This Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, will see the full implementation in all parishes across Scotland of the new translation of the Roman Missal. Besides noticing richer language, more scripturally rooted responses and amended translations, there will be new guidance on posture during Mass. The details have been published in a notification from the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland:
1) The Faithful are to rise as the celebrant says “Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours …”. They are to remain standing until the end of the “Holy, Holy……”. They are to kneel through the rest of the Eucharistic Prayer as is the established custom in Scotland; following the same custom they are to kneel for the period before Communion after the singing or saying of the “Lamb of God”.
2) When the Post-Communion Prayer is introduced by the words “Let us pray” the faithful are to rise and remain standing until the end of Mass.
3) On Sundays, and on other occasions, when announcements are made after the Post-Communion-Prayer, the faithful are to sit for the announcements and then stand again for the blessing and dismissal. Special Collections, or Second Collections, are to be taken up at this time – between the Post-Communion Prayer and the Blessing. Collections should not be taken up during the Sacred Silence after Communion.
These changes in posture are mandatory from 1st Sunday of Advent 2011.
