I just returned from a Catholic Funeral Mass. Why does the congregation have to stand, sit, kneel so much?

Answer 1

At one time, the church was the same as any synagogue or mosque. (There were no benches or chairs, just a big empty space) Everyone stood, and during the holy of holies, everyone PROFOUNDLY bowed.

The Mass used to take a very long time, and some people fainted during it, so the higher ups allowed people to sit during certain parts.

IMO sitting during a sermon allows those windbags to go on and on and on. If the people still stood during the sermon, I'm sure the orator would have mercy and keep it short.

Answer 2

Lots of good answers here, and of course the usual bad ones. Most of the answerers who mentioned the Gospel, reverence for the Eucharist, the different parts of the Mass, are correct -

The Mass is a long publically acclaimed prayer, that is divided into two parts - the Liturgy of the Word which starts out with a call from the priest to humbly consider our own sins and ask forgiveness, then the Kyrie ("Lord have mercy..."), the Gloria ("Glory to God in the highest...") for Sunday Masses, and then the Scriptural readings (a first reading which is usually from the Old Testament, the second a Psalm, which is often sung, and then a Gospel reading from one of the Gospels). The second part of the Mass, after the homily (to Protestants the "sermon") is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In this part of the Mass, we are reminded of Christ's Sacrifice, and the bread and wine becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, which we are invited to partake of provided we are in God's grace and free from serious sin.

At all of these varied points in the Mass we sit, stand or kneel depending on what's going on. We stand at the opening confessing part of the Mass, then sit at the first two readings, then stand while listening to the Gospel. Standing and kneeling are added signs of reverence and respect. Most of the kneeling is during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, when we are actually in the presense of the Body and Blood of our Lord, with the exception of where we say the Lord's Prayer, and greet our fellow communicants, when we stand.

I realize that this probably is somewhat confusing to someone who may not go to Mass very often - you sound like someone who doesn't - but trust me, every bit of the Mass has real meaning.

Answer 3

During the Mass there are solemn prayers and offerings that dictate why and when Catholics kneel,sit or stand.
During the scripture readings of the Old Testament we sit and listen,when the Gospel is read we stand to show that the congregation is attentive and respectful of the sacredness of the word.
Therefore at certain parts of the Mass we do all these things out of togetherness as one body of Christ and to show the proper respect for the sacredness of the Mass.

Answer 4

We always stand when the Gospel of Our Lord is read, It shows respect for His words. We sit when some prayers are said and when the priest is giving his homily or instruction. We kneel when the more earnest prayers are said and when the body of Our Lord is remembered in the sacrafice of the mass out of humility and deep respect. There is much meaning in the mass and taking the proper position helps us to better understand what's going on.

Answer 5

Like some of the other answerers here have already said, it is done during certain prayers or to venerate when the bread and wine transform into the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The cool thing about it is if you are ever in a foreign country that doesn't speak English, you will know what part of the mass you are celebrating.

Answer 6

We kneel for the invocation of the Holy Spirit during the consecration of the Holy Eucharist. We kneel because Jesus Christ is being made present before us in the Blessed Sacrament.

Answer 7

It is to maintain proper focus and to receive our consolations and gifts from the Comforter along with the sufferings we must endure in imitation of Christ.
We will not have our own resurrections if we do not pick up our crosses and continue to offer Him up to the Father -- to ask the Father to look at Him instead of us -- and at Him in us.


We meet Almighty God in the Presence of the Eucharist -- an awesome, reverent, and humbling experience when seen through the eyes of faith. Our somber prayerfulness in no way indicates that we are "spiritually dead" (a common accusation) any more than a quiet moment watching your child, marvelling at his existence, means you are not in love with that child just because you're not running around and playing with him. The once and for all Sacrifice at Calvary, which is what is re-presented at the Mass, calls for awe, humility, and gratitude, not glee, giddiness, "holy laughter," rocking-and-rolling, hand-clapping, roaring like lions, etc.



At the Mass, where we are at the foot of the Cross.

... the Mass itself must remain not only sacred, beautiful, reverent, but in line with the liturgical heritage given to us by the faithful Hebrews and Church Fathers, its sacred purposes given to us by Christ, its secondary catechetical effects, and Natural Law. It must always be remembered that at the Mass, we are at the foot of the Cross!

Answer 8

Well you kneel when you pray...thats why they have those padded bars! (they still hurt though)

They stand when they sing(most of the time), and of course when you're not standing or kneeling you have to sit.

Answer 9

I was raised catholic and I never understood it. It did help keep me awake...

Answer 10

I once heard it was a way to discover who really wasn't a catholic, usually the last ones to kneel, stand or the first one to sit wasn't really catholic.