Question about posture at Mass

[skatey]

Once a week, Mass is celebrated in our chapel, which has chairs and some pews, but no kneelers. It was my understanding that when there were no kneelers, the proper posture would be to stand during those times when one would be kneelling if there were kneelers.
Some people sit, some stand, and some kneel on the floor. Can anyone direct me to a source that would give me some definite answer? (Knowing that people can kneel or stand if they choose, but is there some teaching or instruction on this issue?)

 

[NHInsider]

I think this is probably in the wrong forum (because it isn’t addressed in Scripture) but if it is, a mod will move it.

The GIRM says we (Latin Rite) should kneel for the Consecration. Different countries have different traditions around this (when to kneel and for how long). In the US the tradition is that we kneel after the “Holy, Holy, Holy” and remain kneeling through the “Through Him, with Him and In Him.” Exception is explicitly given for “good reason” such as (for the whole congregation) space and conditions (such as when you’re at Mass in a park or a gym) or individual condition (if you’re arthritic or sick or otherwise not able to kneel). Standing is the alternative to kneeling, and if a person is standing at the Consecration one should honor the Consecration with a deep bow. Constructing a chapel without kneelers is not considered a good reason, so it would be appropriate to kneel on the floor. Sitting is NOT appropriate (except for medical/disability reasons, obviously).

More details in this brochure.

 

[Mintaka]

1. Yes, it’s totally correct to stand at the sitting times. Sometimes it’s correct to stand during the kneeling times, but really you should kneel if there’s space and you have functional knees.
2. Once upon a time, there were no chairs in church. Those folks stood or sat on the floor at today’s sitting times, and knelt on the floor at kneeling times. (Sometimes on a small portable cushion on the floor.)
3. If you want to be obnoxious and/or follow European tradition, the thing to do with a kneeler-less chair in church is to turn it around and kneel on the seat. You often see this being done, in historical photos. (Which is probably why congregation chairs in European churches were traditionally made of fairly light woods and had softish seats.) You could bring a seat/kneeler cushion for your modern aluminum folding chairs, I suppose, but don’t clobber anybody with a chair.

I’m really sad that I never had seen any pictures of this, back when I was going to churches with chairs. Not being able to kneel really bugged me.