When to kneel?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tampasteve
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tampasteve

Guest
I am trying to find out when one is supposed to start kneeling and stop kneeling during the Mass. I have only attended churches that do not kneel, so I am not sure when people should be kneeling. These churches tend to stand rather than kneel; none have kneelers either, so this may or may not have something to do with it. I would like to do so myself. Thanks!

Steve
 
tampasteve:

The answer to your question can be found in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (G.I.R.M., and please do not pronounce it like “germ”) paragraph 43:
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.
Click to expand...
That pretty much says it. I hope I answered your question.

MT
 
In the United States, for your average Sunday Mass:
  • after the Holy, Holy, Holy, before the priest begins the Eucharistic Prayer
  • stand at the conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer after the “Amen”, and before the Our Father
  • kneel at “This is the Lamb of God” unless your local bishop has determined otherwise.
It is also customary for people in many places to kneel after receiving Communion while making an act of thanksgiving.
 
A related question: there seems to be some confusion in my church service about what to do after receiving communion. Some people stand throughout until the priest puts the communion accouterments away; others sit immediately upon returning to the pew, and some parishioners kneel. As a child, I remember sitting right away until the final blessing. Please clarify…
 
modestobruce said:
A related question: there seems to be some confusion in my church service about what to do after receiving communion. Some people stand throughout until the priest puts the communion accouterments away; others sit immediately upon returning to the pew, and some parishioners kneel. As a child, I remember sitting right away until the final blessing. Please clarify…
Click to expand...
That is totally up to you, the posture after returning to your pew.
 
George_C said:
Then there’s something wrong. :eek:
Click to expand...
Indeed. I have been to 5 parishes in the Diocese and in only one does the majority of the congregation kneel. Out of the others three do not even have kneelers.

Steve
 
modestobruce said:
A related question: there seems to be some confusion in my church service about what to do after receiving communion. Some people stand throughout until the priest puts the communion accouterments away; others sit immediately upon returning to the pew, and some parishioners kneel. As a child, I remember sitting right away until the final blessing. Please clarify…
Click to expand...
This was the interpretation given by then-Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Disicipline of the Sacraments, Francis Cardinal Arinze:
Does everybody have to stand until the last person has received Holy Communion?
Click to expand...
There is no rule from Rome that everybody must stand during Holy Communion. There is no such rule from Rome. So, after people have received Communion, they can stand, they can kneel, they can sit. But a bishop in his diocese or bishops in a country could say that they recommend standing or kneeling. They could. It is not a law from Rome. They could – but not impose it. Perhaps they could propose. But those who want to sit or kneel or stand should be left reasonable freedom.
Click to expand...
So, this is one of those areas where the bishops, let alone the celebrants, could not impose what the faithful do after receiving Holy Communion.
 
tampasteve said:
I am trying to find out when one is supposed to start kneeling and stop kneeling during the Mass. I have only attended churches that do not kneel, so I am not sure when people should be kneeling. These churches tend to stand rather than kneel; none have kneelers either, so this may or may not have something to do with it. I would like to do so myself. Thanks!

Steve
Click to expand...
It depends highly upon which rite; if it is the Roman ordinary form, the GIRM is the answer; it varies between countries, however, so if in the US, or in Canada, or in Australia, the rubrics differ.

In the EF Roman mass, follow the missal. (but then, EF masses will be generally in parishes with kneelers, altar rails, etc.)

In the Byzantine Catholic churches (Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Melkite, Romanian, Russian), one does not kneel during the Sunday nor Holy Day liturgies. You might mke prostrations, but not kneel except as part of the transition to head-on-the-floor prostration.

I don’t know the rubrics for the Chaldean, Maronite, Syro-Malabar, and Coptic catholic liturgies.

All the above mentioned forms are in use in the Catholic Church within the US and Canada.
 
modestobruce said:
A related question: there seems to be some confusion in my church service about what to do after receiving communion. Some people stand throughout until the priest puts the communion accouterments away; others sit immediately upon returning to the pew, and some parishioners kneel. As a child, I remember sitting right away until the final blessing. Please clarify…
Click to expand...
When returning from communion to the pew, you should remain kneeling until the body of Christ is returned to the tabernacle and the tabernacle doors are closed. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. You should also remain kneeling after the Agnus Dei until you leave your pew for communion as a sign of reverence for the sacrament you are about to partake in. This too is a huge pet peeve of mine. Regardless of what the other parishoners do, I follow those rules. I’ve never been to a catholic mass where you sit during the Eucharistic prayer (or stand for that matter)
 
JanetF said:
When returning from communion to the pew, you should remain kneeling until the body of Christ is returned to the tabernacle and the tabernacle doors are closed. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. You should also remain kneeling after the Agnus Dei until you leave your pew for communion as a sign of reverence for the sacrament you are about to partake in. This too is a huge pet peeve of mine. Regardless of what the other parishoners do, I follow those rules. I’ve never been to a catholic mass where you sit during the Eucharistic prayer (or stand for that matter)
Click to expand...
What rules?

See post #10, those are the only “rules” I know of regarding what Catholics should do.

Thanks
 
diggerdomer said:
What rules?

See post #10, those are the only “rules” I know of regarding what Catholics should do.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I believe she means those are her personal “rules”. Maybe “policy” is a better word since there appears to be no official rule.

In my experience, there is a great deal of variability from parish to parish. I’ve seen people sit after communion, I have seen people kneel for a prayer then sit, I have seen people stand throughout. So, really, I’ve seen all the possible combinations that make sense (though standing doesn’t make sense to me unless there are no kneelers - even then I just kneel on the floor, but I can see how that would hurt some people’s knees).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top