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CatholicLife
Guest
How come in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church we sit down during the mass , but our Eastern brethren stand up during the whole Divine Liturgy?
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ErichK
Guest
That’s how the early Christians attended services, and the Orthodox have been extremely diligent in maintaining that standing is a tradition of the Church.
Pews weren’t introduced to Churches until the 14th century and weren’t actually implemented into Church architecture until the 15th century.
The Eastern Church ultimately rejected the introduction of pews, while those of us Western Europeans who don’t have feet made of iron, graciously accepted being able to sit.
Pews weren’t introduced to Churches until the 14th century and weren’t actually implemented into Church architecture until the 15th century.
The Eastern Church ultimately rejected the introduction of pews, while those of us Western Europeans who don’t have feet made of iron, graciously accepted being able to sit.
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seanflynn
Guest
Is that “a tradition of the Church,” or “a Tradition of the Church?”
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choy
Guest
they also don’t kneel, but we do
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Patchunky
Guest
This depends on where you live and which of the Eastern Rites you belong to…
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
This is St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic church in Humene, Slovakia, it was built in 1750 and it has pews…:byzsoc:
Byzantine Ruthenian Catholics stand for Divine Liturgy only after the Profession of Faith in the Creed. We do not kneel during the Divine Liturgy… we do sit…
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Cat
Guest
I’m have to say that I’m very grateful that we are allowed to sit during Mass.
Because of my bad knees and ankles, I’m not able to stand for more than about ten minutes at a stretch, and usually I am in pain after that amount of time standing. There are days (humid days) when I am in pain after the opening hymn. I know a lot of people, not just older people, who are unable to stand for more than a few minutes. (It’s a good thing I play piano, isn’t it?!
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I assume that if standing were the norm during Mass, those of us who are unable to stand would be accomodated in various “handicapped” sections. But I would hate to be separated from my husband, family, and friends during the Mass, and I really hate being considered “handicapped.” I’m just unlucky in my body.
In case some of you who know me are wondering, yes, I know that at concerts (rock), people will often stand throughout the concert. When I attend such concerts, my husband brings one of those collapsible chairs (in a bag) so that I will be able to enjoy the concert sitting. Even in a nightclub (concert), I bring my own chair just in case. And when it comes to doing my housework, yes, I now hire a maid. So I’m consistent. When I say I can’t stand for long periods of time, I mean in ALL settings, not just Mass.
Because of my bad knees and ankles, I’m not able to stand for more than about ten minutes at a stretch, and usually I am in pain after that amount of time standing. There are days (humid days) when I am in pain after the opening hymn. I know a lot of people, not just older people, who are unable to stand for more than a few minutes. (It’s a good thing I play piano, isn’t it?!
)I assume that if standing were the norm during Mass, those of us who are unable to stand would be accomodated in various “handicapped” sections. But I would hate to be separated from my husband, family, and friends during the Mass, and I really hate being considered “handicapped.” I’m just unlucky in my body.
In case some of you who know me are wondering, yes, I know that at concerts (rock), people will often stand throughout the concert. When I attend such concerts, my husband brings one of those collapsible chairs (in a bag) so that I will be able to enjoy the concert sitting. Even in a nightclub (concert), I bring my own chair just in case. And when it comes to doing my housework, yes, I now hire a maid. So I’m consistent. When I say I can’t stand for long periods of time, I mean in ALL settings, not just Mass.
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japhy
Guest
While standing for worship is a Jewish tradition and also an Apostolic tradition (Tradition?), it seems that Christian worship early on did involve sitting as well. Perhaps it was more common before buildings dedicated to Christian worship could be constructed?
For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:2-4)
For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:2-4)
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JMJ_coder
Guest
At the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea, Canon 20 stated:
Since there are some who kneel on Sunday and during the season of Pentecost, this holy synod decrees that, so that the same observances may be maintained in every diocese, one should offer one’s prayers to the Lord standing.
The period after the Council of Trent saw the growing usage in Catholic parishes of pews, borrowed from the Protestants. But, many Eastern and Oriental Catholics and Orthodox still follow the canon of Nicea and stand for the entire Liturgy – though, many also have adopted the use of pews.
Since there are some who kneel on Sunday and during the season of Pentecost, this holy synod decrees that, so that the same observances may be maintained in every diocese, one should offer one’s prayers to the Lord standing.
The period after the Council of Trent saw the growing usage in Catholic parishes of pews, borrowed from the Protestants. But, many Eastern and Oriental Catholics and Orthodox still follow the canon of Nicea and stand for the entire Liturgy – though, many also have adopted the use of pews.
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drforjc
Guest
Of course, disciplinary rules, even those promulgated at Ecumenical Councils, are reformable by legitimate Church authority. (I post this just as a preemptory defense against a fairly common attack on the Western Church; that it “violates” Ecumenical Councils.
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PJM
Guest
The sanctuary has become a stage for the priest and his many lay assistants
to perform. So why not applaud? Sitting for instruction
Standing for praise
Kneeling for Worship
Is the theory.
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MarkThompson
Guest
What part of
one should offer one’s prayers to the Lord standing.
didn’t you understand? It seems to me that Church documents used to be penetratingly clear, yet now modernists argue that their own ideas (which they admit are merely “theories”), should supplant Tradition in the liturgy. The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass isn’t a place to try out your latest “theories.”
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5Loaves
Guest
As per Canon 20 First Ecumenical Council of Nicea we do not kneel on Sundays, and during the Pentecost (the fifty days after Easter). However at other times we do kneel and do prostrations, sometimes a great many of both.
We typically sit, often on the floor, during the homily. In some parishes people will sit during the Epistle. Some people sit during the Communion of the clergy.
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diggerdomer
Guest
Different customs, practices. That’s all. Nothing essential.
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diggerdomer
Guest
But of course Roman Catholics in the U.S. DO kneel on Sundays. As Rome requires.
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japhy
Guest
Well, in some places in the US we do.
Some parishes tend to discourage kneeling, but the prescribed posture during the Eucharistic Prayer is kneeling (and in some places, after the Agnus Dei as well).
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diggerdomer
Guest
Yes, that’s what I meant. The GIRM as approved for the U.S. indicates the norm is kneeling for most of the Eucharistic prayer, but there are of course legitimate exceptions. Kneeling following the Agnus Dei is in general the norm, but the GIRM specifically gives the diocesan bishop the authority to determine what posture is appropriate in that diocese (so, a bit “looser” than the norm on posture during the Eucharistic Prayer).Well, in some places in the US we do.
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PJM
Guest
JUST A FYI…
Wen His Emmenence Cardinal Francis george took over Chicago; he was visisting a semminary that had no kneelers in there chapel.
Just prior to leaving he turned to the Prefect and said: “Please have the seminarians KNEEL.” To which the Prefect replied; “but your Emmenence, we have no kneelers,” to which the Good Cardinal replied; “yes, I noticed that”
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diggerdomer
Guest
Well of course kneeling does not DEPEND on the presence of kneelers, but it seems commons sense that if the Church desires kneeling, then kneelers should be provided. Again, this is entirely up to the legislation of the diocesan bishop (local Ordinary). Just as when the rubrics say to sit, it seems reasonable to presume that appropriate seating would be available.JUST A FYI…
Wen His Emmenence Cardinal Francis george took over Chicago; he was visisting a semminary that had no kneelers in there chapel.
Just prior to leaving he turned to the Prefect and said: “Please have the seminarians KNEEL.” To which the Prefect replied; “but your Emmenence, we have no kneelers,” to which the Good Cardinal replied; “yes, I noticed that”
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PJM
Guest
Friend, I think you missed the point which is that we are in the REAL Presence of the God that made us. What is the posture most fitting of God’s presence?
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