…Sitting is the posture of meditation and listening, so the congregation sits for the readings that precede the Gospel, for the homily and the Preparation of the Gifts, and they may also sit for a period of meditation following Communion.
Gestures too involve our bodies in prayer. The most familiar of these is the Sign of the Cross with which we begin Mass and with which, in the form of a blessing the Mass concludes. Because it was by His death on the cross that Christ redeemed the world, we trace the sign of the cross on our foreheads, lips and hearts at the beginning of the Gospel. These are the only times we use the Sign of the Cross during Mass.
Other gestures intensify our prayer at Mass. During the Confiteor, the action of striking our breasts at the words through my own fault can strengthen my awareness that my sin is my fault. In the Creed we are to bow at the words which commemorate the Incarnation: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. This gesture signifies our profound respect and gratitude to Christ who shared our human condition in order to save us from sin and restore us to friendship with God. This gratitude is expressed with even greater solemnity on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and on Christmas when we genuflect at these words.
The General Instruction also draws attention to the bowing of the head at certain times during the Mass. “An inclination of the head should be made when the three Divine Persons are named, at the name of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Saint in whose honor the Mass is celebrated” (GIRM 275).
During the Communion Rite, the bishops of the United States have determined that the norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. However, communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm (GIRM 160, USA Adaptations). Further, when receiving Holy Communion, we are asked to make a bow of the head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence. The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand at the discretion of each communicant. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence (bowing the head) is also made before receiving the Precious Blood (GIRM 160, USA Adaptations).
The General Instruction states that certain postures or gestures should be determined by the Conference of Bishops. Unity in posture and gesture is a primary principle in formulating liturgical directives. Reverence and respect is shown by receiving Holy Communion standing, especially since this action has been preceded by the entire community kneeling after the Lamb of God or Agnus Dei and, in addition, by the communicant's bow of the head before approaching the priest to receive Holy Communion.
In addition to serving as a vehicle for prayer, the postures and gestures the faithful engage in at Mass have another important function. The Church sees in these common postures and gestures both a symbol of the unity of those who have come together to worship and a means of fostering that unity. The Church makes it clear that our unity of posture and gesture is an expression of our participation in the one Body formed by the baptized with Christ, our Head. When we stand, kneel, sit, bow and sign ourselves in common action, we give witness that we are indeed the Mystical Body of Christ, united in body, mind and spirit. We must take great care that the celebration of the Eucharist, which by its very nature signifies unity and charity, never becomes a sign of division through our failure to follow humbly and obediently the liturgical norms given us by the Church. In the unity of membership in the Body of Christ that we receive at Baptism and the communion which is achieved by sharing the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we are renewed and strengthened so that we may continue to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, the disciples of Jesus Christ until the day the Bridegroom comes and like the five wise virgins, we enter into our eternal reward. Amen.
