Dear Brad,
Very recently I wrote two messages about kneeling vs. standing at
Mass. Please download these two messages; they are nos. 881 and
882 of 8-5-95 from Father Mateo to Rita Starceski, entitled
"Church Etiquette" (1) and (2). (If you need help, ask the sysop
to tell you how to download our messages.)
I need add only a few words to answer your questions. It seems
to me you have the right on your side in interpreting GIRM 21.
After saying "... the people should follow the directions given
by the deacon, priest, or other minister during the
celebration,"GIRM 21 lists some specifics, with, however, the
proviso, "UNLESS OTHER PROVISION IS MADE (emphasis mine)", and
"THEY SHOULD KNEEL AT THE CONSECRATION."
Further, GIRM 21 says: "The conference of bishops may adapt the
actions and postures ... to the usage of the people." Note that
the adaptation permitted to the bishops themselves is LIMITED by
the "usage of the people". Bishops and clergy, then, must seek
uniformity within what the usage of the people allows. GIRM does
not contemplate any kind of liturgical "bossism". Furthermore,
the August 1995 issue of *Credo*, reporting on the June meeting
of our U.S. bishops in June 1995, says: "Cardinal Joseph B
ernardin's amendment to ALLOW for standing during the Eucharistic
Prayer as an option at the discretion of INDIVIDUAL BISHOPS was
met with opposition. Cardinal Bernard Law objected to the option
as a serious breakdown in uniformity in the celebration of the
Mass across the country.... The Bernardin motion was withdrawn"
(emphases mine).
Note that the GIRM 21 provision for kneeling at the Consecration
has been tacitly widened to include the entire Eucharistic
prayer. Even the rejected amendment only moved to ALLOW (not
MANDATE) standing at this time, and this amendment awakened such
resistance it was withdrawn.
Local bishops individually and local clergy, therefore, do not
seem to have the untrammeled liberty your friend thinks they
have. Also, his notion of obedience is reminiscent of the
attempted Nazi defense at the Nuremberg trials after World War
II: "I was only following the orders of my superior officers."
Certainly, as you say, no one can oblige us to violate church
legislation when we gather for worship. Whether one ought to
"obey" now and remonstrate with the priest later is another
question.
More in my next message.
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