EPISTLES

Bishop Athanasius Schneider briefly outlined the liturgical situation in Kazakhstan—highlighting the nationwide prohibition of Communion in the hand, the complete absence of altar girls and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and the resulting strength of the Novus Ordo (NO) when celebrated with deep reverence.

In an interview with YouTuber and evangelizer Adrian Milag, Bishop Schneider emphasized that the prevailing circumstances render a broad promotion of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM less essential, since the faithful are already being spiritually nourished through a reverent and worthy celebration of the reformed liturgy.

A Model of Reverence: The Novus Ordo Mass in Kazakhstan

The Catholic Church in Kazakhstan presents a unique and compelling example of how the reformed liturgy, the Novus Ordo Mass, can be celebrated with profound reverence and piety, fostering a spiritual environment that deeply nourishes the faithful. This exceptional situation, confirmed by the testimony of Bishop Athanasius Schneider in a conversation with Adrian Milag, offers a powerful model for the universal Church.

The widespread adoption of sacred, traditional norms for the reception of the Holy Eucharist has resulted in liturgies deemed so “worthy” and devout that the faithful largely feel no need to seek out the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM).

The Rule of Reverence: Kneeling and on the Tongue

The centerpiece of this devout liturgical life is the formal prohibition of Communion in the hand across the entire nation. This measure, established by the decree of the Bishops’ Conference, enforces the practice of receiving Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in the most traditional and humble manner.

As confirmed by the bishop, the only ordinary form to receive Holy Communion in all churches and chapels is kneeling and on the tongue.

This practice is theologically and spiritually rich. Receiving the host on the tongue is an ancient discipline, emphasizing the profound reality that the Eucharist is not ordinary food, but the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. It safeguards the Eucharist from accidental profanation and expresses the recipient’s unworthiness to touch the sacred species, while affirming the special dignity of the consecrated hands of the priest.

The posture of kneeling further enhances this act, serving as a powerful, non-verbal profession of faith in the Real Presence. It is an act of adoration, mirroring the reverence of the Magi or the Apostles encountering the Risen Lord.

This singular, uniform practice ensures that every Mass, regardless of the language or liturgical calendar, is permeated with the highest possible level of eucharistic devotion.

A Worthy Liturgy and a Pious People

The commitment to such high liturgical standards has profoundly impacted the spiritual disposition of the Catholic community in Kazakhstan. Bishop Schneider attests that the majority of the liturgies are “very worthy”. This worthiness is further reflected in other significant liturgical disciplines maintained by the Church in this region, such as the total prohibition of altar girls and the absence of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers).

These norms serve to uphold the integrity of the ministerial priesthood and preserve the distinct roles within the sanctuary, all contributing to a clear, dignified, and traditional sense of the sacred within the Novus Ordo setting.

The result of this widespread devotion is a faithful populace described as “pious and devoted”. They are nurtured by liturgies that consistently communicate the majesty and mystery of the Catholic faith.

When the Novus Ordo Mass is celebrated ad orientem (as is often the case when communion is received kneeling) and with these traditional disciplines, its continuity with the Church’s ancient liturgical heritage is made manifest. This demonstration of continuity helps prevent the sense of confusion or compromise that can sometimes arise elsewhere.

The Strength of the Novus Ordo: Addressing the Demand for TLM

A key observation from the interview—and a tremendous affirmation of the potential of the reformed liturgy—is the reason for the lack of widespread demand for the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) among the faithful in Kazakhstan.

The bishop notes that there are “very few people who demand it” because the current Novus Ordo liturgies are already so worthy. Moreover, some of the faithful “don’t even feel the necessity” of the Latin Mass because “these circumstances are good” even in the Novus Ordo.

This is a powerful testament: when the Novus Ordo is celebrated with uncompromising sacredness, solemnity, and faithfulness to the rubrics, particularly regarding the reception of the Eucharist, it fulfills the spiritual needs of the faithful so completely that they do not feel compelled to search for the older form of the Mass.

The reverence inherent in kneeling and receiving on the tongue is not merely an aesthetic preference; it is a spiritual anchor that connects the entire liturgical experience to the bedrock of Eucharistic faith.

By emphasizing this supreme act of adoration, the Novus Ordo in Kazakhstan demonstrates its full capacity to be a profound source of grace and tradition, becoming a model that proves that the post-conciliar liturgy, when celebrated with the deepest reverence, can stand as the unifying and fully satisfying expression of Catholic faith for the majority of the flock.

This flourishing piety is indeed a “good situation” for the Church in Kazakhstan.

Adrian Milag–Bishop Schneider Interview on TLM in Kazakhstan:

Adrian Milag: Your excellency, you strongly promote the Traditional Latin Mass, but there seems to be no listed TLMs in Kazakhstan. Could you clarify the situation?

Bishop Athanasius Schneider: Well, our current bishops are not so considering. Well, we have very few people who demand it because majority of our liturgies, thanks be to God, are very worthy.

We have in all Kazakhstan, the communion in hand is prohibited; formally, it is prohibited by the decree of the bishop’s conference. The only ordinary form to receive Holy Communion is kneeling on the tongue in all churches, in all chapels, with the paten. There is no other possibility, except of course, for sick people.

And then we have no altar girls at all in all Kazakhstan; it is banned—no women, no altar girls.

We have no eucharistic ministers at all, and so it’s a good situation in some way.

The people are pious and devoted and therefore they don’t know the Latin Mass. And some don’t even feel the necessity because these circumstances are good, even in the Novus Ordo. The majority of all the bishops say, ‘Okay, we continue.’

I celebrate in my private Episcopal chapel when I am not committed to public Masses, the Traditional Latin Mass. And once, when I am teaching in the seminary, I also celebrate for the seminarians, with the consent of the other bishops, sometimes also the Traditional Latin Mass.

So, this is momentaneously the situation, but I think if there would be a greater movement, it would be possible also, but since now we have not these considerable groups.