No one kneels during consecration. Should I?

[SenorSalsa]

In Masses where I know my quirks or traditions are not near universal, I tend to locate myself in a place where I can do so without drawing extra attention.

If you are able to kneel, you should probably kneel. Just sit behind people and that way it will go unnoticed by the congregation, and the priest certainly shouldn’t frown upon your actions.

 

[BrickRoux]

This question is going to make you roll your eyes, but please be gentle with me - I’m a convert of two years and spent more than half that time abroad! My RCIA was warm and friendly, but not very interested in nuts and bolts.

What exactly is the moment of consecration as we watch the priest at the altar with the gifts? It is before or after the priest lifts the host for the assembled to see?* What should I look for? I want to be more involved in my Mass, knowing the significance of each moment and reflecting-worshipping-participating accordingly.

*Even knowing how to write that properly vexes me - I’m assuming that consecration is the moment in which “the gifts” become “the host” - or not? Please do forgive me if I named something wrong, no slight is intended.

 

[SenorSalsa]

This question is going to make you roll your eyes, but please be gentle with me - I’m a convert of two years and spent more than half that time abroad! My RCIA was warm and friendly, but not very interested in nuts and bolts.

What exactly is the moment of consecration as we watch the priest at the altar with the gifts? It is before or after the priest lifts the host for the assembled to see?* What should I look for? I want to be more involved in my Mass, knowing the significance of each moment and reflecting-worshipping-participating accordingly.

*Even knowing how to write that properly vexes me - I’m assuming that consecration is the moment in which “the gifts” become “the host” - or not? Please do forgive me if I named something wrong, no slight is intended.

Don’t feel dumb, that question has been debated for centuries.

In simplest terms, the Consecration happens at the words of Institution “This is my Body…” and "This is my Blood…

When they are lifted up, they are the Body and Blood, and should be adored for that short time. In fact, that was the very reason the elevations were put in there.

If you wanted to open wormholes however, you could wonder about the traditions in the East which hold that it happens either at some point earlier, or alternatively at no specific point, but rather is a result of the whole prayer. Or you could investigate the one Eastern rite that (while rule valid by the Vatican) does not actually contain the words “this is my body…” or “this is my blood…” But for the sake of not disrailing this topic, my original answer should suffice

 

[BrickRoux]

Gracias, Senor! I find all of this very interesting and illuminating!

 

[Saint_wannabe]

I attend weekday Mass in a small chapel with a hard tile floor. No one (except me) kneels during the consecration. I do so very quietly a couple seconds after I normally would so that anyone new would not feel compelled to when they see that I’m the only one doing so.
(In the main church, there are kneelers. Everyone kneels here during the consecration.)

At the weekday Mass, there are 6-14 people typically in attendance, All but 2 or 3 are elderly who probably would have a tough time kneeling on the hard floor. I have been attending for 6 months and no one says anything. But I don’t want to appear as if I’m trying to be more holy than them…its just the natural thing to do during the consecration. I just want to show the utmost love, reverence and gratitude for Jesus during this holiest of moments. My other option would be to make a profound bow at the moment of consecration as the GIRM says.

Is there anyone out there who has faced this dilemma?

We also don’t have kneelers in our church, but that doesn’t stop me & a handful of other dedicated people in the church from kneeling. By all means you should kneel, especially if you feel it in your heart. I think that everyone should kneel in respect & awe of the Sacramental presence of our Lord & Savior in the Eucharist. I bow my head before receiving Communion & I also drop to one knee & make the sign of the cross after receiving the Blessed Sacrament. I always also wait for the crowd to thin out after Mass, then I walk up to the altar & drop to one knee and make the sign of the cross, before I leave the church. I don’t do any of this for attention, and I don’t look around to see if anyone sees me doing it, God knows why I do it, and I could really care less what anyone else thinks. Don’t be afraid of what someone else may think of you, God knows whats in your heart. If anything, your setting a good example of what all Catholics should be doing while they are at Mass. God bless you friend.

 

[JerrySeibert]

Kneel and be proud of it. If others do not want to kneel and show respect to Jesus and what he did for all of us. It pains me to see some people show disrespect.
I recently moved and I will never forget the look I got my first time at Mass. I bow (deeply) before taking Communion. Respect! And my Pastor looked at my like my head was screwed on backwards, he was not accustomed to this I suppose.
Now, quite a few people in the congregation do this. Jesus set us the RIGHT example to follow. It is my duty honor and privelage to ensure I follow it.

 

[choy]

once i attended mass in another parish and when consecration began, my knee half-bent about three times but i noticed no one around me knelled. so i chose to stand up, thinking about St. Ambrose when he said, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” or more accurately, it began as, “Follow the custom of the Church where you are”

trivia-library.com/b/origins-of-sayings-when-in-rome-do-as-the-romans-do.htm

also when i was still living in the Philippines where the churches are usually full and i am standing up the entire mass because there are no available seats, there are times i would kneel on the floor when there’s enough space, or at the very least i’d bow throughout the consecration