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LucyP
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Do you always, usually, or only at church? In my pre-Catholic days kneeling was seen as "papist" or "high", and while now I do love to kneel I'm not sure how to make it work in the home. I end up feeling I'm going to topple over, and so often I pray with a baby or toddler on my lap, or interspersed with scripture study, and getting up and down feels contrived. Also I have no idea how to kneel for a whole rosary without spending the last two decades thinking about the shooting pains in my knees. Any tips or advice?
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Maryan
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This is when we kneel:
In our home, my dh always kneels for the rosary (unless he's walking a fussy baby). I rarely kneel because I've been either pregnant or nursing a baby! We don't make our kids kneel, but many want to be "just like Dad." Some prefer to snuggle with Mom too.
If we go to into a Church, we always start our visit (whether it be before Mass, for just a visit or for a holy hour) by kneeling. We don't spend the entire time kneeling.
I'd like to go back to implementing kneeling down and saying a prayer before getting into bed... but we don't have any rugs, so I haven't done it yet!! 
You do build up "kneeling" muscles... but I'm wimpy -- if I'm in pain, I tend to sit down.
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Maryan
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nissag
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We don't feel we have to kneel either. We do require some kind of reverent posture, sitting is fine, but no lolling. Standing is also fine, and walking. Bowed heads are encouraged, and either folded arms or 'prayer hands'.
I have arthritis and kneeling is, at times, very uncomfortable. If kneeling is somehow a distraction from your prayer, then don't do it. The aim is for you to focus on Him, not to practice postures.
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Nissa
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Helen
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LucyP wrote:
| Also I have no idea how to kneel for a whole rosary without spending the last two decades thinking about the shooting pains in my knees. Any tips or advice? |
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A Missionary of Charity told me
once kneeling don't move your knees again.
This helps to prevent kneeling pain.
(They kneel for a long time on the bare floor.)
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Ave Maria!
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Cay Gibson
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I was taught to kneel when praying as a child. I remember when I began to pray while not kneeling. I often worried if I'd go to hell for not kneeling. 
Through the years, I have come to believe firmly in the "pray without ceasing" mindset. Offering your daily duties up as prayer, doing the morning offering while fixing your hair, praying while standing around the Advent wreath, praying whenever I read an online novena or prayer request while sitting in the computer chair, etc.
Typing this makes me realize what a "multi-tasking while praying" mindset that it. Not sure I want that. 
But---I can argue---if I didn't do it that way, so often prayers wouldn't get done. I certainly don't want that to happen!
I also remember, as a small child, a kindly priest telling us to talk to God as we talk to our friends even if we feel more comfortable talking to him at night in our bed. He told us to focus on God at the end of our day and that God probably liked those heart-felt one-on-one prayers better than any rote prayers we could say.
I still prefer to "talk" to God in bed after the lights are out, my book has been closed, and my husband slumbers next to me. And I can't think of any prayer sweeter and more heart-felt than the one done by thousands of mothers while nursing their infant in a rocking chair in the middle of the night. 
I also think of all the little old Cajun ladies I've heard about who spend hours in their beds or recliners reciting the rosary. Just them and the rosary in their lap.
But, getting back to your question and us Catholic ladies who are not bedridden...yet  ...
Do I kneel at home?
Not usually, though I should make it my 2008 resolution to redeem this. Why? Why? though I feel most comfortable while sitting in the chair in my room, or in bed at night, or while reading spiritual reading, or while offering up my daily tasks while zooming through my day?
Partly because of that multi-tasking approach I was just talking about. I think, when praying, we aren't suppose to be "multi-tasking". I have no doubt it's okay to be changing a diaper and praying or vacuuming and praying or spreading peanut butter on bread while praying; but sometimes praying should be exempt from multi-tasking.
Sometimes praying should be us and God...no diapers, no vacuums, no peanut butter.
I usually find that special time in my weekly Adoration hour. But at home...
I'll tell you why I think we should look for opportunities to kneel at home...and, yes, I need to practice what I preach.
I remember seeing my parents kneel together in prayer. While that simple statement might not speak volumes, the image taught me volumes. While I may have forgotten that in my teen-twenty-thirty years, the memory has come back to me in my forty years. And it's a cherished memory of mine.
Often, when my children escape some marginal danger or do something that makes me proud or they make a good decision or they do anything that makes me think "Gosh, I'm such a good parent!", I catch myself and say, "Wait a minute. It isn't me at all. It's God. It's God and His blessings on me and my family. It's God and His mercy." And, while thinking of countless prayers offered before the grandchild were even a figment of our imgination, there's a very good chance it's all those countless prayers said by their grandparents on bended knee that has protected us all and kept us in the faith."
The memory of my parents kneeling in prayer has given me the comfort that only a small child can feel in the knowledge that home and love are nearby. Whether you had this comfort as a young child or not, it's a comfort you can now extend to your children.
I have a friend who remembers when her father went through a conversion. She remembers to this day seeing him on the bathroom floor in tears and on his knees. She said the image had a profound impact on her.
I also recall reading two other fine examples of fathers on their knees in prayer. I don't have time to research and retype them but one was a memory by Pope JPII of his father praying at the bed on his knees and the other one was written by St. Therese, the Little Flower, about seeing her father in prayer.
One of them wrote how all they ever needed to know about praying was learned in that one saintly image of a parent upon their knees.
I would like my children to remember me in that way. I really would...
But...If you can only kneel for one decade of the rosary I say "Bravo!" Do so. But never feel guilty for the times you have to sit. Tis better to pray and multi-task than to never pray at all.
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Cay Gibson
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Maryan
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Cay that was beautiful.
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Maryan
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hylabrook1
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Wow, Cay! What a beautiful way to evangalize those nearest and dearest to us. Thank you for sharing these thoughts.
Peace,
Nancy
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Rachel May
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Wow, Cay! I almost hesitate to add my thoughts here.
On the practical side, we do kneel when we pray at home, but find that having a kneeler like experience helps quite a bit. We kneel against a bed or the sofa which helps with balance. I believe the O'Haras in Gone with the Wind used kitchen chairs.
With pregnancy and nursing, I have to be careful about fainting when kneeling, but I always try to start kneeling and then lean back or sit if I must. I prefer to kneel on the floor at church instead of on the kneeler. I try to do it as a small sacrifice that I offer up, but also my pregnant body fits better that way.
On the thoughtful side, I've always liked this from CS Lewis' Screwtape Letters
"At the very least [human beings] can be
persuaded that their bodily position makes
no difference to their prayers; for they
constantly forget what you [Wormwood, a demon] must
always remember, that they are animals and
whatever their bodies do affects their souls."
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Angie Mc
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Tip: Consider kneeling during prayer as habit formation. Start small and build up. For example, choose one short prayer (or part of a longer prayer) that you say daily already, and kneel during it. For example, we say a daily Memorare for special intentions during our morning prayers at the breakfast table. We say other prayers first, then when we get to the Memorare, we kneel.
Thanks, all, for your contributions here.
Love,
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Erin
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Cay
That was incredible! Like Rachel I hesitate to add.
But I want to share a comment made to me by a good priest. This was a conversation involving my dc. He told us that the outward signs help the interior reflection.
The outward gestures, the sign of the cross, the genuflection and yes kneeling etc. help to focus us.
Now my dd14 argues (simply because she enjoys debate ) that you can be participating outwardly and your interior is not genuine. This is true, however a continual outward expression does help the interior.
On a practical note, Angie's tip is good advice, kneeling will feel contrived for you at first Lucy as it is something new for you.
Thank you for sharing your journey here with us, I feel honoured that you do so.
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Angie Mc
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Erin wrote:
Now my dd14 argues (simply because she enjoys debate ) that you can be participating outwardly and your interior is not genuine. This is true, however a continual outward expression does help the interior.
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Excellent point...gotta love having teens in the home:).
I wasn't raised with any kneeling at home. Kneeling was only done at Mass. Even when I wasn't practicing my faith, I can remember falling to my knees at my most difficult times. Has anyone else noticed that they naturally fall to their knees when they are really suffering? I do.
Love,
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Angie Mc
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Natalia
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We don't kneel during our family prayer time. We pray in the morning immediately after the kids get up, so they are usually sleepy at the beginning and they tend to want to lay down. I require they sit up when we pray but allow them to lay down when I do our spiritual reading.
When I pray on my own I sit on the couch facing our Divine Mercy picture. I pray best when I read or write so I do that. I usually reserve kneeling (at home) for intense situations- or moments of intense adoration.
As a family we do kneel during lent, at the appropriate times when we do the Stations of the Cross at home or if we say a prayer in front of the crucifix.
Natalia
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Servant2theKing
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Kneeling in our home for prayer is rather sporadic, but your words Cay have rekindled a hope I once had of designing "Catholic" dining chairs, with a kneeler beneath that could fold out from the rear...the back of the chair serving as a resting place for praying hands. A pocket under the seat for prayerbooks and rosaries would be ideal. Oh, dreams of "Kneeler Chairs for the Domestic Church" are dancing in my head!
I am newly inspired by this thread to embrace Phillipians 2:10, "at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."
What a blessed time of year to connect our heartfelt prayers with the holy action of humbling ourselves before the Lord to worship and praise Him! When we as Catholics kneel we are united with Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds and Wise Men of old in adoring our Saviour and our King! During this sacred season may the entire world bow down in supplication and adoration before the Lord of Lords. Imagine every family here kneeling before the Nativity this Christmas and praying for all the intentions we hold dear in our hearts! Oh, come, let us adore Him...Christ the Lord!
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Kneeling for prayer?
