Forced standing during Consecration

[romanholiday]

I have attended a co-cathedral here in the United States and had the priest tell us to remain standing during the consecration on more than one occasion. When I emailed the liturgical director about this, his response was that they had received written permission from the local Bishop to do this. My question is this: Is this allowed? I was under the impression that kneeling between the Sanctus and Great Amen was an allowed US adaptation of the universal law of standing. But I thought that universal Church law was that everyone kneels for the consecration. Is a local Bishop allowed to change this? Before I respond, I was hoping someone could either point out where to find this information or correct me if I’m mistaken. Thanks!

 

[Tantum_ergo]

From the GIRM:

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.

and

The Diocesan Bishop, who is to be regarded as the high priest of his flock, and from whom the life in Christ of the faithful under his care in a certain sense derives and upon whom it depends,148 must promote, regulate, and be vigilant over the liturgical life in his diocese. It is to him that in this Instruction is entrusted the regulating of the discipline of concelebration (cf. above, nos. 202, 374) and the establishing of norms regarding the function of serving the priest at the altar (cf. above, no. 107), the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds (cf. above, no. 283), and the construction and ordering of churches (cf. above, no. 291). With him lies responsibility above all for fostering the spirit of the Sacred Liturgy in the priests, deacons, and faithful.

1. The adaptations spoken of below that call for a wider degree of coordination are to be decided, in accord with the norm of law, by the Conference of Bishops.

1. It is the competence of the Conferences of Bishops in the first place to prepare and approve an edition of this Roman Missal in the authorized vernacular languages, for use in the regions under their care, once their decisions have been accorded the recognitio of the Apostolic See.149

The Roman Missal, whether in Latin or in lawfully approved vernacular translations, is to be published in its entirety.

1. It is up to the Conferences of Bishops to decide on the adaptations indicated in this General Instruction and in the Order of Mass and, once their decisions have been accorded the recognitio of the Apostolic See, to introduce them into the Missal itself. These adaptations include

The gestures and posture of the faithful (cf. no. 43 above);

The gestures of veneration toward the altar and the Book of the Gospels (cf. no. 273 above);

The texts of the chants at the entrance, at the presentation of the gifts, and at Communion (cf. nos. 48, 74, 87 above);

The readings from Sacred Scripture to be used in special circumstances (cf. no. 362 above);

The form of the gesture of peace (cf. no. 82 above);

The manner of receiving Holy Communion (cf. nos. 160, 283 above);

The materials for the altar and sacred furnishings, especially the sacred vessels, and also the materials, form, and color of the liturgical vestments (cf. nos. 301, 326, 329, 339, 342-346 above).

It does appear from my reading that the Bishop could mandate standing, either from ‘large number of people’ or ‘for some other good reason’.

I also forgot to include in the first quote that for those who do not kneel, a profound reverence (genuflexion) must be made at the consecration.

So your priest may be correct. You ‘may’ be permitted to stand–but don’t forget the proper reverence at the consecration. (You could remind Father of that at least if the congregation does not practice this–it is Father’s responsibility to make sure that congregation is properly instructed).

 

[Digitonomy]

I also forgot to include in the first quote that for those who do not kneel, a profound reverence (genuflexion) must be made at the consecration.

At a church I sometimes attend, the congregation bows at the points in the consecration when the priest genuflects. If it’s not practical for the congregation to kneel due to space, it’s probably not practical to genuflect either.

 

[Walking_Home]

From Card. Arinze—head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments.

adoremus.org/1003Arinze.html

Cardinal Responds to Questions on Liturgy

---

Is that the same thing with the consecration? Can they kneel during the consecration?

A bit different there. The rule from Rome would sanction where the bishops said, “in our country we want people to kneel throughout the consecration”. From our office in Rome we will support that. So it is a bit different. But sometimes during the consecration – suppose it is open-air or it rained and it is muddy – you could not kneel there.

But in the normal church it is possible to kneel.

And that’s the normal thing: to kneel during the consecration – and even, as in this country, to kneel from the beginning – just before consecration – right down to just before the Our Father. And that is okay.

Where a particular person cannot kneel – you have arthritis or you are a mother holding a baby – that is understood.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

From the GIRM:

and

It does appear from my reading that the Bishop could mandate standing, either from ‘large number of people’ or ‘for some other good reason’.

I also forgot to include in the first quote that for those who do not kneel, a profound reverence (genuflexion) must be made at the consecration.

So your priest may be correct. You ‘may’ be permitted to stand–but don’t forget the proper reverence at the consecration. (You could remind Father of that at least if the congregation does not practice this–it is Father’s responsibility to make sure that congregation is properly instructed).

The citations show that the posture of the faithful may be adapted by the conference of bishops, but not an individual bishop on his own initiative, so in the absence of exceptions already present in law a bishop can’t mandate that people derogate from the posture required by the GIRM. Surely a “good reason” is open to some interpretation, but congregations in a church with kneelers have no good reason not to kneel.

 

[tee_eff_em]

I also forgot to include in the first quote that for those who do not kneel, a profound reverence (genuflexion) must be made at the consecration.

At a church I sometimes attend, the congregation bows at the points in the consecration when the priest genuflects. If it’s not practical for the congregation to kneel due to space, it’s probably not practical to genuflect either.

Yes, in the US a profound bow is the proper reverence for those who stand during the consecration. (As the sentence following Tantum ergo’s GIRM quote notes)

Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration.

Actually, more than just the US, according to the IGMR: “Hi vero qui non genuflectunt ad consecrationem, inclinationem profundam peragant dum sacerdos genuflectit post consecrationem.”

tee

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have attended a co-cathedral here in the United States and had the priest tell us to remain standing during the consecration on more than one occasion. When I emailed the liturgical director about this, his response was that they had received written permission from the local Bishop to do this. My question is this: Is this allowed? I was under the impression that kneeling between the Sanctus and Great Amen was an allowed US adaptation of the universal law of standing. But I thought that universal Church law was that everyone kneels for the consecration. Is a local Bishop allowed to change this? Before I respond, I was hoping someone could either point out where to find this information or correct me if I’m mistaken. Thanks!

In the US, as determined by the USCCB, everyone who is able must kneel for the Consecration. Ignore the priest and inform the Bishop if necessary.