Catechists' Corner / 10_VaticanCouncil_Vol1

Before telling you the reasons why I include this book here as a book on catechists' book list, let me tell you some of my experience and dilemma that I faced as a catechist. One day a student asked "Why do people kneel during the consecration of the Eucharist in some parishes and stand in other parishes of our diocese ?" I was embarrassed because I did not know what to say.

Some time later, a friend and I invited a Carmelite priest for dinner. I asked the priest the question about kneeling during the consecration of the Eucharist. He told us that there had been many discussions about this topic back and forth. And then he added "I think Jesus deserves that we kneel down during the consecration".
One day, during Mass, out of respect for Christ, I knelt down during the consecration. When the Mass ended, one person approached me and told me that I shouldn't have knelt down. Then he added "if you have time, I'll explain to you the theological reasons why you should not kneel". It was a morning Mass and I had to drive to work after Mass so I couldn't listen to his explanation. During my commute that morning, I was wondering what those theological reasons for not kneeling could be ?

I wished I had read the General Instruction On The Roman Missal (G.I.R.M.) that is part of this volume. Here is an excerpt on the bodily posture during consecration: " ... But, unless impeded by lack of space, density of the crowd or other reasonable cause, they should kneel down for the Consecration. However, it is for the Bishops' Conference to adapt the postures and gestures here described as suitable for the Roman Mass ..." This was the explanation that my RCIA student was asking for :-)

For more about the kneeling posture, please check out The Spirit of the Liturgy by Pope Benedict XVI.

Why would a catechist want to have this thick volume if it is just for the G.I.R.M. ? The main reasons are 1) the book is cheap for the quantity of information it gives 2) a catechist would have access to the following documents that I believe are interesting to know about:

1. General Instruction of the Roman Missal, S.C.D.W, Cenam Paschalem, 26 March 1970


2. DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH, Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 21 Nov. 1964


3. DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON DIVINE REVELATION, Vatican II, Dei Verbum, 18 Nov. 1965


4. PASTORAL CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD, Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, 7 Dec. 1965