Scottish Catholics will soon be told to stand during parts of the
Mass where they have traditionally knelt.
The instruction from the
Bishops of Scotland, which has not yet been publicly announced, will
come into effect at the beginning of Advent this year.
“These changes will help to maintain a unity of posture during Mass
across the English speaking world,” said Bishop Joseph Toal of Argyll
and the Isles, president of the National Liturgy Commission, to EWTN
News on Aug. 3.
Currently, Scottish Catholics kneel for the Preface of the
Eucharistic Prayer as well as for the final blessing and dismissal at
the end of Mass.
From the First Sunday of Advent – Nov. 27 – they will
now be asked to stand for both.
The changes coincide with the introduction of the new English translation of the Mass.
“Make no doubt about it, theses changes in posture are the revenge of
trendy liturgists for the introduction of a new, more traditional,
translation of the Mass which they really dislike,” said one Scottish
priest to EWTN News after being briefed on the changes.
The priest asked to remain anonymous.
“These people don’t like kneeling during any part of the Mass and so
have a particular distaste for those traditional, pious Scottish customs
which for generations have seen us kneel during Holy Mass more than,
say, the English do.”
“In fact, many parishioners will simply see these changes as
‘bringing us into line with England’ and they won’t like that. I’m quite
upset myself.”
The universal guidelines for how priests and people should pray at
Mass – the General Instruction of the Roman Missal – state that it is
“up to the conference of bishops to adapt the actions and postures
described in the Order of the Roman Mass to the customs of the people.”
“If the Scottish bishops go ahead with this proposal, it would make
sense for any changes to congregations’ participation in the Mass to be
introduced in Scotland simultaneously with the new English translation
of the Roman Missal,” said Liz Leydon, editor of the Scottish Catholic
Observer, to EWTN News.
“That would certainly be preferable to making additional changes regarding when we sit, stand and kneel further down the line.”