Standing/ kneeling in mass.

msdemena

Not sure if posting this query in right forum but I was at a funeral mass with a friend who has mobility issues and he cannot do all the standing up kneeling etc so he just remained seated, he has mentioned before that he feels conspicuous when everyone else is up and down so I stayed seated beside him so he wasn't alone. Is this acceptable in the church? I'm not normally a church goer nor am I religous so don't really know what the etiquette is but I did get a few dirty looks when all else were kneeling. Would this be considered an insult? Would not like to cause offense.

alex73

msdemena wrote: »

Not sure if posting this query in right forum but I was at a funeral mass with a friend who has mobility issues and he cannot do all the standing up kneeling etc so he just remained seated, he has mentioned before that he feels conspicuous when everyone else is up and down so I stayed seated beside him so he wasn't alone. Is this acceptable in the church? I'm not normally a church goer nor am I religous so don't really know what the etiquette is but I did get a few dirty looks when all else were kneeling. Would this be considered an insult? Would not like to cause offense.

Believe me, when you are at mass, if you are really at Mass, that last thing people will be looking at it what other people are doing. Honor Christ in your heart, don't heed others.

There is not etiquette for a Person who is sick... I think your friend is amazing for making the effort to go to mass, It can't be easy, He is more than welcome in any state.

Robert ninja

I find it's very easy to cause offence and make others uncomfortable in church. I am not a christian at all but I love churches for their beauty and find myself very content when in them... but not as much at mass times. My christian friend cannot go to church anymore because she just gets too many odd stares... as do I. She is judged on her appearance... she has a nice dress sense in my opinion... but regular church goers don't like it. She's still a christian but thinks she might be the only true christian left on earth because she finds all the ones at her local church judge everyone... and that's not what Jesus thought. Her words.

Beause I only go into churches for the physical space its self... I don't partake in any rituals... but I haven't gotten much attention for that so far seeing as how I've very rarely done it and I sit in the back.

ISAW

Robert ninja wrote: »

I find it's very easy to cause offence and make others uncomfortable in church. I am not a christian at all but I love churches for their beauty and find myself very content when in them... but not as much at mass times. My christian friend cannot go to church anymore because she just gets too many odd stares... as do I. She is judged on her appearance... she has a nice dress sense in my opinion... but regular church goers don't like it. She's still a christian but thinks she might be the only true christian left on earth because she finds all the ones at her local church judge everyone... and that's not what Jesus thought. Her words.

Beause I only go into churches for the physical space its self... I don't partake in any rituals... but I haven't gotten much attention for that so far seeing as how I've very rarely done it and I sit in the back.

the whole kneeling idea is about veneration of the blessed sacrement. To that end it begins after the Sanctus at the Eucharistic Prayer i.e. the consecration, when the priest closes his hands and places them over the chalice

http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm#Eucharist

Can. 930 ß1 A priest who is ill or elderly, if he is unable to stand, may celebrate the eucharistic Sacrifice sitting but otherwise observing the liturgical laws; he may not, however, do so in public except by permission of the local Ordinary.


People stand for the Lords Prayer and then usually kneel again just before communion. I think this may be because of the requirement for
[90.] “The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined”, with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. “However, if they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that they give due reverence before the reception of the Sacrament, as set forth in the same norms”.[176]

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

If you don't have a seat or somewhere to kneel try bowing when the host or chalice is raised aloft.

tenchi-fan

It was fine for your friend to remain seated. For example, someone in a wheelchair would not be expected to stand or kneel either.
You, on the other hand, probably should have stood/knelt when everyone else did.

Robert ninja

@ISAW

Did you mean to quote me, or the OP? Because what you responded with sounded it like it was for the OP.