Our new priest makes everyone stand till after Communion is done

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Our new priest makes everyone stand till after Communion is done. He’s been adamant that everyone stand in their pews after receiving communion. All may sit only when he reposes the Blessed Sacrament. He’s made this change because it’s supposed to increase our “unity of posture.”

In previous parishes that I’ve attended, people typically knelt after communion, although some sat, but nobody every simply stood in their pews.

I’ve read some stuff online about this, but can’t seem to find a definitive answer. If the Church wants good liturgy, then the documents must stop being so ambiguous! :confused:

This is a parish in the USA, by the way, because I understand that location may affect local practices.
 
Well I don’t know. I mean in a way that’s a bit hard for those who’d like to kneel right then. And I mean it’s probably also hard on those who don’t go to communion at all (like me). But I guess the main thing is to love your priest. Don’t trip over details. Just listen to him and that’s all. Because the rest of that is sort of out of your hands. I mean there’s really no point thinking bad thoughts about it. Because I think thinking bad thoughts during communion has got to be a lot worse than just standing there instead of kneeling. I mean it’s all about the priorities and stuff. So just think the nicest, kindest, warmest thoughts you can possibly think about your priest during that time when he’s doing that to all of you. I don’t think you could ever go wrong with that.

Peace.

-Trident
 
I think that the previous archbishop in your area instituted the practice of standing and some priests have continued it. It really isn’t practical for everyone to stand for so long - some seniors or disabled people just can’t do it.
 
One of my former parishes did this. It was always awkward for visitors because it was so different than what everyone was used to doing. The parish also had an odd process for processing to communion as well which confused visitors even more. The priest instituted this while I was there and he based it on what was written in the GIRM from what I remember but it still seemed awkward for several months and visitors always looked around confused.
 
According to the official directives of the Church, people are free to take the posture they prefer after communion. See the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) which you can google to. If I was you, if I liked the parish very much, I would simply do what he said rather than seeming to battle publicly with him. However, I also don’t like it when a priest requires the people during mass to engage in something against the liturgical law of the Church, so in my case I might simply join another parish.
The GIRM does also call for unity during the mass, but it has been explained, this unity is with the Church as a whole, rather than within a single parish.
 
I have never seen that before in the UK. Once people have received they return to their pew and kneel in thankful prayer.
 
Lepanto said:
Our new priest makes everyone stand till after Communion is done. He’s been adamant that everyone stand in their pews after receiving communion. All may sit only when he reposes the Blessed Sacrament. **He’s made this change because it’s supposed to increase our “unity of posture.”
**
In previous parishes that I’ve attended, people typically knelt after communion, although some sat, but nobody every simply stood in their pews.

I’ve read some stuff online about this, but can’t seem to find a definitive answer. If the Church wants good liturgy, then the documents must stop being so ambiguous! :confused:

This is a parish in the USA, by the way, because I understand that location may affect local practices.
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Unity of posture. That’s an interesting concept. How about unity of beliefs. I’ve been on this CAF since July and I don’t see a unity of beliefs. It’s been bothering me lately.

Communion time is a very special and spiritual time. I like to pray after I receive communion, on my knees. It seems rather silly to just stand there and wait for everyone to have finished. And how much time does that leave me to thank the Lord for all His gifts?

Yeah. I’d say a unity in beliefs is more important.

God bless you
Fran
 
Yeah. We do it too. I can’t stand it. We’re the only ones in my state that do it.

We were told by a pastor 3 pastors ago that the entire “church” as a unit receives communion, so we should be “unified”. He also said that it was soon going to become the norm in the U.S. so we’d better get used to it and be leaders.
Never happened.
I can’t think of one person in the parish that is on board with it, (not that we have to be, just sayin’). Almost everyone prefers to kneel.
I asked the current pastor why we don’t just return to kneeling, and frankly…he doesn’t want to upset people with more changes.
IMHO, the parish would be THRILLED to return to kneeling. People just stand there and watch each other receive. Not a lot of praying going on there. Not that I can read people’s hearts of course…but honestly. I myself can’t concentrate. So I kneel. Is it defiance?
I’m not necessarily a person who “wants to do things the way they’ve always been done” but at that moment…I think I ought to be kneeling and saying my prayers unfettered by distraction.
I have seen some references to why this shouldn’t be done, but can’t put my hand on them at the moment.
Hopefully a priest will weigh in.
I know how you feel. it feels wrong. Since it’s what your pastor instructs, I’m not sure what you can do.
God bless. My pastor has no problem with ME kneeling. And when people see me kneel, they also kneel. He’s ok with it. He just won’t mandate it.
 
Lepanto said:
Our new priest makes everyone stand till after Communion is done.
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Out of curiosity, how does he “make” you do this? What does he do to those who don’t stand for whatever reason?
 
Standing after Communion seems to be the norm here in Los Angeles, at least at all of the parishes around me. Our previous archbishop pushed for this, and it caught on. But old or disabled people frequently sit, and lots of people still kneel, and no one makes an issue out of it. For the most part, everyone does sit for a few moments when the priest does after the Blessed Sacrament is back in the tabernacle, but what we do immediately after Communion seems to be left to our personal preference now.
 
Standing is the default posture during Communion but the GIRM is clear that one can sit or kneel after returning from Communion.
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 Universal Prayer; and from the invitation, Orate, fratres (Pray, brethren), before the Prayer over the Offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated here below.

The faithful should sit, on the other hand, during the readings before the Gospel and the Responsorial Psalm and for the Homily and during the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory; and, if appropriate, they may sit or kneel during the period of sacred silence after Communion.

In the Dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by ill health, or for reasons of lack of space, of the large number of people present, or for another reasonable cause. However, 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 (Lamb of God) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.[53]

For the sake of uniformity in gestures and bodily postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the instructions which the Deacon, a lay minister, or the Priest gives, according to what is laid down in the Missal.
 
Phemie said:
Standing is the default posture during Communion but the GIRM is clear that one can sit or kneel after returning from Communion.
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 Universal Prayer; and from the invitation, Orate, fratres (Pray, brethren), before the Prayer over the Offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated here below.

The faithful should sit, on the other hand, during the readings before the Gospel and the Responsorial Psalm and for the Homily and during the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory; and, if appropriate, they may sit or kneel during the period of sacred silence after Communion.

In the Dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by ill health, or for reasons of lack of space, of the large number of people present, or for another reasonable cause. However, 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 (Lamb of God) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.[53]

For the sake of uniformity in gestures and bodily postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the instructions which the Deacon, a lay minister, or the Priest gives, according to what is laid down in the Missal.
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“The faithful should… if appropriate, they may sit or kneel during the period of sacred silence after Communion.”

What on earth does “appropriate” mean here? The whim of the priest?
 
UpUpAndAway said:
Out of curiosity, how does he “make” you do this? What does he do to those who don’t stand for whatever reason?
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Before Mass, he literally chastises those who don’t conform to the standing rule. This has happened several times since he transferred in about a year ago.
 
Lepanto said:
Our new priest makes everyone stand till after Communion is done. He’s been adamant that everyone stand in their pews after receiving communion. All may sit only when he reposes the Blessed Sacrament. He’s made this change because it’s supposed to increase our “unity of posture.”

In previous parishes that I’ve attended, people typically knelt after communion, although some sat, but nobody every simply stood in their pews.

I’ve read some stuff online about this, but can’t seem to find a definitive answer. If the Church wants good liturgy, then the documents must stop being so ambiguous! :confused:

This is a parish in the USA, by the way, because I understand that location may affect local practices.
Click to expand...
I’m not an expert on the Mass, but I did teach it to 12/13 year olds. This is from my notes on the different positions we take during Mass, in case you’re interested and don’t already know.

STANDING: Indicates attention and readiness. We stand during the rites of introduction, the reading of the gospel, the prayer of the faithful, prayer of priest at Eucharist in name of all, the Eucharistic prayer and preparation for Communion.

SEATED: To listen, to contemplate, to meditate. We sit during the proclamation of the Word of God, the presentation of the gifts, and after Communion. (after prayer).

KNEELING: Shows the smallness of man compared to the greatness of God and shows our adoration to Him. We kneel when invoking the H.S. during the consecration (transubstantiation). We kneel when we pray personally, example - after communion.

WALKING: When offering gifts to the priest, during communion when we desire to receive Jesus and we walk together, a people in movement toward God.

There are two moments of silence at Mass. One is after the homily and one is after Communion. Both times so we can contemplate what we have just heard or done.

=============================================

Seems to me we should be praying after receiving communion and not standing at attention. But things are changing around here and I’m not even sure I understand all the change.

Fran
 
Lepanto said:
Before Mass, he literally chastises those who don’t conform to the standing rule. This has happened several times since he transferred in about a year ago.
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How is he even able to see who is kneeling unless they are in the front pews?

Sorry, but I would be kneeling. Maybe not in the front pew…

Chastise away.,:rolleyes:
 
My understanding is that the diocesan Tribunal is for a lot more than just marriage cases - that it can adjudicate all matters under Canon Law. Can an individual Catholic bring an action against an abusive priest (in this case, publicly abusive of parishioners exercising their rights under the GIRM) at the local Tribunal? I find the idea of being forced to stand after receipt of the Eucharist repugnant and disrespectful to Christ.
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
I find the idea of being forced to stand after receipt of the Eucharist repugnant and disrespectful to Christ.
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Exactly. I feel like this is a time we really should be kneeling in Thanksgiving. If we don’t kneel here, why then at any other time does it make sense?
 
bitterhope said:
One of my former parishes did this. It was always awkward for visitors **because it was so different than what everyone was used to doing. **The parish also had an odd process for processing to communion as well which confused visitors even more. The priest instituted this while I was there and he based it on what was written in the GIRM from what I remember but it still seemed awkward for several months and visitors always looked around confused.
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To the bolded: in other words, it had nothing at all to do with unity. It was, in fact, creating disunity and was just a way of the priest trying to be unique and put his personal stamp on the Mass. Unity in the Mass is not with the person next to you, it is with the whole Church.

I was in a parish once where no one knelt for the Consecration. I did anyway. Most of the visitors knelt anyway. More people started kneeling. Eventually everyone (who was able) knelt except one man.

What is he going to do? Send an usher to drag you to your feet? Publically scolding only makes him look petty.
 
Lepanto said:
Before Mass, he literally chastises those who don’t conform to the standing rule. This has happened several times since he transferred in about a year ago.
Click to expand...
Sounds a lot like the parish priest of the nearest church arround me. Only that he chatizes everyone in the first words he says on mass, and normaly he even does that to people who don’t even belong to his parish.

Here in Portugal, people kneel, very rarely, they sit. Although some more modern parishes have been implementing the standing model, against what is written in the GIRM.
 
SilverAvenger said:
Here in Portugal, people kneel, very rarely, they sit. Although some more modern parishes have been implementing the standing model, against what is written in the GIRM.
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You may want to check your country’s own IGMR/GIRM. There are slight differences from country to country, as I understand it.
 
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