Inconsistent mass postures

[dustrunner]

Does anyone else get confused by the different norms between diocese’s regarding when to stand, kneel, and sit?

In St. Marys’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland, one can watch observe confused tourists from different countries standing, kneeling or sitting at the same time during mass; or some others uncertainly half-way up or half-way down!

When is the Church going to get around to standardizing what our postures should be during mass?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

dustrunner:

Does anyone else get confused by the different norms between diocese’s regarding when to stand, kneel, and sit?

In St. Marys’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland, one can watch observe confused tourists from different countries standing, kneeling or sitting at the same time during mass; or some others uncertainly half-way up or half-way down!

When is the Church going to get around to standardizing what our postures should be during mass?

It is my understanding that the Norms of the GIRM were first translated into english in the US and approved by Rome. They are now just being translated in many of the other english speaking countries and not yet approved by Rome. So it may be several years until we all stand, sit and kneel in unison.

 

[mosher]

Br. Rich SFO:

It is my understanding that the Norms of the GIRM were first translated into english in the US and approved by Rome. They are now just being translated in many of the other english speaking countries and not yet approved by Rome. So it may be several years until we all stand, sit and kneel in unison.

Also, each Bishops Conference has the ability to apply for adaptations to their regions. In the United States we have a partifular deviation from the Universal norm about kneeling as we kneel from the end of the Sanctus till the conclusion of the Great Amen whereas the Universal Norm has the faithful kneel from the Epiclisis to the Geat Amen. Also, in the US we are allowed to receive in the Hand which is not a Universal norm and we have an adaptation about the posture of the reception of commuion which is different than the universal norm.

So, with the Bishops Conferences able to request adaptations there may never be a time when the whole of the Latin Church is celebrating in exactly the same way.

 

[flamingsword]

The worst I have seen this has been in Rome. Of all places it seems that there are no norms there. It amused me to see people start to stand while others sat and still others knelt. Then suddenly a different group would be standing and others sitting. I, for the life of me, couldn’t figure any rhyme or reason to their postures.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

My experience at St. Mary’s in Edinburgh was one of great homecoming (despite being in a foreign country), as I had been attending Mass in German for the past 5 months or so. While that feeling of familiarity probably overshadowed some of the differences, I do vaguely remember being confused on posture, just as I was in Austria. I agree that until the bishops conferences stop having all their own particular adaptations, we will probably never overcome such confusion.