MotuMass Question About Choir

[CyberSaint]

At our Parish, we have had a TLM for almost 1.5 years now.'

The choir sits up front and to the right, from the POV of the worshipers, right by the organ.

I have recently begun to assist with the choir, and noticed they do not kneel when the parishioners do.

Is this liturgially Correct, probably due to feasibility reasons, or is it not corect? Does the choir follow different rubrics from the congregation?

[The_Harlequin_King]

Technically, there is no such thing as rubrics for the congregation in the traditional rites. The pre-VII Missal only describes what the ministers are supposed to do. A couple things to remember:

1.) Postures for the congregation, therefore, are a matter of local custom. It's been a relatively recent trend to have the congregation mimic the choir's postures, and while it makes sense, it's not strictly necessary.

2.) Historically, pews were only introduced in the 16th century, so for about 3/4ths of Catholic history, seating for the masses didn't even exist, anyway.

[kclaib]

If you are singing then the correct position is standing. Once you stop singing you may sit or kneel as appropriate.

[MagisterMusicae]

If you are singing then the correct position is standing. Once you stop singing you may sit or kneel as appropriate.

This is the general principle behind the rubrics. When singing, with the exception of specific reverences, one always stands. This is why at a Sung or Solemn Mass, the faithful should not be kneeling during the Sanctus or Agnus Dei, but wait until after the singing is finished to kneel, since by right, they are supposed to be singing these. When a polyphonic Mass is used, they should kneel immediately, since they are not singing. This also explains why during the Asperges or Vidi Aquam, only the priest and servers kneel for the incipit (when the priest sprinkles the altar) and the faithful remain standing throughout without genuflection.

This is one general principle, and a brief study of the rubrics, or a read of various rubrical authorities, will demonstrate the various principles that lay under the specific rubrics. It is more profitable to understand these general principles than to have the rubrics memorized, since principles can be broadly applied.

Regarding the choir:

The faithful may not have specific rubrics, but there is not a huge room for variation.

When we say that the faithful follow the choir, we are speaking of clerics sitting in choir, not the schola, nor any non-liturgical choir. It is true that there are not specific rubrics for the congregation, but there are fairly clear rubrics for clerics in choir. There are a few areas where local variation and custom have a legitimate part, but one should also remember, in the United States there are already customary norms (which existed from before the introduction of a new form of Mass) and those should be followed as opposed to making up one's own "local custom" in each parish.

What is typical at a Sung or Solemn Mass:

The men who sing the Propers stand during these (except when specifically required to kneel -- e.g. 2nd Alleluia during Pentecost Octave)
All stand for the Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Ite Missa Est
The faithful may sit during the Gloria and Credo after the celebrant does.
The faithful follow the words sung at a Sung or Solemn Mass, not the recited words --  thus they genuflect when the choir sings "Et Incarnatus est..." not when the priest recites it. And they ought to, more properly, follow the Introit that is being sung, not the prayers at the foot of the altar.
The faithful sit or kneel during the Propers as appropriate.

[CatholicThurifer]

Great answers. And remember, singing is praying twice, so don't worry if you're able to follow along like you normally would in the pews with everyone else.

[CyberSaint]

The mass has no clerics in it. It is composed of regular parishioners, mostly from NO masses, and they volunteer at the EF.

[MagisterMusicae]

The mass has no clerics in it. It is composed of regular parishioners, mostly from NO masses, and they volunteer at the EF.

Of course it doesn't. Most Masses are not attended by clerics in choir.

I related that the faithful follow the clerics in choir to clarify the oft-repeated "the faithful follow the choir". It is true, but only in a certain sense. The schola stands to sing the Offertory, but the faithful sit, and clerics who were not singing in the choir would also sit, so that demonstrates the principle.

For the average parishioner, since he does not have clerics to look for, the best way to know what to do is to follow the rest of the congregation. If you are interested in finding out more details about why certain things are done, then look into them by reading more on the rubrics.

The choir does stand more than the faithful.

The only potential liturgical faux pas here might be position, not kneeling or standing. When you write choir do you mean a group of men who sing the Propers, or do you mean a group of men and women who sing hymns? What you mean by "up and to the right". Is this is the transept (as is common in some churches) or is this in the sanctuary itself (behind where the communion rail would be? If your choir is positioned in the transept, there is no issue (in fact this is probably a better position, practically and acoustically, than the choir loft. If you choir is mixed and positioned in the Sanctuary, then there is an issue, because women are not permitted to be inside the Sanctuary while Mass or a Liturgical service is in progress. (Yes this means that putting kneelers in the sanctuary for a wedding is not correct). Beyond rubrics, there are also practical issues as well. In some places, the design is such that perhaps it is not possible to avoid the violation of these rules.