Adoration and knitting?

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I was having a conversation with a friend about Adoration. I usually bring my rosary and a holy book to Adoration. She said that she didn’t know what to do during that hour and was advised by another friend to bring in her knitting. I am not judging this advice. It just got me thinking about whether or not knitting (or anything really) was ok during Adoration.

So what is the general consensus on this?
 
My opinion is that only prayer should be done during this time. Knitting doens’t seem appropriate because you are there to be with Jesus.
 
mfrances said:
My opinion is that only prayer should be done during this time. Knitting doens’t seem appropriate because you are there to be with Jesus.
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For some people, the repetitive motion of knitting can facilitate prayer. Not all people are able to sit or kneel perfectly still for a long period of time. I think knitting or crocheting is ideal for these circumstances, as long as prayer is the primary purpose and knitting is just a means to that goal.
 
=CrunchyCathMom;10198475]I was having a conversation with a friend about Adoration. I usually bring my rosary and a holy book to Adoration. She said that she didn’t know what to do during that hour and was advised by another friend to bring in her knitting. I am not judging this advice. It just got me thinking about whether or not knitting (or anything really) was ok during Adoration.
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So what is the general consensus on this?
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TAKE NOTHING, AND GOD WILLING; DO NOTHING THAT TAKES YOUR MIND OFF CHRIST IN FRONT OF YOU:thumbsup:
 
It seems like a strange idea to me, but then again I am not a knitter and may not grasp what the experience of knitting is like. I know some women (I suppose in this day and age I must add “and some men”) find knitting to be “meditative” but I wonder if it is meditative in such a way that it would allow one to focus on prayer and the Blessed Sacrament.
 
babochka said:
For some people, the repetitive motion of knitting can facilitate prayer. Not all people are able to sit or kneel perfectly still for a long period of time. .
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👍

That would include me!

I cannot do stillness for any length of time, unless lying down :). To me, enforced stillness is like a rehearsal for being dead and is disagreeable.

If doing something with one’s hands, eg, knitting, enables one to spend time there that they otherwise would not, I’d say bravo, but I am not a priest, just a sinner.

Ask a priest.

ICXC NIKA
 
tabycat said:
Or something for a cancer patiant or a premie baby and they are praying for the one that is going to recieve it? :):confused:🙂
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There’s a prayer shawl ministry at my parish. They actually gave my wife one after the birth of our son, who was born seventeen days early. My comment to my wife was “this shawl was made with prayers”, which was a literal statement; they pray the entire time they make them.

So my wife and I would, at times, wrap our son in this shawl made of prayers. He would be wrapped in prayers.

I see no reason why those in said shawl ministry could not do their shawl-ing in front of Christ Jesus.
 
I know there was a thread about this exact thing during Adoration but I’ll be darned if I can find it now with the search engine! :confused: Anywho… personally, I wouldn’t bring my knitting stuff to Adoration. To me, although it can be meditative, it seems more like a leisurely way to relax at home, not exactly something to do while spending time with our Lord.
 
No, do not knit or engage in anyother hobby while you are with The Blessed Sacrament.
For those who “don’t know what to do with themselves” during a Holy Hour, this is a great opportunity to learn to be attentive in silence and focus your attention on Him who loves you very much.

Just “be” with Jesus and learn hiw to love him with silent attention and affection.
 
Tell her not to worry about it. Come to adoration. Bring the knitting or not. Just come.
 
It concerns me that your friend does not know what to do for that hour…That would be my first priority…to help her understand the purpose of adoration. This is the most critical aspect…much more important than what one does with their hands.

The Story of Martha and Mary pops into my head at this point. Martha - busy about things could not listen to Jesus while Mary sat at his feet doing nothing (we assume) but listening. So obviously the “better part” is to sit and listen - and pray.

But - continuing with this image of Martha and Mary…One could easily see Mary sitting at Jesus feet and listening while also sewing patch on a cloth, or knitting or weaving or some other task. Would we assume that Mary was - in that case - too distracted?

No one would question a person bringing in a rosary to pray yet a rosary is nothing more than a tool that we use for keeping track of our prayers - and the repetitive nature of the prayers are intended to allow us to contemplate the mysteries…
A person who is good at knitting can sit and knit and carry on a conversation, relax, think, ponder, and contemplate. The repetitive act of knitting can have much the same effect as the repetitive action of praying the rosary.

However - as I said at the beginning - the deeper issue is the fact that she said that, “she didn’t know what to do during that hour”. Address this with her and then you can touch on the other question as a purely secondary matter.

Peace
James
 
From Celebrating the Holy Eucharist by Francis Cardinal Arinze, the Lord is due five things from us:
  1. Adoration
  2. Praise
  3. Thanksgiving
  4. Propitiation for our sins
  5. Petition
Sadly, I note that these are in order, and that I very often reverse the sequence. It reminds me of the sisters Martha and Mary:

Luke 10:38-42
Knox Bible (KNOX)
38 In one of the villages he entered during his journey, a woman called Martha entertained him in her house. 39 She had a sister called Mary; and Mary took her place at the Lord’s feet, and listened to his words. 40 Martha was distracted by waiting on many needs; so she came to his side, and asked, Lord, art thou content that my sister should leave me to do the serving alone? Come, bid her help me. 41 Jesus answered her, Martha, Martha, how many cares and troubles thou hast! 42 But only one thing is necessary; and Mary has chosen for herself the best part of all, that which shall never be taken away from her.

As I approach the adoration chapel, I remind myself that I am coming into the presence of Greatness. My Lord. My Help. My Judge.

I believe that your friend could greatly benefit from a copy of Vinny Flynn’s 7 Secrets of the Eucharist.

While we are called to adore the Lord who is present to us under the appearance of bread, for years I must admit that I looked upon Jesus Christ and saw only bread. This book helps to change our perception so that we look upon what was once bread but is now Jesus Christ among us.
 
po18guy…I was thinking of that list as well. It would take me an hour to get through those, if not more.

I think that book is a great suggestion. Thanks!
 
CrunchyCathMom said:
po18guy…I was thinking of that list as well. It would take me an hour to get through those, if not more.

I think that book is a great suggestion. Thanks!
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That whole propitiation thing will take a lifetime!

It is a great book - 100 pages with many references, and great endorsements from Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Fr. Benedict Groeschel and George Cardinal Pell. I think I first read of it in Patrick Madrid’s Envoy Magazine. Yet another book that everyone who loves Jesus Christ should read. The author is the tenor who sings the very popular version of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Catholic radio.
 
CrunchyCathMom said:
I was having a conversation with a friend about Adoration. I usually bring my rosary and a holy book to Adoration. She said that she didn’t know what to do during that hour and was advised by another friend to bring in her knitting. I am not judging this advice. It just got me thinking about whether or not knitting (or anything really) was ok during Adoration.

So what is the general consensus on this?
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No, you really ought to just pray while at Adoration. Adoration isn’t mandatory, so she shouldn’t feel guilty for not participating for a whole hour if she can’t concentrate for that long.
 
TimothyH said:
Knitting in adoration was discussed previously.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=733882

-Tim-
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Some have mentioned here that they eat lunch as well as find great peace sleeping in the Lord’s presence :eek: I prefer to err on the side of caution, as I have seen texting, slurping from water bottles and various conversations going on during adoration. What began to bother me was a young mother who brought her occasionally noisy toddler son. Then, I remembered:

Mark 10:13-16
Knox Bible (KNOX)
Then they brought children to him, asking him to touch them; and his disciples rebuked those who brought them. But Jesus was indignant at seeing this; Let the children come to me, he said, do not keep them back; the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you truthfully, the man who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a child, will never enter into it. And so he embraced them, laid his hands upon them, and blessed them.

It never bothered me after that. I try to maintain silence at all times, as I know that some at adoration are interceding on behalf of dying loved ones.
 
I’ve never thought to bring knitting to Adoration. However, I do crochet and I have to admit, the work is meditative. I often sort out my thoughts while I crochet. It isn’t much of a stretch for me to think that knitting might help someone meditate in Adoration. It certainly helps me get focused and clear my mind.
 
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