On this weekend where we welcome the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal I defer my comments to great minds and draw from the word of the rector of our Cathedral.
Posture and Gestures
Throughout our liturgy there are postures and gestures we hold in common. Using the same postures and gestures strengthens our unity and reflects an attitude of ecclesial solidarity. Together we celebrate the Church's liturgy.
In the revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal, we are given directives regarding posture and gestures to keep consistent this desire of unity. Some of the directives remain unchanged, among them, standing from the beginning of the entrance procession until after the Opening Prayer, sitting during the readings, standing during the Gospel, kneeling from the Holy, Holy until the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, kneeling after the Lamb of God.
New postures will be in place during the Preparation of the Altar and the Communion Procession. During the preparation of the altar we will sit while the collection is taken up and brought to the altar with the bread and wine. After the priest washes his hands we will stand readying ourselves to offer our prayer to God. The ritual gesture of standing is a treasured position in the Church's prayer and is the desired posture when we offer prayer to God, receive God's word proclaimed in the Gospel, and a sign of great reverence as we process to Communion.
During the Communion Procession, the instruction requires that a simple bow of the head be made as we approach the communion elements of the Lord's Body and Blood. The bow shows our reverence and gratitude for the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ. The communion procession will need to slow down: as the person ahead of you moves away from the communion minister, then make the bow of your head towards the consecrated host or wine. The communion minister will wait until you raise your head before saying "the Body of Christ" or "the Blood of Christ". Your spoken response of "Amen" signifies your belief in the divine presence and the unity of the communal body. No further gesture such as a genuflection or sign of the cross is required after receiving communion.
In the Dioceses of Canada, Holy Communion is to be received standing. Some individuals may still choose to receive Communion while kneeling. Communion may be received in the hand or on the tongue. No posture or way of receiving Communion is to be considered a better, holier or more reverential way than the other.
Our bishop asks us to remain standing until all of the faithful have received communion. After this both priest and people alike are encouraged to enter into a prolong period of silent prayer where we either kneel or sit.