Kneeling/Sitting in Front of the Blessed Sacrament Exposed

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A CAF poster once said that St. Teresa of Avila said that we should sit when in meditation or in contemplation, but do you think that this still applies when we are meditating or contemplating in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed? When one is in meditation or contemplation in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed is it still best to kneel unless one is starting to feel uncomfortable in this posture?
 
ready said:
A CAF poster once said that St. Teresa of Avila said that we should sit when in meditation or in contemplation, but do you think that this still applies when we are meditating or contemplating in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed? When one is in meditation or contemplation in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed is it still best to kneel unless one is starting to feel uncomfortable in this posture?
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I don’t know if there is a “rule,” but the traditional practice is to try to kneel the whole time unless ill health prevents it.
 
ready said:
A CAF poster once said that St. Teresa of Avila said that we should sit when in meditation or in contemplation, but do you think that this still applies when we are meditating or contemplating in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed? When one is in meditation or contemplation in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed is it still best to kneel unless one is starting to feel uncomfortable in this posture?
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Lay flat on your face. If not enough room, sit.
 
ready said:
A CAF poster once said that St. Teresa of Avila said that we should sit when in meditation or in contemplation, but do you think that this still applies when we are meditating or contemplating in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed? When one is in meditation or contemplation in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed is it still best to kneel unless one is starting to feel uncomfortable in this posture?
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I sit mostly. Metal knees. I try to “sit/kneel” for a time
 
Sometimes I sit. Sometimes I kneel. Kneeling for an hour is a long time for many people even if they don’t have poor health. When Benediction begins, everyone who is physically able kneels.

When my mother’s church had an Adoration chapel, there was a lot of reading material, and I don’t think one was expected to kneel and read. I also know of one man who would practically spend the night in the chapel (and bring ALOT of pious reading material), so he likely wasn’t kneeling all night. It is just nice to be there with the True Presence.
 
In our Adoration chapel, people come in and kneel (some also bow down while kneeling) and then sit for most of the hour. This is not during a specific Holy Hour that has Benediction, but in a chapel that is open all day with committed adorers.

Some who are coming in for a ‘visit’ will kneel the whole time, but they may only stay 10-15 minutes.
 
Julia_Mae said:
Lay flat on your face. If not enough room, sit.
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This appears to be in a mocking/sarcastic tone. As the internet is infamous for not being able to convey tone, I’d like to ask for clarification. Are you really advocating full prostration? Or are you mocking those who use bodily posture, such as kneeling, as a way to show adoration before the Blessed Sacrament?
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Thanks, everyone, for your feedback. I am glad I posted on this Traditional Catholicism forum, as your answers confirm that I should be kneeling as much as possible, like the saints say. God bless you all!
 
I don’t know what we’re supposed to do but I try to kneel the whole time Our Lord is out of the tabernacle unless father wants us to do something else. I know many people can’t kneel for long and they do what they can and then sit.
 
I see nothing wrong with doing the face plant (ie; lying prone).

Personally, I sit. Bad back, knees, and ankles mean I probably shouldn’t kneel.
 
Melchior said:
I see nothing wrong with doing the face plant (ie; lying prone).
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I think it’s a beautiful personal act of devotion, but I am too proud to do it when other people are around.
Personally, I sit. Bad back, knees, and ankles mean I probably shouldn’t kneel.
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We all do what we can. I hope when (not if, I’ve been hard on my body) I can’t kneel anymore, I can at least kneel for the final blessing.
 
Rich_C said:
I think it’s a beautiful personal act of devotion, but I am too proud to do it when other people are around.
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Same here. Well that, and I’m worried I’d fall asleep 😊
Rich_C said:
We all do what we can. I hope when (not if, I’ve been hard on my body) I can’t kneel anymore, I can at least kneel for the final blessing.
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I haven’t been doing this lately, but I probably could these days. I find that lately I’ll usually stand during the final blessing.
 
I’d love to lie prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament exposed, but I can’t at the chapel where I adore. It isn’t allowed … one fellow tried lying prostrate and was thrown out because of it. When I enter and leave the Perpetual Eucharistic Adortation Chapel I visit or pass before the Blessed Sacrament exposed I kneel and usually bow to the ground and kiss the floor. This I like to do. When I am at home I sometimes lie prostrate in prayer in the form of a cross, though my clothing gets all wrinkled. In the “City of God” it is said the Blessed Virgin would pray this way. She gave me the idea.

Well I’m off to a weekend retreat right now. God bless you all!
 
Come to think of it I sometimes stand with my hands/arms raised. Figure if my knees wont take the stress, maybe my arms will.
 
I know at the Adoration chapel at my church I have seen one woman lie prostrate on the ground (and it’s a tiny space too), seen another use a padded cushion to kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament… there are a few chairs and kneelers in the room which are usually taken up. We normally bow and genuflect upon entering and leaving the Adoration room. I am thankful churches have these rooms for us. What a gift it is!
 
I usually kneel whenever I start adoring. Usually I sit because I contemplate better when I sit. I’ll also sit if I’m praying from my breviary (I find it hard to hold a book and pray from it while kneeling, especially if I’m holding the book).

My knees tend to get sore if I kneel too long, and it doesn’t really matter if it’s kneelers or floor or whatever.
 
When I’m alone in the Adoration Chapel at my church , I go in front of the Lord and sit “criss cross applesauce”. It might seem silly to some people but I feel like a child listening to his dad when I do this .🙂
 
I will kneel for short times when adoring the Blessed Sacrament but I prefer sitting for health reasons (bad knees among other things). I’ve never seen anyone lay on the ground, but I’ve often seen a few people kneel on both knees before taking a seat in a pew then doing the same when leaving.
 
I will always kneel when I first come in, when I pray the rosary, and before I leave, but apart from that I normally sit. This is not due to health issues but rather because I find it more conducive to the simple conversation and meditation that I engage in during adoration.
 
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