Sitting during the Gospel reading

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is this okay? I went to mass today and the priest said we could sit because the Gospel was “long”(Zechariah). I would’ve wanted to remain standing, but I’ll be the only one doing that.
 
fin said:
is this okay? I went to mass today and the priest said we could sit because the Gospel was “long”(Zechariah). I would’ve wanted to remain standing, but I’ll be the only one doing that.
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G.I.R.M Section #43:
  1. 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 Prayer of the Faithful;
    from the invitation, Orate, fratres (Pray, brethren), before the prayer over the offerings until the
    end of Mass, except at the places indicated below.
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God bless.
 
fin said:
is this okay? I went to mass today and the priest said we could sit because the Gospel was “long”(Zechariah). I would’ve wanted to remain standing, but I’ll be the only one doing that.
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An individual can sit if they are not able to physically stand. The Priest may not invite all to sit. He should have said if you are unable to stand for the entire Gospel you may sit whenever you need to.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
An individual can sit if they are not able to physically stand. The Priest may not invite all to sit. He should have said if you are unable to stand for the entire Gospel you may sit whenever you need to.
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Actually what he said was you could sit during the Gospel since it’s “long”. Everyone went ahead and sat anyway. I felt silly if I was the only one standing. Heck, it’s not even that long!
 
fin said:
Actually what he said was you could sit during the Gospel since it’s “long”. Everyone went ahead and sat anyway. I felt silly if I was the only one standing. Heck, it’s not even that long!
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As a previous poster indicated, the normal posture for the Gospel is to stand. The Passion is long and, yet, we (those who are able to, at least) remain standing for the duration of the reading. Monday’s Gospel was fairly long. Yet, we remain standing. The priest had no right to tell people they could sit during the Gospel (unless they were infirmed or elderly). I would have remained standing. The ones who were silly were those who probably didn’t have a legitimate reason to sit.
 
The liturgical book requires standing for the Gospel, so I would stand, even if others sit as the priest directs.

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“60. The reading of the Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. The Liturgy itself teaches that great reverence is to be shown to it by setting it off from the other readings with special marks of honor: whether the minister appointed to proclaim it prepares himself by a blessing or prayer; or the faithful, standing as they listen to it being read, through their acclamations acknowledge and confess Christ present and speaking to them; or the very marks of reverence are given to the Book of the Gospels.”

At the end of n. 43 it has:
“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.”

But clearly this is not what is indicated in the Missal. The directions to stand are unambigious.

Of course those who cannot stand are not expected to. Neither are those who believe they will have difficulty doing so.
 
Sit. Do not cause unnecessary division over something so minor.
 
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