Kneeling is a common posture for prayer and worship in many religions, including Catholicism. Kneeling is seen as a sign of humility, reverence, and submission before God. Many Catholics choose to kneel during certain prayers and parts of the Mass as a way to show devotion. However, kneeling is not always required and there are times when standing or sitting is more appropriate. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Catholic practices around kneeling and prayer.
When Do Catholics Kneel for Prayer?
Here are some of the common times when Catholics kneel during prayer or worship:
- During the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass
- While receiving Communion
- During Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- During the Angelus or other Marian prayers
- During parts of the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- While praying privately, such as at a kneeler in church or at home
Kneeling is seen as especially appropriate during the most solemn parts of the Mass and when receiving Christ in the Eucharist. It is also commonly practiced during Eucharistic Adoration as a sign of reverence in the presence of the exposed Blessed Sacrament.
Many Catholics also choose to kneel when praying privately as a posture of humility. This can be done at a kneeler or pew in church, or kneeling by the bedside at home. Some Catholics kneel and/or prostrate fully during personal prayer as a profound act of reverence and surrender to God.
When Do Catholics Stand or Sit During Prayer?
While kneeling is common in many Catholic prayers, there are also times when standing or sitting is more appropriate:
- During certain parts of the Mass, such as the Introductory Rites, the Gospel reading, and from the praying of the Our Father through the end of Communion
- While singing certain hymns or acclamations during Mass
- If needed due to health conditions that make kneeling difficult
- During less formal prayers, such as communal Rosary before Mass
- During Bible studies, prayer meetings, or catechetical sessions
Standing is seen as an attitude of respect and attentiveness. Sitting can also be appropriate for periods of communal prayer or learning. Those who are unable to kneel due to age, infirmity, or other conditions are not expected to do so.
What Does the Church Teach About Kneeling for Prayer?
The Catholic Church encourages kneeling as a posture of reverence but does not mandate it in all cases. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:
A common bodily posture, to be observed by all those taking part, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered together for the Sacred Liturgy, for it expresses the intentions and spiritual attitude of the participants and also fosters them. (no. 42)
The document goes on to explain the times when kneeling is appropriate during Mass. It clarifies that other postures like standing may be used based on local custom or other circumstantial reasons.
In 1967, the Congregation for Divine Worship provided guidelines stating that kneeling is prescribed during certain times of the Mass and appropriate at other times, but that there is freedom to stand or sit when it is not prescribed.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church also acknowledges kneeling as a reverent posture of prayer but does not require it absolutely:
Bodily posture is not a matter of indifference, but is regulated by the liturgy for the sake of communicating meaning. Hence a common posture during communal prayer, among those taking part, is a sign of the unity of the community. It also “expresses the hierarchical ordering of the community” and calls each member to “his or her place.” The common postures are standing, kneeling, sitting, symbolic prostration—depending on the part of the Mass, local custom according to regions and occasions, and the liturgical season. (no. 1387)
So while kneeling has strong traditional meaning, the Church grants freedom to stand or sit based on various pastoral needs. Individual Catholics are also free to choose their own prayer posture unless a certain posture is prescribed for that specific occasion.
Exceptions to Kneeling for Health Reasons
As mentioned, Catholics who are unable to kneel due to health problems or age are not required or expected to do so. Options like sitting or standing with a reverent attitude are perfectly acceptable in these cases.
Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged these exceptions in a sermon on kneeling in prayer:
The knee can bend, certainly, on one’s own initiative, to show adoration to the Lord, but it cannot be imposed by a synod decree. I declared after all, in St Peter’s Basilica, that orders of this kind are contrary to conscience and must be rejected. Thus, even after the Synod, each person and each community remains free to adapt the liturgical norms to their personal spiritual needs.
So while kneeling is valued in Catholic tradition, pastoral sensitivity requires accommodating various needs and limitations.
Kneeling as an Ancient Act of Reverence
Kneeling or prostration as a posture of prayer and worship has been used for thousands of years in religions around the world. In the Bible, figures like Solomon (1 Kings 8), Daniel (Daniel 6:10), and Jesus himself (Luke 22:41) are described as kneeling to pray.
Saint Augustine wrote of kneeling: “It symbolizes humility before God.” Other early Christian writers like Tertullian also commented on kneeling for Sunday worship.
There is evidence that kneeling was practiced in public worship by some Christians as early as the 3rd century. Kneeling gained even more prominence after Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the 4th century.
Over time, kneeling came to be prescribed in the West at certain high points of the liturgy like the consecration of the Eucharist. It serves as an important physical symbol of inner reverence.
Regional and Cultural Differences
While kneeling is common in Western Catholicism, practices vary in other areas:
- In many Eastern Catholic Churches, the normal posture for prayer and liturgy is standing, though kneeling may be used during more penitential seasons.
- In cultures where sitting on the floor is more common, sitting cross-legged may take the place of kneeling.
- In parts of Africa and Spanish-speaking countries, many Catholics squat with knees partly bent rather than kneel.
Local customs regarding posture are accepted and accommodated. What matters most is the interior attitude, not uniformity of outward signs. As Pope Francis has said, “Everyone prays as they know how.”
Kneeling vs. Standing in Modern Times
In recent decades, there has been some controversy in the Catholic Church over kneeling vs. standing at certain times during Mass. Traditionally, kneeling was very common during the Eucharistic Prayer and after receiving Communion. But after the Second Vatican Council, many places built churches without kneelers and adopted the practice of standing after Communion.
For some Catholics, especially those of a more traditionalist outlook, this shift away from kneeling seemed problematic. They saw it as downplaying reverence for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
In the 2000s, Pope Benedict XVI expressed support for bringing back kneeling where it had been lost. However, he also affirmed freedom in this area:
Where kneeling and standing together are authorized, the liturgical community must decide. I considered it important at least to make permission for both ways… so that the inner truth of the liturgy in its beauty is also lived outwardly and made visible.
Many parishes today provide a mix of options, with some Masses utilizing more kneeling and others more standing. Both postures remain valid ways of participating, as long as the inward reverence is present.
Kneeling as an Individual Choice
For Catholics who kneel as part of their private prayer life, doing so is very meaningful but not always easy. Kneeling for extended periods can be challenging physically. Some employ small cushions or pillows to make it more comfortable. Ultimately, interior devotion matters more than amount of time spent in the posture.
Some choose to kneel facing a crucifix, image of Christ or a saint, or other religious symbol as a visual focal point. Lighting candles and meditating on Scripture are other accompaniments. This can create an intimate space for encountering God.
When sickness, age, or disability make kneeling impossible, simply doing what one can with reverence suffices. God reads the intentions of the heart more than outward acts.
Does Kneeling Mean Catholics Worship Saints and Mary?
A common misconception is that kneeling before statues or images in church signifies worship of the saints or Mary. But Catholics are adamant that adoration belongs to God alone.
Kneeling before sacred images is meant as a sign of high respect, not worship. The Catechism explains:
The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment…[it] is respectful veneration, not adoration, which is known as latria and that worship which is due to God alone. (no. 2132)
When honoring an image or saint, Catholics direct their worship Godwards. Similar to how a medal or photo of a loved one evokes their memory and presence, sacred images remind Catholics of the holy ones depicted and their role in salvation history. Veneration of images has been practiced since earliest Christianity.
Kneeling as a Sign of Repentance
Kneeling is also traditionally part of the sacrament of Confession. Catholics kneel or sit while confessing sins to a priest, then kneel for the words of absolution. Kneeling symbolizes humility and contrition before God, who forgives through the priest.
At penitential services that do not include individual confession, communal kneeling may occur after an examination of conscience and general prayer of repentance. Kneeling punctuates the desire for God’s mercy.
Patron Saints of Kneeling in Prayer
Some Catholic saints specially honored kneeling in prayer through their lives and writings:
- Saint Alphonsus Liguori: This 18th century bishop and founder of the Redemptorists wrote extensively on prayer and advocated kneeling as an attitude of reverence.
- Saint Teresa of Avila: The great 16th century mystic and Doctor of the Church experienced deep prayer experiences while kneeling for hours.
- Saint Josemaría Escrivá: This 20th century Spanish priest who founded Opus Dei showed great devotion to kneeling at Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.
- Saint Faustina Kowalska: Known for spreading devotion to Divine Mercy, Faustina knelt for hours despite illness and received visions of Jesus while praying.
Their personal examples inspire Catholics today to appreciate the value of kneeling. However, kneeling remains optional, not a requirement.
Famous Prayers Often Said Kneeling
Certain Catholic prayers commonly elicit the posture of kneeling, including:
- The doxology during the Eucharistic Prayer: “Through him, with him, in him…”
- Receiving Communion: “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof…”
- The Angelus: “The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.”
- The Salve Regina: “Hail Holy Queen, mother of mercy…”
- The Anima Christi: “Soul of Christ, sanctify me…”
- The Litany of the Saints: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.”
- The Act of Contrition: “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.”
Kneeling helps focus the mind and adds weight to these beloved prayers. But standing or sitting for them, if needed, is perfectly valid.
Kneeling to Receive a Blessing or Honor
Kneeling is part of some special blessings and ceremonies:
- During a bishop’s ordination, he prostrates as the Litany of the Saints is sung over him.
- At a priestly ordination, the new priests kneel before their bishop who lays hands on their head.
- When receiving ashes on one’s forehead on Ash Wednesday.
- When having hands anointed with chrism during Confirmation.
- When receiving a knighthood or other special honor from royalty or Church authorities.
This kneeling signifies humility and openness to the grace and mission being bestowed.
Kneeling in Other Faith Traditions
Kneeling holds significance in both Christian and non-Christian religions:
- In Islam, kneeling and prostrating while praying (salat) shows submission to Allah.
- In Judaism, kneeling may occur during confession of sins, during the concluding service at Yom Kippur, and as a sign of honour or gratitude.
- Hindu and Buddhist worship often includes kneeling with hands pressed together and head bowed.
- Many Protestant and Evangelical churches utilize kneeling rails at which to kneel and pray.
This shared bodily posture points to a common instinct across faiths – to lower oneself inwardly and outwardly before the Almighty in humility.
Kneeling Toward Unity Among Christians
Despite differences in theology and liturgy, a return to kneeling could provide unity and moral strength for the broader Christian community in an increasingly secular culture. Pope Benedict XVI spoke of kneeling as a place for reconciliation between Christians:
We cannot kneel before the Lord’s presence without implicitly doing something more. We bring the world’s sufferings to him…We stand for the world, bringing its troubles to the Lord’s presence. Kneeling before the Lord is always an expression of our freedom. We are free to kneel. Then there are cultural reasons; each culture must also learn the correct expression of reverence for the Lord.
Regardless of Christian denomination, choosing to kneel together in shared prayer spaces could be a powerful witness of faith to a world that desperately needs moral courage and hope.
Conclusion
Kneeling has profound meaning in Catholic spirituality as a posture of adoration, contrition, dedication, and supplication before God. Rich in symbolism, kneeling facilities inner and outer reverence.
However, the Church grants freedom based on health, culture, architecture, and local preference. Standing and sitting are also valid liturgical postures. What matters most is not physical position but the disposition of the heart.
Whether kneeling, standing, or sitting, humility and receptivity before God bring Catholics of all states of life closer to Christ. Through Him and in Him alone comes salvation.
