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Gestures and Postures

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O
NLINE E D I T I O N : F E B R U A RY 2010, V O L . XV, N O . 10

Gestures and Postures of the Congregation at Mass

“Gestures for Worship

The following list accompanies the article
— Relearning Our Ritual Language”, in this issue.
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 Entrance Rites

Make the sign of the cross with holy water (a sign of baptism) upon
entering the church.

Genuflect toward the tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament and

the Altar of Sacrifice before entering the pew. (If there is no tabernacle
in the sanctuary, or it is not visible, bow deeply, from the waist, toward
the altar before entering the pew.)

Kneel upon entering the pew for private prayer before Mass begins.

Stand for the entrance procession.

Bow when the crucifix, a visible symbol of Christ’s sacrifice, passes

you in the procession. (If there is a bishop, bow when he passes, as a
sign of recognition that he represents the authority of the Church and
of Christ as shepherd of the flock.)

Remain standing for the entrance rites. Make the sign of the cross with
the priest at the beginning of Mass.

Strike your breast at the “mea culpa(s)” (“through my fault”) in the

Confiteor.

Bow and make the sign of the cross when the priest says “May
Almighty God have mercy…”
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 Bow your head when you say “Lord, have mercy” during the Kyrie.

If there is a Rite of Sprinkling (Asperges), make the sign of the cross

when the priest sprinkles water from the aspergillum in your direction.

Throughout the Mass, bow your head at every mention of the name of
Jesus and every time the Doxology [“Glory be”] is spoken or sung.
Also when asking the Lord to receive our prayer.

Gloria: bow your head at the name of Jesus. (“Lord Jesus Christ, only
begotten Son…”, “You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ…” )

Liturgy of the Word

Sit for the Scripture readings.

Stand for the Gospel at the Alleluia verse.

When the priest announces the Gospel, trace a cross with the thumb
on head, lips and heart. This gesture is a form of prayer for the
presence of the Word of God in one’s mind, upon one’s lips, and in
one’s heart.

Sit for the homily.

Creed: Stand; bow your head at name of Jesus; on most Sundays bow
during the Incarnatus (“by the power of the Holy Spirit … and was
made man”); on the solemnities of Christmas and the Annunciation all
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 genuflect at this moment.

Make the sign of the Cross at the conclusion of the Creed at the words
“I believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to
come. Amen.”

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Sit during the offertory.

Stand as the priest says “Pray brethren that my sacrifice and yours…”
and remain standing to respond, “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at
your hands…”

If incense is used, the congregation bows toward the thurifer when he

bows to the congregation both before and after he has incensed them.

The congregation remains standing until the end of the Sanctus (“Holy,
holy”), when they kneel for the entire Eucharistic Prayer.

At the moment of the Consecration of each element, bow the head and
say silently “My Lord and my God”, acknowledging the Presence of
Christ on the altar. These are the words of Saint Thomas when he
realized that it was truly Christ who stood before him (John 20:28).
Jesus responded, “Because you have seen me, you believed. Blessed
are they that do not see and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Stand at the priest’s invitation to recite the Lord’s Prayer.

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 Reverently fold your hands and bow your head as you pray the Lord’s
Prayer.

Remain standing to exchange the sign of peace, if the invitation is

made. (The sign of peace may be either a handshake or a bow of the
head towards those nearest you, accompanied by the words “Peace be
with you”.)

In reciting (or singing) the Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God…”), strike the
breast at the words “Have mercy upon us”.

Kneel at the end of the Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God…”).

Bow your head and strike your breast as you say, Domine non sum
dignus… (Lord, I am not worthy…)

Reception of Communion

Leave the pew (without genuflecting) and walk reverently toward the
altar, with hands folded in prayer.

Make a gesture of reverence as you approach the priest in procession

to receive Communion. If you are kneeling at the Communion rail, no
additional gesture is made before receiving.

You may receive the host either on the tongue or in the hand.

If the former, open your mouth and extend your tongue, so the priest
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 can place the Host properly. If the latter, place one hand over the other
hand, palms open, to receive the Host. With the lower hand, take the
Host and reverently place it in your mouth. (See Holy See’s 1985
directives).

If you are carrying a child, it is much less awkward to receive on the

tongue.

If you also receive from the chalice, make the same gesture of
reverence when you approach the minister to receive.

Make the sign of the cross after you have received Communion.

Kneel in prayer when you return to your pew after Communion, until
the priest sits down, or until he says “Let us pray”. (GIRM 160
American adaptation says that people may “stand, sit or kneel”.)

Conclusion of Mass

Stand for the concluding prayers.

Make the sign of the cross at the final blessing, as the priest invokes
the Trinity.

Remain standing until all ministers have processed out. (If there is a
recessional, bow in reverence to the crucifix as it passes by.)

If there is a hymn for the recessional, remain standing in your pew

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 until it concludes. If there is no concluding hymn, remain in your pew
until all the ministers have gone out of the main body of the church.

After the Mass is concluded, you may kneel for a private prayer of
thanksgiving.

Genuflect reverently toward the Blessed Sacrament and the Altar of

Sacrifice as you leave the pew, and leave the nave (main body) of the
church in silence.

Make the sign of the cross with holy water as you leave the church, a
reminder of our baptismal obligation to carry Christ’s Gospel into the
world.

***

**In response to reader requests,

“Gestures and Postures of the Congregation at Mass”,

which originally appeared in the February 2010 Adoremus
Bulletin, is now available in PDF format,

Permission is granted to reproduce this file for personal or parish use.

For all other uses, please contact us.

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