BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

Why do Catholics sit, stand, and kneel throughout the Mass?

The Catholic Church teaches that the liturgy celebrated here on Earth is a participation in the heavenly liturgy. Certain postures, along with other gestures, words, and symbols, allow us to pray with our entire person, body and soul, as we interact with God at Mass.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reinforces this fundamental truth and teaches us that prayer involves our whole being, “Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures, it is the whole man who prays.” (CCC 2562)

Pope Benedict XVI in his book, The Spirit of the Liturgy, dedicates a few pages on the various postures that we take throughout the Mass. Some of the most prominent of these postures include sitting, standing, and kneeling. It can be helpful to reflect upon our movements during the Mass because these can sometimes become routine.

“Sitting,” Pope Benedict XVI explains, “should be at the service of recollection.” When sitting, our bodies are more relaxed and are disposed to hearing and meditating upon the readings, responsorial psalm, and homily.  In a word, we sit to listen.

Conversely, we stand for the Gospel out of reverence for the words of Jesus Christ that are proclaimed. When he is present, the Deacon carries the Book of the Gospels in the entrance procession at Mass, and places it on the altar (a place of prominence) until the Gospel reading.  Finally, the Deacon or Priest always kisses the Book of the Gospels at the conclusion of the proclamation, something that is not done for the other scripture readings. All of these considerations illustrate the great reverence we have for the words of the Gospel and the reason why we stand for their proclamation.

Finally, Pope Benedict XVI explains the significance of kneeling at Mass. In the visions of the heavenly liturgy in the Book of Revelation, the liturgy that we enter into at each and every Mass, the word “proskynein” (Greek for “adoration on one’s knees”) is used to describe the posture of the heavenly host. Just as we participate more fully in the heavenly liturgy by echoing the songs of praise by the hosts of angels (Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts…), so too do we participate more perfectly by mirroring their posture before almighty God.  At every Mass we kneel before our Blessed Lord, the one who we owe our very existence, who is truly present before us in the Eucharist.

The Mass is rich with meaning, every element and gesture represents something profound and beautiful. When we understand these different meanings and take them to heart, each moment we spend during Mass will certainly become more transformative and nourishing to our souls.