The great kneeler controversy

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Dear Bizob:

There are no pews in the narthex of St. Peter’s in the Vatican, therefore, no knellers. Maybe in the Bl. Sacrament Chapel where you said you spent a lot of time kneeling.

They put out chairs for the Mass. Check it out next time you see a ceremony on TV.
 
space ghost:
Scripture says every knee shall bend… 👍
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. . . and do you dothat when you come to the words from Philippians 2:10? We do.

And when I am lector at the local senior center, I have to sit up front – and although there are no kneelers because Mass is in the recreation room, I kneel and bow and do everything. The people there tell me they like to see someone “going through the motions” even though they can no longer do it themselves. Every time I see someone younger than I who cannot kneel because of bad knees, or bad back or because they’re a hundred pounds overweight, I thank God for good health and promise to continue kneeling/genuflecting until I can’t do it anymore. As an elderly priest once said in a homily (I think by way of admonition because people were ignoring the tabernacle): “I envy those of you who are still able to genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament.”
 
Mike C:
Dear Bizob:

There are no pews in the narthex of St. Peter’s in the Vatican, therefore, no knellers.
They put out chairs for the Mass.
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So, do the worshippers kneel on the floor, or remain seated?
 
Panis Angelicas:
So, do the worshippers kneel on the floor, or remain seated?
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My experience has been that the congregation actually stands.
 
yes, Panis Angelicus is right. I also attended Mass at St. mark’s in Venice, they stand througout the Mass.

In the Eastern Churches we stand throughout the Liturgy.
 
The when to kneel and when to stand again seems to be up the the Bishops of a local country. Much of Europe stands in places where we in the U.S. kneel.

But if there is a place in the Mass where I am supposed to kneel, in this country, and no kneelers are provided, I try to kneel on the floor. My knees do not always cooperate.
 
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naprous:
Fullsizesedan is totally right about the medieval church and its lack of pews and kneelers. People stood for the mass, and then at the consecration, the most pious among them knelt. The rest didn’t. I’m not sure who invented the pew and/or the kneeler, but it is a relatively modern invention.
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In the summer months when it’s extremely hot, we have Mass in the basement of the church and needless to say we have folding chairs… and no place to kneel,as they are packed in…so everyone sits. My husband & Istand at the concecration are we wrong? I know we stick out like a sore thumb, but isn’t it more reverend than to just remain sitting?
Annunciata:confused:
 
Right - better to stand if you can’t kneel at places where you would normall kneel.
 
Mike C:
Dear Bizob:

There are no pews in the narthex of St. Peter’s in the Vatican, therefore, no knellers. Maybe in the Bl. Sacrament Chapel where you said you spent a lot of time kneeling.

They put out chairs for the Mass. Check it out next time you see a ceremony on TV.
Click to expand...
Sorry to respond so late.

Yes, there are kneelers in the Bl Sacrament Chapel. While you’re right to say that there are no kneelers right in front of the High Altar, there are also no pews there as well (which is why they bring in seating for the big events). However, at many of the side altars in the Basilica there are pews complete with kneelers. So, not to bring it all up again, but I have to say that there are kneelers (where there are pews) at St. Peters.
 
The bishops and pastors who authorized the removal of kneelers from churches should be fired.
 
Loyola:

In response to your first post, I’ll say this:

We have a Church and a chapel. The Church has always had kneelers and they are used.

The chapel wasn’t always the Chapel. It was the auditorium (a school is attached). For years the auditorium had folding chairs and no kneelers. This is how I grew up going to Mass for the most part.

About 10 years ago, the Auditorium was re-done and made into the Chapel. We got kneelers put in. I love kneelers. The only problem is, I can’t kneel properly unless the kneeler behind me is down. If it is up, I have no choice but to do that sit/semi-kneel thing. YUCK!!
 
**Why don’t you tell us how you really feel, Panis Angelicus ?🙂 **

Hope you enjoyed your coffee!
 
space ghost:
Scripture says every knee shall bend… 👍
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**My thought exactly when our DRE told the RCIA people that it really didn’t matter whether they genuflected or not…I was so mad…:mad: **
 
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CD4:
**My thought exactly when our DRE told the RCIA people that it really didn’t matter whether they genuflected or not…I was so mad…:mad: **
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Sometimes kneeling has started to become a problem for me in the long periods and then I have to do the semisit, weight on one knee for a while when the pain is too great. During the consecration and after communion, however, I will suffer the pain and do the full kneeling.

I also can’t genuflect without holding on to the pew for support anymore which means I can’t genuflect and make the sign of the cross at the same time, arghhhhhhhhhhhh – growing old has limitations I’d rather not have.
 
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deogratias:
Sometimes kneeling has started to become a problem for me in the long periods and then I have to do the semisit, weight on one knee for a while when the pain is too great. During the consecration and after communion, however, I will suffer the pain and do the full kneeling.
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It is love. Enjoy it as long as you can.

I also can’t genuflect without holding on to the pew for support anymore which means I can’t genuflect and make the sign of the cross at the same time, arghhhhhhhhhhhh – growing old has limitations I’d rather not have.
http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon3.gifHey! Sit on the left side of the aisle. That way you can hold the end of the pew, cross yourself and genuflect at the same time (unless you need to hold on with both hands!).
 
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pnewton:
Like you, I did this once with my wife! And like you it was only once.
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I am always verry careful where I put my tootsies!

I dislike kneelers that are very plush and comfortable, like in new Novus Ordo renovated churches. I usually go to older buildings anyway, but super-posh kneelers engineered in recent years are so comfortable that I almost figure, hey, where’s the espresso machine here. Can I get a back rub with that?

Incidentally kneelers per se are more recent but the Church respects ecclesiastical traditions – or should do so. Lots of sitting now, in the Novus Ordo. I’d be more impressed if when they took away kneelers they also took away the pews altogether. The changes are always toward laxity, not towards reverence and sacrifice.
 
A ‘true’ Eastern Catholic Church has NO kneelers OR pews!
My church has no kneelers and I’m waiting for the day with no pews either.

go with God!
Edwin
 
I prefer to use the kneelers, especially when there is padding on them.
 
A ‘true’ Eastern Catholic Church has NO kneelers OR pews!
My church has no kneelers and I’m waiting for the day with no pews either.

That’s because you were born in 1961 and not 1933 - let me know if you change your mind in 30 years;)
 
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