Standing, sitting and kneeling at Mass
There are no rubrics that determine the correct posture of the laity at different parts of the Mass, neither is there perfect agreement between the great lights of liturgical practice, such as Fortiscue, O'Connell and Sterky (for the French). Most Catholics are witness to diverse and curious variations of practice—not only from one country to the next, but also within the the same diocese and even within the same chapel! Often such a diversity of practice is the occasion of distraction, or consternation, or even a loss of charity among the faithful. It is for this reason that the following practice is prescribed by the District Superior for the District of Great Britain.
Low Mass
The principal to remember is that the faithful should kneel throughout except for the Gospel and the Credo.
During the processional entry | Stand |
From the Sign of the Cross to the Gospel (the frail may sit for the Epistle) | Kneel |
When priest approaches the missal to say the Gospel | Stand |
During the entire Credo | Stand |
After the Oremus of the Offertory (the frail may sit for the Offertory) | Kneel |
During the Preface | Kneel |
At the Last Gospel | Stand |
Post-Missal prayers | Kneel |
As the recessional (when the priest leaves) | Stand |
Sung Mass and Solemn High Mass
The principal to remember is that the faithful should stand when singing the responses or when singing with the choir (except the Gloria when they sit with the priest).
During the processional entry | Stand |
During the Asperges | Stand |
From the Sign of the Cross to the Kyrie | Kneel |
At the intoning of the Kyrie | Stand |
When the priest sits during the Gloria | Sit |
At the end of the sung Gloria (after the Amen) | Stand |
At the beginning of the Epistle | Sit |
When priest approaches the missal to sing the Gospel | Stand |
At the beginning of the sermon | Sit |
At the end of the sermon | Stand |
During the entire sung Credo | Stand |
After the Oremus of the Offertory | Sit |
After the incensation of the altar (when the MC kisses the priest's hand) | Stand |
During the Preface | Stand |
At the end of the sung Sanctus | Kneel |
After the Oremus at the end of the Canon (just before the Pater Noster) | Stand |
After the sung Agnus Dei | Kneel |
After the priest recites the Communion (just before the Dominus Vobiscum) | Stand |
After the Ite Missa Est | Kneel |
At the Last Gospel until the recession of clergy | Stand |
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