Which countries stand and which kneel?

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SMHW

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I know that Latin rite Catholics are to kneel for the Consecration no matter where they are. But the rules regarding posture during the the rest of the Eucharistic prayer vary from country to country. I know that in the United States we are to kneel.

I’m just curious what the rules for Latin Catholics are in *OTHER *countries.
 
I remember kneeling through the E.P. when I was in Germany. They were not padded, and the edge was sharp enough to slice you open. Took a lot of discipline to pay attention, especially when I didn’t know German.
 
Greetings,
In the last year, I have attended Mass in London, Rome and Paris. Some Masses were in the main body of the cathedrals, some in side chapels. Kneeling occured during the parts of the Eucharistic prayer and after communion in all cases. In Paris, I attended a 7 AM Mass at St. Sulpice every day for a week (easier than at home 👍 ) and there were no kneelers, but about half the natives would kneel on the stone floor as we approached the consecration. Those who didn’t appeared to be older and may have had arthritis problems. So don’t believe people who tell you that Americans are the only kneelers around!
 
Hi SMHW,

The general rule is to kneel for the consecration and to stand during the rest of the Canon. Kneeling the whole time is, I understand, an Irish custom that spread through the US because its first Catholics were Irish. This has been authorized by the Holy See at the request of the Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Here in Canada, at least where I live, we follow the general usage of the Church.

Verbum
 
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Verbum:
Hi SMHW,

The general rule is to kneel for the consecration and to stand during the rest of the Canon. Kneeling the whole time is, I understand, an Irish custom that spread through the US because its first Catholics were Irish. This has been authorized by the Holy See at the request of the Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Here in Canada, at least where I live, we follow the general usage of the Church.

Verbum
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Thank you. I was looking for this kind of specific information.
 
The Scottish practice seems to be to kneel from the Orate fratres until the Great Amen, and then again from after the Agnus Dei until the end of Mass. Although this seems to be followed more or less uniformly in the churches I’ve visited, I can’t find a copy of the Scottish GIRM to verify matters.

On a related note, the IGMR (§43) seems to suggest kneeling from the Sanctus to the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, and before Communion, although as my knowledge of Latin doesn’t extend much beyond that which is in the Kyriale, I may be entirely wrong on this.
 
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Chrysogonus:
The Scottish practice seems to be to kneel from the Orate fratres until the Great Amen, and then again from after the Agnus Dei until the end of Mass. Although this seems to be followed more or less uniformly in the churches I’ve visited, I can’t find a copy of the Scottish GIRM to verify matters.

On a related note, the IGMR (§43) seems to suggest kneeling from the Sanctus to the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, and before Communion, although as my knowledge of Latin doesn’t extend much beyond that which is in the Kyriale, I may be entirely wrong on this.
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Here it is in English
15. It is consistent for the GIRM to have the people standing whenever they are reciting something in common. “The faithful should stand…from the invitation, Oratre, fratres (Pray, brethren), before the prayer over the offerings…” (2002 GIRM 43).
Code: 
			  					 						* 						Until this change becomes natural to the assembly the  						presider may say, ‘Please stand’, "my brothers and  						sisters, and pray that our sacrifice may be acceptable  						to God, the Almighty Father." By the time the celebrant  						finishes these words, the people will all be standing  						and can proceed with "May the Lord accept…" 

					* 						 					 				  				16. The faithful 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 Lamb of God (2002 GIRM 43).

			That leaves it pretty well open to the Bishops....note the "Some other good reason".
 
I recently attended Mass at a church other than my own. They stand during the consecration; however, there are a few people such as myself who kneel. The last time I was there, the priest said that those of us who knelt were “causing disunity” and he told us we had to stand. At my home parish, everyone kneels and as I understand it, isn’t that the proper way instructed by the GIRM? It wasn’t a big deal to me that at the other church the people stood; it’s just that I was told that I could not kneel, which is what I feel I should be doing. I want to kneel, so shouldn’t I be allowed to do so? Or am I wrong on this? :confused:

Thanks,
David
 
I agree with you David123, I had a similar situation occur to me while attending mass in Seattle, but at least I wasn’t chastised for “causing disunity” because I wished to follow the GIRM and chose a more reverent posture. I am basing this on the direction from the GIRM that states that if one is standing during the concecration (instead of kneeling), then a profound bow should be made both times the celebrant genuflects at the altar.

My home parish is without kneelers so we stand whenever kneeling would normally be called for, and I cherish the opportunity to use the kneelers when I’m away from home. In this West Seattle parish a few kneel, but 95+% stand.
 
As far as I call tell, all of Europe kneels. I have attended masses in Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Italy, Spain and Hungary. All these places tend to kneel. Mexico also kneels

However, in Asia the norm is to stand. Many Chinese parishes stand (some kneel), Cambodian, Vietnamese and Japanese parishes all seem to stand. But that is just my experience and might not be the norm.

Adam
 
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amarischuk:
As far as I call tell, all of Europe kneels. I have attended masses in Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Italy, Spain and Hungary. All these places tend to kneel. Mexico also kneels

However, in Asia the norm is to stand. Many Chinese parishes stand (some kneel), Cambodian, Vietnamese and Japanese parishes all seem to stand. But that is just my experience and might not be the norm.

Adam
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I’ve attended Mass for about 10 years in Japan, in several different churches. I’ve never knelt at any stage of the Mass in any of them.

Gearoidin
 
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