Sitting or Kneelng during communion?

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My wife and I participated in Mass this morning and noticed something we have never seen. We have been to over a dozen parishes over the years and had never seen this before. During communion right after the Priest consecrated the bread and wine and the Lords prayer was recited they all sat down instead of kneeling. Once they received the eucharist and walked back to their seat they kneeled which is normal. We have always kneeled during communion no matter where or what parish we attended. Is this acceptable with the church?
 
I’ve noticed in the Episcopalian church they do this, haven’t been to a Catholic church since 1979-80, but I do recall everyone kneeling then-before and after partaking of communion. When I was younger, I kneeled the whole time, when I was a bit older, I stopped, I just sat, as the communion wasn’t something I was able to partake of.
Did it change? And…does it matter? Mind, I’m not asking to be obnoxious, I really don’t know…

Now, I go to my friend’s church for different family functions that they invite us to, and I usually sit…and don’t partake of communion, for obvious reasons, but I do want to be respectful, so I do watch the rest of the people in the church and follow them, generally…and I do notice that they kneel right after they receive communion, then they sit down…
 
We were kneeling during the communion prayer " Lord I am not Worthy to Receive You, but only say the Word and I shall beHealed" Right after that, everyone sat down in the pews instead of remaining on the kneelers.
 
tparsons said:
My wife and I participated in Mass this morning and noticed something we have never seen. We have been to over a dozen parishes over the years and had never seen this before. During communion right after the Priest consecrated the bread and wine and the Lords prayer was recited they all sat down instead of kneeling. Once they received the eucharist and walked back to their seat they kneeled which is normal. We have always kneeled during communion no matter where or what parish we attended. Is this acceptable with the church?
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See GIRM:
  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.
They should, however, sit while the readings before the Gospel and the responsorial Psalm areproclaimed 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 orrecitation of the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented onoccasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some othergood 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.

With a view to a uniformity in gestures and postures during one and the same celebration, thefaithful should follow the directions which the deacon, lay minister, or priest gives according towhatever is indicated in the Missal.
 
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