When to sit down after Collect

[aleckralc]

Hi everyone,

So I have a question: I’ve noticed that during the liturgy some of the faithful (often more traditional folk) have the practice of waiting before the priest/celebrant sits down to sit down (so right between the collect and the first reading). I think it has something to do with showing respect for the priest. I’ve also noticed that during large conference events (so like SEEK or something) that the priests will wait for the celebrant to sit before sitting themselves.

So my question is…are we supposed to wait for the celebrant to sit before we sit?

Thanks!

God bless and Ave Maria!

 

[Canvas]

Usually, the people in the pews sit down by reflex in my Parish, after the Collect and prior to the readings. It all just … happens.

 

[SMHW]

I think people in general do not consciously think about the fact that they are supposed to sit, kneel, or stand at a given time. And I don’t think it’s particularly common for them to look at a missal to see what they should do. They behave reflexively, as Canvas says, and/or take their cues from some routine thing someone else does. It could be the priest, the deacon, a reader, a person sitting in front of them, an altar server…

In fact, if for some reason the priest does not sit down right away, those people who knew to sit and were starting to sit down, will likely pause in confusion.

 

[JohnLilburne]

The Roman Missal has no instructions about waiting for the Priest to sit first.

It emphasises the importance of a common bodily posture:

“42. … A common bodily posture, to be observed by all those taking part, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered together for the Sacred Liturgy, for it expresses the intention and spiritual attitude of the participants and also fosters them.”

It has in n. 43:

“The faithful should sit, on the other hand, during the readings before the Gospel and the Responsorial Psalm and for the Homily and during the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory; and, if appropriate, during the period of sacred silence after Communion.”

The Ceremonial of Bishops has:

“137 After the opening prayer, the reader goes to the ambo and proclaims the first reading, as all sit and listen.”

[Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal , © 2010 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. Excerpt from the English translation of Ceremonial of Bishops, © 1989, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]

 

[Glennon_P]

In my parish, you get both. At the early morning weekday Mass, we wait until the celebrant sits down. This is largely due to the persistent efforts of one parishioner, who several years ago, would sit in the front and would not sit down until the celebrant did. So the rest of us (pretty much the same crowd every day) picked up on that cue.

At our Sunday Masses, the congregation sits down as soon as the Collect is completed.

 

[aleckralc]

Okay, great! Thanks a lot. Yes, I suppose I could have checked the Roman Missal haha.