Standing during Communion Rite

[Jatin]

I was recently on vacation in northern Michigan and went to mass one Sunday morning. It was a very small parish but I did no feel very comfortable during the mass. I don’t know if this is wrong or not, but during the homily, the priest sat down in a chair to the right of the altar (nothing behind it even). That seemed odd but it might just be that church. The priest did look relatively old… Anyway, as we get to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we all kneel when we are supposed to and everything seems fine. Once we get to the Lord’s Prayer and the Sign of Peace, we all stand. What I really didn’t like is that nobody kneeled down after the sign of peace for the rest of the mass. This was very odd to me and I felt out of place since I was the only one who did kneel and continued to kneel after communion. Please tell me this isn’t becoming a regular thing, because I felt like every person in that particular church was disrespecting Jesus when they continued to stand.

 

[belgianwaffles9]

Some bishops have instructed their parishes not to kneel during the agnus dei, or after communion. This is how it is done throughout most of california, where i go to college, but neve rin my home diocese of arlington, va. I am pretty sure it is a diocesan-level decision.

 

[Aramis]

Some bishops have instructed their parishes not to kneel during the agnus dei, or after communion. This is how it is done throughout most of california, where i go to college, but neve rin my home diocese of arlington, va. I am pretty sure it is a diocesan-level decision.

It was approved by the USCCB for the US Latin Rite, as an allowable posture.

 

[belgianwaffles9]

It was approved by the USCCB for the US Latin Rite, as an allowable posture.

Does the authority to impliment that posture rest with the diocesan bishop or the parish pastor? I’d be interested in knowing…

 

[EasterJoy]

Does the authority to impliment that posture rest with the diocesan bishop or the parish pastor? I’d be interested in knowing…

The bishop, although as far as I know he can give permission to one parish and not another, as long as all liturgicals norms he sets in his diocese are within the boundaries Rome has given him. (For instance, if Rome gives some right or option to the priests or to the laity, the bishop can’t take that away.) I cannot imagine he’d do that without a good reason, though. Bishops have enough troubles without stirring them up for fun.

 

[Aramis]

Does the authority to impliment that posture rest with the diocesan bishop or the parish pastor? I’d be interested in knowing…

Bishop.

As an Irony, the Episcopalians also implemented the same postural option shortly after the declaration by the USCCB, and before most of the RC bishops had implemented it. (Many have chosen not to.