Posturing

Stuck for time today. So, before the Our Father, one last thought. A couple years ago you might have noticed that we were told you have to kneel during the eucharistic prayer -- or at least during the institution narrative. This was part of the new General Instruction for the Roman Missal, decreed from Rome, which was then further defined by the American bishops.

And at the heart of the matter was a concern for reverence. The eucharistic prayer being this time of consecration, it was thought the appropriate posture on the part of the congregation was kneeling. This is the same rationale given for the request that everyone now bow slightly before receiving communion.

One might wonder, why did we ever stop kneeling? Why this tradition in some parishes to stand? Well, it came from a different sense of what's happening in the moment. Kneeling is the posture of reverence and witness; those who kneel are watching this important event unfold and asking to be worthy of it.

Standing, on the other hand, is the posture of participation. It indicates that we are all praying this prayer together. Which is entirely acceptable and appropriate. Again, as any theologian will agree, it's not the priest's prayer, it's the community's. But the current trend in Rome is to try more to distinguish the presider from the congregation. Hence, no standing. And also, eucharistic ministers are not allowed to receive communion with the priest, but only after; the presider is not supposed to leave the sanctuary during the Sign of Peace; and only he is allowed to purify the vessels after Mass.

All of which is to say, as much as we're saying it's all about reverence, and that's an important consideration, there are some other pretty significant eddies in that current.

If we want to talk about reverence -- and it's a great topic, so why not? -- I suggest we presiders should begin by considering ourselves. It's so easy to rush through the prayer, or even to check out as we say it. Are we giving the eucharistic prayer the moment it deserves? Are we taking our time? As we pray it, are we paying attention?

...And that's why we do confessions behind a screen...