New Roman Missal for Canada- No Kneeling, We're Canadian, eh?

What's the difference between a terrorist and a liturgist? You can negotiate with a terrorist! Given what I am going to disclose, you'll see the appropriateness of that old joke.

Two sources have now confirmed what I suspect is one of the two reasons for the continued delay from Rome in approving the submission of the Canadian Proper with Adaptations for Canada by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops for the Roman Missal.

Leaving aside the "French question" for now, the matter is, kneeling. We are of course, an Easter people and we don't need to kneel anymore, as the liturgical terrorists have been telling us.

The General Instruction on the Roman Missal from the Vatican's website in English is that which is approved for the United States of America. It is the same in England.

Let us take a look at the whole paragraph so that you'll get an understanding of its purpose, I have highlighted in bold the relevant instruction:

43. The faithful should stand from the beginning of the Entrance chant, or while the priest approaches the altar, until the end of the collect; for the Alleluia chant before the Gospel; while the Gospel itself is proclaimed; during the Profession of Faith and the Prayer of the Faithful; from the invitation, Orate, fratres (Pray, brethren), before the prayer over the offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated below.

They should, however, sit while the readings before the Gospel and the Responsorial Psalm are proclaimed and for the homily and while the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory is taking place; and, as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed.

In the dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason. Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.

This is identical to what we do in Canada now, at least in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Further, the 1975 General Instruction on the Roman Missal which is currently in force in Canada prescribes this very kneeling posture.

I have it from a direct source that the Grey Book submitted to the Holy See by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops included the following:

In the dioceses of Canada, they should kneel from the singing or recitation of the Sanctus to the Memorial Acclamation.

There you have it. Do you see the glaring difference?

The Canadian bishops don't think we should kneel until after the Amen following the Doxology as we do now. I say as we do now, because this is what we do in Toronto and have since the implementation of the Novus Ordo in 1970. In fact, this is the norm as prescribed in the 1975 General Instruction on the Roman Missal currently in force and frequently ignored.

Two years ago, Archbishop Terence Prendergast of Ottawa, in an effort to end discord, ordered all parishes to follow the format quoted above for Canada. This has long been a trend in Quebec and other French speaking parishes and it became a serious problem in Ottawa with which the previous Archbishop would not deal and Archbishop Prendergast was treated harshly by dissidents over this.

I can imagine that the Roman Canon or First Eucharistic Prayer will become even rarer given that people will need to stand for such a long period. At a time when belief in the Real Presence has never suffered as much is this the right approach of the Canadian bishops?

The Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments must not allow this to be forced upon Canadian Catholics. We have had enough of the liturgist tale wagging the dog and the Holy Father must look after the interests of all English-speaking Catholics in Canada and in the world, not the liturgical terrorists from the Outaouais!

Relevant reading:

http://www.catholic.com/library/liturgy/cag_changes.asp

http://www.adoremus.org/0402kneel.html

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06423a.htm