When people enter church and go in, why do they kneel on their left or right leg before they sit down or start

Question

When people enter church and go in, why do they kneel on their left or right leg before they sit down or start praying? im still learning. so yah

Answer 1

We Catholics & a few other Christian denominations do that. You see, Our Lord Jesus Christ Is Literally Present in the Blessed Sacrament(The Bread & the Wine), so we pay Him Homage by genuflecting(kneeling)before Him.

Answer 2

I think the term is "genuflect".

Mostly, it is "bending the knee". It is sowing reverence for a monstrance, or a "tabernacle" with the Sacrament in it OR for showing a cross prominently displayed at the front of the Church.

I think it does differ some, whether it is Roman Catholic, Episcopal, etc. ... don't hesitate to ask someone there since you are "still learning".

As to whether it is the left or the right knee/leg ...don't know, might depend on which side of you the pew is, or in the case of some, which knee has more arthritis, etc.

Answer 3

In the Catholic Church after the Mass there is usually extra consecrated Hosts (The wafers that have been turned into the Body and Blood of Jesus). These extra Hosts are reserved in the Tabernacle to be available to the sick and the dieing. When we go into the Church and before we seat ourselves we genuflect to the Tabernacle as it is truly Jesus there. After Holy Thursday Mass (The Thursday before Easter) The Tabernacle is emptied totally so you will not find people genuflecting then.

Answer 4

which leg you kneel on may depend on how you were taught to show reverence.
Also may have something to do with the gender of the person . most men kneel on their right knee. as they usually have a sword on the left side and are trying to keep it clear.from the days of old when knights were bold. even though the church does not allow weapons inside of the building as that would be blasphemy to carry one in. its just a habit for those days when the sword was the main weapon and you had to mount the horse from the left side to keep for tangling the sword when mounting and dismounting.

Answer 5

I could be wrong, but that custom is only done in the Catholic Church. Their kneeling is to reverence the centered Crucifix upon entering.

Answer 6

It is just to get the knees warmed up for what will be a long hour of stand-sit-kneel ritual.

If they didn't do the kneeling, they might get hurt later in the service.

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Answer 7

I cannot speak for all churches, but Catholics "genuflect" (get down on one knee) when entering the church out of reverence for the Blessed Sacrament (the body of Christ) in the tabernacle. Catholics believe that Jesus is truly present in the host (unleavened bread) that is contained in behind the alter in most churches. I hope that helps. Thanks for a respectful question.

Answer 8

As a Catholic, I can tell you that it is done to show reverence to the Alter which is one of the holiest parts of the church because it is where the bread and wine become the body and blood. However, less and less people do it because society's respect level is continually dropping.

Answer 9

it is called GENUFLECTING, and it is a Roman sign of reverence. Only the Latin Catholics do this. and it is done in order to honor the tabernacle behind altar, whioch contains consecrated bread, and to honor the altar itself where Christ's sacrifice will be re-presented during the Divine Liturgy ( the MASS).

Answer 10

They kneel to pay homage, respect... kneeling is for God as bowing are for kings.