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 Superiors.
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 and the Credo when they sit with the priest).
During the processional entry | Stand |
At the intoning of the Asperges | Kneel |
When servers stands | 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 |
When the priest sits during the Credo | Sit |
At the end of the sung Credo (after the Amen) | 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 |