During Mass (Novus Ordo), after receiving our Lord, some kneel, some stand. I got the impression somewhere that the GIRM said that the faithful could sit or kneel, but most in our diocese stand. In RCIA I heard it wasn't proper to kneel since we genuflect to Christ (in the tabernacle or on the altar), and we had him now in us. I asked a priest who is more pragmatic than pedant, and he said the GIRM didn't specify and that it was up to local custom.

1. What is proper posture?
2. What is permissible posture?

The GIRM doesn't say. It says that in the US the congregation should kneel after the Agnus Dei, but it never says when they should stand again.

Thanks! Nice to hear from a member of the Jedi Council.

I would add that in the West people kneel to pray, so if you stand after receiving Our Lord it looks like you're not praying.

Good point, although bowing the head or looking heavenward with eyes closed often suffices, too. I like kneeling afterward, the postures of Catholic faith add a richness to worship that are an aid to me, particularly in aridities. However, it's kinda almost disruptive sometimes to myself, and likely others, when everyone else is standing and you have to get others in your pew to watch their feet/ shins so you don't hit them with the kneeler and you have to close your eyes, or look like you are staring at someones seat; I don't always like to forge my own path in mass unless it's technically something I need to do (like genuflect), but that's me. I also prefer kneeling or genuflecting to receive our daily bread, but <sigh>usually don't</sigh> unless it's the extraordinary form.

Round these parts, people kneel after receiving (or if they are not receiving). We remain kneeling until the priest sits.

In my parish, we are instructed to remain standing until the last person has received communion.

Though it's a moot point for me, because I sit for the whole Mass. (I'm a paraplegic and a wheelchair user, in case ya didn't know.)

zoom..why no avatar?

Interesting--I've attended Mass in two different parishes in my diocese; in both, we kneel after receiving the Eucharist and remain kneeling until after the remaining Consecrated Host has been placed in the Tabernacle and the Deacon has returned to his place next to the Celebrant.

Usually, at that time Father will gesture to indicate that we should rise, but last Sunday, he just said "The Lord be with you," which caused everyone to jump up and hurriedly put away the kneelers. Hopefully the plethora of slamming kneelers reminded Father to give us a little time to prepare in the future, especially since slamming kneelers are his "hot button."

I had a Tigers avatar until a few weeks ago, when Siggy said something about copyrighted images ... I took it down & haven't bothered to replace it.

Ditto. I've never seen anyone stand after receiving. There is no time limit on the kneeling though - you just sit up when you're done praying. Unless Father sits and then stands again before you're done in which case, you need to cut your prayers short.

Which is just a liberal trick to not kneel at all. It is also based on a completely wrong understanding of the Mass as primarily a meal.

How so?

You wait until everyone has been served or finished in a meal before saying grace

that's creepy; it is obvious etiquette 101, but talk about sacrilege. It may be naïveté, but I sure hope that's not the intention. Kind of hard to miss once you see it, though, even if it hasn't been articulated....