Topic: Do we have to kneel at Mass or not?

Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question

Date originally posted: March 7, 2002

Moderator who originally posted this source: J. Ruffo

Question:  I am glad you all have this outreach. My husband is a graduate of duke. and while we were in the area we were deeply upset by abuses we saw. One of these was the seemingly wide spread problem of people not kneeling. Doesn't the GIRM clearly state when we are to kneel? I am under the impression that it does, and we should indeed kneel! I understand this is something in the GIRM 'special' for the USA? Shouldn't we follow this? If we cant follow the Church on small issues, how can we expect everyone to fall in line on larger issues of abortion etc?  At any rate, I am glad to see maybe the Church in the Durham area is getting back on track?

Answer:

Dear Kira, 

Thank you for raising an issue that many young students probably don’t give much thought to.  I was raised with kneeling at specific times during Mass, else you ‘stood out’ like a sore thumb! 

You are correct about the rubric prescribed in the General Instruction on the Roman Missal: the faithful “should kneel at the consecration unless prevented by lack of space, large numbers, or other reasonable cause”.  The prevalent practice in my lifetime has been to kneel from the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer through to the Great Amen; people also normally would kneel after the Lamb of God before Holy Communion. 

If we study the history of the Mass, we see that lots has changed over the centuries since the Last Supper.  Jesus and his apostles did not kneel; they “reclined” at table (which doesn’t really sound like a very comfortable way to eat).  Kneeling was another addition to the Mass, a posture of reverence, respect, humility and awe which  the faithful thought was a reverent thing to do.  Today, I’ve seen different postures in different places as I’m sure you have too.  Some new churches don’t have kneelers; some celebrants encourage their congregations to remain standing throughout the liturgy.   

I personally don’t get too upset about this liturgical posture.  I’m just glad that people come to Mass.  Here at Elon our students stand throughout the Eucharistic Prayer and other times when one might want to kneel as we celebrate Mass in a hall which has a hard (sometimes not very clean) floor, and no kneelers.  Other places where I’ve been privileged to celebrate Mass I’ve seen a combination of folks kneeling and folks standing those times the GIRM says they should be kneeling.  I think God is just happy that they’re there giving God worship and celebrating Eucharist. 

I don’t know if my reflections here are helpful to you, Kira.  I imagine when a new Sacramentary is promulgated here in our country, the American Bishops will issue a new or renewed set of rubrics for all of us with it.  Until then, use the liturgical posture that best expresses your faith.