Kneeling after Communion

[orgel_maestro]

Hi, I’m somewhat confused. I see after communion, a lot of people wait and stand until the priest has placed the consecrated hosts which have not been consumed back into the tabernacle. I thought the norm was to kneel and pray after communion until the priest is finished with the ablutions and is ready to read the post-communion prayer. Some parishes I’ve been to everyone remains kneeling, and in other parishes some stand and then just sit, no kneeling. What does your parish do?

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

A lot of it depends on where you live. This is usually a decision by the bishop.

Here, we kneel or sit, depending on our age, knees and dispositions. I have been a couple places in CA where they stand through the whole thing until EVERYBODY has received. It happened once in the Waco area, too, until they all got on the same page.

 

[Yes]

Hi, I’m somewhat confused. I see after communion, a lot of people wait and stand until the priest has placed the consecrated hosts which have not been consumed back into the tabernacle. I thought the norm was to kneel and pray after communion until the priest is finished with the ablutions and is ready to read the post-communion prayer. Some parishes I’ve been to everyone remains kneeling, and in other parishes some stand and then just sit, no kneeling. What does your parish do?

One’s posture (standing, kneeling or sitting) at that point in the Mass is strictly up to the individual. The US bishops tried to mandate standing and the Holy See replied in the negative.

 

[Magnum_V8]

Do you have a link to the Holy See’s response?

My parish doesn’t have kneelers. I kneel for the consecration and after communion anyway, even though nobody else does. After receiving communion, I return to my pew and kneel until the priest puts the remaining Hosts back into the tabernacle.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi, I’m somewhat confused. I see after communion, a lot of people wait and stand until the priest has placed the consecrated hosts which have not been consumed back into the tabernacle. I thought the norm was to kneel and pray after communion until the priest is finished with the ablutions and is ready to read the post-communion prayer. Some parishes I’ve been to everyone remains kneeling, and in other parishes some stand and then just sit, no kneeling. What does your parish do?

It is each persons personal choice to stand, kneel, or sit after returning from receiving Holy Communion.

 

[Andruschak]

Hi, I’m somewhat confused. I see after communion, a lot of people wait and stand until the priest has placed the consecrated hosts which have not been consumed back into the tabernacle. I thought the norm was to kneel and pray after communion until the priest is finished with the ablutions and is ready to read the post-communion prayer. Some parishes I’ve been to everyone remains kneeling, and in other parishes some stand and then just sit, no kneeling. What does your parish do?

My nearest Church announces just before Communion that all should remain standing until all have receivevd. 2nd nearest, kneel, 3rd nearest, stand, 4th nearest kneel

In all cases, I remain sitting. I have mild arthritis, which makes kneeling (and genuflections) a chore; and flat feet that get uncomfortable if standing too long.

I’m sure God understands quite well why I prefer sitting,

 

[Epsilon_Omega]

At one church (the main one I go to) we kneel the whole time (unless you can’t) until the priests finishes everything and sits down himself.

Do you have a link to the Holy
My parish doesn’t have kneelers. I kneel for the consecration and after communion anyway, even though nobody else does. After receiving communion, I return to my pew and kneel until the priest puts the remaining Hosts back into the tabernacle.

The other church I attend is like that. Except there are a few kneelers, but no one kneels except a few. I still try to wait until the priest finishes, but sometimes he motions for us to stop kneeling before he sits.

 

[LilyM]

At one church (the main one I go to) we kneel the whole time (unless you can’t) until the priests finishes everything and sits down himself.

The other church I attend is like that. Except there are a few kneelers, but no one kneels except a few. I still try to wait until the priest finishes, but sometimes he motions for us to stop kneeling before he sits.

Certainly if you’re kneeling you can sit up when the priest sits. Once Our Lord is safely back in the Tabernacle it’s fine to stop kneeling - or that’s what I was taught.

 

[jmcrae]

Certainly if you’re kneeling you can sit up when the priest sits. Once Our Lord is safely back in the Tabernacle it’s fine to stop kneeling - or that’s what I was taught.

Me, too. I have never heard of standing after Holy Communion. The practice at my parish is to kneel in prayer.

A little old lady told me once that if you really want God to answer your prayer, pray it on your knees while He is still in your mouth.

 

[LilyM]

Me, too. I have never heard of standing after Holy Communion. The practice at my parish is to kneel in prayer.

A little old lady told me once that if you really want God to answer your prayer, pray it on your knees while He is still in your mouth.

And to think I waste that time just saying the ‘Anima Christi’ makes mental note to ask for diamonds and Porsche car at next communion and see what happens

 

[jmcrae]

And to think I waste that time just saying the ‘Anima Christi’ makes mental note to ask for diamonds and Porsche car at next communion and see what happens

The little old lady in question wears a lot of diamonds, come to think of it. No Porche though - it’s a Mercedes Benz - and she doesn’t even get to drive it herself - some kid in a black coat and a cap with a red band on it gets to drive it all the time. She has to ride in the back seat …

 

[Fidelis]

Certainly if you’re kneeling you can sit up when the priest sits. Once Our Lord is safely back in the Tabernacle it’s fine to stop kneeling - or that’s what I was taught.

Same here.

 

[Yes]

*"GIRM 43. The faithful should stand from the beginning of the Entrance chant, or while the priest approaches the altar, until the end of the Collect; for the Alleluia chant before the Gospel; while the Gospel itself is proclaimed; during the Profession of Faith and the Prayer of the Faithful; from the invitation, Orate, fraters (Pray, brethren), before the prayer over the offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated below.

They should, however, sit while the readings before the Gospel and the responsorial Psalm are proclaimed and for the homily and while the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory is taking place; **and, as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel *while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed…"

The posture at that point in the Mass is 100% up to the communicant, even though the US bishops tried to mandate a standing posture after communion. Neither standing, sitting nor kneeling is any better or worse than the others – no matter what our pious egos might suggest. It one were “better” than the other two, it’s clear the Church would not allow the options except in extraordinary circumstances and that is not the case.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

"GIRM 43. The faithful should stand from the beginning of the Entrance chant, or while the priest approaches the altar, until the end of the Collect; for the Alleluia chant before the Gospel; while the Gospel itself is proclaimed; during the Profession of Faith and the Prayer of the Faithful; from the invitation, Orate, fraters (Pray, brethren), before the prayer over the offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated below.

They should, however, sit while the readings before the Gospel and the responsorial Psalm are proclaimed and for the homily and while the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory is taking place; **and, as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel **while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed…"

The posture at that point in the Mass is 100% up to the communicant, even though the US bishops tried to mandate a standing posture after communion. Neither standing, sitting nor kneeling is any better or worse than the others – no matter what our pious egos might suggest. It one were “better” than the other two, it’s clear the Church would not allow the options except in extraordinary circumstances and that is not the case.

The period of sacred silence does not begin immediately after one receives communion. It begins after the sacrament is in the tabernacle. The priest then sits, and THEN you are invited to enter into a period of private prayer while either sitting or kneeling.

Depending on your diocese, the posture when you return immediately after receiving is either standing or kneeling. In our diocese it is standing, until the time of prayer begins.

 

[Corki]

My parish doesn’t have kneelers. I kneel for the consecration and after communion anyway, even though nobody else does. After receiving communion, I return to my pew and kneel until the priest puts the remaining Hosts back into the tabernacle.

We don’t have kneelers either. Everyone who is able kneels for the consecration and after the Agnus Dei. About half of the people kneel for at least a while after returning from Communion. At the Spanish Mass it is a much higher proportion. Some kneel briefly, some until the tablernacle is closed and some until the priest himself sits down.

 

[MelanieAnne]

Some sit, some kneel. I kneel.

 

[acadian]

We kneel from the time we return from communion until the priest places the consecrated hosts in the tabernacle.

During Daily Mass, we kneel until he says “Let us pray”.

 

[Yes]

The period of sacred silence does not begin immediately after one receives communion. It begins after the sacrament is in the tabernacle. The priest then sits, and THEN you are invited to enter into a period of private prayer while either sitting or kneeling.

Depending on your diocese, the posture when you return immediately after receiving is either standing or kneeling. In our diocese it is standing, until the time of prayer begins.

The Holy See has said that local dioceses cannot dictate which posture people assume after they receive Holy Communion – it can be sitting, standing or kneeling.

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWCLAR.HTM

Finis.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

The Holy See has said that local dioceses cannot dictate which posture people assume after they receive Holy Communion – it can be sitting, standing or kneeling.

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWCLAR.HTM

Finis.

Not exactly.

They cannot be COMPELLED. They cannot be denied communion at any rate.

Furthermore, the “period of silence” begins AFTER communion.

In this diocese we are to stand immediately after receiving until the last person has received. During the period of silence, there is to be no preference for posture.

I love how everyone on this board talks about “obedience” ad nauseam - until the Church asks you to do something you don’t like - something not “conservative” enough for you. Then it’s ok to be a renegade.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

After reading the link, it actually makes my point.

The Cardinal is saying “don’t FORCE them, but uniformity is encouraged.”

What is so hard about doing what the Church says is the first choice?

This isn’t about YOU.