Stand, sit, and kneel

[Jerome1974]

I tried searching through the forums because I can’t believe that I’m the first person to ask this! If someone could send a link, it would be most appreciated.

THE QUESTION: Why do we stand, sit, and kneel at various times during mass? The Eucharistic consecration is pretty obvious, but kneeling when I first walk into the pew is less so. I know there’s a reason for all of the times we stand up, sit down, and kneel down. I just don’t know what they are even though I’m a cradle Catholic.

 

[pianistclare]

I tried searching through the forums because I can’t believe that I’m the first person to ask this! If someone could send a link, it would be most appreciated.

THE QUESTION: Why do we stand, sit, and kneel at various times during mass? The Eucharistic consecration is pretty obvious, but kneeling when I first walk into the pew is less so. I know there’s a reason for all of the times we stand up, sit down, and kneel down. I just don’t know what they are even though I’m a cradle Catholic.

You kneel and say a prayer of thanksgiving when you first arrive at God’s house.
When you go to visit a friend or relative, do you head immediately to the fridge?

Or do you greet them ?

 

[Todd977]

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has a little .pdf document on the various postures during Mass called “Praying with Body, Mind and Voice,” that you might find helpful.

As far as kneeling when you first walk into a pew… Before entering a pew, Catholics typically genuflect as an act of adoration toward Jesus Christ substantially present in the Eucharist reserved in the tabernacle. After entering the pew, Catholics typically kneel, continuing their adoration and/or to pray to prepare for Mass, for example Prayer before Mass. Other examples, here.

 

[ProVobis]

You kneel and say a prayer of thanksgiving when you first arrive at God’s house.

RIght. That was the standard practice back before the 60’s. I don’t see any reason for changing it.

 

[pianistclare]

That was the standard practice back before the 60’s. I don’t see any reason for changing it.

 

[27lw]

Directly stolen from my favorite Internet forum, MusicaSacra Forum:

“Actually, most people of Anglican heritage are born knowing when to stand, sit, and kneel: they are taught from an early age that we stand to praise (as in singing), sit to be instructed (as in preaching), and kneel to pray. It is passing strange that Catholics seem unable do any of these without someone telling them to.”