Correct time to sit after communion in the US?

[PRmerger]

So after communion we are all kneeling.

The priest returns the Blessed Sacrament to the Tabernacle.
The deacon is at the credence table consuming the Precious Blood.

The priest returns to sit at his chair on the altar.

So some of us in the congregation sit…

But most remain kneeling until the deacon has completed his task and returns to his chair beside the priest.

When is the correct time to stop kneeling?

(Understood that one can always continue to kneel if one is still in prayer. Just asking for norms.)

 

[brad90956]

This is just my opinion but I wait for two things to happen before taking my seat:

1. The precious Host(s) are returned to the Tabernacle.
2. The priest has taken his seat.

 

[Brendan]

There really isn’t one.

Upon receiving Holy Communion and returning to one’s seat, each person may sit, kneel or stand as desired.

The person can remain in that posture until called to stand for the final blessing.

 

[TK421]

There really isn’t one.

Upon receiving Holy Communion and returning to one’s seat, each person may sit, kneel or stand as desired.

The person can remain in that posture until called to stand for the final blessing.

I wish there were more people that didn’t make up rules that don’t exist. I’m still reversing all the confusion that was put in me from hanging out on these forums in 2014. I only recently discovered that I don’t have to put myself into some particular posture at some particular time (except during the obvious cues).

There’s a special place in Purgatory for armchair liturgical experts.

 

[Phemie]

There really isn’t one.

Upon receiving Holy Communion and returning to one’s seat, each person may sit, kneel or stand as desired.

The person can remain in that posture until called to stand for the final blessing.

^^^^
This

 

[JurisPrudens]

This is just my opinion but I wait for two things to happen before taking my seat:

1. The precious Host(s) are returned to the Tabernacle.
2. The priest has taken his seat.

I usually look at point (1). Some priests never sit.

 

[Gertabelle]

Our pastor asked us to sit when the priest sits.

Of course, I’m in the choir loft at the organ, so I’m sitting the whole time.

 

[Mary_Estelle]

I see many variations as I go to a chapel with a mix of elderly, infirm, limited, young, children and visitors. I don care how they sit, kneel, stand conduct themselves, as long as they do so with reverence and Father doesn’t care either. This morning a saw a young woman in a very, very short dress, but she was there. I really don’t go to watch other people, but for the mass and that is what is important-paramount. Peace and prayers for all who show up.

 

[dee_burk]

At my parish, the priest stands and watches until the tabernacle is closed then sits. Once the celebrants sits, most of our parish will sit.

 

[1believer1]

At my parish, the priest stands and watches until the tabernacle is closed then sits. Once the celebrants sits, most of our parish will sit.

It is my understanding ( and I have no document to back this up ) what I have been taught and tradition that if the priest is sitting but the deacon is still purifying the sacred vessels we continue to kneel ( if physically able ) until the deacon sits down. I have been to mass in a church that does not have kneelers but the floor is carpeted and the people mostly sit but many do kneel on the floor.

 

[zab]

When asked this question, our pastor has told us that we may sit after the Blessed Sacrament has been returned to the tabernacle. He insisted that we not wait for him to sit down. I don’t think it really matters but I do as he has asked.

 

[ThundersnowIV]

At my parish we all kneel until the consecrated hosts are returned to the tabernacle and the deacon or priest putting the hosts there sits.

 

[The_Reginator]

Until last March I had been assisting at a Novus Ordo Mass since the year 2000.
Now I assist at a Tridentine Mass.
In both circumstances it is important to me to try my best to meditate/contemplate on what we are partaking in. I do not look up. At some point I hear a lot of rustling, so I guess people have begun to sit.
I always wait until I hear “Oreamus” or “Let us Pray”. That is when I personally stand.

There. My :twocents:

 

[zab]

Simply stated: The answer to the OP’s question is: **after the Hosts have been returned to the tabernacle and it has been closed. ** It is understood that there are those who wish to remain kneeling and that there are those who are already sitting for various reasons.

 

[Reuben_J]

So after communion we are all kneeling.

The priest returns the Blessed Sacrament to the Tabernacle.
The deacon is at the credence table consuming the Precious Blood.

The priest returns to sit at his chair on the altar.

So some of us in the congregation sit…

But most remain kneeling until the deacon has completed his task and returns to his chair beside the priest.

When is the correct time to stop kneeling?

(Understood that one can always continue to kneel if one is still in prayer. Just asking for norms.)

I think there is really none. We do not have to kneel after Communion. Sitting would be fine. It is a quiet time of contemplating of having received Jesus.

Of course, of course, nearly all of us would kneel on returning from the Holy Communion. What do we do? Do we pray? Or do we just bask in the joy of being literally in full communion with the Lord? It can be different things to different communicants.

I would kneel after giving the ciborium back to the celebrant, and if there is time, I may do that for a while. The time is too holy for me to be busy or being distracted. Just basking in the moment, so to speak.

I think one can continue kneeling until the closing prayer.

 

[Edmundus1581]

From CAF apologist Michelle Arnold.

When do you stop kneeling after communion?

To the best of my knowledge, the Church does not mandate when kneeling following reception of Communion ends. People are free to return to sitting at any time, especially if kneeling for a long period of time is for some reason problematic for them.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

So after communion we are all kneeling.

The priest returns the Blessed Sacrament to the Tabernacle.
The deacon is at the credence table consuming the Precious Blood.

The priest returns to sit at his chair on the altar.

So some of us in the congregation sit…

But most remain kneeling until the deacon has completed his task and returns to his chair beside the priest.

When is the correct time to stop kneeling?

(Understood that one can always continue to kneel if one is still in prayer. Just asking for norms.)

It certainly is not uniform within the whole US. It varies by diocese. Heck where I live it varies by parish.

Some places don’t kneel for communion at all.

Personally, I kneel before my Lord while he is exposed.

Most people I observe use when the priest sits as thier guide, which depending on the priests and his assistants varies.

 

[zab]

From CAF apologist Michelle Arnold.

When do you stop kneeling after communion?

But the General Instruction of the Roman Missal does mention that the faithful "… ** may sit or kneel during the period of sacred silence after Communion.**usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2.cfm

Other than that, there is no specific time given when one should sit. I think it comes down to our own sense of respect and courtesy. If one is already kneeling and wishes to sit at some point it would be respectful to at least wait until the Blessed Sacrament has been returned to the tabernacle and closed." Some may also wish to extend a further courtesy by waiting for the priest to sit.

 

[NovusAugustus]

I’ve always thought it obvious that since the reason for kneeling is to reverence the Real Presence one should stop kneeling once the Real Presence is returned to the tabernacle.

 

[PRmerger]

I’ve always thought it obvious that since the reason for kneeling is to reverence the Real Presence one should stop kneeling once the Real Presence is returned to the tabernacle.

Our deacon told us that since Christ is truly, substantially present in the Eucharist, after communion, He is present, truly and substantially, in all the communicants, and therefore there is no way to kneel before the Real Presence–since He is not contained only on the altar at that time.