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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