No Kneelers in some catholic churches?

[kpschaffert]

What’s this about? If I can’t make mass at my parish I’ll go to St. Paschal’s at a later time…however, they have no kneelers??? I find this very disrespectful to our faith…apparently this is a “Progressive parish.” Has anyone else witnessed this?

 

[Boulder257]

There is a parish I visit in Rock Hill, SC that also has no kneelers. However, they are in the process of building a Church that includes kneelers. Personally, I find it odd, but that is because I have grown up with the custom of kneeling at certain parts of Mass.

It has been explained to me that in the past people stood during parts of the Mass because that was the custom. So, it’s not necessarily "rude to stand and some would argue that it has more history than kneeling. However, for me, kneeling shows the most reverence in today’s world, so that’s where I feel most comfortable.

 

[Classicist]

The Eastern Christians consider kneeling to be an act of servitude, penance, and heaviness in sin. They never kneel during the liturgy on Sunday, during Easter, or on major festival days. This is their whole mindset and culture.

Eastern norms were not invoked by the first generation of liturgical-progressives in the West. They just wanted to remove any sense of servility or solemnity, because apparently those things disrespect human dignity or make God into a disapproving jail-keeper. Only after several decades have progressives pointed to the East to justify their dislike of kneeling.

 

[ConstantineTG]

The Eastern Christians consider kneeling to be an act of servitude, penance, and heaviness in sin. They never kneel during the liturgy on Sunday, during Easter, or on major festival days. This is their whole mindset and culture.

Eastern norms were not invoked by the first generation of liturgical-progressives in the West. They just wanted to remove any sense of servility or solemnity, because apparently those things disrespect human dignity or make God into a disapproving jail-keeper. Only after several decades have progressives pointed to the East to justify their dislike of kneeling.

Actually the reason why we never kneel in the East is because the Greek word for Resurrection is the same word for standing. Remember if you go to court and the judge walks in, everyone is commanded to “rise”. And what do you do? Stand up. We stand up because that is why we are in church on Sundays, to join ourselves into the Resurrection of Christ. Also standing is being at the ready, like 5 of the 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom.

 

[Boulder257]

Actually the reason why we never kneel in the East is because the Greek word for Resurrection is the same word for standing. Remember if you go to court and the judge walks in, everyone is commanded to “rise”. And what do you do? Stand up. We stand up because that is why we are in church on Sundays, to join ourselves into the Resurrection of Christ. Also standing is being at the ready, like 5 of the 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom.

I like that explanation. Thanks for sharing that!

 

[Becca3]

Also, even if you have kneelers in church, there will be some people like the disabled, elderly, and very young children, who are just not physically able to kneel. It is not that they don’t do for lack of respect, it is just that they can’t. So, keep that in mind too folks.

 

[kpschaffert]

I like that explanation. Thanks for sharing that!

Myself as well… However, for some reason I feel awkward standing after communion,…i use the kneeler when available to give thanks to God and to forgive me of my sins…at any rate I like the latter explanation as well…thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut

 

[Bonnie]

…apparently this is a “Progressive parish.” Has anyone else witnessed this?

My sis-in-law’s parish got rid of the pews with kneelers quite some years ago & replaced them with folding chairs. Fortunately, the pews were put in storage rather than sold. The new bishop has told them & other parishes that did the same that the pews & kneelers must return!

 

[L_Marshall]

And even if the parish church doesn’t have kneelers in the pews, that does not give us any sort of special permission not to kneel during the parts mentioned in the rubrics.

 

[Bonnie]

And even if the parish church doesn’t have kneelers in the pews, that does not give us any sort of special permission not to kneel during the parts mentioned in the rubrics.

Yep. When we visted the church with folding chairs, we sat at the end of the row so we could kneel without accidentally shoving the chairs into the people behind us. If memory serves me, we were the only ones to kneel. There might have been one other person.

 

[Corki]

What’s this about? If I can’t make mass at my parish I’ll go to St. Paschal’s at a later time…however, they have no kneelers??? I find this very disrespectful to our faith…apparently this is a “Progressive parish.” Has anyone else witnessed this?

My parish has no kneelers. It is not progressive at all. In our case, it was due to the amount the diocese would underwrite for the mortgage when the building was first built. Everything is “bare bones”. Everyone who is able still kneels.

Not kneeling is disrespectful (in the Latin rite, at Mass, during the prescribed times).

Not having kneelers might be a sign of some progressive agenda but maybe not.

 

[kpschaffert]

My parish has no kneelers. It is not progressive at all. In our case, it was due to the amount the diocese would underwrite for the mortgage when the building was first built. Everything is “bare bones”. Everyone who is able still kneels.

Not kneeling is disrespectful (in the Latin rite, at Mass, during the prescribed times).

Not having kneelers might be a sign of some progressive agenda but maybe not.

Thanks for you (name removed by moderator)ut as well…

However, they don’t kneel…just stand… I lean forward with my head down…but this isn’t my parish anyway,…just something I’ve observed.

 

[porthos11]

What’s this about? If I can’t make mass at my parish I’ll go to St. Paschal’s at a later time…however, they have no kneelers??? I find this very disrespectful to our faith…apparently this is a “Progressive parish.” Has anyone else witnessed this?

Is this a Roman Rite parish? Then kneel anyway. You will be alone, but doing the right thing.

Is this an Eastern Catholic church? Then stand if it is a Sunday.

 

[chaunceygardner]

I am familiar with a few Catholic churches that have no kneelers, including a cathedral. I have noticed even more in Europe, including very old churches, where there are no pews and kneelers, just chairs (or even benches), and the people either sit or stand during the various parts of the Mass. As I recall, people at these churches mostly stand during the times when we are used to kneeling (such as the Eucharistic Prayer) and would sit after receiving communion. Whichever church I happen to be in, I go with the flow and do as the natives do.

 

[L_Marshall]

Yep. When we visted the church with folding chairs, we sat at the end of the row so we could kneel without accidentally shoving the chairs into the people behind us. If memory serves me, we were the only ones to kneel. There might have been one other person.

Good job!

 

[ConstantineTG]

I am familiar with a few Catholic churches that have no kneelers, including a cathedral. I have noticed even more in Europe, including very old churches, where there are no pews and kneelers, just chairs (or even benches), and the people either sit or stand during the various parts of the Mass. As I recall, people at these churches mostly stand during the times when we are used to kneeling (such as the Eucharistic Prayer) and would sit after receiving communion. Whichever church I happen to be in, I go with the flow and do as the natives do.

I wonder though how Roman Catholics would kneel back in the day, if they knelt at all. I remember seeing a scene on a movie back home in the Philippines that depicted a time during the Spanish era (1500s-1800s) and the scene was inside a church. There were a few pews in front for the higher class people of society to sit, but the common man just stood at the back with nothing to sit on. I wonder, did RCs kneel back in the day? Or did they follow the canon of the Council of Nicaea that Sunday prayers are offered standing until recently (give or take a few centuries)?

 

[YoungTradCath]

A kneeler is not required to kneel (for most people), but cultural associations with them do strongly suggest it. In other words, if there are no kneelers and Father doesn’t say something, people probably aren’t going to kneel. It’s as simple as that. The “culture” of the parish will reflect that in that peer pressure will compel a non-kneeling atmosphere.

 

[MissBorgia]

What’s this about? If I can’t make mass at my parish I’ll go to St. Paschal’s at a later time…however, they have no kneelers??? I find this very disrespectful to our faith…apparently this is a “Progressive parish.” Has anyone else witnessed this?

I have heard of churches like that. the one that popped into mind was in Billings, MT.

 

[UncleBill]

So kneel on the floor already! Quit complaining about no kneelers and just kneel!

 

[GangGreen]

I’ve never been to a church without kneelers, but if I’m at a church where I’m standing in the back, I just kneel on the floor. It’s not a big deal to me. I’ve been to churches where the floor would probably be more comfortable for my knees than the kneelers that they have .