Standing during Eucharistic Prayer prefered in GIRM?

[tee_eff_em]

Deacon Ed:

In the United States, most (but certainly not all) bishops have decided to stand until the communicant returns to his or her place. The individual may then kneel or sit.

Just out of curiousity, what is “most”? Do you know a break-down (even approximate) of the numbers or percentages? Thanks.

tee
from a parochial diocese where nothing so earthshaking has been decreed in years

 

[Duffy]

Deacon Ed:

Duffy,

Let’s look at paragraph 43 of the GIRM:Note the the posture following the Agnus Dei is up to the local bishop. In the United States, most (but certainly not all) bishops have decided to stand until the communicant returns to his or her place. The individual may then kneel or sit.

Deacon Ed

Ed,
Thanks, I think I finally got it! It was more complicated than I thought at first, and I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions and took others’ word for it as to what Cardinal Mahony had done. It made me read sloppily. When Cardinal Mahony directed that the people would remain standing from the Our Father onward, he was following the GIRM #43 when it noted that the diocesan bishop may determine whether or not the faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei. Both the cardinal and the GIRM are talking about the same point in the Mass, just phrased differently. So Cardinal Mahony has not directed his diocese to stand during the Eucharistic Prayer, despite what our liturgist said, and the Cardinal’s actions give no support to the idea that standing during the Eucharistic Prayer is valid. Right?

–Duffy

 

[tee_eff_em]

Duffy:

Ah ha, says he, the paragraph on kneeling “In the dioceses of the United States, they should kneel…”], isn’t a part of the GIRM! That paragraph is an addendum, not included in the GIRM used by other nations. Therefore, it’s apparently OK to just ignore that, on a case-by-case basis. He said that some bishops have chosen to have their flock stand, including Mahoney of Los Angeles. There may even be a case, he said, that since Mahoney has said standing is the norm, we in San Diego ought to stand as well, since by some lights we are under his authority, Los Angeles being an archdiocese. He did say that when the pews go back in, there will be kneelers and we will be kneeling again, so it should be a moot point.

BTW, since I don’t think anyone else has said it out loud: Although Cardinal Mahony may be Metropolitan over the Diocese of San Diego, that does not give him authority over the liturgical practices there. That authority rests in her own bishop.

tee

 

[Deacon_Ed]

tee_eff_em:

Just out of curiousity, what is “most”? Do you know a break-down (even approximate) of the numbers or percentages? Thanks.

I’m guessing based upon (name removed by moderator)ut from deacons in other dioceses, but it looks like about 95% stand and 5 % do not.

Deacon Ed

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Duffy:

Ed,
Thanks, I think I finally got it! It was more complicated than I thought at first, and I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions and took others’ word for it as to what Cardinal Mahony had done. It made me read sloppily. When Cardinal Mahony directed that the people would remain standing from the Our Father onward, he was following the GIRM #43 when it noted that the diocesan bishop may determine whether or not the faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei. Both the cardinal and the GIRM are talking about the same point in the Mass, just phrased differently. So Cardinal Mahony has not directed his diocese to stand during the Eucharistic Prayer, despite what our liturgist said, and the Cardinal’s actions give no support to the idea that standing during the Eucharistic Prayer is valid. Right?

–Duffy

Absolutely correct. And, as already noted, Cdl. Mahony has no direct authority over the Diocese of San Diego – that belongs to Bishop Brom.

Deacon Ed

 

[Booklover]

KennySe:

I like Andreas’ advice to seek clarification.

While visiting family in New Orleans, I went to Mass. Everyone stood during the Communion reception and afterward they remained standing until all had received, then they sat collectively.

I received the Blessed Sacrament, returned to my pew and knelt immediately, even as I knew those locals around me would notice me. But, I was kneeling toward my King.

We were told here in Orlando that we have to stand all during Communion and I hated it from the beginning. I like to pray after Communion, but now everybody just stands there and sings. I found on this website that there had been some confusion in the GIRM’s instructions and that Cardinal Arinze had been asked whether the laity had to stand all during the Communion procession until the last person had received, and he said NO, that posture should not be so rigid that people who wanted to sit or kneel couldn’t do as they preferred. I even faxed a copy of the new Mass changes to my parish, St. Andrew Church. Nothing has been mentioned, they seem to be ignoring it, but my Mom and I do just as you did, we kneel even if everyone else stands. I watch the Mass on EWTN all the time and they kneel there and don’t even have singing during Communion which I like too. Sometimes the music we have is not conducive to reflecting on what we just received!