I would rather pray sitting than kneeling

[ready]

And you are free to do are you wish, of course. But you don’t want to be driven to do anything by your feelings or by what a Ven./Bl./St. was directed to do. What they believed they should do through private messages/locutions, etc. doesn’t necessarily apply to us. We are to imitate the saints in their holiness and recollection, not necessarily in they way they dressed, their posture, their eating habits, etc. Each one of us is different and so needs to do such things as is best for us. You may want to seek out a reliable spiritual director for this and other issues so you don’t become either scrupulous or lax. Without guidance we may be too easy or too hard on ourselves . Blessings on you and yours.

Yes, I understand. Thanks for your good help. Today at adoration I knelt until I felt no need to, then I just sat down and loved Jesus in the sitting posture. I find that when I am in adoration or asking God for something I prefer to kneel, until kneeling becomes undesirable or uncomfortable. St. Claude de la Columbiere in his book of spiritual direction said that we should pray in the posture that is least inconvenient to us. That really sounds reasonable and works for me. Doesn’t that sound like good advise? My spiritual director said it is okay for me to pray in any posture I like. I am coming from a strong background where I have been instructed that when we speak to God we should kneel… Have you ever heard this recommendation before? Again I thank you and Oneofthewomen for your good advise. You are very helpful.

 

[Della]

You may have gotten the idea that kneeling is “the” prayer posture from praying on our knees in parts of publically recited/celebrated liturgies. But, in private prayer (which includes adoration/parts of exposition) sittting is perfectly acceptable. It can be difficult to be recollected if we are thinking more about our knees than the Lord, yes?

 

[ready]

You may have gotten the idea that kneeling is “the” prayer posture from praying on our knees in parts of publically recited/celebrated liturgies. But, in private prayer (which includes adoration/parts of exposition) sittting is perfectly acceptable. It can be difficult to be recollected if we are thinking more about our knees than the Lord, yes?

Yes, it can be difficult to be recollected if we are distracted by our bodily posture. Tonight I knelt until it became undesirable, then I sat. Just before leaving the chapel I felt compelled to kneel some more. Because I am praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed I feel compelled to kneel a lot. But after reading what you said about St. Teresa of Avila and the posture for contemplation I have welcomed sitting a lot more. When I am at home I haven’t a problem contemplating while sitting - I am not in front of the Blessed Sacrament. But when I am at home I still do my devotions and vocal prayers kneeling.

Something I thought of at adoration tonight was Ven. Mary of Agreda’s City of God in which the Blessed Virgin Mary gives instructions. The Blessed Virgin mentioned that she wanted others to follow the instructions she gave to Ven. Mary of Agreda so I thought I should still kneel when praying my Office, Rosary, and vocal prayers. BTW, is praying petitions considered vocal prayer? Somebody recently told this to me and I wasn’t sure she was correct. I know she could be, but I am still not sure.

Thanks for your continued help!

 

[Pdaniels2]

When praying to God, I kneel. When praying the rosary or a chaplet, I sit. You don’t HAVE to kneel, but you should - if you can. Here is what I do sometimes. Before praying the rosary I will kneel and say the ‘Our Father’ once.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Sometimes I can kneel, but usually not for very long.

When others are kneeling and I’m not, I’ll “sit forward” on my seat, with my knees pointing down toward the kneeler. That way I don’t interfere with the people behind me, who are trying to kneel and mightn’t want my head in their faces.

Alan

 

[Della]

Yes, it can be difficult to be recollected if we are distracted by our bodily posture. Tonight I knelt until it became undesirable, then I sat. Just before leaving the chapel I felt compelled to kneel some more. Because I am praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed I feel compelled to kneel a lot. But after reading what you said about St. Teresa of Avila and the posture for contemplation I have welcomed sitting a lot more. When I am at home I haven’t a problem contemplating while sitting - I am not in front of the Blessed Sacrament. But when I am at home I still do my devotions and vocal prayers kneeling.

Something I thought of at adoration tonight was Ven. Mary of Agreda’s City of God in which the Blessed Virgin Mary gives instructions. The Blessed Virgin mentioned that she wanted others to follow the instructions she gave to Ven. Mary of Agreda so I thought I should still kneel when praying my Office, Rosary, and vocal prayers. BTW, is praying petitions considered vocal prayer? Somebody recently told this to me and I wasn’t sure she was correct. I know she could be, but I am still not sure.

Thanks for your continued help!

Instructions given in private messages are not binding on the faithful. That doesn’t mean we can’t follow such instructions, but we are not compelled to do them because they are not directives from the Magisterium whom we are bound to obey.

 

[Marie5890]

Never let form overshadow intent.

Both are important, but intent even more so. God is a God of love and mercy and understanding. He isnt a traffic cop waiting for people to “do it wrong”

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Never let form overshadow intent.

Both are important, but intent even more so. God is a God of love and mercy and understanding. He isnt a traffic cop waiting for people to “do it wrong”

I love this message, and am refreshed so many are giving it.

So often I see people so concerned about “externals” that they don’t seem to get past them.

Alan

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I think that kneeling is a sign of reverence and if you can kneel during the Eucharist, you probably should. However, if you are in pain, then sitting will allow you to concentrate on the prayer and sacrifice instead of the pain. Any other type of devotion, I think it’s just fine if you sit. If you really want to, you could genuflect and then sit.

This depends on the tradition you are from. In the Eastern Churches, namely the Byzantine, kneeling is mainly seen as penitential. The posture of reverence is standing.

In private prayer posture is as important as in public liturgies.

I think it is very important that one be comfortable when praying privately.

 

[ready]

Instructions given in private messages are not binding on the faithful. That doesn’t mean we can’t follow such instructions, but we are not compelled to do them because they are not directives from the Magisterium whom we are bound to obey.

Thanks, Della, for your feedback.

 

[perro_sarnoso]

Hello…

Just wondering…Don’t know if I am being scrupulous here or what not.

I admire those people who can pray and kneel for long periods of time… However, I am one of those people who find it really uncomfortable to kneel for long periods of time… especially during longer devotions like group rosaries in the church. However, I am aware that kneeling is a sign of reverence as well. I don’t like to kneel (if I don’t have to) not because I don’t want to be humble but because of the physical discomfort it causes me especially for longer periods of time.

However, come to think of it… does the act of enduring the pain / discomfort of kneeling while praying also qualify as an act of offering / sacrifice to God? This is not at all incompatible to the “endure without complaint” and “cross carrying” lifestyle that is required of us Catholics…

And at home when I pray, at night before I go to bed or when I say the Divine Mercy devotion I do it mostly sitting down…

I was wondering… is this okay to do? I feel that when I am sitting down, I am able to concentrate and meditate more (especially when saying the rosary) rather than concentrating on the discomfort / pain of kneeling. Thus, when I pray kneeling there is a greater chance of the prayers being just lip service because most of my mind is thinking about the discomfort of kneeling whereas I find it much easier meditate and enter a contemplative mindset when praying while sitting.

Does it really make that much of a difference?

What’s important is the prayer and the intentions.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Kneel if you want, while it doesn’t distract you - then, stand or sit.

God directs the prayer of the faithful where it is most needed as well as the sacrifice and mortifications of the body offered for good cause…like, the Souls in Purgatory. Or a loved one or friend in need of physical or spiritual healing.

Aquiesce anima mea, in Deus salus mea.