{"id":106501,"date":"2021-08-03T07:43:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T14:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/?p=106501"},"modified":"2023-02-17T16:47:34","modified_gmt":"2023-02-18T00:47:34","slug":"gestures-and-bodily-postures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/gestures-and-bodily-postures\/","title":{"rendered":"Gestures and Bodily Postures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Part 6 in an ongoing series of essays<\/a> on the General Instruction of the Roman Missal<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

S<\/span>ection 42 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal<\/em>, though short, represents one of the most important clarifications in the most recent revision of the document<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span>. This section gives lie to the assertion that none of the traditional elements of the Roman Rite may be brought into the celebration of the modern form of the rites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we have seen, again and again the General Instruction<\/em> talks about the continuity of the Roman Rite<\/span>2<\/sup><\/a><\/span>. Most explicitly, in section 42, we are instructed to pay attention to \u201cthe traditional practice of the Roman Rite\u201d where it is not explicitly contradicted by the General Instruction<\/em>. The passage in question is specifically in regards to gestures and bodily posture, and it\u2019s worth quoting the first paragraph in full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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42. <\/strong>The gestures and bodily posture of both the Priest, the Deacon, and the ministers, and also of the people, must be conducive to making the entire celebration resplendent with beauty and noble simplicity, to making clear the true and full meaning of its different parts, and to fostering the participation of all. Attention must therefore be paid to what is determined by this General Instruction and by the traditional practice of the Roman Rite and to what serves the common spiritual good of the People of God, rather than private inclination or arbitrary choice.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Many of the reverences and small gestures performed by the ministers in the older rituals, then, rather than being fussy throwbacks, may and should be done in the modern rites. They exist to show the resplendent beauty and noble simplicity of those rites. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Through its long history, the Roman Rite has always displayed a measured solemnity which, while it may appear overfastidious to some in the modern age, is notable for its simple elegance when compared to the bombastic exuberance of many of the Eastern Rites. There is nothing wrong with these grand and intricate gestures of the East, of course, but they are in their proper context in the Eastern Divine Liturgies. They are wholly inappropriate to the Roman Rite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are those who go to the opposite extreme and maintain a sort of liturgical minimalism, who claim that since the various bows and reverences that the servers may make are not specifically called for in the Missal<\/em>, they must not be done. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of these gestures and postures are not called for in the older missals, either. They are not and never were explicitly demanded by the rubrics but instead belong to \u201cthe traditional practice of the Roman Rite\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how do we know when it\u2019s appropriate to use these traditional gestures and movements? Section 42 gives us a hierarchy for determining this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. First, do what the General Instruction<\/em> says.<\/strong> So, for example, in the older rites the altar servers knelt during the Penitential Act, but the General Instruction<\/em> says that this be done standing<\/span>3<\/sup><\/a><\/span>. So we stand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Second, do what is traditional in the Roman Rite.<\/strong> <\/em>For example, in the older rites the servers bow during the Penitential Act. Here, the General Instruction<\/em> is silent. So we bow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Finally, do what serves the common spiritual good rather than just making up something new. <\/strong>For example, while there is some flexibility about the details, nothing in the rubrics<\/em> or the tradition permits the servers to adopt the orans position or to hold hands during<\/em> the Lord\u2019s Prayer. So don\u2019t.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Of course, argument from the facts will only rarely change the opinion of those whose mind is already made up. Even so, Rome continually pleads for beauty and elegance in the Mass. Most recently, Pope Francis admonished ministers to \u201cbe vigilant in ensuring that every liturgy be celebrated with decorum and fidelity to the liturgical books\u201d<\/span>4<\/sup><\/a><\/span>. In fact, every Pope of the postconciliar period, as well as the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, have regularly preached against liturgical minimalism in all its forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If we are to take seriously our ministry at the sacred liturgy\u2013and how can we not?\u2013surely we must pay attention to the teachings of those charged with its safekeeping.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Part 6 in an ongoing series of essays on the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Section 42 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, though short, represents one of the most important clarifications in the most recent revision of the document. This section gives lie to the assertion that none of the traditional elements of the Roman Rite […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100137,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Blathering about the General Instruction: Gestures and Bodily Postures","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[97,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal","category-sacred-liturgy"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/GIRM.jpg?fit=1030%2C1548&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1aGBK-rHL","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":89976,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/antiphony-reborn\/","url_meta":{"origin":106501,"position":0},"title":"Antiphony Reborn: Singing the Mass Propers","author":"Thom","date":"17 August 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Does Sunday Mass in your parish start with a hymn? Why? Did you know that the Church actually provides scripture to be read or sung during the entrance of the Priest and servers? This, my friends, is the Entrance Antiphon or, to give it its traditional name, the Introit. In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chant"","block_context":{"text":"Chant","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/chant\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rejoice.png?fit=525%2C358&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rejoice.png?fit=525%2C358&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rejoice.png?fit=525%2C358&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":89116,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/the-extraordinary-form-and-mutual-enrichment\/","url_meta":{"origin":106501,"position":1},"title":"The Extraordinary Form and Mutual Enrichment","author":"Thom","date":"28 November 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning for the first time I served at a public Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. It was a votive Mass of Saint Joseph, celebrated at Saint Joseph church in Tacoma by the Rev. Caleb Insco, F.S.S.P. This is only the second time I've served at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Dom Matthew Britt O.S.B."","block_context":{"text":"Dom Matthew Britt O.S.B.","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/dom-matthew-britt-o-s-b\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/2017-11-28-08.13.33-e1511920504802.jpg?fit=969%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/2017-11-28-08.13.33-e1511920504802.jpg?fit=969%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/2017-11-28-08.13.33-e1511920504802.jpg?fit=969%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/2017-11-28-08.13.33-e1511920504802.jpg?fit=969%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":90960,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/the-stripping-of-the-altars\/","url_meta":{"origin":106501,"position":2},"title":"The Stripping of the Altars","author":"Thom","date":"27 April 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A Reflection and a Resource week I attended the rites of the Triduum at three different churches. This is not really normal; one should attend what is essentially one long, if interrupted, liturgy at one's own parish church. In our case, this is complicated by the fact that two parishes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Holy Days"","block_context":{"text":"Holy Days","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/holy-days\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Screen-Shot-2019-04-26-at-08.20.01.png?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Screen-Shot-2019-04-26-at-08.20.01.png?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Screen-Shot-2019-04-26-at-08.20.01.png?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Screen-Shot-2019-04-26-at-08.20.01.png?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Screen-Shot-2019-04-26-at-08.20.01.png?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":967,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/source-and-summit\/","url_meta":{"origin":106501,"position":3},"title":"Source and Summit","author":"Thom","date":"15 June 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Here, in the middle of what used to be the Octave of Pentecost, I'm finally turning my attention on these pages to one of my greatest loves in the Church: the Sacred Liturgy. The liturgy - and here I'm thinking most especially of Holy Mass - is where we meet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Sacred Liturgy"","block_context":{"text":"The Sacred Liturgy","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/sacred-liturgy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/holy_eucharist-190x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":100140,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/the-authority-of-the-general-instruction\/","url_meta":{"origin":106501,"position":4},"title":"The Authority of the General Instruction","author":"Thom","date":"16 September 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Part 2 in an ongoing series of essays on the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. authority does the General Instruction enjoy in terms of the sacred liturgy? That is, for those celebrating the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite according to the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Instruction of the Roman Missal"","block_context":{"text":"General Instruction of the Roman Missal","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/sacred-liturgy\/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/PopePaulVI.jpg?fit=971%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/PopePaulVI.jpg?fit=971%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/PopePaulVI.jpg?fit=971%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/PopePaulVI.jpg?fit=971%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":90848,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/missale-romanum-at-fifty\/","url_meta":{"origin":106501,"position":5},"title":"Missale Romanum at Fifty","author":"Thom","date":"03 April 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"NOTE: Particularly if this article leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, you'll want to read the follow-up. It is a sort of apologia. is the fiftieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Novus Ordo Missae by Pope Saint Paul VI in his Apostolic Constitution Missale Romanum. There is, so\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "History"","block_context":{"text":"History","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/history\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/roman_missal_400px.jpg?fit=400%2C313&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106501"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107629,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106501\/revisions\/107629"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}