What the hey? more Mass confusion, sorry

[caroljm36]

Sorry to use that old saw but it really was Mass confusion yesterday. The priests lectured us on the GIRM changes but people aren’t getting it. Yesterday we were standing from right after the offertory (I think, after “…and the good of all His Church…” ) to the end of communion. Many people tried to figure out where to kneel but couldn’t figure out where.

What is supposed to happen? Shouldn’t there be a time to kneel right before the Lord’s Prayer?

 

[Stephen-Maguire]

caroljm36:

Sorry to use that old saw but it really was Mass confusion yesterday. The priests lectured us on the GIRM changes but people aren’t getting it. Yesterday we were standing from right after the offertory (I think, after “…and the good of all His Church…” ) to the end of communion. Many people tried to figure out where to kneel but couldn’t figure out where.

What is supposed to happen? Shouldn’t there be a time to kneel right before the Lord’s Prayer?

Over here we do, but haven’t a clue what takes part in other parts of the world.

 

[AmyS]

caroljm36:

Sorry to use that old saw but it really was Mass confusion yesterday. The priests lectured us on the GIRM changes but people aren’t getting it. Yesterday we were standing from right after the offertory (I think, after “…and the good of all His Church…” ) to the end of communion. Many people tried to figure out where to kneel but couldn’t figure out where.

What is supposed to happen? Shouldn’t there be a time to kneel right before the Lord’s Prayer?

Yes we should… At least we do.

 

[LarryM]

caroljm36:

Sorry to use that old saw but it really was Mass confusion yesterday. The priests lectured us on the GIRM changes but people aren’t getting it. Yesterday we were standing from right after the offertory (I think, after “…and the good of all His Church…” ) to the end of communion. Many people tried to figure out where to kneel but couldn’t figure out where.

What is supposed to happen? Shouldn’t there be a time to kneel right before the Lord’s Prayer?

Here is the relevant section from the GIRM on postures during Mass:

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, fraters *(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 are proclaimed 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 or recitation of the *Sanctus *until after the *Amen *of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good 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.

The entire text of the GIRM is available at the USCCB site,
usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

 

[Seatuck]

usccb.org/liturgy/girm/index.shtml

We had the bulletin inserts to help us with the new changes.We had these changes two years ago already. The church and its lack of uniformity amaze me.

The place where our Parish still doesn’t get it is at the Pray Brethren. People pop up at any time of that invitation and at any time of the response. Our Priests were wildly waving their arms in a "get up now "kind of gesture for a long time but they gave up.

 

[SHJ-BVM]

What bothers me the most is the clause in the new GIRM: “…unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.”

I attend daily Mass in NH where we kneel from the *Sanctus *until after the *Great **Amen *of the Eucharistic Prayer, and then again after the *Agnus Dei. *On Sunday I attend Mass in Vermont where the bishop has decreed we shouldn’t kneel after the *Agnus Dei. *

I second Seatuck’s statement: “The church and its lack of uniformity amaze me.”

 

[campion]

Bunk the Bishops. We need conformity- but we just ain’t gettin it.

 

[SeekerJen]

usccb.org/liturgy/girm/index.shtml

We had the bulletin inserts to help us with the new changes.We had these changes two years ago already. The church and its lack of uniformity amaze me.

The place where our Parish still doesn’t get it is at the Pray Brethren. People pop up at any time of that invitation and at any time of the response. Our Priests were wildly waving their arms in a "get up now "kind of gesture for a long time but they gave up.

Our priests made it one of their missions to get the parish following the new GIRM to the letter. They still do the big sweeping arm gesture to get us to stand at “Pray, brethren”. Every few months or so it also seems that one of the priests will remind us that we’re supposed to be bowing during the Nicene Creed at “He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man”. It’s easier for us in the choir, I think, because our choir director is a stickler for reverent posture and actions. If we forget, it’s safest to follow what he’s doing.

As for kneeling- at our parish, we kneel immediately after the Sanctus, then stand for the Lord’s Prayer, sign of peace, and the Agnus Dei, kneel again until we go up to receive the Eucharist, then kneel as soon as we get back to the pews until the priest shuts the tabernacle after Communion. We did it this way before the new GIRM, though, so the parish didn’t have to be retrained.

 

[tom.wineman]

caroljm36:

Many people tried to figure out where to kneel but couldn’t figure out where.

What is supposed to happen? Shouldn’t there be a time to kneel right before the Lord’s Prayer?

Not sure I understand. Did you mean , where or when ?

I’m taking it that you have no kneelers.

 

[caroljm36]

tom.wineman:

Not sure I understand. Did you mean , where or when ?

I’m taking it that you have no kneelers.

Yes we have kneelers and everything was fine and orderly until the new GIRM changes.

I don’t know what the Sanctus is exactly or Pray Brethren either, will look them up. From the GIRM excerpt above my sense is that we were right to remain standing, though many parishoners were bobbing up and down and it was all getting very confusing. I wish we didn’t stand for so long–I tend to get dizzy and weak after awhile.