Do I have to stand if my bishop requires it?

[J_Anthony]

At the beginning of Lent the bishop of our diocese said that everyone should remain standing after the Agnus Dei and should stand until everyone has received Communion. One parish that my family attends occasionally is strictly enforcing this rule. However, our parish (which is run by Dominicans) is not forcing the issue but is basically leaving it up to each individual. Do we owe absolute obedience to the bishop in this matter?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

There are two separate issues here:

1. A bishop in the United States can require that congregations remain standing after the Agnus Dei until the reception of Communion:

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 (GIRM 2002, no. 43, emphasis added).

If your bishop has mandated that the congregations should remain standing after the Agnus Dei, then you should stand as has been directed.

2. The bishop does not determine a congregant’s posture after the congregant has received Communion. After each congregant has received Communion, the congregant may choose to stand, sit, or kneel. The congregant does not have to wait for the rest of the congregation to receive before assuming the posture of his choice. If you wish to sit or kneel at this point, the choice is yours.

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?

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 (source).

This particular question-and-response has been misunderstood by some to state that the bishop cannot mandate that the congregation remain standing after the Agnus Dei. This is not the case. The question-and-response was a clarification of number 43 of the GIRM, not a negation of it. This means that while the bishop can mandate standing until the individual reception of Communion, he cannot mandate that individuals may not kneel after receiving Communion.

Recommended reading:

The Struggle for Uniformity in the Liturgy by Kenneth D. Whitehead