Do we have to stand instead of kneel?

[Redd_Jackal]

We were told recently, through the parish bulletin, that there were recent changes in the GIRM. That for the sake of Unity of Posture, all were to stand as Holy Communion was distributed until the last recipient returned to the pews. Also, that it was preferred that none kneel or genuflect before receiving The Eucharist.
There are a number of folks who still kneel or sit out of habit, or are too tired to stand another 10-15 minutes at Mass. Has there been such a change to the GIRM? Must we stand for this?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

1. …A common posture, to be observed by all participants, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered for the sacred Liturgy: it both expresses and fosters the intention and spiritual attitude of the participants.

“Unity of posture” is something that we strive for at Mass. We try to have everyone standing, kneeling, or sitting at the same time. Obviously this is not always possible due to space limitations or the physical limitations of individuals. While the rubrics for Mass often call for a uniform posture for the congregation it doesn’t always do so.

Regarding the posture after having received communion, the GIRM states:

1. …as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed.

The Congregation for Divine Worship interpreted this for the bishops:

Prot. n. 855/03/L

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 mentem. The mens is that the prescription of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, no. 43, is intended, on one hand, to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the celebration of the 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.

People are free to sit or kneel immediately after returning from communion, to impose another posture on the congregation would be a violation of the GIRM.

As for genuflecting before communion, it is true that genuflecting before communion is not called for by the rubrics of the Mass. The sign of respect that the GIRM calls for is a bow. The parish is correct to ask individuals not to genuflect at that time.

The faithful are always free to kneel for communion. As the 2010 GIRM explicitly states:

1. …The norm established for the Dioceses of the United States of America is that Holy Communion is to be received standing, unless an individual member of the faithful wishes to receive Communion while kneeling (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction, Redemptionis Sacramentum, March 25, 2004, no. 91).