www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Kneeling at mass

I have a problem which could be solved by switching Rites, but I like my priest and am spiritually happy at his parish because of the reverence given to the Eucharist. The problem is with my knees. When I was very young I injured one of my knees. I was trying to show off to the girls when I slipped and fell on my right knee. I was in crutches for some time, and then it gave me no problem. That is until a few months ago; it has started to pester me again. Every time I kneel at mass a moment comes when it becomes rather painful.

Is there a way I could show reverence without putting so much pressure on my knee? I have been resting a little on the bench while in a kneeling position. That helps my knees.

Or should I be focusing on the difference between showing reverence and having reverence?

Terry

Your knee problem seems like a legitimate reason not to kneel, why not just kneel for as long as you can and then stand or sit?

The man who had no shoes felt sorry for himself until he met the man who had no feet.

Or perhaps, the woman in the wheelchair.

I am thankful that the Lord has given me pretty good health and joints that work OK, although not quite like a spring chicken anymore.

Perhaps the Lord has me in mind for the vocation of helping other people to stand up and to walk up the stairs. Even harder for some is to walk down the stairs.

There are many who are in your shoes, who face physical limitations as they age.

I think too many of us spend too much time worrying about complying with the rules, and not enough time in gratitude for a good Priest and a faithful Liurgy.

Here I kneel during the Divine Liturgy in three moments: when it is read the Holy Evangelia and when it is read the Creed, then when it is sung Our Father. This regarding the Divine Liturgy.

Sometimes my kneels pain and I stand up. Other people do the same.

The most important is to focus on the words of the Divine Liturgy and bow with your inner heart before Lord Jesus Christ.

There are other Church services, such as the akathist of our Lord (it is a longer service) or the parakleisis of Mot Holy Theotokos. I use to kneel, as all the other souls do. But I cannot stay so long, and I stand up. After a while I kneel again. But always I strive to remember where I am, in the Holy Church, and to be attentive to the service and participate with my heart and mind.

(Psalm 51, 16-17 - KJV)

Also, for the peace of your consciousness, talk to your Father Confessor, explain the trouble and ask blessing not to kneel or kneel less. With measure.

How interesting. This a custom throughout all of Romania or just a specific region? usually standing is a greater homour than kneeling so I am a bit surprised.
In the Ukrainian Orthodox tradition we stand during the Gospel reading, during the chanting of the creed (in unison) and in some parts of Western Ukraine kneel during the Lord's prayer.

Terry you dont need to be legalistic. Just go to the priest of your Latin parish and tell him you have a knee problem and prefer to sit. That simple.
Stephanos I

Father,

I think I will do just that. Sometimes the most basic questions bother me because I do not come from a Catholic family. What would concern me is how my actions before the Eucharist contribute to the spiritual atmosphere.

There are obvious actions which can dampen the prayerfulness, like taking a cell phone call, or talking loudly and socializing before or during mass or divine liturgy. But then there may be subtle actions, like how one dresses, or what one says to the priest before taking the Host (like if they used a Bushism and said, "Right on!"). The subtle actions may not be critical, but when we are in the presence of our Lord and preparing to physically or spiritually partake of the Eucharist, I tend to be careful if in doubt. With a sense of the gravity of the Lord's presence weighing heavily on me, me in my own lowliness, and with the very intimacy of communion, I sometimes I can be concerned over little matters. That said, I come into mass and pray with a deepening joy for graces seen and unseen.

I wish that I could attend a daily mass, but my work schedule does not allow it.

Terry

Terry,

Another possibility is just to lean forward in the pew and rest your elbows on the pew in front of you with hands clasped in prayer.

Joe

Halia,

From what I saw with my eyes, here, near the Danube, or at the Northern monasteries or other zones, people kneel during the Holy Evangelia, the during the creed. Many stay knelt during the epiclesis, then during Our Father.

I do not know an expanded knowledge about all Romania, but here so it is.

Most important is where the heart abides.

M+

Hope you dont think my post was derogatory or negative.
I was just trying to stress, dont worry about it, if you have a legitimate need, I think people and priests will be understanding.
I demand respect at the Eucharistic Sacrifice and I get highly annoyed by those who dont show respect. (Then they get angry with me because I have to rap them on the head.) Most do it in ignorance, I understand that, but then they should graciously receive correction and act accordingly.
You do not know what I go through on a daily basis, in just trying to keep an atmosphere of respect and devotion.
Although I will say that after five years here, things overall have greatly improved, although it takes diligence.
Stephanos I

Father,

I misread your tone, but I do appreciate your advice. You may get along with my priest. He gets rather annoyed in the summer when people come in with shorts, sandals, or revealing tank tops.

The generations are mixed, I try to follow the wiser generations by their good example. One thing they do which not everybody does is wait for our priest to sit down before sitting. At mass half of the parish sits immediately after a prayer, others wait and sit down after the priest sits down. That's a token of respect to our priest, even though I don't believe we are obliged to it.

How do some not show respect?

Terry

With the number of bad knees in my family, I'm borderline paranoid about even the slightest twitch of pain from my knees (and I once injured a knee getting up from a desk . . . and my father didn't want us playing football over knees . . .)

When my knees have been an issue, I've tended to brace myself against the pew to genuflect; this allows my arms to bear my weight instead of the knee. I've also knelt on just the other knee and let my weight be carried by my seat against the pew.

hawk

Father,

Right before the Eucharist, my priest will occasionally, in a reverend yet emphatic manner, announce that this is the most holy part of the Liturgy, and that there should be no talking,(sometimes a problem with children and those who are not receiving) and that all should approach reverendly and prepared...It does work, and has brought a sense of reverence that I have not experienced in all parishes.

Diligence does pay off.

Respectfully,
In Christ our Lord,
Alice

I could make an list which would go on infinitum.
Chewing gum when approaching the holy mysteries, grabbing at them, disrespectful clothing, talking on cell phones. etc.
Terry, waiting to sit until the priest does is not a sign of respect to the priest himself but to Christ of whom he is the alter christus. That is why such things drive me absolutely nuts.
Not because it is disrespectful towards me but Christ. And I find that attitude hard to tollerate.
Stephanos I

Can you imagine a young hispanic man who at the ringing of the bells signaling the consecration to have taken place to say "Pronto". Like he was some Italian answering the phone.
Well I was so incensed that I took the chiborium right with me and stood in front of them and I said, "gentlemen this is a church and such behaviour will NOT be tolerated.

Our priest put a sign on the front doors, it says in large print and with images, "No chewing gum, turn off your cell phones, no such and such dress".

It seems that in the American culture at large, the young are not expected to respect their elders and that many elders do not expect much from the youngins. Public schools too often take the role of parenting. Maybe that has an effect on how young people below the age of 35 behave.

Terry