Should everyone stand throughout Communion distribution?

[maendem]

I recently attended Mass in a small town in northern Michigan (Petoskey). I was astonished when, right before the Rite of the Eucharist began, the priest reminded parishioners that all were to remain standing and singing during Communion until everyone had received, and then kneel as a group afterwards.

I had never witnessed this, but was reminded of a Moral Theology class I took two years ago from a very orthodox Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist in which she mentioned that this precise behavior was intended by Rome to be the norm, but had not been observed or implemented widely.

Could anyone enlighten me about this practice, its origins and orthodoxy? The rest of the Mass was celebrated very reverently and did not differ in other ways from what I was used to.

 

[Nota_Bene]

maendem:

I recently attended Mass in a small town in northern Michigan (Petoskey). I was astonished when, right before the Rite of the Eucharist began, the priest reminded parishioners that all were to remain standing and singing during Communion until everyone had received, and then kneel as a group afterwards.

I had never witnessed this, but was reminded of a Moral Theology class I took two years ago from a very orthodox Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist in which she mentioned that this precise behavior was intended by Rome to be the norm, but had not been observed or implemented widely.

Could anyone enlighten me about this practice, its origins and orthodoxy? The rest of the Mass was celebrated very reverently and did not differ in other ways from what I was used to.

The posture one assumes after receiving Holy Communion is strictly up to said communicant.

Some have tried to do what you describe and there have been some pretty serious backlashes…

 

[nohself]

maendem:

I recently attended Mass in a small town in northern Michigan (Petoskey). I was astonished when, right before the Rite of the Eucharist began, the priest reminded parishioners that all were to remain standing and singing during Communion until everyone had received, and then kneel as a group afterwards.

I had never witnessed this, but was reminded of a Moral Theology class I took two years ago from a very orthodox Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist in which she mentioned that this precise behavior was intended by Rome to be the norm, but had not been observed or implemented widely.

Could anyone enlighten me about this practice, its origins and orthodoxy? The rest of the Mass was celebrated very reverently and did not differ in other ways from what I was used to.

This is how it ought to be. It is in fact intended by Rome to be the norm. The way things are now…the kneeling immediately after coming back to the pew…is not exactly an anomaly, but it’s not kosher. I really admire this priest! Wow, we need more priests like him, ready to implement the norms prescribed by Rome.

Jamie

 

[Dr.Bombay]

I propose a tradeoff: I’ll stand until the entire congregation has received Communion if everyone promises not to try to grab my hand during the Our Father. Who’s with me???

 

[nohself]

Dr. Bombay:

I propose a tradeoff: I’ll stand until the entire congregation has received Communion if everyone promises not to try to grab my hand during the Our Father. Who’s with me???

I’m with you! I never realized that the holding hands during the Our Father actually is an anomaly and ought to stop. I just read it recently in some document (oh, how many documents there are! but if only pastors would read 'em! or read them and actually obey them).

Jamie

 

[UKcatholicGuy]

From what I understand, Rome has given the US Catholic Church until this Lent season to fully implement the standing suring communion. But, like most instructions from Rome, I’m sure it will fall on deaf ears . . . so sad!

 

[serendipity]

I thought people only stood during holy communion if the church lacked kneelers. I prefer to to kneel as it is better for my meditation. I think holding hands during the our father is an improvement. Makes the church feel more like a community and one family who are willing to reach out to others and help them if the need arises, rather than a group of snobby strangers, who are only interested in pretending like they care about the gospel by showing up in mass once a week. I would prefer kissing for the sign of peace as the early church did too.

 

[JNB]

nohself:

This is how it ought to be. It is in fact intended by Rome to be the norm. The way things are now…the kneeling immediately after coming back to the pew…is not exactly an anomaly, but it’s not kosher. I really admire this priest! Wow, we need more priests like him, ready to implement the norms prescribed by Rome.

Jamie

Care to provide documentation? What I read in the GIRM(and yes I know norm does not equal canon law) says it is the choice of the communicant to stand, sit or kneel after communion unless otherwise determined by a bishop, and even here, Cdl Arinze head of CDW clearified at the request of Cdl. George that it is still up to the communicant.

Brave priest? I dont think so.

 

[JNB]

UKcatholicGuy:

From what I understand, Rome has given the US Catholic Church until this Lent season to fully implement the standing suring communion. But, like most instructions from Rome, I’m sure it will fall on deaf ears . . . so sad!

Uhm, it has no statement on this at all. Again, a Bishop can suggest that a conregation stand during communion, but as the CDW has said, it is up to the parishiner to stand or kneel after communion.

 

[Dr.Bombay]

serendipity:

I thought people only stood during holy communion if the church lacked kneelers. I prefer to to kneel as it is better for my meditation. I think holding hands during the our father is an improvement. Makes the church feel more like a community and one family who are willing to reach out to others and help them if the need arises, rather than a group of snobby strangers, who are only interested in pretending like they care about the gospel by showing up in mass once a week. I would prefer kissing for the sign of peace as the early church did too.

Come on, now. You must be pulling our leg. How is swapping spit with a perfect stranger (and in large parishes most people beside you in the pew are strangers) going to build a sense of community, except maybe by spreading colds and flus to everyone? If I may quote Pope Pius XII:

*“The liturgy of early ages is worthy of veneration; but an ancient custom is not to be considered better, either in itself or in relation to later times and circumstances, just because it has the flavour of antiquity…The desire to restore everything indiscriminately to its ancient condition is neither wise nor praiseworthy.”
*
Hand holding during the Our Father is an abuse. I’m no more likely to help a person because I’ve held someone’s sweaty paw during Mass. Why not hold hands during the entire Mass instead of just one part? Why not sit on your neighbor’s lap and whisper sweet nothings in their ear? We are Church, after all.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

maendem:

I recently attended Mass in a small town in northern Michigan (Petoskey). I was astonished when, right before the Rite of the Eucharist began, the priest reminded parishioners that all were to remain standing and singing during Communion until everyone had received, and then kneel as a group afterwards.

I had never witnessed this, but was reminded of a Moral Theology class I took two years ago from a very orthodox Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist in which she mentioned that this precise behavior was intended by Rome to be the norm, but had not been observed or implemented widely.

Could anyone enlighten me about this practice, its origins and orthodoxy? The rest of the Mass was celebrated very reverently and did not differ in other ways from what I was used to.

The Us Bishops decision on this matter simply states that no one, Bishop or Pastor, Priest, Deacon has the authority to instruct the people as to the posture to take after returning to their seat. Each individual alone is to have the ability to decide to kneel, sit, or stand as they choose.

 

[kmktexas]

According to this quote, it was a dubium to the CDW and the response that clarified this. The US bishops reiterated the CDW response in their publication. (Just in case anyone wants to claim that the Bishops are acting alone )

5 June 2003

Prot. n. 855/03/L

Dubium: In many places, the faithful are accustomed to kneeling or sitting in personal prayer upon returning to their places after individually received Holy Communion during Mass. Is it the intention of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, to forbid this practice?

Responsum: Negative, et ad mentem. The mens is that that the prescription of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, no. 43, is intended, on one hand, to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the celebration of the Holy Mass, and on the other, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free.

Francis Cardinal Arinze
Prefect

NB: This clarification was published in the July 2003 edition of the Newsletter of the Bishops Committee on the Liturgy.

 

[APxr22]

So Im good kneeling in prayer after receiving communion
I started off reading this article thinking I was in the wrong.