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L I T U R G Y
Posture After Receiving Communion
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Dubium: In many places, the faithful are accustomed to kneeling
or sitting in personal prayer upon returning to their places after
having individually received Holy Communion during Mass. Is it the
intention of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, to forbid
this practice?
Responsum: Negative, et ad mensum [and for this reason].
The mens [reason] is that the prescription of the Institutio
Generalis Missalis Romani, no. 43, is intended, on the one hand, to
ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the
congregation for the various parts of the celebration of Holy Mass, and
on the other, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those
who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free.
responsum of Francis Cardinal Arinze
June 5, 2003
Prot. 855/03/L
as published in the July 2003 Bishops Committee on Liturgy Newsletter
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