Kneeling before Mass

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Hi, I find that some people do this, while others don’t. Personally, I genuflect before entering the pew, but I don’t always keep kneeling before the start of the Mass, although I do kneel for a while, say a prayer, and then sit back in the pew. Are there any liturgical rules regarding this? Thanks in advance!
 
Nope. No rules. It’s a matter of personal preferrence. I like to kneel and pray for a while after finding a seat. Others prefer to sit down and pray, or read, or whatever.
 
I do this if the candle by the tabernacle is lit. I pray for peace of mind during Mass and at times, offer that Mass/ Eucharist for a particular intention. Is there a formal prayer to be said at this time? Thanks, Tim
 
I had a strict old Irish Catholic priest when I was growing up, and he used to chase people out of the church and make them come back in “the right way” if they didn’t genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament before kneeling in prayer! :eek:

It may not have been right of him to do it, but I guarantee that I will always genuflect and kneel for fear that he’ll come back and haunt me!😊
 
Genuflection is a sign of respect to Our Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t think there is a ruling about that but it is proper for us Christians to do it.

Pax
 
I don’t think there are any hard and fast “rules”. However, consider that if the tabernacle is where it should be, you walk in before the same God before Whom Moses took his sandals off.

Many of us, msyelf included until the last two years, either went with no genuflection or with what I call the “Sunday Slide”. That is, a sort of partial genuflection smoothly done with butt drawn to the pew.

Some parishes no longer have kneelers, making it difficult to kneel for any length of time.

Perhaps the question may not be should we kneel, but should we offer God pre-Mass devotions? Those devotions may very well prompt us to be on our knees as we prepare for Mass.

I had never heard of these prayers and they are quite beautiful and thought provoking. A prayer book written by my pastor for the Altar Boys, but available to all contains many such pre-Mass devotions written by various saints. “Serve the Lord with Gladness” is found here.

Here is an example of one from St. Thomas Aquinas

Two Hearts site offers prayers before and after Mass.

This is why there should be silence before and after Mass. Prior to Mass we should be in preparation. After Mass, we should be giving thanksgiving.
 
Theres really no rules but here is what I do just to prepare myself for mass and to offer God my intentions.
First I will say the Act of Contrition
Then an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the intentions of the Pope, and then I say this folowing prayer that is self explainitory:

Eternal Father, I unite myself with the intentions and affections of our Lady of Sorrows on Calvary and I offer Thee the Sacrifice which Thy Beloved Son Jesus made on the Cross, and now renews on this holy altar:
First: To adore Thee and give Thee the honor which is due to Thee, confessing Thy supreme dominion over all things, and the absolute dependence of everything upon Thee, Thou Who art our one and last end.
Second: To thank Thee for countless benefits received.
Third: To appease Thy Justice provoked by so many sins, and to make satifaction for them.
Fourth: To implore grace and mercy for myself, for (name), for all afflicted and sorrowing, for all poor sinners, and for the holy souls in Purgatory.

Hope this helps!
 
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