When to Kneel and Stand?

09-29-2019Pastor's LetterFr. John Ehrich

Dear Parishioners,

Over the course of my time at St. Thomas More I have noticed a good deal of confusion about posture during Mass. I understand there has been an uneven practice at our parish in this regard. Quite a few people have asked me what they should be doing. Undoubtedly, many of you have noticed that our practice here is different from other parishes in the diocese. This isn't a good thing as we are to be in union with our entire diocese regarding the Holy Mass.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states, "With a view to a uniformity in gestures and postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the directions which the deacon, lay minister, or priest gives according to whatever is indicated in the Missal." (RM 43) Notice that the instruction does not give the priest the option to create his own practice, but to inform the people of what the Church instructs.

Thus I want to clear up for everyone what the Church teaches. There are three times during the Mass when we are not doing what is prescribed by the Church.

The first is following the Lamb of God. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states, "The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the Diocesan Bishop has determined otherwise." (GIRM 43) Of course our Bishop has not determined otherwise. Thus the posture required by the Church following the conclusion of the Lamb of God is that the faithful kneel.

The second is at the invitation to stand right after the Preparation of the Gifts. The priest says, "Pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father." The Roman Missal says that the people are to rise and respond "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands..." (RM 29) This invitation by the priest to the people is meant to include them in the sacrifice being offered on the altar. They are to offer their intentions with the priest. This is a function of everyone's priestly role and, therefore, the response is made in a priestly posture; standing. Thus, after I say my invitation, the rest of you should stand and say your response.

The third place within the Mass is following the reception of Holy Communion. When the General Instruction was released there was some confusion about what the Church was asking because no posture was indicated for people at this point in the Mass. Some bishops wondered if people should remain standing until the end or if they should kneel, as is traditional in the United States. To clear up the confusion the bishops sent a "Dubium" to Rome asking for clarification. On November 7, 2000 Cardinal Estevez, the Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments responded. Here is the actual wording of the question and answer given.

1. Is it the case that the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, by No. 43 of the Institutio Generalls Alissalis Romani, intends to prohibit the faithful from kneeling during any part of the Mass except during the Consecration, that is, to prohibit the faithful from kneeling after the A gnus Dei and following the reception of Holy Communion?
Resp.: Negative.

All the way back in 2000 the Church definitively instructed that it was acceptable to kneel following the reception of Communion. However, the Church did not instruct a specific posture to be followed; kneeling or standing. So who determines what the people should do? Certainly not the individual priest as that would be beyond his competency. He is not given that authority. From Redemptionis Sacramentum written in 2004 by Cardinal Arinze who was, at that time, prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments,

"The diocesan Bishop, the first steward of the mysteries of God in the particular Church entrusted to him, is the moderator, promoter and guardian of her whole liturgical life." (RS 19)

"It pertains to the diocesan Bishop, then, "within the limits of his competence, to set forth liturgical norms in his Diocese, by which all are bound". (RS 21)

Our diocesan bishop has determined that the correct posture following Communion is to either kneel or be seated.

Of utmost importance is that the congregation is unified in their posture. Notice, I didn't say the priest and the congregation. The priest celebrant has a different role within the liturgy than do the people. Thus, following Communion the proper posture (in our diocese) is not to stand, but to either kneel or be seated.

I hope this clears up the confusion that people have been having.

God's blessings,
Fr. John

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