Standing During Consecration at Funerals

[Cor_ad_Cor]

From what I’ve read, there is a special dispensation in the United States to kneel starting at the Sanctus. We kneel for the entire Eucharistic Prayer, however, most nations only kneel for the actual consecration.

@paperwight
This is accurate and has been my experience in Europe. @JulianN gave the accurate information.

 

[OraLabora]

Are you sure there is no kneeling for the Consecrarion in the majority of the Catholic world?.

Kneeling at the consecration is the world norm. For most of the world, including French Canada where I live, we kneel at the consecration only, then again after communion. We don’t kneel at other times.

I attend Mass often in Rome, and it is the same custom there as well.

At our local abbey we often get lots of American visitors, and it’s amusing to hear all the kneelers crashing to the floor after the Sanctus, we can always tell where the Americans are seated. We only kneel at the consecration and again after communion for private prayer.

 

[JohnLilburne]

The Roman Missal used in Australia has the translation of the original General Instruction. It then adds, the changes for Australia, clearly distinguishing them with a red line across the page and “In Australia:” written in red.

From the end of the original General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 43:

“…. They should kneel, on the other hand, at the Consecration, except when prevented on occasion by ill health, or for reasons of lack of space, of the large number of people present, of for another reasonable cause. However, those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the Priest genuflects after the Consecration.

It is for the Conference of Bishops, in accordance with the norm of law, to adapt the gestures and postures described in the Order of Mass to the culture and reasonable traditions of the peoples.53 However, attention must be paid to ensuring that such adaptations correspond to the meaning and character of each part of the celebration. Where it is the practice for the people to remain kneeling after the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy ) until the end of the Eucharistic Prayer and before Communion when the Priest says Ecce Agnus Dei (Behold the Lamb of God ), it is laudable for this practice to be retained.

For the sake of uniformity in gestures and bodily postures during the one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the instructions which the Deacon, a lay minister, or the Priest gives, according to what is laid down in the Missal.”

[Excerpt from the English translation of The Roman Missal (c) 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]

 

[Roseeurekacross]

we kneel at the start of the Sanctus and at the start of the Agnus Dei. Especially if its sung.

 

[dochawk]

, but eventually you learn to kneel with your heart whilst standing up.

Keep in mind that the historic position of respect is standing, while historically kneeling is only a position of repentance–and respect, not repentance, is the appropriate mindset for the Consecration.

The Western church adopted the secular behavior of kneeling in respect a millennium or so ago.

So it’s really that you need to stand with your heart while kneeling with your body

hawk

 

[Roseeurekacross]

I was at a funeral mass today. We did exactly the same as we do in the OF Mass.

 

[adgloriam]

This is really interesting, I hadn’t thought about that. But for someone who knelt their whole life, since childhood, not doing so is very awkward - and the feeling itself remits to further the meditation on the gesture, and the gesture’s role on meditation.

[On a side note, did you ever hear a whole stadium shouting: "(…)hawk(…)hawk(…)hawk…] If not, then here it is, for your enjoyment, true eye/ear candy of athletics and ethnicity: