Do my Rosaries not count if I’m not kneeling?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gabrielle
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
We get the same stuff nowadays in some modern teachings. I recently watched a Jesuit video about how to have a conversation with God and it strongly suggested that when you’re planning to talk to God you should get into a “reverent” position. Now I realize these videos are made for an audience who might find the idea of conversing with God to be something they’ve not done before, or not done very much, and one’s physical attitude can help with setting the mood, but my first reaction was that one’s physical position was not all that important in the grand scheme of things.

We’re always going to have this tension between people who really emphasize some sort of external reverence (or external self-mortification) in the old-school manner, and those who don’t. It’s not something that only happens with St. Louis and rosaries.
 
The Popes and Vatican have all strongly recommended the praying of the rosary.

Many apparitions of Our lady where she requested the praying of the rosary have been offically approved as international shrines by the Vatican, such as Fatima,
 
I sit cross-legged on the floor of my closet when I pray mine. I was sitting on my couch before, but found it so comfortable that I would fall asleep. 😳
 

Kneeling is more of a Catholic thing, than Protestant thing.
THAT’S for sure - lol
But one time, after praying the rosary, my left knee was killing me - for weeks -
I looked around at church - 25 people - all sitting for rosary -
so - wanting to fit in, and not stand out, this time…I went with the crowd 😇
 
Kneeling is more of a Catholic thing, than Protestant thing.
Yeah… some of my maternal uncles are Methodist, and their local church is very much Catholic-feeling - Old, big, stone, English looking. So much of the time, I’ll genuflect to a nonexistent tabernacle when I walk in or reach for a kneeler that is not there haha
 
We get the same stuff nowadays in some modern teachings. I recently watched a Jesuit video about how to have a conversation with God and it strongly suggested that when you’re planning to talk to God you should get into a “reverent” position. Now I realize these videos are made for an audience who might find the idea of conversing with God to be something they’ve not done before, or not done very much, and one’s physical attitude can help with setting the mood, but my first reaction was that one’s physical position was not all that important in the grand scheme of things.

We’re always going to have this tension between people who really emphasize some sort of external reverence (or external self-mortification) in the old-school manner, and those who don’t. It’s not something that only happens with St. Louis and rosaries.
Again, my issue is with the word required. The idea that Fatima makes the rosary a condition of faith (when it’s not) and that others even govern the posture of that prayeris what makes me cringe
 
My comment is regarding the position of the person praying. Not going to get into specific prayers here since my comment also noted that this comes up in many prayer contexts and not just the Rosary and not just St. Louis.

I accept that you have a personal problem with the Rosary and I’m not going down that path of discussion again, especially on a thread where the OP has apparently already made the choice that they want to pray the Rosary and are only concerned about the manner in which to say it.
 
Last edited:
My knees are so bad that I can no longer kneel … I wish I could … there is a feeling of loss when one can no longer kneel to pray … my feeling is one should take advantage of the time one can actually kneel and pray, but that’s just my opinion based on my situation.

Overall, I do not think that your prayers are less effective because you pray while not kneeling.
 
I must say all these threads about kneeling and such make me think maybe I should be kneeling more than I do. It is a bit more painful for me now than it was when I was a kid, but not out of the question.

I have been very impressed on my 2 trips to Fatima to see the people doing the walk on their knees. I tried it, without knee pads, and only made it 2/3 of the way before all the skin was off my knees and I had to quit. I still have scars on my knees from that. I may try it again some day with the pads but when you see 75 year old women going the whole way on their knees and you’re 20 years younger and can’t do it, it is sobering.
 
My comment is regarding the position of the person praying. Not going to get into specific prayers here since my comment also noted that this comes up in many prayer contexts and not just the Rosary and not just St. Louis.

I accept that you have a personal problem with the Rosary and I’m not going down that path of discussion again, especially on a thread where the OP has apparently already made the choice that they want to pray the Rosary and are only concerned about the manner in which to say it.
I don’t have “a personal problem” with the rosary, I have no issue praying it. My problem lies with the people who propagate false “musts”…even if those people are saints.
 
I haven’t been able to kneel or genuflect since I was very young. Creaky knees. Father says that if our intent is reverent then all is well with our prayer. I can still make a profound bow, even using a cane, so that’s what I do before and after Mass and often when praying at home.

I often say the Rosary at night in bed so laying down it is. If I fall asleep part way through the Holy Spirit reminds me where to begin praying again when I wake up.
 
One more thing: One’s posture isn’t one of the conditions for a plenary or partial indulgence for any devotion.
 
Last edited:
First “Secret of the Rosary” is a lovely, romantic book. It is not, however, doctrine.

Prayer simply happens, it is.

Does your conversation with your real life mom count if you are standing up or sitting or kneeling or leaning?
 
So? What @Thistle said is absolutely correct.

No one MUST pray the Rosary.
Is it a good idea? Yes!
Is it required? NO!
 
I have noticed that it seems easier to pay attention to the Rosary if you are keeling, also it shows you care.
But you don’t have to kneel. I say the Rosary while we’re driving to Mass.
 
Some people who fall asleep while praying find it easier to pray while going for a walk, or while exercising.

Listening to a catholic audio book while travelling or exercising is another option
 
I usually say it while I am lying down. The Echo has a skill called Prayer Buddy that will recite the rosary and I usually do this before I get up in the morning.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top