The Missal, by John William Waterhouse (1902), depicts a woman kneeling on a prie-dieu, a piece of furniture with a built-in kneeler

A kneeler is a cushion (also called a tuffet, hassock, genuflexorium, or genuflectorium) or a piece of furniture used for resting in a kneeling position during Christian prayer.[1]

church pew
Traditional solid oak church pews with kneelers

In many churches, pews are equipped with kneelers in front of the seating bench so members of the congregation can kneel on them instead of the floor. In a few other situations, such as confessionals and areas in front of an altar, kneelers for kneeling during prayer or sacraments may also be used. Traditionally, altar rails often have built-in knee cushions to facilitate reception of Holy Communion while kneeling.

A kneeler is also a part of the prie-dieu prayer desk.

Kneelers in churches are a modern development. Kneeling was not part of the Mass in early Christianity, and has been part of the Catholic Mass since the 16th century.[2]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kneelers (furniture).
  1. ↑ "Why Do Roman Catholics Kneel at Mass?". aleteia.org. 31 March 2019. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Why the Various Postures at Mass". www.ewtn.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-04-23.


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