Standing on the Pews or kneelers in dirty boots

[yellowbird]

For a good portion of the Mass-going populace, that’s just what you do. Nobody’s ever thought about; I’d wager most people put their dirty shoes on the kneeler, and then kneel their in their own good clothes (at least, my nice khakis go exactly where my feet were).

I’d stop now if I hadn’t looked around during the Gospel last week and noticed that all the kneelers were down, and feet were resting comfortably on them the entire length of the pew. If the whole church is putting their feet there, they obviously don’t have a problem with kneeling where their feet used to be.

I’ve never thought to put my feet up on the kneeler when seated. In fact, when I join someone in a pew who is already seated, if the kneeler is down, I prompty put it UP thinking maybe they’ve forgotten? I never once considered that they may want it down. I find it clumsy/difficult to stand with the kneeler down. Less space, ya know?

 

[shannyk]

I’m just wondering where people on this thread would have knelt had they been at the foot of the cross. I’ve never seen kneelers in any depiction of the Crucifixion? Mary didn’t seem to have any clorox sanitizing wipes in hand?

You know what, there are people in the world who have no Church and no kneelers to kneel on. There are people who go to Church despite the fact that they could be imprisoned or killed for doing so. Could we maybe put things in perspective here? Could we maybe stop being bratty?

A little dirt on your knees?? Really??? Do you not have a washing machine powered by electricity that you are blessed with having, that washes your clothes with clean water that many of the world don’t even have to drink let alone wash their precious stockings?

Look, I don’t disagree with teaching children manners and proper etiquette especially when it comes to mass, but children DO these things, whether they are taught manners or not. Parent’s being the humans beings they are, can’t catch every little infraction.

Why are people so bent on assuming the worst of every parent who’s kid isn’t perfectly behaved? Should this type of mentality come from a Church where children are to be cherished and welcome and encouraged?

I think people need to put their money where their mouths are.

And what ever happened to bearing wrongs patiently?

Look, if you live where it snows, and rains, and is muddy, and you KNOW this is an issue and will be despite shoveling, or fabric choices on kneelers, why not just tuck a cloth in your purse or pocket and wipe the kneeler when you take your place in the pew before mass?

Does it really have to become a holy war against parents who are trying to do their best?

 

[maryjk]

I’ve never thought to put my feet up on the kneeler when seated. In fact, when I join someone in a pew who is already seated, if the kneeler is down, I prompty put it UP thinking maybe they’ve forgotten? I never once considered that they may want it down. I find it clumsy/difficult to stand with the kneeler down. Less space, ya know?

Except in our church, the kneelers in the front pew don’t go up. They stay down. They are also covered with some kind of leatherette. Easy to clean.

I have always allowed my son to stand on the kneelers. Well not now, he is taller than I am. But while he was young. We also tried to be in the front, but that is not always possible. When it wasn’t possible, he stood on the kneeler.

Sometimes it is not easy to just pick up the child. Even when you have just one. When you have more than one or two, I don’t know what you do. And there may be plenty of children that can sit through Mass in the back row, just listening, but that doesn’t mean that you can expect all children to do that.

 

[samcarter14]

I’m just wondering where people on this thread would have knelt had they been at the foot of the cross. I’ve never seen kneelers in any depiction of the Crucifixion? Mary didn’t seem to have any clorox sanitizing wipes in hand?

You know what, there are people in the world who have no Church and no kneelers to kneel on. There are people who go to Church despite the fact that they could be imprisoned or killed for doing so. Could we maybe put things in perspective here? Could we maybe stop being bratty?

A little dirt on your knees?? Really??? Do you not have a washing machine powered by electricity that you are blessed with having, that washes your clothes with clean water that many of the world don’t even have to drink let alone wash their precious stockings?

Look, I don’t disagree with teaching children manners and proper etiquette especially when it comes to mass, but children DO these things, whether they are taught manners or not. Parent’s being the humans beings they are, can’t catch every little infraction.

Why are people so bent on assuming the worst of every parent who’s kid isn’t perfectly behaved? Should this type of mentality come from a Church where children are to be cherished and welcome and encouraged?

I think people need to put their money where their mouths are.

And what ever happened to bearing wrongs patiently?

Look, if you live where it snows, and rains, and is muddy, and you KNOW this is an issue and will be despite shoveling, or fabric choices on kneelers, why not just tuck a cloth in your purse or pocket and wipe the kneeler when you take your place in the pew before mass?

Does it really have to become a holy war against parents who are trying to do their best?

:bowdown2: :yup:

 

[Black_Dog]

just last week I noticed a group of elderly women were sitting with their feet on the kneelers…I’m appalled…how dare they…I shall write a letter of complaint to their Mother Superior!

 

[Graubo3]

Look, I don’t disagree with teaching children manners and proper etiquette especially when it comes to mass, but children DO these things, whether they are taught manners or not.

Why are people so bent on assuming the worst of every parent who’s kid isn’t perfectly behaved?

Thanks shannyk!

I personally really needed to see the back and forth with concerns to the OP. Thanks all of you sincerely. I am a former kneeler stander that has been trying to get my almost 5year old son to be more respectful and mannerly during Mass (he can be a small cyclone at times). I have expected him to behave much like his older siblings did when they were his age and 90% of the time he does. He dislikes going to Mass and I am just thinking that maybe its because of me and sometimes worrying too much about what other people think. I needed this during Lent.

Peace, Graubo

 

[zab]

Even the kids who sit in the back don’t stand on the kneelers. I just used that family as an example since it has a good number of kids. Around here the front at the OF is the last part to fill up.

 

[zab]

yellowbird;4926719**:

I’ve never thought to put my feet up on the kneeler when seated.

In fact, when I join someone in a pew who is already seated, if the kneeler is down, I prompty put it UP thinking maybe they’ve forgotten? I never once considered that they may want it down. I find it clumsy/difficult to stand with the kneeler down. Less space, ya know?

You must have longer legs than some of us shorter people with back problems.

 

[Jennifer_J]

I’ve never thought to put my feet up on the kneeler when seated. In fact, when I join someone in a pew who is already seated, if the kneeler is down, I prompty put it UP thinking maybe they’ve forgotten? I never once considered that they may want it down. I find it clumsy/difficult to stand with the kneeler down. Less space, ya know?

Maybe you should ask them if they mind from now on…

 

[psr13]

I’ve never thought to put my feet up on the kneeler when seated. In fact, when I join someone in a pew who is already seated, if the kneeler is down, I prompty put it UP thinking maybe they’ve forgotten? I never once considered that they may want it down. I find it clumsy/difficult to stand with the kneeler down. Less space, ya know?

Maybe you should sit in a row where it has been left up instead. Most people leave it down because they don’t want to have to be putting it down and back up and down during Mass.

 

[Lujack]

Maybe you should sit in a row where it has been left up instead. Most people leave it down because they don’t want to have to be putting it down and back up and down during Mass.

My one pet peeve with the otherwise beautiful Masses at my high school: idiots slamming the kneelers down because they thought it was funny. It didn’t take that many to produce a racket. It was incredibly annoying, so I knew a lot of people who did keep their kneelers down from the beginning so the idiots wouldn’t be able to see how loud they could get at the consecration.

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

Better bring some wipes with you if you ever go to my parents’ church. There are numerous flocks of wild geese flying around there, and the sidewalks are simply a minefield of goose poo. It isn’t alway just snow or mud on the kneelers.

I only ever stood on the kneelers once. The pew I was sitting in and the one in front of it had been pushed too close together, and with the kneeler down, there just wasn’t enough floor space for my big feet. I took off my shoes and stood on the kneeler in my socks (put the shoes back on to walk up for Communion, though).

 

[yellowbird]

Maybe you should ask them if they mind from now on…

I will ask from now on for sure. I feel badly that I didn’t think of it before… like I said, it never occured to me that the person sitting in the pew next to me actually WANTED it down. I honestly thought, "oh look… she forgot to put it up… here, I’ll take care of that… "

After reading this thread, I can totally appreciate why some would want them down… ie: short person w/ back problems or whatever the case may be? No big deal - fine by me.

shannyk, LOVED your post…

 

[ac_claire]

I’ve rested my feet on the kneelers before just out of comfort. And my 73 year old dad who is disabled and has a bum leg has done the same. Of course the fact that we’ve done it doesn’t make it right. World doesn’t revolve around us…

But seriously, muddy wet feet all over the kneelers…? Come on, that’s just rude! Those kneelers are for kneeling, people usually wearing their Sunday best suits and skirts and stockings and even bare legs. They shouldn’t have to get their clothes dirty because some people refused to keep their dirty shoes off the furniture! LOL that’s just my :twocents: …

 

[Malkin71]

I live in an area where in the wintertime most people wear boots or galoshes into the sanctuary because the ground outside is either covered with snow or it is muddy and wet. Frequently people allow their children to stand on the pews or the kneelers in wet, muddy boots. This means that the next person who uses this space will either get wet or dirty. Is it ever permissible to ask someone politely to not do this, or should one simply resign oneself to mopping up the mess with a clean handkerchief before sitting down?

I would say it is up to the ushers or the Priest to mention it. Talk to the Priest. If he feels uncomfortable, mention it in the bullitin or as a brief announcement at the end of Mass.

 

[centurionguard]

I’ve never thought to put my feet up on the kneeler when seated. In fact, when I join someone in a pew who is already seated, if the kneeler is down, I prompty put it UP thinking maybe they’ve forgotten? I never once considered that they may want it down. I find it clumsy/difficult to stand with the kneeler down. Less space, ya know?

Having formerly served as Sacristan and Caretaker of my home Parish for over ten years I have had to repair numerous kneelers in the church. With a beautiful hard sandstone Gothic styled Catholic Church over a hundred eighteen years old built in 1888 it takes it toll even with the church having undertaken two major renovations with the first in 1965 sadly removing and trashing the beautiful high alter and Tabernacle and the grand Ambo that the priest had climb a small spiral staircase to proclaim the Gospel. Beautiful majestic statues 10 feet high of Jesus, Mary and some of the saints. Beautiful angels flanking both sides the Main Alter in adoration. All lassoed torn down destroyed and trashed. This all done to prepare way for the Novus Ordo Mass. Second major renovation in 2003 to mainly address a new floor and carpeting for the Sanctuary and repairing the pews and all kneelers and refurbishing a complete overhaul of a 1935 world renown Casavant Pipe Organ. Even after the major renovation in 2003 I was still repairing Kneelers on a weekly basis. Kneelers are made to kneel not footrests. But good Catholics will be human.