Standing with the bishop's permission?

[Andreas_Hofer]

This follows up on the advice given to the below question as to whether or not to kneel in the absence of kneelers. My alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, has a chapel in each of its 23 dormitories, and the majority have no kneelers. I was told that the kneelers were removed during renovation with consent of the bishop because it was not believed the chapels would be able to accomodate the desired number of attendees along with space for kneelers. While I never sought official confirmation, I was told that worshipers in those chapels thus also enjoyed permission to stand throughout the Eucharistic prayer. Could such a permission exist, and, if one has such permission, would you still advise kneeling (there is still sufficient space to kneel in front of one’s chair) instead of standing?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear Andreas,

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal does not require that a church or chapel have kneelers, but it does require that the faithful kneel during the consecration. The United States bishops extended the requirement for such kneeling until after the Amen of the Eucharistic prayer. (#21. Actions and Postures)

However, if it is not possible to kneel because of the lack of space or the surface on which the Mass is being offered is not clean or in some other way unsuitable, then the faithful may stand.

Since you say that there IS room to kneel, then those gathered for Mass should kneel. No bishop has the authority to counter the GIRM without sufficient reason and I doubt that this really is the case in your situation. Your bishop may not realize that there is enough room to kneel. I suspect that there is some leeway between what the bishop said and how what he said is being interpreted.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.