climax of the liturgy? My wall calendar at home signifies this past Sunday as the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. It IS Jesus, is it not? And if at the very name of Jesus every knee must bend, should not every knee bend in the very presence of His Most Holy Body and Blood? Perhaps a standing posture is appropriate for people of action, but is this the time during the Mass when action is called for? The disciples reclined during the Last Supper. The only action required of them at that point was to eat, drink, and remember. It was later that they were called to action, as we are today at the conclusion of the Mass (when, appropriately, we are standing).

If you find merit in any of my comments and would like to pass them on to the appropriate people, I would appreciate it. If my thoughts are misguided, please pray for me that I may gain a clearer understanding and not grow cynical.

Thank you. God bless you.

Andy McLinden

August, 2000 CSM Liturgy Committee

Share with us the fruits of your studies and reflection

1. You had experiences of kneeling and standing during the Eucharistic Prayer. Which posture seems most appropriate? Why?

· Standing. This posture, as a sign of respect, is assertive. Kneeling is a passive posture.

· Standing because the prayer flows uninterrupted by procedure of kneeling down; it continues the focus of prayer.

· Standing. It expresses the adult, responsible participation that we owe to God.

· Standing.

· Standing, although different from what we've done since early childhood, feels more communal.

· I like standing during the Eucharistic Prayer. It is liturgically appropriate and expresses the spirit of 'amen' at the end of the prayer.

· If it has to be one way, Let's keep standing. Personally, however, I'd like people to have the option. Some days I have the 'resurrection mentality' at Mass and feel like standing. Other days, I have a 'humility mentality' and would like to kneel. At times I feel the liturgy has an obsessive/compulsive flavor to it. Part of me is amused at what a big deal we are making of whether to stand or kneel. How about this 'radical' suggestion: Encourage each member of the Community to stand or kneel.. .whatever helps them pray best. Diversity during liturgy.., what a liberating concept for Roman Catholics.

· Standing — for all the reasons given.

· Standing seems the appropriate posture for celebrating as a community because it indicates togetherness as a community in worship, rather than emphasizing individual reflection.

· Standing, because it is a visual as well as a physical sign of the Community being one in worship and prayer.

· Standing seems more natural as one with the Community in praise of God.

· Standing, because we are already standing.

· Standing. 90% of churches in America do this wrong as they have the congregation kneel during the part of the Mass that, IMHO, we should be on our feet straining our necks to witness the miracle occurring before us on the alter. I have been oversees often and most churches in Europe and Asia do not even have kneelers. Why Americans are (at most churches) expected to kneel in supplication ('we are not worthy??") during the Eucharistic Prayer is beyond me. It is possible to be reverent while standing, lying down, sitting on a bus, or curled up in front of a fire. Of course, we might bow as the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, but we don't need to kneel to 'show' that we have reverence for what's going on during the Consecration. Also, my children want to be on their feet so they can view the key events on the altar, not crouched on their knees behind a picket fence of grown-ups blocking their view.

· Standing. Our posture should reflect rejoicing. We are there to give praise and thanks to God. Kneeling — a position of begging, abasement, subject to leader.

· Standing. We are praising God!

· Standing. More in tune with Vatican II.

· Standing! "We stand in your presence 0 Lord..." as an old Catholic (67) 1 was steeped in guilt, sin, unworthiness. I tired of that for we are created in the image and likeness. Kneeling is akin to groveling.

· Standing — all together with celebrant in Eucharistic Prayer. (Kneeling is an act of supplication).

· I prefer standing. Thank you for all of your hard work.

· Standing. I feel I am joining the celebrant in celebration of the mass and not in supplication. Also, in standing with Vatican II.

· Standing- less distractions—knees hurt, uncomfortable — standing is an indication of awareness and participation.

· Standing better expresses my joyful affirmation of God's great gift of the Eucharist and redemption.

· Standing moves us toward a more ecumenical posture.

· Standing. I'm less likely to slouch. I find that often during the liturgy, I find my mind wandering and do not always stay focused. The Eucharistic Prayer is somewhat long, and this is one of the principal times I wander. It seems a bit easier for me to stay focused while standing.

· I believe either is appropriate. However, I am sympathetic to the view expressed by one member who said that shorter people and children cannot see the altar when all are standing.

· Either way works for me.

· I prefer to kneel. It feels like a more humble position. It seems more reverent before the power and wonder of our God. I ask you, must the entire community maintain the same posture? Personally, I don't feel comfortable being the only member not standing. Why not give us the choice to whatever posture inspires us? We don't have to all conform, do we?

· Kneeling — tradition and reverence.

· Kneel — more reverent.

· Kneeling. I am short and can see better while we kneel.

· Kneeling. Sometimes it's hard to stand for some people & why change.

· Kneeling, especially at the consecration. It expresses the awe of what is taking place.

· Kneeling. We stand for the President, and we kneel before our God.

· Kneeling. Reverence, tradition, Easier to focus on consecration.

· Kneeling. This is the most sacred part of the Mass. I kneel in awe, love and thanksgiving to God for giving me His Body and Blood for my food and strength.

· Kneeling sets the Eucharistic Prayer apart from the rest of the Mass.

· Kneeling. God is Awesome and Almighty and to me a kneeling posture shows reverence and humility to my God and those around me.

· With the rest of the atmosphere of the Mass at CSM 11 :00 service as informal as it is, when we knelt, at least some reverence was shown. Now that is gone! Kneeling was appropriate.

· Kneeling.

· Kneeling.

· Kneeling together.

· Kneeling.

3. Are there any specific suggestions or accommodations we can make to ensure that the prayer posture the Community chooses (standing or kneeling) allows everyone to participate?

· Accommodation — kneeling — for those who have physical reasons that prevent periods of standing.

· Allow people to pray as the spirit moves them. Why be so rigid as to demand total conformity? If we focus on prayers, we don't notice what others do.

· Allow people to stand or kneel.

· I like our current practice.

· Just do it!

· Set aside some front pews for those unable to stand.

· People should participate any way they feel comfortable—standing, sitting or kneeling.

· Re-evaluate after 6 months.

· Standing appears to accommodate persons who have knee, back problems. More readily and without 'guilt' of not kneeling as conditioned to do.

· For the physically challenged, they can be offered the option of sitting closer to the front or aisle seats. Those who have problems standing, most likely, have problems kneeling as well. As for the children, kneeling or standing presents a vision problem. I do not believe they would be spiritually or psychologically damaged. Where are they during the reading of the gospel, the Lord's prayer and other portions of the Mass where we presently stand (if not eating cheerios, coloring, playing with spatulas and the like).

· The Community should not be choosing. The Community should be faithfully following the bishop's directives. The Catholic Church is not a democracy. This is not a voting matter.

· Don't change from Community kneeling. If you want to stand, go to side aisle.

· There really needs to be an area for children, the elderly and disabled and those who would prefer to sit or kneel. Maybe rows reserved up front.

· Posture is an external, visible expression of community. There is also, interior expression which may be at least as important because where our hearts are, we all can effect interior expression.

· Kneeling — If someone is unable to kneel, that person can sit and not be blocked by standers.

· No.

· Yeah, sure. Choose standing, but tell people that if they feel required to kneel or (especially if they are infirm) sit, they may do so. It's like signing at Mass; It's great when the majority of the congregation DOES sign, but is some don't then...

· I imagine that is issue is 'no big deal' for most people, yet for a few it is a very significant and deeply held matter. Further, change is hard for some people. We need to be sensitive to our members who hold the consecration sacred and deeply desire to kneel during this time. One person expressed to me that he felt that If he kneeled while others are standing, he gets to 'look at the butts of the people in front of him', and he did not feel that this was conducive to his worship experience.

· Let all know why —liturgical reasons—behind the choice, not so a child can see or cannot.

· There seems to be room in front for the wheelchair bound. Also, the center aisle is no longer crowed so we could locate there and get a clear view of the front.

· Not sure.

· There could be some area of the congregational space which is reserved for those who cannot stand during the entire prayer.

· Perhaps you could save the first one or two rows for those who are unable to stand so that they can see.

· I think either will have some that will not be able to participate fully. I know with a small child, I will have to attend to her needs at various times regardless of posture. Besides, those who have a difficulty kneeling will probably have problems stand for an extended period of time.

· Maybe make one side of the church standing only and one side for kneeling, sitting, standing.

· You are listening to the voices of those who shout the loudest, not always the best.

· Kneel for the consecration, stand for the great Amen and the rest.

· Kneeling is the posture many have practiced for their entire life. They may feel that the standing posture is being forced on them by a few members of the community—and they just don't want to do it!!

· The Church was not build with tiered seating to accommodate everyone's view. If the community chooses standing, what alternative will the elderly have who may not be able to stand, but can sit and still see when everyone is kneeling? Also, mothers with children will have impaired views.

· Make it clear what we are doing; what is acceptable.

4. Are there other liturgical practices or aspects of the liturgy that should reviewed to enhance our full, active participation?

· ??

· Starting the song immediately without waiting for the choir to receive or serving immediately and having eucharistic ministers receive later would enhance participation and emphasize ministry of service.

· I have found this process coercive and wasteful of time, effort and paper.

· Yes. Listening during the scripture; bowing during consecration; processing to communion.

· Trim the homilies by 3-5 minutes and pick up the pace in general.

· The sermon Is way too long. Make a point and then don't beat It to death by going on & on & on. One good thought to carry for the week is much more effective.

· Can't think of anything right now.

I have been a member of St. Malachi Community for 20 years and I truly believe that the Community Liturgy, as it has been offered, has always been reverently and joyously participated in by our people. I believe that this disruption was a case where: If it's not broken —. don't fix it, should have applied.

May God bless you and the Community.

Betty Pellegnno



August 30, 2000


Dear Community of St. Malachi Liturgy Committee,

Your request to "share with us the fruits of your studies and reflection" is a lie. It is quite obvious--even to those of us who are not yet as enlightened and progressive as you all must be--that this entire exercise had from its very beginning only one purpose: to substitute standing for kneeling at St. Malachi's. Among other clear signs are the selective quotations from Church documents and the slanted views presented of the early Church. How condescending and false!

In particular, question four is quite troubling. Your committee wants other liturgical practices to review? Hello! Hello! Hello! St. Malachi is still a Catholic Church:
that means it takes its directions from the local bishop who himself is under the direction of Rome and Pope John Paul II. I don't recall Bishop Pilla requesting a "committee" to review liturgical practices. How presumptuous and misdirected this all is.

Admit it. You have no intention to "enhance our full, active participation." Instead, this effort is agenda driven: it is part of a larger effort to make the Mass and Catholic worship horizontal and to take what little remains of the sense of the sacred that is so vital to Catholic spirituality.

If you want a horizontal liturgy, go to the nearest Protestant Church of whatever variety and you'll find all the horizontalism that you seek. At least in that church you will find people of good will who know who they are.

Kindly stop your efforts to protestantize St. Malachi. Develop the humility and good will needed to listen to our Catholic bishops who are truly signs of contradiction in a nihilistic and secular world. And if you cannot do this, please be honest enough to admit that your intention from the very beginning was to replace kneeling with standing. Stop hiding behind surveys and questionnares intended to give the impression that all this is being carried out in a spirit of openness. Each of you knows that the object of this effort was established from the very beginning. And so do we in the pews.

· Let's examine our attention to the Word as well as our reverence for the consecration (preferably bowing, but perhaps genuflecting would be easier to unify the whole group.

· Anthony used to practice new songs with the community before mass. It helped a lot. In years to come, we might consider taking the kneelers out (if the parish would agree).

· The changing of the written words of the liturgy to make it more politically correct. Taking him, his and saying God... When the community changes the 'Our Father' to 'Our God', I will leave the Community. I thank all of you on this committee for your time and efforts. One of my biggest distractions is all the late corners that stroll into mass every Sunday like clockwork — it seems to be the same couple of families with small children that come to the front door after the mass has begun. I would like to propose that there be signs put on the two front entrances once mass has begun to please use the back entrance. Also then have ushers seat them at a natural lull in the mass. I would volunteer to hang signs at the front doors each Sunday at the beginning of mass.

· Before changing things again, why don't you make sure people are following through on the obligations they make. For example, community participation on committees — it is always the same few who commit to that obligation. Get more involved. This was not a wise move. Preference to kneeling is my vote.

· If the number of the hymns to be sung could be announced as it used to be, it would be very helpful. My eyes cannot see the numbers because of a disability.

· Give me Fr. Hritz's 5 minute sermons that really said something I could connect with.

· Communion reflection — make it go bye-bye. 99% of the time it has nothing to do with the liturgy but with someone's personal cause or a rehash of the mission statement. People get tired of hearing about it.

· Restraining from excess conversation before Mass. Sometimes the choir director needs to practice a song or important announcements are being made and it seems as if very few people are listening.

· We have the most active participation of any Catholic Church I have ever attended.

A letter from Betty Pellegrino:

Dear Father Tony,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell you my thoughts about the Consecration posture at the Community Mass.

A couple of month's ago, I was sitting behind the five or so people who stood instead of kneeling at the Consecration of the Mass. I could only wonder what their motives were in disrupting the most sacred part of the Liturgy.

I have taken time, since then to examine why I feel called to kneel instead of stand, so good did come of their actions for me.

I believe that the Consecration is the most sacred part of the Liturgy. After singing or saying—Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest!

How can I not get down on my knees in love, thanksgiving and awe for what God offers me. Jesus changes bread and wine into His Body and His Blood for me. His Body is my food and His Blood is the strength for my life. It is truly the sacrament of His love for me.

I pray as Paul did in Ephesians 3:14 and 15. 'That is why I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and earth takes it's name.'

· Less activity/conversation in the rear of the church during Liturgy.

· No. Why not start paying closer attention to the bishop?

· Shorten response after first reading —distracts from meditating/remembering the first reading.

· Yes. In Elmira, NY, I observed and really liked the ritual of sending forth those used to call forth and to bless all those who take the Eucharistic home to ill family members, It only took a few minutes, Before the celebrant left the alter at the end of the liturgy, family members rose and brought their pyxcs to the foot of the alter for the Eucharistic. The prayer was simple — a couple of sentences of blessing —but it was expressive of the community's concern and solidarity with ailing members and their families. I saw this done at an Eastside Catholic Parish in Elmira, NY.


· (1) A period of real silence before the liturgy begins. (2) Relocate sign of peace after penitential rite. (3) Responsorial acclamations within the Eucharistic Prayer.

· I have been part of the Community for 20 years and the Liturgy has always been very sacred and Joyous until this rude interruption of our communal prayer. (Attached was the following highlighted paragraph from an article that appeared in America Aug 12-19, 2000 issue entitled "Sign of the Times":
"People should kneel at the consecration, except when prevented by reasons of health, lack of space, the number of people present or some other good reason, the new text says. That phrasing adds 'reasons of health' to the 1975 list of possible exceptions to the rule."


· Sung acclamations during Eucharistic Prayer. (2) Bowing (not to evident at this point) (3) Sign of peace earlier in the Liturgy.

· If it's not broken, etc. Everyone greets, smiles, signs, prays, exudes joy. Holy Spirit moves everyone. As members of the Community since the very beginning, I fully appreciate the major efforts to make the Liturgy the best possible! Sit, stand, kneel keeps becoming more of a physical challenge for many folks. Keep this valid point in mind when making the final decisions. God understands our love for Him. Let us not judge each others posture. This also applies to pregnant women and parents with babies and young children. The Liturgy is beautiful. It is not supposed to be a workout, but a worship service. Please don't make this into another issue to debate.

· I would suggest that we do not sing the communion hymn during communion. During communion over half of the congregation is either in line to receive, with their hymnals back in the pew, or locked in private prayers of thanksgiving (which is fine, BTW). And, of course, the celebrant and the ministers of the Eucharist aren't signing either because they're working. It would be more powerful if instead, the communion hymn were sung buy the ENTIRE congregation as a communal expression of gratitude AFTER communion.

· If the time before Mass were spent preparing ourselves for this sacred event it could be an opportunity for all the Community to pray together, either listening to music, silent or spoken prayer. Loud conversations that end abruptly as Mass begins feels like a car suddenly slamming on the brakes. Couldn't we come to a slow stop ten minutes before Mass, quiet our minds, and prepare for liturgy. The time after would be a wonderful period to socialize when full of the joy of our celebration.

· I would like to see hosts more like bread, and both species at every Sunday liturgy. I suggest we simply implement these, and not discern them.

· Could we sing the "Our Father" at least once a month. Also, the Gloria is such a song of praise, please sing it more often.

· Music! Put or keep music on a key singable for altos and bases, Stop the practice of raising the key for the last verse so half of us can't sing. And cease the grand retarddandi at the end of songs.

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The following is the form used to receive feedback on Eucharistic Prayer and posture

Share with us the fruits of your studies and reflection

2. Liturgy is a communal prayer. Putting aside your personal preference, which posture provides a better sense of the Community united in prayer?

3. Are there any specific suggestions or accommodations we can make to ensure that the prayer posture the Community chooses (standing or kneeling) allows everyone to participate?

4. Are there other liturgical practices or aspects of the liturgy that should reviewed to enhance our full, active participation?

If necessary, please use the back of this sheet to complete your comments. Additional comments welcomed.

Please return by Sunday, September 10^th You may place it in the collection basket, drop it off at the 
Membership Table during Coffee Hour or mail it to St. Malachi's Rectory, Attention: CSM Liturgy Committee.

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