Why We Kneel for Communion – Bishop Athanasius Schneider

Interview Organization: Dr. Taylor Marshall
Interviewer Name: Dr. Taylor Marshall
Date: August 9, 2023
Bishop Schneider emphasizes faith in the Eucharist as the true presence of Jesus Christ, not merely a thing but a divine person. He cites Christ’s words to the Samaritan woman and Saint Paul’s teaching on the fullness of divinity dwelling bodily in Christ, inspiring spontaneous reverence.
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Transcript:

Can you explain the importance of communion on the tongue and the tabernacle location ad orientem, how these things that look like incidental changes have led to a decrease in mass attendance, a decrease in belief in the Real Presence?

I think it is simply a question of faith. As our Lord told the Samaritan woman, “If you knew the gift of God, if you knew the unspeakable gift of God which is the body of Christ in the Eucharist.” But this is not only what this is, but who is the holy host. It is not a thing, but it is a person, the presence of the divine person of Jesus Christ in the fullness of His divinity. As Saint Paul says, “In Christ dwells the plenitude of divinity bodily.” And this is the Eucharist. And so, if you knew who was there, you would spontaneously kneel.