The laity is not required all to sit when the presider sits. According to the GIRM:I’ve noticed that there is a minority of parishoners who remain kneeling after the priest has reseated himself, following communion. What is the specific directive of GIRM regarding this action and posture? My understanding is that all in the congregation are required to reseat themselves when the presiding priest has reseated himself.I interpret this as an outward sign of unity.
- The faithful should stand from the beginning of the Entrance chant, or while the priest approaches the altar, until the end of the Collect; for the Alleluia chant before the Gospel; while the Gospel itself is proclaimed; during the Profession of Faith and the Prayer of the Faithful; from the invitation, Orate, fratres (Pray, brethren), before the prayer over the offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated below.
They should, however, sit while the readings before the Gospel and the responsorial Psalm are proclaimed and for the homily and while the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory is taking place; and, as circumstances allow,** they may sit or kneel while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed.**
In the dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason. Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.
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.
Ditto. I kneel for Christ on the altar. As I heard a mother once explain it simply, “we kneel until Jesus goes back into His house (tabernacle).”I suspect you’ll see less of this now that there have been instructions regarding the purification of vessels.
I’ll tell you why I have continued to kneel once the priest has reseated himself. I have done this because even though the priest had reseated himself, the communion vessels were still ‘outside the tabernacle’ because an EMHC was purifying them. I would wait until he or she had put the vessels back into the tabernacle, and then I would be seated.
Now that the priest purifies the vessels after communion and puts them back into the tabernacle and THEN seats himself, I seat myself when he does.
Simple as that.
This is the key. Unity NEED only be expressed through gesture where the appropriate authority directs so long as it is in accordance with the GIRM.Another example of unity of posture is: “43. … 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.”
Each individual faithful may chose to sit, stand or kneel upon returning from receiving Holy Communion for the period of personal prayer and reflection. No one may dictate the posture taken it is up to each individual. Most people remain kneeling until the tabernacle is closed or the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the sanctuary.I’ve noticed that there is a minority of parishoners who remain kneeling after the priest has reseated himself, following communion. What is the specific directive of GIRM regarding this action and posture? My understanding is that all in the congregation are required to reseat themselves when the presiding priest has reseated himself.I interpret this as an outward sign of unity.
I remain kneeling until the Tabernacle door is closed but sometimes I wait until the Priest stands. It depends.Each individual faithful may chose to sit, stand or kneel upon returning from receiving Holy Communion for the period of personal prayer and reflection. No one may dictate the posture taken it is up to each individual. Most people remain kneeling until the tabernacle is closed or the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the sanctuary.
This practice comes from the rubrics for lay people at a Traditional Latin Mass, particularly a High Mass.I’ve noticed that there is a minority of parishoners who remain kneeling after the priest has reseated himself, following communion. What is the specific directive of GIRM regarding this action and posture? My understanding is that all in the congregation are required to reseat themselves when the presiding priest has reseated himself.I interpret this as an outward sign of unity.
I have the same thought and experience. We were instructed multiple times by our priests in my parish to stand until the last person receives Holy Communion and then sit or kneel. Like you I prefer to kneel after the last person receives Communion until the “Let us pray” when all rise again.By the time the celebrant sits down, not only is not required that we sit, I think it is rather pointless since we will be changing position again in a (usually) very short time to stand for the closing prayer.
What about during communion? Do we sit, or kneel. The folks in my Parish (me too) sit. But I was taught by the sisters that as long as the Eucharist is outside the tabernacle, we kneel. Don’t know when this was changed, or was it. Too long ago to remember. Thanks.I’ve noticed that there is a minority of parishoners who remain kneeling after the priest has reseated himself, following communion. What is the specific directive of GIRM regarding this action and posture? My understanding is that all in the congregation are required to reseat themselves when the presiding priest has reseated himself.I interpret this as an outward sign of unity.
We stand until we personally receive Holy Communion and then when back in our pew, as was said, according to the rubrics we stand, sit or kneel, you choose. The common posture intented by the Instruction, # 43. *Movements and Posture *, is to stand until the last person receives, but we are free to stand, sit or kneel. If you’re uneasy choosing then you can ask your priest or deacon for counsel.What about during communion? Do we sit, or kneel. The folks in my Parish (me too) sit. But I was taught by the sisters that as long as the Eucharist is outside the tabernacle, we kneel, your choice. Don’t know when this was changed, or was it. Too long ago to remember. Thanks.
Each individual faithful may chose to sit, stand or kneel upon returning from receiving Holy Communion for the period of personal prayer and reflection. No one may dictate the posture taken it is up to each individual. Most people remain kneeling until the tabernacle is closed or the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the sanctuary.
Each individual faithful may chose to sit, stand or kneel upon returning from receiving Holy Communion for the period of personal prayer and reflection. No one may dictate the posture taken it is up to each individual. Most people remain kneeling until the tabernacle is closed or the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the sanctuary.
These two posts seem to contrast. If communion ends only after the last person receives, do we stand once communion starts till it ends? Or do we sit kneel until we get up to go receive then can choose to sit, stand or kneel immediately after returning to our seats and not wait till the rest of the congregation has received?I have the same thought and experience. We were instructed multiple times by our priests in my parish to stand until the last person receives Holy Communion and then sit or kneel. Like you I prefer to kneel after the last person receives Communion until the “Let us pray” when all rise again.
As others have already said the GIRM 43 says "and, as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed. "
In Let Us Pray: A Guide to the Rubrics of the Sunday Mass author Father Paul Turner, Doctor of Sacred Theology, says “Many people assume the Communion ends when the tabernacle door is shut or when the priest sits down, but Communion ends when the last person has received.” (P751) "The CDWDS* attempted to clarity the matter in a later statement permitting these devotional postures after each person receives Communion. The intent of GIRM 43 is 'on the one hand, the ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the celebration of Holy Mass, and on the other, not to regulate posture rigidly in such a was that those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free" Prot.N.855/03/L). However, this did not eliminate the posture the GIRM had in mind all along, namely, standing. The documents, therefore, permit three different posture after receiving Communion." (P748)
*CDWDS Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Reply With Quote Multi-Quote This Message
This puzzles me. Do you mean that in your parish empty vessels are kept in the Tabernacle?I suspect you’ll see less of this now that there have been instructions regarding the purification of vessels.
I’ll tell you why I have continued to kneel once the priest has reseated himself. I have done this because even though the priest had reseated himself, the communion vessels were still ‘outside the tabernacle’ because an EMHC was purifying them. I would wait until he or she had put the vessels back into the tabernacle, and then I would be seated.
Now that the priest purifies the vessels after communion and puts them back into the tabernacle and THEN seats himself, I seat myself when he does.
Simple as that.
I wondered about that too. It’s been my experience that the priest returns the ciborium/ciboria to the tabernacle before he purifies the rest of the vessels.This puzzles me. Do you mean that in your parish empty vessels are kept in the Tabernacle?
I think the normal place for them would be in a safe in the sacristy, ready to be filled with altar-breads when the next Mass is prepared.