Kneeling after the Agnus Dei

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While I’m sure this question has been posed before I didn’t find anything by doing a search. In my parish, the congregation kneels after the Agnus Dei but sits while waiting for their turn to get the Eucharist. I was always taught to kneel as long as the Eucharist is exposed. Is this just something that certain parishes do? Is it something that’s at the discretion of the Celebrant?
 
Welcome to the forum.

Our Bishop has given us his directions on this. I am under the impression that it is the Bishop’s call whether people are to stand or kneel regarding the Agnus Dei. Our Bishop has told us we should stand or kneel while waiting to receive the Eucharist, and that after receiving the Eucharist, we may stand, sit or kneel. This is how I remember it, but my memory does fail me at times.
 
jdunn41 said:
While I’m sure this question has been posed before I didn’t find anything by doing a search. In my parish, the congregation kneels after the Agnus Dei but sits while waiting for their turn to get the Eucharist. I was always taught to kneel as long as the Eucharist is exposed. Is this just something that certain parishes do? Is it something that’s at the discretion of the Celebrant?
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Here is what Francis Cardinal Arinze said regarding kneeling after the Agnus Dei (this appears on the online edition of Adoremus):
Does everybody have to stand until the last person has received Holy Communion?
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There is no rule from Rome that everybody must stand during Holy Communion. There is no such rule from Rome. So, after people have received Communion, they can stand, they can kneel, they can sit. But a bishop in his diocese or bishops in a country could say that they recommend standing or kneeling. They could. It is not a law from Rome. They could – but not impose it. Perhaps they could propose. But those who want to sit or kneel or stand should be left reasonable freedom.
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Even though your question speaks to kneeling, I do believe that the Cardinal’s answer covers your concern.
 
From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“42. … 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.”

So if it is time for one person to stand and go to Communion, it is time for everyone to stand.

Unfortunately the practice in many places is for some to stand, some to sit and others kneel.
Not a good approach for unity.
Not good for singing the Communion hymn.
Not good for people trying to prepare for Communion, while wondering what posture they should be in.
Not good for those sitting, wondering if they are interferring with those kneeling behind them.
Not good for those kneeling, with someone sitting close in front of them, wondering if they should sit as well.
Not good with those kneeling at the back having their view blocked by those standing in front.
Not good because of all the distracting judgements people make about others choosing different postures.

Don’t put up with it. Stand for it. If people are free to choose the wrong posture, feel free to choose the correct posture: standing.
 
jdunn41 said:
While I’m sure this question has been posed before I didn’t find anything by doing a search. In my parish, the congregation kneels after the Agnus Dei but sits while waiting for their turn to get the Eucharist. I was always taught to kneel as long as the Eucharist is exposed. Is this just something that certain parishes do? Is it something that’s at the discretion of the Celebrant?
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It is at the Bishops discretion after the Agnus Dei. It is up to you after you return from Holy Communion.
 
The church I’ve been going to, as soon as the priest comes around the altar to start giving communion, everyone sits until the usher comes to their pew.

Then after coming back from communion, everyone kneels until the tabernacle is closed after communion. The noise reminds me of after a song is sung. After a song is finished, you hear all this clunking when people put the song books back in the thingys on the back of the pew in front of you.

When the priest closes the tabernacle you hear all this thunking and clunking when everyone sits down and puts up their kneeler.

thanks, Richie
 
By the way is it Agnus or Angus ? I thought it was Angus like the cow.

thanks, Richie
 
benedictgal said:
Here is what Francis Cardinal Arinze said regarding kneeling after the Agnus Dei (this appears on the online edition of Adoremus):

Even though your question speaks to kneeling, I do believe that the Cardinal’s answer covers your concern.
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Not correct.

Check the GIRM.

BrotherRichSFO is correct on this one.
 
MrS said:
Agnus… Lamb

wrong farm animal:rolleyes:

No, seriously it means Lamb of God… Agnus Dei
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That’s weird. The church I have gone to lately sings that prayer before communion, and I promise it sounds like “ahn-goose day”

Guess it’s just me. After so many years away I have much to relearn, or learn to begin with.

thanks, Richie
 
Richie_Nelson said:
That’s weird. The church I have gone to lately sings that prayer before communion, and I promise it sounds like “ahn-goose day”

Guess it’s just me. After so many years away I have much to relearn, or learn to begin with.

thanks, Richie
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You should be aware (and glad) that they are using some Latin, and that they are actually trying to say/sing Lamb of God

You may some day visit a Church that will substitute Lamb of God with
Prince of Peace
Emmanual
Son of God,
Son of Man etc, etc etc… one after the other… and then - maybe - finish with one Lamb of God:shrug:
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
Not correct.

Check the GIRM.

BrotherRichSFO is correct on this one.
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PGA, remember that in the United States we do kneel after the Agnus Dei. Furthermore, Cardnal Arinze is well aware of that since he made note of it. Are you saying that he is wrong, then?
 
Richie_Nelson said:
That’s weird. The church I have gone to lately sings that prayer before communion, and I promise it sounds like “ahn-goose day”
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The Latin word agnus is not pronounced like the name Agnes (ag-nis); instead, the gn is like an ñ in Spanish: ny. Agnus Dei is pronounced ah-nyoose day-ee.
 
japhy said:
The Latin word agnus is not pronounced like the name Agnes (ag-nis); instead, the gn is like an ñ in Spanish: ny. Agnus Dei is pronounced ah-nyoose day-ee.
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Ok, maybe that’s what I’m hearing.

thanks, Richie
 
MrS said:
You should be aware (and glad) that they are using some Latin, and that they are actually trying to say/sing Lamb of God

You may some day visit a Church that will substitute Lamb of God with
Prince of Peace
Emmanual
Son of God,
Son of Man etc, etc etc… one after the other… and then - maybe - finish with one Lamb of God:shrug:
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our church was doing that before Lent, i assume they will return to
that “artistic liberty” after lent, but for now we have the Agnus Dei 👍
 
There is currently a debate over this, because of two different views of Christ and man. The vertical element or the horizontal element promoted by the two views of God these days in the Mass.

The first which advocates standing sees man as the center of the faith. We see God in man and man seeks to serve God in man. So it is beneath man’s dignity to kneel, it better to affirm a person’s dignity and stand. Kneeling reminds this viewpoint of how the Church has always viewed God as being worthy of worship and this must be discarded for the new view.
So excuses are brought up such as unity, practicality, comfort, or
seeking to emulate older practices\ways of honoring Christ.
(disregarding development and reasons behind the practice)

The second view is the view the Church as always held as God superior to man, our need to recognize the presence of God first and treat each other with the love of Christ. This view upholds the practice of respecting God with reverence and with posture. If possible to kneel in the Presence of God to show our adoration.
(this shows an understanding of our faith expressed in action and development of expression of our faith)
In the Easter Church this is shown in different ways but expressed in the reverence of the liturgy.

It seems that it is a common trend in the world today to promote the first view by changing our actions, to change our views of God.

God Bless
Scylla
 
nerddad said:
our church was doing that before Lent, i assume they will return to
that “artistic liberty” after lent, but for now we have the Agnus Dei 👍
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Check the new bishop’s docment, Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship.

It makes provisions for this. The document, although not approved by Rome, was issued by the lawful authority of the USCCB. It has not been censured or refuted by Rome. It therefore DOES hold weight in the country that the conference governs.
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
Check the new bishop’s docment, Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship.

It makes provisions for this. The document, although not approved by Rome, was issued by the lawful authority of the USCCB. It has not been censured or refuted by Rome. It therefore DOES hold weight in the country that the conference governs.
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However, it does not hold the same weight that a document bearing the recognitio from the Holy See does. It was originally supposed to be a lot more stringent than what it now is; however, the NPM and the FDLC hijacked the document to the point that it does not have any teeth to it.

Furthermore, the additional tropes come in only if the Fraction Rite is extended. So, it’s not a wholesale application.
 
The thread is going off topic. Please take side discussions to new or existing threads. Thank you all.
 
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