Hello,
I will be sitting at the front of the Church at Mass tommorow and have trouble remembering when to stand and sit. Is there anything on Catholic Answers website that explains it? Do I just stand and sit when the priest does?
Thanks
For such a topic, I’d really recommend simply asking your priest (or a fellow parishioner). You could just follow their postures.
GIRM n. 43 describes the posture of the faithful during the Mass.
Stand from the entrance procession until after the Collect (the opening prayer).
Sit for the First Reading, Psalm, and Second Reading.
Stand for the Alleluia and the Gospel.
Sit for the homily.
Stand for the Creed and the Prayer of the Faithful.
Sit for the offertory.
Stand when the priest says “Pray, brethren…” and stay standing until after the “Holy, Holy, Holy”.
Kneel for the entire Eucharistic Prayer until after the “Amen”.
Stand from the “Amen” to after the “Lamb of God”.
(In some dioceses, you kneel after the “Lamb of God”.)
You may sit, stand, or kneel after you return to your seat after Communion.
You stand for the prayer after Communion until the end of Mass.
Simon Peter says ‘Sit’
Simon Peter says “Kneel”
Simon Peter says “Stand”
“Genuflect”
Ha!.You’re excommunicated!!
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
sorry, not to make fun of the op at all, but that WAS pretty funny!
So, I would say, keep an eye on the priest. Ours is good enough to offer a little hand gesture, indicating when we should sit and stand…I think many of them do that. Otherwise, watch the folks to your left and right…nothing says you have to be the FIRST on your feet. Good luck!
and for the TLM:
Guide for Latin Mass
Standing, Sitting, Kneeling
According to the custom of England and Wales
At High or Low Mass, the triple bell at the celebrant’s Domine, non sum dignus is the signal for the faithful to approach the altar rails for Holy Communion. Anyone standing in the aisles should kneel for the Ecce Agnus Dei.
Low Mass
As the priest enters, the congregation should kneel.
From beginning to Gospel - kneel
At the Gospel - stand
At the Credo - stand
During the Offertory - sit
From the Sanctus to the Last Gospel - kneel
At the Last Gospel - stand
Post-Missal prayers and exit of priest - kneel
High Mass and Missa Cantata
During the processional entry - stand
During the Asperges - stand
From beginning to Gloria - kneel
At the intoning of the Gloria - stand
If the congregation sings, remain standing. If the choir only, sit when the clergy do.
Rise with the celebrant for:
Dominus Vobiscum and Collects - stand
At the singing of the Epistle - sit
At the singing of the Gospel - stand
At the notices and for the Sermon - sit
At the Credo - stand
As at the Gloria. Rise with the celebrant for:
Dominus Vobiscum, Oremus - stand
During the Offertory - sit
Rise when the congregation is incensed
Preface dialogue to Sanctus - stand
Sanctus, Canon, Communion - kneel
Dominus Vobiscum and Post Communion - stand
At the Blessing - kneel
Last Gospel to exit of clergy - stand
This information can also be found at:
latin-mass-society.org/congreg.htm
Be aware that the postures described apply to the US but perhaps not to other countries. The only time we are called to kneel in Canada is during the Consecration.
This looks exactly the same as what happens in England and Wales (from my experience) - and we always kneel after the Lamb of God.
If you’re not sure as to when to sit/stand/kneel, why are you in the first pew?
Some churches have hand missals available or of course you can buy one.
Remembering what is written here or some other website doesn’t seem like a very reliable plan.
I can’t speak for the OP, but I will be sitting in the first pew this Sunday (and every other Sunday until Easter) because I am in the RCIA and we Catachumens are required to sit in the front row. Our sponsors sit behind us and the candidates sit behind our sponsors. I’m actually going to my first Mass tomorrow morning to get a crash course in standing and kneeling so I don’t look too silly on Sunday.
Maybe the OP is asking because of similar circumstances?
Bringing up an old thread. I found this link which explains it in a little more detail:
theworkofgod.org/Devotns/Euchrist/guide.htm
I also noticed at the point “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands…” everyone at the recent churches I have been to stand during the first 3 words, but isn’t it correct to stand at the end of “all His Church?”
No, the proper time is before (or at least at the beginning of) that response. The Missal says, “The people rise and reply, May the Lord accept . . . .” Incidentally, the very end of this response is one of the things that has been corrected in the new translation that’s now in use: we now say, “. . . and the good of all his holy Church.”