How do your clergy invite people to stand and pray at key moments during the liturgy? The major moments, as far as I can remember today, are these:

- After the Gloria for the opening prayer

- After the homily to stand and begin the Creed

- Standing for the prayers at the conclusion of preparation

- After Communion

That last one is particularly interesting, and even with the same priest, I often hear invitations all over the map. Often they are accompanied by gestures. Gestures alone work if people have their eyes on you. Our associate pastor sometimes just gestures to the people and they easily know to stand. Last night, the priest went “out of the book” to say, “Let us stand.”

Take up the liturgist’s armchair. Are fewer or no words better now that your parish is very well accustomed to the post-conciliar liturgy? Or are clergy and people alike used to the directions. Suppose you can influence or dictate what your priest can do for your parish. What would you tell him to do or say?

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