Sitting after Communion

[MusicaDonumDei]

I’ve noticed at Sunday mass that after communion everyone stops kneeling and sits back in their pews as soon as the priest sits down after distributing communion. Whereas, in our daily mass, everyone kneels while he is sitting until he stands back up. Which one is correct and what do they do at your parish?

My instinct is to think that the priest needs time to reflect after communion as well, and we should be kneeling just as we all had been previously. The only difference is that he doesn’t have a kneeler, so his only option is to sit.

BTW, I hope this doesn’t descend into one of those angry holding hands during the Our Father arguments

 

[Phemie]

I’ve noticed at Sunday mass that after communion everyone stops kneeling and sits back in their pews as soon as the priest sits down after distributing communion. Whereas, in our daily mass, everyone kneels while he is sitting until he stands back up. Which one is correct and what do they do at your parish?

My instinct is to think that the priest needs time to reflect after communion as well, and we should be kneeling just as we all had been previously. The only difference is that he doesn’t have a kneeler, so his only option is to sit.

BTW, I hope this doesn’t descend into one of those angry holding hands during the Our Father arguments

You don’t have to kneel after Communion, you can sit or stand. So it’s perfectly OK to sit when Fr. does. It’s up to him to keep that period of silent reflection going; just because everybody sits down doesn’t mean he has to immediately say the Prayer after Communion.

 

[zab]

Communion is usually much longer at Sunday Masses than weekday Masses. For some it is no problem to continue kneeling after the priest sits down even at Sunday Masses. But for some, physical ailments that make it very difficult.

 

[MusicaDonumDei]

Well, yes, those that can’t kneel for physical reasons are obviously not obliged to kneel when that is the instruction in the girm. I just always thought it was funny then that everyone would sit, regardless of their health, and would think to myself, “we really can’t kneel for like 10 more seconds?” I don’t care either way, really, I just noticed different practices is all.

Communion is usually much longer at Sunday Masses than weekday Masses. For some it is no problem to continue kneeling after the priest sits down even at Sunday Masses. But for some, physical ailments that make it very difficult.

 

[John_Lilburne]

If it is a Stational Mass of the Diocesan Bishop, then the correct posture is sitting.

From the Ceremonial of Bishops:
“166 When the bishop return to the chair after the communion, he puts on the skullcap and, if need be, washes his hands. All are seated and a period of prayerful silence may follow, or a song of praise or a psalm may be sung.” (My bold text, from Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 60).

Nothing in the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) changes this, since it has:
"112. … At a Mass celebrated by the Bishop or at which he presides without celebrating the Eucharist, the norms found in the Caeremoniale Episcoporum should be observed. [footnote 92: Cf. Caeremoniale Episcoporum, editio typica, 1984, nos. 119-186. ]

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“43. … and, as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed.”
And: “42. … A common posture, to be observed by all participants, is a sign of the unity of the members of
the Christian community gathered for the Sacred Liturgy: it both expresses and fosters the
intention and spiritual attitude of the participants.”

And, at the end of n. 43: “With a view to a uniformity in gestures and postures during one and the same celebration, the
faithful should follow the directions which the deacon, lay minister, or priest gives according to
whatever is indicated in the Missal.”

I have never seen a priest kneeling after Communion. So I think sitting is the better posture. This is on the basis of the “common posture”, “view to a uniformity in … postures” and consistency with what is required for the Stational Mass of the Diocesan Bishop.

 

[FastLearner]

I was taught during CCD to return to my pew, kneel for a prayer, and then sit, even if others are still receiving communion. However, I ignore that “rule” and my personal act is to kneel in the exposed presence of Christ to show reverence. So when the Body of Christ is returned to the tabernacle, I sit unless I’m still mid prayer, in which case I wait until I am finished praying.

I see all sorts of things during Mass, depending on the parish.

 

[Saintlucy]

I was taught during CCD to return to my pew, kneel for a prayer, and then sit, even if others are still receiving communion. However, I ignore that “rule” and my personal act is to kneel in the exposed presence of Christ to show reverence. So when the Body of Christ is returned to the tabernacle, I sit unless I’m still mid prayer, in which case I wait until I am finished praying.

I see all sorts of things during Mass, depending on the parish.

I always kneel until the tabernacle is closed again after Communion. It is a bug I have to bear, being in the choir, that I can’t kneel down for long because we have to lead the hymn.

 

[mkingdomlvr]

I was taught during CCD to return to my pew, kneel for a prayer, and then sit, even if others are still receiving communion. However, I ignore that “rule” and my personal act is to kneel in the exposed presence of Christ to show reverence. So when the Body of Christ is returned to the tabernacle, I sit unless I’m still mid prayer, in which case I wait until I am finished praying.

I see all sorts of things during Mass, depending on the parish.

I was taught to kneel from the Angus Dei until the usher came to my row, and then after receiving until the Tabernacle door was closed. It is awkward for me when the Priest begins the post-Communion prayer before the tabernacle is closed.

 

[Sr_Sally]

I think it is really just dependent on how long communion takes. It is OK to sit after communion, so if you are done praying, you can sit. Those who are in the front pews may sit before those in the back who receive communion later (and those in the back have more time to say preparatory prayers). Usually at our daily Masses the priest goes straight from purifying the chalice to the final prayer, so really I go from kneeling to standing!

 

[estesbob]

I always kneel until the tabernacle is closed again after Communion. It is a bug I have to bear, being in the choir, that I can’t kneel down for long because we have to lead the hymn.

That is what I do also-I sit when the tabernacle is closed

 

[JanetF]

I was taught to kneel from the Angus Dei until the usher reaches my row, then after communion until the tabernacle is closed. When I sit has absolutely nothing to do with when the priest sits. It’s a pet peeve of mine when everyone sits when Father sits. Of course it’s also a pet peeve when people sit after the Angus Dei.

 

[Provigil]

I’ve noticed at Sunday mass that after communion everyone stops kneeling and sits back in their pews as soon as the priest sits down after distributing communion. Whereas, in our daily mass, everyone kneels while he is sitting until he stands back up. Which one is correct and what do they do at your parish?

My instinct is to think that the priest needs time to reflect after communion as well, and we should be kneeling just as we all had been previously. The only difference is that he doesn’t have a kneeler, so his only option is to sit.

BTW, I hope this doesn’t descend into one of those angry holding hands during the Our Father arguments

=================================================================
It depends on each Diocese. Don’t quote me, but I believe a statement cam from the Bishops saying that after the Lamb of God, we are to remain standing until the hosts are placed in the tabernacle. Now in my Diocese this is done. You have to remember that no al priests listen to thir bishop, but I am 100% positive this is the standard to stand up durng the Communion rite.

PROVIGIL, PhD

 

[marleelynn]

That is what I do also-I sit when the tabernacle is closed

I also sit once the tablenacle is closed.

 

[OhMalley]

When I return from communion I simply kneel (one of the approved options) where no one is in front of me until I hear “let us pray.” Otherwise my focus is on the priest’s arms (to motion for us to sit) or on the tabernacle which one cannot always hear being closed. Simple and it works well.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I was taught to kneel from the Angus Dei until the usher came to my row, and then after receiving until the Tabernacle door was closed. It is awkward for me when the Priest begins the post-Communion prayer before the tabernacle is closed.

That doesn’t happen in my parish because the priest is the one who takes the Blessed Sacrament back to the tabernacle. Isn’t that what he is supposed to do? Then he goes back to the chair and sits for a period of reflection.

 

[OraProNobisIHM]

I’ve noticed at Sunday mass that after communion everyone stops kneeling and sits back in their pews as soon as the priest sits down after distributing communion. Whereas, in our daily mass, everyone kneels while he is sitting until he stands back up. Which one is correct and what do they do at your parish?

My instinct is to think that the priest needs time to reflect after communion as well, and we should be kneeling just as we all had been previously. The only difference is that he doesn’t have a kneeler, so his only option is to sit.

BTW, I hope this doesn’t descend into one of those angry holding hands during the Our Father arguments

Kneel until the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the tabernacle.

And pray during this time too.

 

[DallasCatholic]

I used to kneel but have had knee surgery recently. My friend pointed out that the GIRM gives us the option after communion to kneel or sit…so now I sit. I also don’t think someone sitting immediately after communion is necessarily less reverent than those who kneel.

 

[JulianN]

I was taught to kneel from the Angus Dei until the usher reaches my row, then after communion until the tabernacle is closed. When I sit has absolutely nothing to do with when the priest sits. It’s a pet peeve of mine when everyone sits when Father sits. Of course it’s also a pet peeve when people sit after the Angus Dei.

I was taught to kneel from the Angus Dei …

I always wonder if this is translated ‘Cow of God’