Outdoor Worship

The following reflection was published on August 30, 2020, in the weekend bulletin at Our Mother of Good Counsel, Los Angeles, CA. I specifically wanted to address that standing in prayer is valid.

Jesus Christ was handed over to death in a public execution. His Disciples encountered him Risen in gardens and shorelines. For many centuries, in danger of persecution, Christians would worship indoors. Eventually, a legal Christianity would move human ingenuity to craft a glimpse of paradise on earth, with the great work of Churches, Cathedrals, Basilicas and Chapels.

I have had opportunities, in special circumstances, to worship outdoors, and therefore notice an awkwardness among the faithful.

Before the Pandemic, some of the faithful would struggle to accept that receiving Communion on the tongue would need to be suspended for these exceptional emergency circumstances.

In the 4th century,¹ Church writings confirm that receiving Communion on the hand was a common, though not a universal practice. In the 11th century, Communion on the tongue became the standard. Perhaps in a safer time, we may return to that.

Another feature, important for outdoor worship:

Standing was the normative and universal posture of prayer for the faithful for the first several centuries, and has remained so in many Eastern Churches.

Kneeling was a posture of penitence, more common for Lent, than a sign of reverence. The faithful prayed to God by standing, with hands raised, and eyes lifted. This is made clear by artwork in the Catacombs, the writings of the Doctors of the Church, and the Decrees of the Church Councils.²

Some awkwardly accommodate [while outdoors] by sitting in place of kneeling, perhaps accepting that standing IS NOT reverent enough. Perhaps kneeling as the universal practice is more recent than standing, it has become a normative and universal practice of reverence, specifically among Roman Catholics. For Catholics and Christians of the Eastern Rites, Standing is still seen as the most appropriate posture of Christian Prayer.

The faithful would be mistaken to say sitting is more reverent or prayerful during Liturgy than Standing. I say this to also say that kneeling is valid (particularly where kneelers are available), but may not be “more or less valid” than standing. Sitting is the normative posture for the Readings and Sermons.

I would say, as would the Fathers of the Church, as we are Children of the Resurrection, to stand. If you are able to kneel outdoors, please feel free to do so. If you are unable to stand on a warm day for an extended period, please allow yourself the discretion and exception of sitting.

1. St Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 23, paragraph 21: “In approaching [Communion] … make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King”

2. Canon 20 of the Council of Nicea AD 325: “On Sundays and during the Paschal season prayers should be said standing.”