According to Abba Apollo, a desert father who lived about 1,700 years ago, the devil has no knees; he cannot kneel; he cannot adore; he cannot pray; he can only look down his nose in contempt. Being unwilling to bend the knee at the name of Jesus is the essence of evil. (Cf. Is 45:23, Rom 14:11) But when we kneel at Jesus’ name, when we bow down in service of others, and when we bend the knee in adoration, we are following in the footsteps of the Magi, we are imitating Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, and all the saints and angels in heaven. Letter of Bishop Thomas Olmsted
Thank you for reminding us all of this.
Great photos too!
This is true and a beautiful post but….
The Council of Nicea stated that at the time of consecration (and/or epiclesis to not debate with the Christian East) that the mandated posture was standing.
Thus, in Eastern Catholic Temples, and Eastern Orthodox (Greek etc), and Oriental Orthodox (non Chalcedon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Armenia etc)–the normative posture for most (with some notable exceptions) is standing and Communion (in both species by intinction) is done standing.
So, standing per se is not bad or wrong.
Also, the Syrian Christians and others (all Orthodox during the Latin liturgy by St. Pope Gregory of the Pre-Sanctified gifts) are supposed to do full prostate bows at certain times (as you see Muslims do), it is also common among the Coptic Christians.
You do not see a lot of full on all four hands and knees (and feet) bows with your head touching the ground anymore.
Just some food for thought.
I love your images.
There’s something so different from what we see and feel today in the communicants we see in these pics; innocence, contentment, something unhurried and respectful. Is not what we see in the faces and bodies, the bearing of believers in pictures like these simply the transforming eternal beauty of the old Mass itself? A semblance of this ethos is once again discernible today wherever the ancient liturgy of Sacrifice is enacted. God bless Benedict XVI. Great pics, sir.
Mark, I know the Easterners bow instead of kneel, and that’s fine for them. But, the Roman rite always knelt to show reverence, and that’s what’s missing from most N.O.’s today, reverence.
For short parishioners with tall priests or vice versa, communion is a lot easier when recieved on the knees.
You know what i like about a kneeling rail? When you receive communion on a kneeling rail you don’t get up right away and run back to your seat you keel for a little while in adoration then get up reverently and go back and kneel. You don’t walk receive communion and walk back, where is the adoration in that where is the respect?
I dont mind the NO mass at all, i would just like 2 changes, all the prayers should be said in Latin and communion should be received kneeling down
love your pictures!
I have some too on my blog!
MARK>>>>”, standing per se is not bad or wrong.”
Dear Mark, the problem with standing, in my American culture, is that it is meaningless–what does it mean? We do it all the time! Would you not agree that at least kneeling has a fervency which standing lacks?…e.g. a suitor pleading with the girl whose heart he wants to win.
He’s going to get her attention!
K. C.