Correct time to sit after communion in the US?

[CB_Catholic]

Our tabernacle is in the back of the church in part of the chapel. Also, it is not the custom for those who cannot go up to Communion to sit in one area, so they are spread throughout the church. Father does not leave the altar to return the hosts to the tabernacle, this is done by the Deacon or EMHC who is distributing Communion to the disabled around the church. Since it is a prolonged period of time, Father sits and we all do also. This period of time is very quiet and many use it for prayer and meditation.

It may not be ideal, but it is what it is, and is the preference of the Pastor. He has bad knees also, and can have a bit of trouble climbing steps, so sitting rather than standing is probably more comfortable for him.

 

[Phemie]

In the US, unless your Bishop has mandated differently, you kneel until you go to Communion. Coming back you are free to stand, sit, or kneel, it’s up to you.

The default is stand but that was clarified by a dubium and the reply was that after one has received Communion one is free to sit, stand, or kneel as he/she prefers.

 

[Reuben_J]

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.

I concur.

That’s why I asked why do we kneel after Communion? I think that’s perhaps the most reverent posture, but then again the Lord is in us now. I kneel out of habit but I would be comfortable sitting down too. I kneel because I am praying, mostly on thanksgiving.

When I was a lector in my younger days, our liturgist said we shouldn’t bow as we approached the altar as we were carrying the word (lectionary); only the celebrant and the rest of the procession would do that. Would that be similar to after we receive the Holy Communion? Just thinking out loud.

 

[PRmerger]

I concur.

That’s why I asked why do we kneel after Communion? I think that’s perhaps the most reverent posture, but then again the Lord is in us now. I kneel out of habit but I would be comfortable sitting down too. I kneel because I am praying, mostly on thanksgiving.

When I was a lector in my younger days, our liturgist said we shouldn’t bow as we approached the altar as we were carrying the word (lectionary);

In my younger college days I heard that too. This was in the 80’s.

But I think this was misinformed thinking. The Word of God is present, no doubt, in the words we profess as lectors, but it is different from the Real Presence in the Eucharist, present, at the time that we approach the altar as lectors, in the Tabernacle.

I think there was a movement in the Church (laity) to try to “horizontalize” the Real Presence.

And saying that the Divine Presence was “just as present in the Scriptures as in the Eucharist” was a manifestation of this.

 

[Reuben_J]

In my younger college days I heard that too. This was in the 80’s.

But I think this was misinformed thinking. The Word of God is present, no doubt, in the words we profess as lectors, but it is different from the Real Presence in the Eucharist, present, at the time that we approach the altar as lectors, in the Tabernacle.

I think there was a movement in the Church (laity) to try to “horizontalize” the Real Presence.

And saying that the Divine Presence was “just as present in the Scriptures as in the Eucharist” was a manifestation of this.

Thanks. Here I am not sure if there is a ruling on that now (whether the lector carrying the lectionary should or shouldn’t bow) and it is left to the discretion of the lector concerned depending on his/ her training.

But after reading, the lector would made a bow to the lectionary at the ambo.

 

[EyesClosed]

I sit when I hear the tabernacle closing. I ignore the celebrant if he signals for us to sit before that happens.

 

[Anne1964]

In our diocese the norm is to remain standing after receiving Communion, however, that is almost universally ignored and depending on the parish, most people kneel or sit and only few remain standing.

In my parish we wait until the sacred vessels have been purified and the deacon has sat down.

 

[Padres1969]

In our diocese the norm is to remain standing after receiving Communion, however, that is almost universally ignored and depending on the parish, most people kneel or sit and only few remain standing.

In my parish we wait until the sacred vessels have been purified and the deacon has sat down.

Is standing generally the norm people see in their Catholic Churches?

My experience when visiting Catholic Churches is that most people kneel when returning to their pews after communion, not stand.

 

[zab]

Is standing generally the norm people see in their Catholic Churches?

My experience when visiting Catholic Churches is that most people kneel when returning to their pews after communion, not stand.

I think the poster meant to say that the posture, chosen by the bishop of her diocese (as well as mine), is for the people to remain standing after the Agnus Dei until after everyone has received Communion. But as the poster continued, most people kneel anyway when coming back from Communion. Understandably, some have good reason to sit. We seldom have anyone to stand other than one or a few at funerals, and maybe weddings.

 

[Faith1960]

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.

Yeah, it seems to vary from parish to parish.

 

[Brendan]

I think the poster meant to say that the posture, chosen by the bishop of her diocese (as well as mine), is for the people to remain standing after the Agnus Dei until after everyone has received Communion. But as the poster continued, most people kneel anyway when coming back from Communion. Understandably, some have good reason to sit. We seldom have anyone to stand other than one or a few at funerals, and maybe weddings.

It is not so much of a norm, but a request, as the bishop most certainly does not seek to violate the legislative norms of the Church as a whole

The US Bishops contacted the Congregation for Divine Worship on this very issue. The response back

Dubium: In many places, the faithful are accustomed to kneeling or sitting in personal prayer upon returning to their places after having individually received Holy Communion during Mass. Is it the intention of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, to forbid this practice?
Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the CDW, responded to the question on June 5, 2003 (Prot. N. 855/03/L):
Responsum: Negative, et ad mensum [No, for this reason]. The mens [reasoning] is that the prescription of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, no. 43, is intended, on the one hand, to 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, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free.

Part of the norms of the Church itself is for those who wish to sit or kneel be free to do so.

adoremus.org/Kneeling-CDW-response03.html

 

[zab]

It is not so much of a norm, but a request, as the bishop most certainly does not seek to violate the legislative norms of the Church as a whole

The US Bishops contacted the Congregation for Divine Worship on this very issue. The response back

Part of the norms of the Church itself is for those who wish to sit or kneel be free to do so.

adoremus.org/Kneeling-CDW-response03.html

I was responding to a specific question. I’m not sure what you are getting at by saying that the bishop’s decision on posture “… is not so much of a norm, but a request…” As I read it, the bishop is allowed to set the posture in his diocese. He is not merely requesting. So I don’t know what you mean. The reply from the Sacred Congregation For Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments did not deny the bishop’s authority to set the posture.

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2.cfm
In the Dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by ill health, or for reasons of lack of space, of the large number of people present, or for another reasonable cause. However, 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 (Lamb of God) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.[53] (my emphasis in bold). The bishop is not merely requesting, he has the authority to set the posture.

 

[Phemie]

I was responding to a specific question. I’m not sure what you are getting at by saying that the bishop’s decision on posture “… is not so much of a norm, but a request…” As I read it, the bishop is allowed to set the posture in his diocese. He is not merely requesting. So I don’t know what you mean. The reply from the Sacred Congregation For Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments did not deny the bishop’s authority to set the posture.

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:
In the Dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by ill health, or for reasons of lack of space, of the large number of people present, or for another reasonable cause. However, 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 (Lamb of God) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.[53] (my emphasis in bold). The bishop is not merely requesting, he has the authority to set the posture.

Cardinal Arinze clarified in an interview that the diocesan bishop could dictate the posture between the Agnus Dei and Communion but not the posture of the faithful upon return from Communion.

 

[pianistclare]

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:

Sigh.
There is no such thing as a “Novus Ordo Mass”.

The correct term is Ordinary Form.

Also, it is against forum rules to advance one form over the other.
They are both permitted. For years now.

 

[Blue_Rose]

I’m not in the US but I have to sit because my knees hurt so much from kneeling! uch:

 

[Spudbynight]

Sigh.
There is no such thing as a “Novus Ordo Mass”.

The correct term is Ordinary Form.

Also, it is against forum rules to advance one form over the other.
They are both permitted. For years now.

Yes, since 1969

 

[zab]

I’m not in the US but I have to sit because my knees hurt so much from kneeling! uch:

Mine too! But I really didn’t think the OP’s question was that big of a deal. He just had a simple question wanting to know when the appropriate time was to sit. But many are getting so personal with the answers. Who knew a simple question could be taken so personally and be so complicated to answer.

 

[zab]

Cardinal Arinze clarified in an interview that the diocesan bishop could dictate the posture between the Agnus Dei and Communion but not the posture of the faithful upon return from Communion.

I’m not sure that is totally true. Perhaps it is a matter of what you mean by “dictate”. I believe that the Cardinal did affirm that the diocesan bishop could determine the posture at both times mentioned above…" the prescription of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, no. 43, is intended, on the one hand, to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the celebration of Holy Mass…" However, Cardinal Arinze added, "…*on the other hand, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free. *

 

[Reuben_J]

Mine too! But I really didn’t think the OP’s question was that big of a deal. He just had a simple question wanting to know when the appropriate time was to sit. But many are getting so personal with the answers. Who knew a simple question could be taken so personally and be so complicated to answer.

Seem sometimes people like to sound as if they know better than others or holier. Not all though.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I’m not sure that is totally true. Perhaps it is a matter of what you mean by “dictate”. I believe that the Cardinal did affirm that the diocesan bishop could determine the posture at both times mentioned above…" the prescription of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, no. 43, is intended, on the one hand, to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the celebration of Holy Mass…" However, Cardinal Arinze added, "…*on the other hand, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free. *

This is, actually, the key point for this aspect of this discussion.

This needs to be clearly understood.

There is the norm. The norm is not a suggestion. It is a rubric.

The clarification that Cardinal Arinze provided was that the rubric concerning the posture after Communion was not to be so severely interpreted and enforced that it compelled a certain action by every member of the liturgical assembly. That would be simply wrong.

If a person does not comply with the rubric, then they are not in compliance. It is presumed that if they choose, for one reason or another, not to comply, that there is a legitimate reason provoking this.

The reality is, neither should they set aside the rubric lightly or merely due to personal whim.

As for what you experienced…well, welcome to the club. When one is working with the liturgy, one not infrequently encounters those who either think of rubrics as though they were merely suggestions on the one hand or those who think of them as supreme values that are unchangeable and even to complied with through extreme measures on the other hand.

Liturgists and liturgical scholars, of course, are of a totally different mind. Any given rubric, we would say, would have to be analysed through the paradigm of liturgical theology to determine its very relative value…which could be essential or of quite minimal import.