Standing During the Eucharistic Prayer

A ZENIT DAILY DISPATCH

By Father Edward McNamara

ROME, 28 SEPT. 2004 (ZENIT) ...

Q: Our parish insists on having the children stand during the Eucharistic Prayers at school Masses, although there are kneelers in the pews. The children stand from the prayers of the faithful until the end of the "Lamb of God." They then kneel before and after Communion. This has been going on for about three years in order to teach them "the new way." Is this happening globally? — D.R., Joliet, Illinois

A: Whoever invented this "new way," it was not the U.S. bishops.

The norms for kneeling in the United States are the following, as found in the approved adaptation of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 43.

"In the dioceses of the United States of America, they should 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 Agnus Dei unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise."

The universal norms for the Roman Missal indicate kneeling during the consecration, from the epiclesis to the acclamation after the consecration. This is the common practice in Italy and some other European and Latin American countries.

There is no provision in the Latin Church allowing for standing during the whole Eucharistic Prayer except in the exceptional conditions mentioned in No. 43. ZE04092822

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