Do you stand or kneel after Communion?

[John_Lazarus]

I have observed the following:

1. Kneeling throughout the Eucharistic prayer: from the end of the Sanctus to the end of the Doxology;
2. Standing until the bells ring before the Institution narrative, kneeling when the bells ring; staying knelt for each of the Consecrations (two sets of bells); and rising when the priest says “Let us proclaim the mystery of faith”;
3. Standing from the Preface right through to the dismissal – including through the Consecration.

(1) (and sometimes (2)) was my recollection of Mass throughout my life until at least the eighties, and standing throughout I only recalled a handful of times, yet more so with the passage of time, and more so in parishes with more “progressive” priests (like one where the priest used to come sit in the congregation for the readings).

I always knelt after Communion, until much later in life when in some parishes standing seemed to be the norm, so I sort of went with “when in Rome” (pardon the pun), although I find it easier to pray while kneeling. I did not realize that standing was the norm from 1975 until I saw it written up above.

As I said, I prefer to kneel, and it seems that the word from Rome is that I can; on the other hand, if the bishop requests that everyone stand, isn’t there a question then of obedience?

 

[bluerose]

Growing up, we were always told that after Communion we were to kneel until after the priest had shut the tabernacle. In fact, I remember the deacon telling us “You may be seated, if you wish” once the tabernacle doors were shut. My sister and I always sat down right away but my mother would always remain kneeling and, as we got older, gave us the “stink eye” if we sat down too quickly (as if we were saying “It’s about time!”) so we started waiting a few seconds after the announcement to sit down.

Now it seems that many parishes have gotten into the habit of everyone standing up at the same time and waiting for their pew to join the communion line and then everyone remains standing upon returning to their pew. We kneel until it’s time to join the communion line and then kneel upon returning. Someone once chided my husband for not standing with everyone else to show unity (their word) and he simply said, “I just got done saying, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to receive You’… I feel I should be kneeling.”

 

[Phemie]

I have observed the following:

1. Kneeling throughout the Eucharistic prayer: from the end of the Sanctus to the end of the Doxology;
2. Standing until the bells ring before the Institution narrative, kneeling when the bells ring; staying knelt for each of the Consecrations (two sets of bells); and rising when the priest says “Let us proclaim the mystery of faith”;
3. Standing from the Preface right through to the dismissal – including through the Consecration.

(1) (and sometimes (2)) was my recollection of Mass throughout my life until at least the eighties, and standing throughout I only recalled a handful of times, yet more so with the passage of time, and more so in parishes with more “progressive” priests (like one where the priest used to come sit in the congregation for the readings).

I always knelt after Communion, until much later in life when in some parishes standing seemed to be the norm, so I sort of went with “when in Rome” (pardon the pun), although I find it easier to pray while kneeling. I did not realize that standing was the norm from 1975 until I saw it written up above.

As I said, I prefer to kneel, and it seems that the word from Rome is that I can; on the other hand, if the bishop requests that everyone stand, isn’t there a question then of obedience?

How many people even knew of the existence of the GIRM back in 1975? I served on liturgy committees for over a decade and had never heard of it or any other document until the late 1998 or 99 when I was introduced to Church documents for the first time (I was in my mid 40s).

In Canada, with the implementation of the new GIRM in 2011, we are to kneel after the Sanctus and stand for the Memorial Acclamation and remain standing until we return from Communion. If we are a parish that has traditionally knelt for the entire EP and after the Agnus Dei, we may continue to do so.

 

[zab]

Growing up, we were always told that after Communion we were to kneel until after the priest had shut the tabernacle. In fact, I remember the deacon telling us “You may be seated, if you wish” once the tabernacle doors were shut. My sister and I always sat down right away but my mother would always remain kneeling and, as we got older, gave us the “stink eye” if we sat down too quickly (as if we were saying “It’s about time!”) so we started waiting a few seconds after the announcement to sit down.

Now it seems that many parishes have gotten into the habit of everyone standing up at the same time and waiting for their pew to join the communion line and then everyone remains standing upon returning to their pew. We kneel until it’s time to join the communion line and then kneel upon returning. Someone once chided my husband for not standing with everyone else to show unity (their word) and he simply said, “I just got done saying, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to receive You’… I feel I should be kneeling.”

I don’t know what diocese you are in, but in diocese like ours the bishop has directed us to remain standing After the Angus Dei so the correct posture is to stand while waiting to enter the Communion line. The posture when coming back from Communion is not so rigidly set.
The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.[53]