When to sit durring communion?

[adrift]

The parish I have been attending does not have knealers. We stand throughout the whole communion.

PS. I’m starting RCIA as well, so I’m also in the pews praying for my day to go and take communion. It will come when the time is right.

Unless there is no room to kneel, having no kneelers is not a reason not to kneel. I do not like kneelers so kneel on the floor. In standing, at the consecration there should be a deep bow. In my limited experience, this is usually not done. Does your parish do this?

Congratulations on your way home.

 

[Mgray82]

Unless there is no room to kneel, having no kneelers is not a reason not to kneel. I do not like kneelers so kneel on the floor. In standing, at the consecration there should be a deep bow. In my limited experience, this is usually not done. Does your parish do this?

Congratulations on your way home.

Yes, they do a deep bow at the consecration. And thank you. It’s a blessing.

 

[adrift]

Yes, they do a deep bow at the consecration. And thank you. It’s a blessing.

I am glad that someone does it. It Must be inspiring.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

In Canada, the CCCB has in fact regulated the posture - we are to stand until the last person receives Holy Communion - so this really depends on the jurisdiction. If in doubt, ask your Bishop.

But it is not to be so rigid as to prevent people from kneeling, etc. In the Diocese of Saskatoon, the bishop has said people are free to sit, stand, and kneel during communion.

 

[SMHW]

There is no common posture prescribed. It is not ordinarily regulated. Priests do not have the authority to regulate posture here. As far as I can tell, it is within the competence of Episcopal Conferences to regulate posture, and assuming the OP is from Maryland, the USCCB has not done so; it is up to the individual to sit, kneel or stand as you see fit.

It is my understanding that there is a prescribed position. It would be kneeling (or standing if requested by the local bishop). But the returning communicant has the option to to spend time in private prayer (presumably while sitting or kneeling). The communicant can spend the whole time communion is distributed praying in private.

But it would be my understanding that if the communicant finishes his private prayer while communion is still being distributed then he should resume the common position (if not already in it) and perhaps join in the communion hymn.

 

[Phemie]

In Canada, the CCCB has in fact regulated the posture - we are to stand until the last person receives Holy Communion - so this really depends on the jurisdiction. If in doubt, ask your Bishop.

Actually, Rome has already said, in response to a dubium, that while the posture prescribed in the GIRM is standing after Communion, it is not to be enforced so stringently as to forbid those who want to kneel or sit from doing so. The Canadian GIRM 42 says they can sit, if appropriate, during the period of sacred silence after Communion.

 

[Canuck000]

Loving all the encouagement here. I don’t mind remaining kneeling and praying while others recieve, my time will come soon.

 

[jmcrae]

But it is not to be so rigid as to prevent people from kneeling, etc. In the Diocese of Saskatoon, the bishop has said people are free to sit, stand, and kneel during communion.

In Calgary, we are standing until the last person receives, and then we can sit or kneel during the Great Silence. (There are a scattered few who kneel early, but they are becoming fewer as time goes on, and as people are educated on the new GIRM.)

 

[jmcrae]

Actually, Rome has already said, in response to a dubium, that while the posture prescribed in the GIRM is standing after Communion, it is not to be enforced so stringently as to forbid those who want to kneel or sit from doing so. The Canadian GIRM 42 says they can sit, if appropriate, during the period of sacred silence after Communion.

Right - just as I said above - during the Great Silence, we sit or kneel. While people are still receiving, we continue to stand.

 

[asia53]

Loving all the encouagement here. I don’t mind remaining kneeling and praying while others recieve, my time will come soon.

Welcome, Canuck!

While you’re kneeling and praying, you could do an Act of Spiritual Communion:

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You have already come, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

I prayed this prayer, until I came fully into the Church.

 

[Canuck000]

Thank you Asia what a beautiful prayer!

 

[Phemie]

In Calgary, we are standing until the last person receives, and then we can sit or kneel during the Great Silence. (There are a scattered few who kneel early, but they are becoming fewer as time goes on, and as people are educated on the new GIRM.)

 *Dubium*: In many places, the     faithful are accustomed to kneeling or sitting in personal prayer     upon returning to their places after having individually received     Holy Communion during Mass. Is it the intention of the *Missale     Romanum, editio typica tertia*, to forbid this practice?

Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the CDW, responded to the question on June 5, 2003 (Prot. N. 855/03/L):

    *Responsum*: Negative, *et ad     mensum* [No, for this reason]. The *mens* [reasoning]     is that the prescription of the *Institutio Generalis Missalis     Romani*, no. 43, is intended, on the one hand, to ensure within     broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation     for the various parts of the celebration of Holy Mass, and on     the other, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that     those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free.

 

[jmcrae]

 *Dubium*: In many places, the     faithful are accustomed to kneeling or sitting in personal prayer     upon returning to their places after having individually received     Holy Communion during Mass. Is it the intention of the *Missale     Romanum, editio typica tertia*, to forbid this practice?

Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the CDW, responded to the question on June 5, 2003 (Prot. N. 855/03/L):

    *Responsum*: Negative, *et ad     mensum* [No, for this reason]. The *mens* [reasoning]     is that the prescription of the *Institutio Generalis Missalis     Romani*, no. 43, is intended, on the one hand, to ensure within     broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation     for the various parts of the celebration of Holy Mass, and on     the other, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that     those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free.

The new GIRM came into force on the First Sunday of Advent, 2011. Your quote is from 2004, under the old GIRM.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

In Calgary, we are standing until the last person receives, and then we can sit or kneel during the Great Silence. (There are a scattered few who kneel early, but they are becoming fewer as time goes on, and as people are educated on the new GIRM.)

I’m one of those who can’t bring myself to stand, thus I kneel. I find myself so engrossed in what have just received that I’m pretty much oblivious to what’s going on around me and find myself physically unable to stand.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

The new GIRM came into force on the First Sunday of Advent, 2011. Your quote is from 2004, under the old GIRM.

It’s still the same answer. Just give it time. Someone will write a new letter, to which Rome will refer back to the answer of the old letter to clarify this further that we are permitted to kneel after communion.

 

[Phemie]

The new GIRM came into force on the First Sunday of Advent, 2011. Your quote is from 2004, under the old GIRM.

No, the dubium is about the present GIRM, the one from the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. Note the reference to GIRM 43. We just didn’t get the translation before 2011.

The article on posture in the old GIRM was GIRM 21.

 

[mlz]

Since I’m a new Catholic I just follow what everyone does here, but I’ve found it’s different in different diocese so I respect whatever they do.

mlz

 

[jmcrae]

It’s still the same answer. Just give it time. Someone will write a new letter, to which Rome will refer back to the answer of the old letter to clarify this further that we are permitted to kneel after communion.

I wasn’t disputing that. “After Communion” is now considered to be after everyone has received, rather than just your own personal reception. We are free to kneel or sit during the Great Silence. While people are still receiving, we are to be “in communion” with them, and remain standing with them - and yes, nobody is going to make a scene in church if someone happens to kneel instead.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I wasn’t disputing that. “After Communion” is now considered to be after everyone has received, rather than just your own personal reception. We are free to kneel or sit during the Great Silence. While people are still receiving, we are to be “in communion” with them, and remain standing with them - and yes, nobody is going to make a scene in church if someone happens to kneel instead.

Just curious, how great is the “great silence” after communion at your parish? Ours is about 15 seconds, and that’s pushing it. It’s not enough time to even get out an Anima Christe.

 

[creole54]

I’m glad someone asked this question, because it’s awkward sometimes at my church. I’m a fairly new ‘revert’ to the church after wandering lost in the spiritual desert for 40 years, so I don’t know a lot of the postures and responses yet.

Usually, but not always, everyone kneels until the priest comes forward to sit. But yesterday for some reason a bunch of people started to sit, then a bunch followed suit, and so forth, but the priest hadn’t returned to his seat yet. I didn’t know what to do for sure.

Fortunately our deacon and his family were sitting one pew behind me and to my left, so I watched out of the corner of my eye what he was doing. His family & I and maybe 5 other people remained kneeling until the priest took his place. It felt weird to be one of a handful still kneeling, but I also felt that I was doing the right thing. I didn’t want to be disrespectful.

I’ve always wondered if there was a ‘rule’ about it, so I’ll know what to do if the deacon sits somewhere else.

Oh, and there are about 20 people in the entire church that made a deep bow at the consecration. This I also learned from watching the deacon.

I’m curious, is it proper to bow before one receives the host? I see some people do it, but most don’t.