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- Bishop Cotta's Letter
- Carta del Obispo Cotta
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Resources/Recursos
- Lamb of God
- Invitation to Communion
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Dear Clergy, Religious, and Laity,
One of the pillars of the National Eucharistic Revival includes giving increased attention to the way we participate in the Mass. As human beings, created both spiritual and physical, we engage our entire selves in worship of God. This is why we have set postures and gestures in the Mass, for the priest, the deacon, and the gathered faithful. These postures can and do change over time to help people to participate and express their faith.
One area where there is often confusion, with regard to posture, is during the Communion Rite. In the United States, the norm is for the faithful to kneel following the Lamb of God, unless the diocesan bishop determines otherwise. This has remained the norm in the other dioceses of the Central Valley, that they kneel. Since the early 2000s, meanwhile, our diocese, along with several others in the country, changed to having the faithful stand at this point of the Mass. However, over the past several years many dioceses which chose to stand at this point in the Mass have returned to the posture of kneeling.
While standing at this moment is in line with the general practice of the Roman Rite worldwide, it has often become an opportunity for confusion with dioceses in the same region having differing practices. Both postures have their value: standing together helps us to recognize our unity as the Body of Christ, while kneeling is seen to better express an attitude of adoration before our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Even though both are legitimate, there does not seem to be sufficient reason to have a different practice from the great majority of the other dioceses of our country.
Therefore, in the Diocese of Stockton, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2024, the practice during Mass will be that the faithful kneel following the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), in accord with the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 43.
The Diocese of Oakland will be changing back to kneeling on the same day, meaning that with the change we will have the same practice as most of our surrounding dioceses.
This change also has implications for posture following Communion. The norm given in the General Instruction is for the faithful to stand until the last person has received Communion. Even though the norm is to stand, the common practice in the U.S. has been to kneel after receiving Communion. When the U.S. Bishops asked the Vatican about whether this custom could be retained, the Vatican replied that the instruction to stand after Communion was meant as a general indication, and not intended to be strictly applied. The faithful should therefore know that they may follow the customary U.S. practice of kneeling following the reception of Holy Communion.
To ensure that the faithful are properly instructed regarding this upcoming change, I am asking that a catechesis be offered about this change of posture at Mass. The Liturgy & Worship office will be providing short articles and helpful teaching points for this purpose in the coming weeks leading up to this modification.
In the Peace of Christ,
The Most Reverend Myron J. Cotta
Bishop of Stockton
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Queridos clérigos, religiosos y laicos:
Uno de los pilares del Avivamiento Eucarístico Nacional incluye prestar mayor atención a la forma en que participamos en la Misa. Como seres humanos creados como seres espirituales y físicos, dedicamos todo nuestro ser en adoración a Dios. Es por eso que hemos establecido posturas y gestos en la Misa, para el sacerdote, el diácono y los fieles reunidos. Estas posturas pueden cambiar, y, de hecho, cambian con el tiempo para ayudar a las personas a participar y expresar su fe.
Un área en la que a menudo hay confusión es en cuanto a la postura durante el Rito de la Comunión. En los Estados Unidos, la norma es que los fieles se arrodillen después del Cordero de Dios, a menos que el obispo diocesano determine lo contrario. Esta ha sido la norma en las otras diócesis del Valle Central, que se arrodillen. Mientras tanto, desde los principios de la década del 2000, nuestra diócesis, junto con varias otras en el país, han continuado la práctica de mantenerse de pie en este momento de la Misa. Sin embargo, en los últimos años, muchas diócesis que eligieron mantenerse de pie, en este momento de la Misa, han vuelto a la postura de arrodillarse.
Mientras que la práctica de mantenerse de pie en este momento está de acuerdo con la practica general del Rito Romano mundialmente, a menudo se ha convertido en un momento de confusión entre las diócesis de la misma región que tienen prácticas diferentes. Ambas posturas tienen su valor: el estar parados de pie juntos nos ayuda a reconocer nuestra unidad como el Cuerpo de Cristo, mientras que al estar arrodillados expresamos mejor una actitud de adoración ante nuestro Señor en la Sagrada Eucaristía. Aunque ambas posturas son legítimas, no parece haber razón suficiente para tener una práctica diferente a la de la mayoría de las otras diócesis de nuestro país.
Por lo tanto, en la Diócesis de Stockton, a partir del Miércoles de Ceniza, el 14 de febrero del 2024, la práctica durante la Misa será que los fieles se arrodillen después del Agnus Dei (el Cordero de Dios), de acuerdo con la Instrucción General del Misal Romano, n. 43.
De hecho, también la Diócesis de Oakland volverá a arrodillarse el mismo día, lo que significa que con este cambio tendremos la misma práctica que la mayoría de las diócesis circundantes.
Este cambio también tiene implicaciones para la postura después de la Comunión. La norma dada en la Instrucción General es que los fieles permanezcan de pie hasta que la última persona haya recibido la Comunión. A pesar de que la norma es estar de pie, la práctica común en los Estados Unidos ha sido arrodillarse después de recibir la Comunión. Cuando los obispos de los Estados Unidos preguntaron al Vaticano si esta costumbre podía mantenerse, el Vaticano respondió que la instrucción de estar de pie después de la Comunión era una indicación general, y no estaba destinada a ser aplicada estrictamente. Por lo tanto, los fieles deben saber que pueden seguir la práctica habitual de los Estados Unidos de arrodillarse después de recibir la Sagrada Comunión.
Para asegurar que los fieles estén debidamente instruidos sobre este cambio que se avecina, pido que se ofrezca una catequesis sobre este cambio con respecto a las posturas físicas en la Misa. La Oficina de Liturgia y Culto de la diócesis proporcionará artículos cortos y puntos de enseñanza útiles sobre este propósito en las próximas semanas previas a esta modificación.
En la Paz de Cristo,
Reverendísimo Myron J. Cotta
Obispo de Stockton
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What is happening during the "Lamb of God"?
The "Lamb of God" chant, also known by its Latin name "Agnus Dei", accompanies the Fraction Rite at Mass. Pope Francis describes this ritual moment in his Catechesis on the Mass:
"The sign of peace is followed by the Fraction Rite (cf. GIRM, 83; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1329). Performed by Jesus during the Last Supper, the breaking of the Bread is the revelatory gesture that allowed the disciples to recognize him after his Resurrection. We remember the disciples of Emmaus who, in speaking of their encounter with the Risen One, recount 'how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread' (cf. Lk 24:30- 31, 35). The breaking of the Eucharistic Bread is accompanied by the invocation of the 'Lamb of God', the figure which John the Baptist indicated in Jesus 'who takes away the sin of the world' (Jn 1:29). The biblical image of the lamb speaks of redemption (cf. Ex 12:1-14; Is 53:7; 1 Pet 1:19; Rev 7:14). In the Eucharistic Bread, broken for the life of the world, the prayerful assembly recognizes the true Lamb of God, namely, Christ the Redeemer, and implores him: 'Have mercy on us ... grant us peace'. 'Have mercy on us', 'grant us peace' are invocations that, from the 'Our Father' prayer to the Fraction Rite, help us to prepare our soul to participate in the Eucharistic banquet, the source of communion with God and with our brothers and sisters."
The U.S. practice of kneeling following the Lamb of God follows from what is described by Pope Francis. As we recognize Jesus “in the breaking of the Bread”, we kneel, acknowledging who he is, a reaction we see repeatedly in the Gospels (cf. Matthew 8:1; Mark 10:17; Luke 5:8).
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What happens at the Invitation to Communion?
The Invitation to Communion follows the Fraction Rite. This is the point at which we will be kneeling, beginning Ash Wednesday.
Pope Francis describes this moment of the Mass:
During Mass, after breaking the Consecrated Bread, that is the Body of Christ, the priest shows it to the faithful, inviting them to participate in the Eucharistic banquet. We know the words that ring out from the sacred altar: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb.” Inspired by a passage in the Book of Revelation – “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:9): it says “marriage” because Jesus is the Spouse of the Church – this invitation calls us to experience intimate union with Christ, the source of joy and holiness. It is an invitation which brings happiness and at the same time spurs us to an examination of conscience enlightened by faith. If in fact, on the one hand we can see the distance which separates us from the sanctity of Christ, on the other, we believe that his Blood is “shed for the forgiveness of sins”. We were all forgiven at Baptism and we are all forgiven or will be forgiven when we approach the sacrament of Reconciliation. And do not forget: Jesus always forgives. Jesus never tires of forgiving. It is we who tire of asking for forgiveness….In this faith, we too turn our gaze to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and we invoke him: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed”. We say this at every Mass.