{"id":46289,"date":"2020-04-09T10:40:54","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T14:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=46289"},"modified":"2020-04-09T10:40:54","modified_gmt":"2020-04-09T14:40:54","slug":"bible-on-reverent-posture-for-worship-communion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2020\/04\/bible-on-reverent-posture-for-worship-communion.html","title":{"rendered":"Bible on Reverent Posture for Worship & Communion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
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The following comments were taken from a\u00a0Facebook thread<\/a>; further below, I collect a large number of related Bible verses.<\/div>\n
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* * * * *<\/div>\n

That, in the early Church, the faithful stood when receiving into their hands the consecrated particle can hardly be questioned. . . . St. Dionysius of Alexandria, writing to one of the popes of his time, speaks emphatically of \u201cone who has stood by the table and has extended his hand to receive the Holy Food\u201d (Eusebius,\u00a0Hist. Eccl., VII, ix<\/a>). The custom of placing the Sacred Particle in the mouth, rather than in the hand of the communicant, dates in Rome from the sixth, and in Gaul from the ninth century (Van der Stappen, IV, 227; cf. St. Greg., Dial., I, III, c. iii).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>(Catholic Encyclopedia<\/i>:\u00a0\u201cGenuflexion\u201d<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
21. In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it,\u00a0Amen<\/i>. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof ; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

22. Then after you have partaken of the Body of Christ, draw near also to the Cup of His Blood; not stretching forth your hands, but bending , and saying with an air of worship and reverence,\u00a0Amen<\/i>\u00a0, hallow yourself by partaking also of the Blood of Christ. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem [c. 313-386],\u00a0Catechetical Lectures<\/i>, 23:21-22<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We always\u00a0did<\/i>\u00a0have them [altar rails] at my parish . . . it\u2019s a beautiful practice, but I don\u2019t argue that anything different is evil and wicked (since the early Church did otherwise for the first 400 years or more). \u201cBoth \/ and\u201d . . .<\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One can argue cultures and situations. I agree that kneeling is generally regarded as more reverent in America, at least; I even agree (i.e., in my particular culture, at this time and place) that it is more conducive to reverence in the Mass (which is precisely why I posted\u00a0this article<\/a>). What\u00a0can\u2019t<\/i>\u00a0be done, however, is trashing the Church (in what it allows) and arguing that standing to receive is\u00a0intrinsically<\/i>\u00a0irreverent by its very nature.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The very fact that we have a diversity of rites in Catholicism shows, I think, that not all liturgical procedures, gestures, etc. need be together as a whole, but that various combinations are also possible.\u00a0<\/span>Or so I would argue, anyway.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As I have stated, I think it is a more reverent posture in our society, and I always do it myself at my parish, where it is the only way we receive (some in the hand, but still kneeling at the rail).\u00a0<\/span>I was only arguing against the l<\/span><\/span>egalism of saying that receiving standing and in the hand is\u00a0intrinsically<\/i>\u00a0irreverent<\/i>. Oftentimes, it can be\u00a0outwardly<\/i>\u00a0so, in\u00a0practice<\/i>. I\u2019ve seen it, and that is undeniable. I contend, however, that that goes back to multiple causal factors, not bodily merely posture\u00a0itself<\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s absurd to argue that one is intrinsically better than the other, because of both history and also present practice. Eastern Catholics and Orthodox stand to receive Holy Communion. Most Latin Rite Catholics n<\/span><\/span>ow do also.<\/span>

So someone wants to argue that all those people are almost automatically irreverent, while the \u201ccream of the crop\u201d are the ones who kneel?\u00a0<\/span>I think we can\u00a0all\u00a0<\/i>agree that it comes down to the individual soul and how that soul is approaching reception of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. It always starts on the inside:\u00a0in our hearts and souls and minds\u00a0<\/a>(Sermon on the Mount). That\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>s infinitely more important in the scheme of things. Anyone can \u201cgo through the motions\u201d with any kind of posture.<\/span><\/span>

Occasionally I receive standing, and I know I am no less reverent then than I am when I kneel (as every week in my parish).\u00a0<\/span>I agree (minus any hint of \u201ceither\/or\u201d reasoning) that kneeling promotes reverence.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The argument from longstanding liturgical tradition or custom does hold weight, but not as much as \u201ctraditionalists\u201d think. After all, the Jews practiced the Mosaic Law for some 1200 years, and all of a sudden, Jesus and Christianity brought in a quite extraordinary development of it. Circumcision was no longer to be practiced; now baptism replaced it. The Saturday Sabbath became Sunday worship. All the many dietary laws were no longer in force. And a man claimed to be God incarnate, which was a very radical thing indeed in the Jewish mind: regarded as blasphemy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

That was quite a change, including in major dogmas (doctrine of God); yet some \u201ctraditionalists\u201d want to argue that the Church cannot possibly permit people to stand rather than kneel in receiving Holy Communion (which isn\u2019t dogma at all)? I don\u2019t think anyone can plausibly make such an argument.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraditionalists\u201d could\u00a0try<\/i>\u00a0to show that the Bible frowns on standing when before God (or being prostrate), but as I demonstrate below, it does not. That\u2019s the best chance a \u201ctraditionalist\u201d had to establish intrinsic inferiority or irreverence.<\/p>\n

But then, even if that were able to be shown in Scripture, the \u201ctraditionalist\u201d has to explain why the early Church for 4-9 centuries, Eastern Catholicism, and Orthodoxy (and now the vast majority of Latin Rite Catholics) all practice standing during Holy Communion: how that ever came about, if the Church is divinely guided and protected from serious error: even liturgical corruptions (real or so-called).<\/p>\n

***\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The New Testament doesn\u2019t appear to ever mention kneeling in connection to eucharistic worship. But then, it doesn\u2019t have much at\u00a0all<\/i>\u00a0about the early Mass.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The overall biblical data on posture and reverence, \u201cbefore the Lord\u201d or during worship, is not conclusive as to one particular posture. There are plenty of passages about kneeling or bowing (second section below),\u00a0 but there are even\u00a0more<\/i>\u00a0(taken together) concerning standing or prostration (face down to the ground). Moreover, there are even a few passages that describe someone \u201csitting\u201d before God. Therefore, the Bible reflects precisely what Catholic liturgical diversity indicates: posture is not determinative\u00a0in and of itself<\/i>. Therefore, we can\u2019t condemn someone as less reverent or pious simply because he or she chooses to receive Holy Communion in a manner different than our own preference.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

STANDING\u00a0<\/span><\/b>
\n[all Bible passages RSV]\u00a0<\/b>
\n
\n<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

Genesis 8:22\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>. . . Abraham still\u00a0stood<\/span>\u00a0before the LORD<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

Genesis 19:27<\/b>\u00a0And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had\u00a0stood<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>before the LORD<\/span>;<\/p>\n

Leviticus 9:5<\/b>\u00a0. . . all the congregation drew near and\u00a0stood<\/span>\u00a0before the LORD<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 4:10<\/b>\u00a0. . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>the day that you\u00a0stood before the LORD<\/span>\u00a0your God at Horeb . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 10:8<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to\u00a0stand\u00a0<\/b>before the LORD<\/span>\u00a0to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 17:12<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The man who acts presumptuously, by not obeying the priest who\u00a0stands to minister there\u00a0<\/b>before the LORD<\/span>\u00a0your God . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 18:7<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>then he may minister in the name of the LORD his God, like all his fellow-Levites who\u00a0stand to minister there before the LORD<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 29:10\u00a0<\/b>You\u00a0stand t<\/span>his day all of you\u00a0<\/b>before the LORD<\/span>\u00a0your God; the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel,\u00a0 (cf. 29:15)<\/span>

1 Kings 3:15<\/b>\u00a0And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and\u00a0stood before<\/span>\u00a0the ark of the covenant of the LORD<\/span>, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.\u00a0<\/span>

1 Kings 8:22<\/b>\u00a0Then Solomon\u00a0stood before<\/span>\u00a0the altar of the LORD<\/span>\u00a0in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1 Kings 19:11<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>And he said, \u201cGo forth, and\u00a0stand\u00a0<\/span>upon the mount\u00a0before the LORD<\/span>.\u201d . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2 Kings 23:3<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>And the king\u00a0stood<\/span>\u00a0by the pillar and made a covenant\u00a0<\/b>before the LORD<\/span>, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people joined in the covenant. (cf. 2 Chr 34:31)\u00a0<\/span>

2 Chronicles 6:12<\/b>\u00a0Then Solomon\u00a0stood before the altar of the LORD<\/span>\u00a0in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands. [in the next verse, he kneels]<\/span>

2 Chronicles 20:13<\/b>\u00a0Meanwhile all the men of Judah\u00a0stood before the LORD<\/span>, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Nehemiah 9:3<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>And they\u00a0stood up in their place<\/span>\u00a0and read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; for another fourth of it they made confession and\u00a0<\/b>worshiped the LORD their God.\u00a0<\/span>

Jeremiah 15:1<\/b>\u00a0Then the LORD said to me, \u201cThough Moses and Samuel\u00a0stood before me<\/span>, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. . . .\u00a0<\/span>

Jeremiah 18:20<\/b>\u00a0. . . Remember how I\u00a0stood before thee\u00a0<\/span>to speak good for them, to turn away thy wrath from them.<\/span>

Daniel 7:10<\/b>\u00a0A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him,<\/span>
and ten thousand times ten thousand\u00a0stood before him<\/span>; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Judith 4:14\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>And Joakim the high priest and all the priests who\u00a0stood\u00a0<\/b>before the Lord\u00a0<\/span>and ministered to the Lord, with their loins girded with sackcloth, offered the continual burnt offerings and the vows and freewill offerings of the people.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Romans 14:10<\/b>\u00a0. . . For we shall all\u00a0stand before the judgment seat<\/span>\u00a0of God;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Revelation 8:2<\/b>\u00a0Then I saw the seven angels who\u00a0stand before God<\/span>, and seven trumpets were given to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

[moreover, virtually all of the priestly functions and offerings were done standing, as far as I know; see, e.g., Dt 17:12; 18:7; Jdt 4:14 above]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

BOWING \/ KNEELING<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

Genesis 24:26\u00a0<\/b>The man\u00a0bowed his head\u00a0<\/span>and worshiped the LORD,<\/p>\n

Genesis 24:48\u00a0<\/b>Then I\u00a0bowed my head<\/span>\u00a0and worshiped the LORD . . .<\/p>\n

Exodus 4:31\u00a0<\/b>And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they\u00a0bowed their heads<\/span>\u00a0and worshiped.<\/p>\n

Exodus 12:27 . . .\u00a0<\/b>And the people\u00a0bowed their heads\u00a0<\/span>and worshiped.<\/p>\n

Exodus 34:8\u00a0<\/b>And Moses made haste to\u00a0bow his head toward the earth<\/span>, and worshiped.<\/b><\/p>\n

1 Kings 8:54<\/b>\u00a0Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had\u00a0knelt<\/span>\u00a0with hands outstretched toward heaven;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2 Kings 17:36<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>but you shall fear the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm; you shall\u00a0<\/b>bow yourselves to him<\/span>, and to him you shall sacrifice.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1 Chronicles 29:20<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Then David said to all the assembly, \u201cBless the LORD your God.\u201d And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and\u00a0bowed their heads<\/span>, and\u00a0<\/b>worshiped the LORD, and did obeisance to the king.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2 Chronicles 6:13<\/b>\u00a0. . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Then he\u00a0<\/b>knelt upon his knees<\/span>\u00a0in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;<\/p>\n

2 Chronicles 29:29<\/b>\u00a0When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him\u00a0<\/b>bowed themselves<\/span>\u00a0and worshiped.<\/p>\n

Ezra 9:5<\/b>\u00a0And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle rent, and\u00a0fell upon my knees<\/span>\u00a0and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,<\/p>\n

Psalm 22:29<\/b>\u00a0Yea, to him shall all the proud of the earth\u00a0<\/b>bow down<\/span>; before him shall\u00a0<\/b>bow\u00a0<\/span>all who go down to the dust, . . .<\/p>\n

Psalm 86:9<\/b>\u00a0All the nations thou hast made shall come and\u00a0<\/b>bow down\u00a0<\/span>before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name.<\/p>\n

Psalm 95:6<\/b>\u00a0O come, let us worship and\u00a0bow down<\/span>, let us\u00a0kneel\u00a0<\/span>before the LORD, our Maker!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Psalm 138:2<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>I\u00a0<\/b>bow down toward thy holy temple<\/span>\u00a0and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy
\nfaithfulness . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel 6:10<\/b>\u00a0. . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>he\u00a0got down upon his knees\u00a0<\/span>three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Micah 6:6<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>With what shall I come before the LORD, and\u00a0<\/b>bow myself\u00a0<\/span>before God on high? . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Judith 13:17<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>All the people were greatly astonished, and\u00a0<\/b>bowed down<\/span>\u00a0and worshiped God . . . \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sirach 50:21<\/b>\u00a0and they\u00a0<\/b>bowed down<\/span>\u00a0in worship a second time, to receive the blessing from the Most High.<\/p>\n

Matthew 8:2<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>and behold, a leper came to him and\u00a0<\/b>knelt<\/span>\u00a0before him, saying, \u201cLord, if you will, you can make me clean.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew\u00a09:18<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>While he was thus speaking to them, behold, a ruler came in and\u00a0<\/b>knelt\u00a0<\/span>before him, saying, \u201cMy daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew\u00a015:25<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>But she came and\u00a0<\/b>knelt\u00a0<\/span>before him, saying, \u201cLord, help me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew\u00a017:14<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and\u00a0<\/b>kneeling<\/span>\u00a0before him said,<\/p>\n

Matthew\u00a020:20<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Then the mother of the sons of Zeb\u2019edee came up to him, with her sons, and\u00a0<\/b>kneeling before him<\/span>\u00a0she asked him for something.<\/p>\n

Mark 1:40\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>And a leper came to him beseeching him, and\u00a0<\/b>kneeling<\/span>\u00a0said to him, \u201cIf you will, you can make me clean.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n
\nMark 10:17<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and\u00a0<\/b>knelt\u00a0<\/span>before him, and asked him, \u201cGood Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\u201d<\/p>\n

Luke 5:8<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>But when Simon Peter saw it, he\u00a0fell down at Jesus\u2019 knees<\/span>, saying, \u201cDepart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Romans 14:11<\/b>\u00a0. . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>As I live, says the Lord,\u00a0every knee shall bow to me<\/span>, and every tongue shall give praise to God.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ephesians 3:14<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>For this reason I\u00a0<\/b>bow my knees<\/span>\u00a0before the Father,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Philippians 2:10<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>that at the name of Jesus\u00a0every knee should bow<\/span>, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

PROSTRATION (\u201cFELL DOWN\u201d)<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

Genesis 17:3\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Then Abram\u00a0fell on his face<\/span>; and God said to him, (cf. 17:17)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Genesis 18:2\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>. . . When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and\u00a0bowed himself to the earth,\u00a0(cf. 19:1)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Genesis 24:52<\/b>\u00a0When Abraham\u2019s servant heard their words, he\u00a0bowed\u00a0himself to the earth\u00a0<\/b>before the LORD.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Leviticus 9:24<\/b>\u00a0And fire came forth from\u00a0<\/b>before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and\u00a0fell on their faces<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Numbers 22:31<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed his head, and\u00a0fell on his face<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Deuteronomy 9:18<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Then I lay\u00a0prostrate before the LORD<\/span>\u00a0as before, forty days and forty nights . . . (cf. 9:25)<\/p>\n

Joshua 5:14<\/b>\u00a0. . . And Joshua\u00a0fell on his face<\/span>\u00a0to the earth, and worshiped . . .<\/p>\n

Joshua 7:6<\/b>\u00a0Then Joshua rent his clothes, and\u00a0fell to the earth upon his face<\/span>\u00a0before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon their heads.<\/p>\n

1 Kings 18:42<\/b>\u00a0. . . And Eli\u2019jah went up to the top of Carmel; and he\u00a0<\/b>bowed himself down upon the earth<\/span>, and put his face between his knees.<\/p>\n

2 Chronicles 7:3<\/b>\u00a0 When all the children of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the temple, they\u00a0<\/b>bowed down with their faces to the earth on the pavement,<\/span>\u00a0and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD<\/p>\n

2 Chronicles 20:18<\/b>\u00a0Then Jehosh\u2019aphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem\u00a0fell down before the LORD<\/span>, worshiping the LORD.<\/p>\n

Nehemiah 8:6<\/b>\u00a0And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people answered, \u201cAmen, Amen,\u201d lifting up their hands; and they\u00a0bowed their heads<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/b>worshiped the LORD\u00a0with their faces to the ground<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Psalm 72:11<\/b>\u00a0May all kings\u00a0<\/b>fall down before him<\/span>, all nations serve him!<\/p>\n

Ezekiel 11:13<\/b>\u00a0And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Pelati\u2019ah the son of Benai\u2019ah died. Then I\u00a0<\/b>fell down upon my face<\/span>, and cried with a loud voice, and said, \u201cAh Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?\u201d<\/p>\n

Judith 4:11\u00a0<\/b>And all the men and women of Israel, and their children, living at Jerusalem,\u00a0prostrated themselves<\/span>\u00a0before the temple and put ashes on their heads and spread out their sackcloth\u00a0<\/b>before the Lord<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Judith 6:18\u00a0<\/b>Then the people\u00a0<\/b>fell down\u00a0<\/span>and worshiped God, and cried out to him,. . .<\/p>\n

1 Maccabees 4:40<\/b>\u00a0They\u00a0fell face down on the ground<\/span>, and sounded the signal on the trumpets, and cried out to Heaven.<\/p>\n

2 Maccabees 3:15<\/b>\u00a0 The priests\u00a0<\/b>prostrated themselves before the altar<\/span>\u00a0in their priestly garments and called toward heaven. . .<\/p>\n

2 Maccabees 13:12<\/b>\u00a0 When they had all joined in the same petition and had besought the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting and\u00a0lying prostrate\u00a0<\/span>for three days without ceasing . . .<\/p>\n

Matthew 2:11<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they\u00a0<\/b>fell down\u00a0<\/span>and worshiped him. . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mark 7:25<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and\u00a0fell down at his feet<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Luke 5:12<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he\u00a0fell on his face<\/span>\u00a0and besought him, \u201cLord, if you will, you can make me clean.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Luke 17:16<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>and he\u00a0fell on his face<\/span>\u00a0at Jesus\u2019 feet, giving him thanks.. . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

John 18:6<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>When he said to them, \u201cI am he,\u201d they drew back and\u00a0fell to the ground<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Acts 9:4<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>And he\u00a0fell to the ground<\/span>\u00a0and heard a voice saying to him, \u201cSaul, Saul, why do you persecute me?\u201d (cf. 22:7; 26:14)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 14:5<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>. . .\u00a0falling on his face<\/span>, he will worship God . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Revelation 4:10<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>the twenty-four elders\u00a0fall down before him<\/span>\u00a0who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever . . .<\/p>\n

Revelation\u00a05:8, 14<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders\u00a0<\/b>fell down<\/span>\u00a0before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints;. . . [14] And the four living creatures said, \u201cAmen!\u201d and the elders\u00a0fell down\u00a0<\/span>and worshiped.<\/p>\n

Revelation\u00a019:4<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures\u00a0<\/b>fell down<\/span>\u00a0and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, \u201cAmen. Hallelujah!\u201d<\/p>\n

SITTING<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

Judges 20:26<\/b>\u00a0Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept; they\u00a0sat there\u00a0<\/b>before the LORD<\/span>, and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>2 Samuel 7:18<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Then King David went in and\u00a0sat before the LORD<\/span>, and said, \u201cWho am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? (cf. 1 Chr 17:16)<\/p>\n

Ezekiel 44:3<\/b>\u00a0Only the prince may\u00a0sit\u00a0<\/span>in it to eat bread\u00a0<\/b>before the LORD<\/span>\u00a0. . .\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

[see further discussion at the original\u00a0Facebook thread<\/a>]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/b>
\n
\n<\/b>*****<\/b><\/div>\n

(originally posted on 1-23-13)<\/p>\n

Photo credit:\u00a0<\/strong>Communion rails from St. Martin\u2019s Church (Thompson, Norfolk), built in the 15th century. The rails were installed by Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud in 1630. Photo by Bill Sibley: 1 March 2008<\/span> [Wikimedia Commons<\/a> \/ Creative Commons<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic<\/a>\u00a0license]<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The following comments were taken from a\u00a0Facebook thread; further below, I collect a large number of related Bible verses. * * * * * That, in the early Church, the faithful stood when receiving into their hands the consecrated particle can hardly be questioned. . . . St. Dionysius of Alexandria, writing to one of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":46295,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[1612,1610,360,366,1607,1608,1609,365,1604,1606,1605,361,1611,367,10675,382,516],"class_list":["post-46289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eucharist-liturgy","tag-altar-rails","tag-bowing","tag-communion-in-the-hand","tag-communion-on-the-tongue","tag-communion-rail","tag-communion-standing","tag-genuflection","tag-holy-communion","tag-kneeling","tag-kneeling-to-receive-communion","tag-liturgical-posture","tag-liturgy","tag-prostration","tag-reverence","tag-reverent-posture","tag-solemnity","tag-worship"],"yoast_head":"\nBible on Reverent Posture for Worship & Communion<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I contend that one cannot trash the Church (in what it allows) and argue that standing to receive (rather than kneeling) is intrinsically irreverent. 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46289"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46289\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}