-After receiving communion and returning to the pew to kneel, should you continue singing the communion hymn?
-When is it appropriate to stop kneeling after communion? In some parishes, most people go right from kneeling to standing. In others, most people will switch from kneeling to sitting when the tabernacle is closed.
-Is it just me, or do very few people sing? Is this widespread, and if so, has it always been like this?
-Do the laity sing in tridentine style masses?
For mass in the Ordinary Form
From the
General Instruciton of the Roman Missal
"(portion of 43) 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.53"
The Eucharistic Prayer ends with the priest saying “Through Him, with Him, and in Him, etc…then. Amen”
So, you may kneel, or sit, or in certain cases, stand after communion. According to the GIRM, the general posture (common posture) is standing except in the above-mentioned places, so it seems that since, kneeling is only required up till the Amen after the Eucharistic Prayer, one could return to the pew after communion and remain standing, if the Diocesan Bishop has determined that the parish should remain standing at the Agnus Dei. However, the instruction also allows for sitting or kneeling in prayer after communion regardless.
As for the EF, the laity do sing at times, depending on what is going on. At High Mass, there is an entrance hymn, usually sung by all. The choir chants (Gregorian) certain parts of the mass while the priest is saying them such as the Introit (opening prayer) Gloria, Kyrie, Gradual (or tract, which is between the Epistle and Gospel readings) and the Credo, and the communion prayer. The priest chants all portions of the mass that call for a raised voice (such as the the first blessing, the Gospel, the first words of the Gloria and Credo, the Domine non sum dignus …(“Lord I am not worthy…”), etc . The choir usually does Gregorian Chant during communion. Then there is a recessional hymn at the end that is sung by all. In general at a high mass, everything that is meant to be audible to the entire congregation is either sung or chanted, except the vernacular readings from the Epistles and Gospel, the Homily and the Last Gospel (which is the beginning of the Gospel of John, said at the end of mass).
In contrast, at low mass there is usually no singing at all, although sometimes the priest will start a hymn at the end of mass when he is at the foot of the sanctuary, and then all will join in.
