When to sit after communion

[djl58]

I see many people move from the kneel position after they receive communion, at their pew, to sitting once the eucharist is returned to the tabernacle and the tabernacle door locked by one of the Eucharist Ministers. But others go from kneel to sit, after the priest has purified the chalise and paten, others sit long before either of the above once their short prayer (kneeling) is done.

What is the proper time to stop kneeling and sit after communion?

 

[YoungTradCath]

The fact is that there really is no prescribed thing to do. In my church, most people kneel until the clerics, that is all the vested priests and deacons, sit. I think it is most respectful to do that.

 

[OraLabora]

The fact is that there really is no prescribed thing to do. In my church, most people kneel until the clerics, that is all the vested priests and deacons, sit. I think it is most respectful to do that.

At our abbey, when the main celebrant sits, the entire monastic community sits as well. That’s my cue to sit. Normally the schola keeps chanting the communion antiphon, adding psalm verses as required to keep chanting until everyone has received, but sometimes they stop a bit short of that. The main celebrant (usually but not always the abbot on Sundays), then sits, after everyone has received, or after the schola has finished the last repeat of the antiphon, whichever comes last. We can’t really use the tabernacle as cue as it is in a side chapel.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Many years ago when I prepared for first Communion we learned to remain kneeling until the Tabernacle was closed.

My current parish does this – all in unison.

 

[puzzleannie]

I What is the proper time to stop kneeling and sit after communion?

when the priest sits is the rule we teach the children preparing for first communion because it is the one thing that can be observed in all churches, no matter where the tabernacle is located. the current discipline is that the individual can choose to sit, stand or kneel during and after the communion rite, until it is time to stand for the last blessing. be considerate of others in your pew.

 

[djl58]

That is why I asked the question…see at my parish, it isn’t in unison. Many people sit once the eucharist ministers close the tabernacle, but another large number sit after the priest has finished purifying the vessels (but just before he turns to go to his seat), others remain kneeling until the priest then arises to start the Concluding Rite. Some small number sit when the priest sits.

The 5 eucharistic ministers always are kneeling the last, because they are the last ones to return to their pew and they want some time to pray after the communion. Sometimes they are still kneeling and praying after the priest begins the Concluding Rites.

So with so many different times people in our parish sit from kneeling, I thought we should be consistent.

 

[BGR_15]

The church I went to sat when the tabernacle was closed. When I got to the church where I currently live, everyone sits when the priest sits.

 

[jpjd]

That is why I asked the question…see at my parish, it isn’t in unison.

There is no requirement for it to be in unison.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

FYI

There are other issues also. Are there kneelers? Many cannot handle the floor long enough to stay and some parishes cannot afford kneelers. Many only have folding chairs. Also some of us use the presents of the Lord on the Alter once the Alter is clean we sit.

 

[rhiannonh]

I see many people move from the kneel position after they receive communion, at their pew, to sitting once the eucharist is returned to the tabernacle and the tabernacle door locked by one of the Eucharist Ministers. But others go from kneel to sit, after the priest has purified the chalise and paten, others sit long before either of the above once their short prayer (kneeling) is done.

What is the proper time to stop kneeling and sit after communion?/QUOTE

There isn’t one

Sometimes service booklets will tell you so because it just helps guide people but on the whole when you choose to sit, kneel or stand in any part of the service is your choice. Remember in the days before pews people stood for 3 hours. You do what is comfortable for you even if everyone stands up to sing a hymn you can sit or even kneel. God is not worried whether you are on your knees or on your feet or your backside. He is wanting your love and you give love and praise him the way you are comfortable

 

[DCNBILL]

The church I went to sat when the tabernacle was closed. When I got to the church where I currently live, everyone sits when the priest sits.

In our church the tabernacle is closed and then the priest and everyone else in the sanctuary sits along with the congregation so everything happens at once.

 

[YoungTradCath]

There isn’t one

Sometimes service booklets will tell you so because it just helps guide people but on the whole when you choose to sit, kneel or stand in any part of the service is your choice. Remember in the days before pews people stood for 3 hours. You do what is comfortable for you even if everyone stands up to sing a hymn you can sit or even kneel. God is not worried whether you are on your knees or on your feet or your backside. He is wanting your love and you give love and praise him the way you are comfortable

This is not true, and it shows a broader attitude. It is in the rubrics that there are certain definitive times when standing, sitting and kneeling is the prescribed, not recommended, posture. The only reason one has for not assuming any of them is out of true necessity, like being disabled or having an injury. Even not having kneelers in pews is not enough reason not to kneel.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

I see many people move from the kneel position after they receive communion, at their pew, to sitting once the eucharist is returned to the tabernacle and the tabernacle door locked by one of the Eucharist Ministers. But others go from kneel to sit, after the priest has purified the chalise and paten, others sit long before either of the above once their short prayer (kneeling) is done.

What is the proper time to stop kneeling and sit after communion?

If you could solve the problem it was good.
If I kneel, there is a person in front of me sitting and my breath goes to his/her hair.
If I sit, I have got some hands in my back. To avoid that, I pull myself forward sitting in the extreme of the bench…
All of this makes me feel that it is better standing…
And meanwhile the time of saying graces ended…

 

[Bookcat]

It is up to you.

I sit right away…better for my prayer.

 

[zab]

The fact is that there really is no prescribed thing to do. In my church, most people kneel until the clerics, that is all the vested priests and deacons, sit. I think it is most respectful to do that.

When asked about this, our pastor said that it is proper to wait until the remaining Hosts are placed in the tabernacle. Then we can sit or remain kneeling, or we could sit at any time we want after that but not to make a point of waiting when the priest sits down. He did not want the focal point to be on when the priest sits, rather it should be on the Eucharist. So in our case, I think it is most respectful for us to do as our pastor has asked.

 

[odile53]

Had to think about this for a minute since we do (except for those with ailing knees) tend to do this in unison: It’s after the altar is cleared and the consecrated hosts are returned to the tabernacle and the doors are closed.

 

[FloridaJoan]

At our country home in GA, everyone( in unison ) sits after Father has finished cleaning vessels and takes his seat ; but in FL most people sit after the blessed sacrament has been returned to the sanctuary and before Father and/or deacon have finished cleaning vessls ( in most cases announcements are read at this time in FL ).

 

[TheRealJuliane]

That is why I asked the question…see at my parish, it isn’t in unison. Many people sit once the eucharist ministers close the tabernacle, but another large number sit after the priest has finished purifying the vessels (but just before he turns to go to his seat), others remain kneeling until the priest then arises to start the Concluding Rite. Some small number sit when the priest sits.

The 5 eucharistic ministers always are kneeling the last, because they are the last ones to return to their pew and they want some time to pray after the communion. Sometimes they are still kneeling and praying after the priest begins the Concluding Rites.

So with so many different times people in our parish sit from kneeling, I thought we should be consistent.

Form a committee and start forcing people to do it right.

 

[Suslar]

When asked about this, our pastor said that it is proper to wait until the remaining Hosts are placed in the tabernacle. Then we can sit or remain kneeling, or we could sit at any time we want after that but not to make a point of waiting when the priest sits down. He did not want the focal point to be on when the priest sits, rather it should be on the Eucharist. So in our case, I think it is most respectful for us to do as our pastor has asked.

That is a terrific response! The correct focus is Jesus Christ. So, people kneel to adore Our Lord until He is no longer visible. If the Ordinary Ministers or EMHC’s take all of the sacred vessels to a side chapel or Sacristy for purification, then the “cue” is once they are out of the Sanctuary and the Tabernacle door is closed. However, if Father is purifying the vessels on the altar, it is possible the Tabernacle door might be closed before he is finished. In that case, Jesus is still present until Father is finished and the “cue” is to sit after the priest does. It’s all about the worship, honor and respect we owe Jesus Christ! I once heard a holy priest say that if we really understood Who came to us, we’d not be just on our knees, but falling on our faces prostrate to worship Him.

 

[rhiannonh]

This is not true, and it shows a broader attitude. It is in the rubrics that there are certain definitive times when standing, sitting and kneeling is the prescribed, not recommended, posture. The only reason one has for not assuming any of them is out of true necessity, like being disabled or having an injury. Even not having kneelers in pews is not enough reason not to kneel.

This is not true and shows a broader attitude.

well its either one or the other not both! It is true that in the past there weren’t any pews and people therefore did not sit.

It is true that service booklets that have instruction written in them, makes it easier for us to do what and when but no one has to follow suit.

You do what is comfortable - or what your own church does. Am and altar server/choir and we have different times to sitting standing and kneeling to the congregation and gets so complicated when its a quiet said service and whenever anyone asks a priest all replies have been, you do what you find comfortable.