#UTCats

Intermountain Catholic

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One of the things my non-Catholic friends always ask me is, "Why do you move around so much during your church service?"

We are always shifting from sitting down to standing up to kneeling and then sitting down again to standing up.

This constant movement used to annoy me on Sundays. It distracted me from listening to the beautiful words that were being spoken. I remember thinking when I was younger that we should just be able to sit for the entirety of the Mass. Later, I learned that each movement is called a prayer posture, and each posture has a significant meaning that adds to the vibrancy of our Mass. Now, I embrace the fact that we have different postures to express our relationship with God.

The Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church (YOUCAT) outlines five different prayer postures each with their own significance: standing, sitting, kneeling, folding hands, and prostrating. See the chart below for an explanation of each. Recalling their significance the next time you attend Mass will make your experience much more powerful.