| The Congregation’s Common Postures At the beginning of the Entrance chant all stand and remain so until the end of the Collect (Opening Prayer). “This posture [standing], from the earliest days of the Church has been understood as the stance of those who are risen with Christ and seek the things that are above… we assume our full stature before God, not in pride, but in humble gratitude for the marvelous thing[s] God has done…” All remain seated for the readings until the time of the Gospel Acclamation when they stand to hear the Gospel. “Sitting is the posture of listening and meditating.” They remain standing for the Gospel and then sit for the homily. “We stand for the Gospel, the pinnacle of revelation, the words and deeds of the Lord.” The people stand for the Creed and the Prayer of the Faithful. During the Creed, all bow at the words “by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man” We bow at theses words in the Creed to signify “our profound respect and gratitude to Christ.” At the end of the Prayer of the Faithful, they sit. The people remain seated as the altar is prepared, as the gifts are brought forward and the gifts are placed on the altar. The congregation stands at the end of Orate fratres (Pray, brethren…) but before their own response. |
The people remain standing until the conclusion of the Sanctus when they kneel. Kneeling, once a sign of penitance now has come to signify adoration and reverence. They remain kneeling until the conclusion of the Great Amen. All stand for the Our Father and remain standing until the conclusion of the Agnus Dei. At the conclusion of the Agnus Dei all kneel. Kneeling here is a sign of communal reverence. All stand for the reception of Communion. As one prepares to receive the Body of Christ the communicant remains standing and bows his or her head and receives either in the hand or on the tongue. If receiving also the Precious Blood, the same sign of reverence is shown by bowing the head before receiving from the cup. The bow of the head is a sign of reverence. They may sit or kneel for a period of sacred silence after communion. All stand for the Prayer after Communion until the end of Mass. Committee on the Liturgy United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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