Q: Recently, here in our community, there have been questions about the posture of the assembly after they have received Holy Communion. Many parishioners who attend Mass, once they have received Communion, go back to their pews, but they remain standing throughout the Communion hymn, even after the distribution of Communion has been concluded. These parishioners remain standing until the priest and deacon finish purifying the vessels, while many other parishioners are either seated in the pews or kneeling in prayer. This has caused confusion and some misunderstandings in some of the faithful. The question, therefore, is: What is the proper bodily posture that the assembly should take after receiving Holy Communion and returning to the pews (kneeling, seating)? Is standing during this time of the liturgy necessary? If you could provide me with some references to the GIRM or other documents that could clarify the question, it would also be greatly appreciated.
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A: All three postures are acceptable, as I explain in my book Let Us Pray, p. 146.
It cites GIRM 43 and a clarification from the CDWDS, N. 855/03/L.