Peace
- 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, fratres (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.
** 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.** Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects
after the consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the Diocesan Bishop
determines otherwise.
But just because they do it doesn’t make it right (I know, I’m a sacristan at the Basilica). If you pay attention to the Mass, you’ll notice that their manner of incensing the Gospel is also contrary to the GIRM. The Basilica is in general faithful to the rubrics, but they have no qualms about departing when they see fit. That is, I think, especially unfortunate, seeing as how you’re not the only one who will see things done on the national broadcast, and assume the good priests of the CSC are going to be following the liturgical law of the Church.I thought this was kind of odd, but I saw them do something similar on the televised Mass from The Basilica of the Sacred Heart that airs on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday morning where they kneel for the penitential rite.
If you think about it, though, I think you can find solid instances for the use of abuse even when the matter of the resulting act may be good. For instance, let’s say a king were to force everyone in his country, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus included, to attend Holy Mass every Sunday. While it is, in one sense, “good” that people should attend Mass, the manner in which the king achieved the result was an “abuse” of his authority.This is an interesting illustration of the power of language. Most of us tend to think of a liturgical “abuse” as something that decreases reverence in the Mass, like failure to kneel at the Consecration, or omitting the penitential rite altogether, or something of that nature. When a rule violation that appears to increase reverence occurs, it seems somehow wrong to use the term “abuse” to name it.
That’s what happens when feeling trumps thinking.
Betsy
My point exactly.In a similar way, kneeling during the penitential rite might seem more reverent as regards the matter of the act, since we consider kneeling more reverent than standing, yet the way in which the kneeling is accomplished brings about a distortion of what the liturgy itself is: something we receive and enter into rather than something manufacture according to our own very limited perspective and against our bonds of obedience. So seen from that respective it is still perfectly fitting to term the practice an abuse.
Let me ask you all this question, Is it an abuse then to kneel during confession? That is what is happening in mass during the Confeitor. During this part you are being absolved of all your venial sins in preparation of the Eucharist. So no it is not a bad thing to kneel during this part, in fact I think it is a good idea.
Of course kneeling is OK during confession, but confession is a separate rite governed by separate rules than the rites followed in the celebration of the Eucharist. What is “OK” to do during a rite is to follow the rules given for its celebration and not to disobey them - hence the difference.My suggestion, and most priests I know agree with this, they would rather have all in the congregation act in unison. One way is not holier than the other, but does make one stand out.
Refer to my post # 10. If the priest kneels, its OK. If he stands. I would also stand. If the priest kneels, it is usually done during lent and advent.
Deacon Ed B
Why would you make such and assumption of disobedience. You know what they say about assuming. The local bishop could allow this. He does have the authority. And I know that the Sacrament of Penance is a separate rite (DUH) from the mass but the point I was making was just comparing recieving absolution from sins in both rites.Of course kneeling is OK during confession, but confession is a separate rite governed by separate rules than the rites followed in the celebration of the Eucharist. What is “OK” to do during a rite is to follow the rules given for its celebration and not to disobey them - hence the difference.
As to Deacon Ed B’s suggestion, I would suggest to the priests to whom he has spoken that it is easiest to achieve unison when you follow the rules, since those are the postures with which everyone is familiar and which they are bound to follow. There is the off-chance that some locality is adhering to a legitimate custom with the force of law, but most often you can probably assume that what is happening is simple disobedience, willfully or ignorantly we cannot know.
I make the assumption because it is backed up by empirical observation - knowing priests who do those sorts of things and talking to them about it. I have yet to talk to one who wasn’t doing it on his own initiative without any approbation from his bishop. Also, when it comes to “changing” the rubrics in general, I have seen it done very often, but in every case it was either intentional disobedience or simple misunderstanding - never legitimate custom. So I feel pretty safe in proceeding on the lines of “guity until proven innnocent.” Is it unfortunate for those theoretical priests out there that are proceeding on the basis of consciously observing a custom contrary to the law under the legitimate authority of the bishop? Sure. But if I didn’t think it were overwhelmingly accurate I wouldn’t operate that way.Why would you make such and assumption of disobedience. You know what they say about assuming. The local bishop could allow this. He does have the authority. And I know that the Sacrament of Penance is a separate rite (DUH) from the mass but the point I was making was just comparing recieving absolution from sins in both rites.
Peace in Christ.