Folding Up of the Kneelers?

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AuntMartha

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Hi again,
Another question, that the other kneeler thread made me remember to ask:

During the Consecration, of course we kneel. But then it is time to go to communion. This week, as I saw that there was an elderly lady at the other end of my pew, I thought it would be good to fold up the kneeler on my side, (leaving the one on her side as it was), so she could get in my side of the pew more easily on her way back (at this church, one leaves the pew from one side, but returns by the other in a circular fashion - does that make sense?). Then when we returned and were both back in our places, I put the kneeler on my side back down to pray after communion.

Was this appropriate? Or should the kneelers always be left down. It was a bit of a distraction to have to readjust after we came back, but I didn’t mind since it was to help this lady.

Thanks, Aunt Martha
 
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AuntMartha:
Hi again,
Another question, that the other kneeler thread made me remember to ask:

During the Consecration, of course we kneel. But then it is time to go to communion. This week, as I saw that there was an elderly lady at the other end of my pew, I thought it would be good to fold up the kneeler on my side, (leaving the one on her side as it was), so she could get in my side of the pew more easily on her way back (at this church, one leaves the pew from one side, but returns by the other in a circular fashion - does that make sense?). Then when we returned and were both back in our places, I put the kneeler on my side back down to pray after communion.

Was this appropriate? Or should the kneelers always be left down. It was a bit of a distraction to have to readjust after we came back, but I didn’t mind since it was to help this lady.

Thanks, Aunt Martha
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We do just exactly the same thing!
 
We always have to put up our kneelers going up to Communion because they and our pews are soooo old we could never get out if we didn’t! So it’s perfectly fine to put them up!
 
We usually put them up then as well. It’s too hard to get out and not trip if we leave them down.
 
Thank you. It’s good to know that I didn’t commit a faux pas! I will make that a regular practice then. Our pews are a bit of a squeeze to get through too.

Aunt Martha
 
We always put them up while going to Communion and put them back down when we get back to the pews.
 
We also put them up when we leave the pews for Holy Communion and put the back down upon our return.
 
thanks for the reminder, tomorrow before CCD and Evening Prayer, we are going to have the Jr High kids practicing putting the kneelers up and down silently (also practice genuflection), then do it with the High School Wed before Mass. It will keep them occupied and I will tell them to evangelize and teach the adults how to do it. Nuns used to make us do this for what seemed like hours at a time, but I never bang a kneeler if I can help it.
 
A fair number of the newer churches don’t have kneelers. Sad, but true.
 
The church my grandma went to had kneelers. She was 90 years old, could barely walk, but because there were kneelers in her church, she felt obligated to kneel when she came back from communion. She was in excrutiating pain to kneel and it was difficult for her to get up from that position. Even her priest told her she did not have to kneel—he told her to sit and pray after communion. But because those kneelers were there, down she went.
When she would come to my church which did not have kneelers she did not feel obligated to kneel.
That’s why I’m glad my church doesn’t have kneelers. Far too much attention gets paid to the kneelers. You can worship and show reverence for God in more positions than just kneeling.
 
God bless your grandmother.
For the record, I don’t think that “too much attention” is paid to kneelers. It’s the other way around. . .not ENOUGH attention is paid to kneeling, reverence, sacrifice, humility and penitence.
I’m only half your grandmother’s age, but I have arthritis and it is no picnic for me to kneel either. . .but I do it, kneelers or not. Not because I’m “better” than someone who isn’t kneeling, but because I’m actually “worse”. . .a poor sinner.

God bless you and your family.
 
Tantum ergo:
. . .not ENOUGH attention is paid to kneeling, reverence, sacrifice, humility and penitence.
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I experienced that. You see, I fell away from the CC for many years and either didn’t attend services at all, or went to Protestant churches. I’ve been back to Mass three times now, and I’m telling you - my body is not yet in shape for kneeling! I don’t usually kneel while praying at home, so I found my legs trembling after a while. I was thinking of something I read in a book once - My “sin-sickly knees” - yes, that’s me! And then I thought, Wow, I have been away a long time.

Aunt Martha
 
We always put the kneelers up when we leave the pews to receive the Eucharist, and then put them back down when we come back to our seats (and kneel until the tabernacle is closed after all have received Eucharist). I don’t think there’s any specific guideline, but I’ve found that there’s just too much of a trip-and-fall risk if the kneelers are always left down.

When I was in Catholic elem. school, it was considered in poor taste to leave the kneelers down after you use them to pray before Mass, because one was likely to subconsciously use them as a footrest and dirty them with one’s shoes- causing the next person to get dirt on their clothing.
 
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