Here’s an explanation from Catholics United for the Faith that I found today. I thought I’d pass it along…it may repeat some of what’s been said already:
Kneeling during the consecration is the norm. Number 43 of the new General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) essentially repeats the 1975 GIRM with regard to kneeling at the consecration. It adds to the list of exceptions that of health concerns along with lack of space, etc. (reasons of health should obviously be understood as health problems that impede kneeling in some way). However, kneeling at the consecration continues to be the universal norm.
The US bishops received permission to extend the time of kneeling through the Great Amen, that is, through the entire Eucharistic prayer. The new GIRM, no. 43 (in the universal edition prior to approved US adaptations), notes that wherever this practice exists, it is “laudably retained” (hic laudabiliter retinetur). So, not only does the new GIRM repeat the norm of 1975, it adds the positive comment on what is particular law in the United States and other places.
The Vatican approved edition of the GIRM, with adaptations for the dioceses of the United States, reads as follows for no. 43:
Code:
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.
Notice that the diocesan bishop may determine another posture after the “Lamb of God,” but that same provision is not given in the case of the Eucharistic Prayer. Kneeling from the end of the Sanctus through the Great Amen is particular law for all the dioceses of the United States. The bishop is the one who regulates liturgical celebrations in his diocese, but he does so in terms of the law, not arbitrarily.
The latest statement on this is in the July 2002 Newsletter from the United States Committee on the Liturgy. It states: “The variation from kneeling as the uniform posture during the Eucharistic Prayer is permitted only ‘on occasion’ and when the circumstances found by GIRM (no. 43) are clearly present." The full paragraph states:
Code:
Such uniformity serves as a "sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered for the sacred Liturgy" and it "both expresses and fosters the spiritual attitude of those assisting" (GIRM, no. 42). Likewise, a lack of uniformity can serve as a sign of disunity or even a sense of individualism. A particular example of this disunity has been cited by many of the Bishops in regard to a diversity of postures during the Eucharistic Prayer, "the center and summit of the entire celebration" (GIRM, no. 78).
Thus, the variation from kneeling as the uniform posture during the Eucharistic Prayer is permitted only “on occasion” and when the circumstances found by GIRM (no. 43) are clearly present. (The July 2002 BCL Newletter is available on the website.)
The intentions of the bishops’ conference are clear that a deviation from kneeling throughout the Eucharistic prayer must always be exceptional. Clearly, this norm cannot be modified arbitrarily.
