A
friend recently pointed out to me that the popular African American spiritual,
“Let us break bread together on our knees” – a hymn obviously inspired by the
words of our past Sunday’s Gospel, Then
the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to
them in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:35) – advocates both communion
kneeling and liturgical celebration ad
orientem. How shocking it is that this hymn, which among Catholic churches
is heard almost exclusively in rather “progressive” parishes, promotes such traditional
liturgical practices. Perhaps there is some hope for the future of so-called “liberal”
Catholicism after all! (though we have
our doubts)
Let us break bread together
on our knees
The text of the hymn
follows:
Let
us break bread together on our knees,
Let
us break bread together on our knees.
When
I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O
Lord, have mercy on me.
Let
us drink wine together on our knees,
Let
us drink wine together on our knees.
When
I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O
Lord, have mercy on me.
Let
us praise God together on our knees,
Let
us praise God together on our knees.
When
I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O
Lord, have mercy on me.
Granting
that some versions of this traditional spiritual have replaced “my face to the
rising sun” with “my face to the Lord of life,” we must note that in its original
formulation the hymn makes a very clear reference to the cosmic dimension of
the Liturgy which is so aptly expressed in the practice of ad orientem – facing to the east, to the rising sun, to the Lord of
life who is to come in glory.
Likewise,
when the spiritual states, “Let us break bread together on our knees,” we are
not to suppose the rather ridiculous image of breaking break apart by hitting
it upon the knee; rather, the hymn refers to the breaking of the bread of which Cleopas and his companion speak in
Luke’s Gospel. The African spiritual alludes to the traditional practice of
receiving communion kneeling down – a practice which is also common now at all
papal Masses.
Still,
although the hymn has obvious merits, we might refrain from recommending its
use in the Liturgy. It is quite difficult to see how such music “adds delight
to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred
rites.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium 112)
Ratzinger on the reception
of Holy Communion
It
may be helpful to note Cardinal Ratzinger’s response to the question “How
should we actually receive Holy Communion?”
The
Cardinal’s reply, in part: “The signs of reverence we use have changed in the
course of time. But the essential point is that our behavior should give to
inner recollection and reverence an outward bodily expression. Earlier,
Communion used to be received kneeling, which made perfectly good sense.
Nowadays it is done standing. But this standing, too should be standing in
reverence before the Lord. The attitude of kneeling ought never to be allowed
to disappear from the Church.”
Another
question was brought forward, “Communion in the hand, or directly in the
mouth?” Ratzinger’s response, “I wouldn’t want to be fussy about that.” (God and the World, pgs. 409-410)
Ratzinger on ad orientem
“A
common turning to the East during the Eucharistic Prayer remains essential. This
is not a case of something accidental, but of what is essential. Looking at the
priest has no importance. What matters is looking together at the Lord. It is
not now a question of dialogue, but of common worship, of setting off towards
the One who is to come. What corresponds with the reality of what is happening
is not the closed circle, but the common movement forward expressed in a common
direction for prayer.” (The Spirit of the
Liturgy, chapter three)
“The
physical orientation, the Congregation [for Divine Worship] says, must be distinguished from the
spiritual. Even if a priest celebrates versus
populum, he should always be oriented versus
Deum per Iesum Christum (towards God through Jesus Christ). Rites, signs,
symbols, and words can never exhaust the inner reality of the mystery of
salvation.” (from his “Forward” to Turning
towards the Lord by U.M. Lang)
13 comments:
This has always been one of my favorite hymns. We used to sing it in the small Protestant church where I grew up.
Dear Fr. Reginaldus,
How promising to see you introduce music to your blog, a very welcome addition indeed! Here is one version of the hymn from YouTube, but there are many available:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkFYtCXLoIQ
Some may prefer this choral version instead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrE55uXHdeU&feature=related
Read my comment on this issue and the document by Pope Paul Vi which stated that while Holy Communion on the hand is an aberration, the Holy See will approve it.
http://wherethereispeter.blogspot.com/2010/01/holy-communion-on-tongue-or-hand.html
The two times I was a eucharistic minister I was moved by the faith and reverence I saw in the peoples' faces. I think you can be kneeling in your heart. I'll always prefer actual kneeling though.
perri
Methinks, a liberal Catholic would - in case - insist on kneeeling, physically breaking a loaf of "consecrated" bread and eating it from his own hands.
As you rightly say, liberal Catholicism is a contradiction in terms, a spiritual and liturgical oxymoron.
Mundabor
I really wonder at this posting...the disciples on the road to Emmaus didn't at all refer to kneeling to receive the Bread of Life. In fact Jesus instituted the Eucharist at supper; did so as well with the two disciples after the Resurrection.
I know of no Protestant church (outside perhaps Anglican or Episcopal) that ever used a communion rail or even had people kneel to receive the bread (since they don't acknowledge the Eucharist as being the real presence).
I'm sorry I can't bring it to mind, but I know that in one of the readings from the Office of Readings, one of the Fathers specifically refers to receiving the host in the hand...going back some centuries.
After drawing some kind of parallel, you then go on to suggest the hymn isn't even appropriate? What exactly was the message here?
You usually do much better than this...this seems a bit muddled.
Tim
Tim,
I'm not sure how to respond ... here's an attempt.
First, you are correct, nothing in the story of Emmaus road speaks of communion kneeling or Mass ad orientem -- I never said it did.
What I did say is that the popular hymn "Let us break bread together on our knees" is based on the text of Emmaus road ("the breaking of the bread") and that this hymn very clearly advocates ad orientem and communion kneeling.
Second, I made no mention of Protestant practice ... not sure what that matters ... obviously, the hymn is referring to a tradition which was no longer in common practice (at least not in the communities where the hymn was sung).
Third, I have not advocated the practices of ad orientem and communion kneeling ... the African spiritual did ... if that is contrary to the supposed teaching of some Church Father (and I am well aware of the variety of opinions on this point), let the protestant hymn-writer answer for it.
Moreover, I would mention that the quotes taken from Ratzinger were specifically chosen to show that, although he has an obvious preference for kneeling and ad orientem, the Holy Father's primary concern seems to be the internal dispositions of the faithful.
An internal and spiritual kneeling; likewise an internal and spiritual ad orientem.
Finally, you wrote: "You usually do much better than this" ... I will take that as a compliment. I hope it is permissible that (since this is a blog) I might occasionally post a less serious article (perhaps even one that is "a bit muddled").
In my sister's Methodist church they use a communion rail at which the congregation kneels to receive communion. How is it that other places are more reverent than the typical Catholic Church?
[in a comment deleted on account of a problem with the blogger website] anonymous wrote:
"In my sister's Methodist church they use a communion rail at which the congregation kneels to receive communion. How is it that other places are more reverent than the typical Catholic Church?"
I'm sorry, but I've never been able to stand that song ever since I first had to sing it in fifth grade. I'm embarrassed I ever did. It sounds like a drinking song. "Let us drink wine together..." It's heretical. It's not bread and wine we are consuming but the Body, Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ. And ... the rising sun???
In the UK kneeling for communion is common in most Anglican churches - some of whom also use eastward facing celebration of the Eucharist. Both of these are very rare in the RC church.
I went for years daily to the Vetus Ordo (Forma Extraordinaria) and it really changed and formed my piety and prayer life. When I moved and had no access to the Vetus Ordo I knew that I would be presented with the dilemma of how to receive the Blessed Sacrament. At first I drove 50+ miles one way to the motherhouse of the Fathers of Mercy knowing they only use a communion rail but the price of gas went up and I had to make a decision. I prayed about it and didnt want to make a spectacle of myself, or appear "holier than THOU" but out of devotion I knew that had to kneel. I feared being told to stand up or being "catechised" about how to receive. Needless to say, I still make sure I am the last one in order not to cause anyone to inadvertently to trip. I was told by a wise priest that I should try to be an example. At the name of JESUS every knee should bow.
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