One question that arises even before the reception of Communion is the posture of the faithful during the Eucharistic Prayer. Older readers will remember that until recent decades the universal practice throughout our country was to kneel. However, in recent decades, some dioceses and parishes have moved to standing during the Eucharistic Prayer, in some instances leading to the building of new churches without kneelers (and the removal of kneelers from existing churches).

Now some proponents of standing proclaim that "we are a Resurrection people" and standing is an appropriate posture of divine worship. They further contend that kneeling is a penitential posture which isn't appropriate for this part of the Mass. Those who prefer kneeling cite not only its traditional usage, but also the utter propriety of kneeling as a posture of adoration before Our Lord, truly present in the Eucharist.

In addition, our society is very affluent and self-sufficient, and so we tend to suffer from a lack of reverance and awareness of the divine, as we can see from various polls. So, without judging any individuals, an unwillingness to kneel could be a symptom of an even deeper spiritual issue. Who is our God? Jesus Christ or ourselves or our idols? Before whom--or what--will we pay homage?

So what's the answer to today's question? What are the faithful supposed to do during the Eucharistic Prayer? Here's what the Church says:

In the dioceses of the United States, the norm is that the faithful begin kneeling after the Sanctus (“Holy, Holy, Holy”) 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. This is provided in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (“GIRM”), as adapted for use in the United States, no. 43.

The GIRM does allow the faithful to stand or sit "when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason." However, the United States Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy (BCL) stresses that ordinarily the faithful are to kneel:

"The phrase on occasion was specifically chosen by the Bishops in order to establish a uniform posture of kneeling during the Eucharistic Prayer. It is only on exceptional and extraordinary occasions, therefore, and never on a regular basis, that standing during the Eucharistic Prayer is permitted in the dioceses of the United States of America" ("Clarification on the Proper Posture During the Eucharistic Prayer," BCL Newsletter, Sept. 2002).

As is abundantly clear from the biblical record as well as the rich tradition of the Church, kneeling is an ancient sign which expresses worship, respect, willing obedience, prayer, reverence, petition, supplication, and homage. It is most fitting, then, that we kneel as Our Lord comes to us in the Eucharist. And that's what the Church asks of us.

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . .” (Phil. 2:10)