New Postures for the Faithful at Mass

New Postures for the Faithful at Mass

From the beginning of the Mass to the First Reading = All Stand

From the beginning of the First Reading to the Gospel Acclamation = All Sit

From the Gospel Acclamation until the end of the Gospel = All Stand

During the Homily = All Sit

From the Profession of Faith until the end of the General Intercessions = All Stand

From the Offertory/Preparation of the Gifts to the completion of the prayer of the Priest in which he says: "Pray brethren that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty." = All Sit

From the beginning of the people's response: "May the Lord accept this sacrifice .... for our good and the good of all his church." to the end of the Holy, Holy. = All Stand

From the completion of the Holy, Holy until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer. = All Kneel

From the beginning of the Our Father until the completion of the Lamb of God. All Stand

From the completion of the Lamb of God ( at the Behold the Lamb of God. . ..) until the Distribution of Holy Communion. = All Kneel

When receiving Holy Communion = All Stand

When accepting the Body of Christ from the priest, make a reverential bow of the head before accepting the Body of Christ. Do not take it out of the priest's hands, this is rude behavior.

During the sacred silence after the distribution of Holy Communion until the priest says: "Let us pray" to introduce the Prayer after Communion. = One may sit, or kneel

From the beginning of the Prayer after Communion until Mass ends. = All Stand

The Rite Of Peace

    At the Rite of Peace, we offer a sign that expresses communion, and charity to each other, i.e. The Peace of the Lord be always with you. The response is Amen. One should offer this gesture of peace to the persons closest to you.

    The Rite of Peace is an outward demonstration of what we share with one another in Christ. This rite and the whole Liturgy is about Christ, the Redeemer, our only source of enduring peace and of communion with one another. This is not a gesture of hospitality but the sharing of the peace that Jesus offered his Apostles on Easter Sunday "Peace be with---you." ( John 20:19 ) Before receiving sacramental Communion with Jesus, we express our ecclesial communion and mutual charity with each other.

The Rite of Receiving the Eucharist

    From the time that Holy Communion has been distributed to the faithful while standing, the communicant was directed to make some sign of reverence before receiving communion. Up to now, this sign was left to the individual choice. In an effort to give greater emphasis to our reverence by a single gesture prescribed for all the faithful in the United States, all should make a bow of the head before receiving Communion. The bow of the head replaces all other reverent gestures by the faithful such as the sign of the cross, a genuflection, kneeling, etc..

    The Body of Christ ( the host ) should not be taken out of the Priest's, or the Minister of the Eucharist's hands. This is rude behavior and shows a lack of respect for the minister and the Body of Christ. It is meant to be Christ's gift to us, and is to be offered and received reverently.