Chapter XXIII.—Of Kneeling.

In the matter of kneeling also prayer is subject to diversity of observance, through the act of some few who abstain from kneeling on the Sabbath; and since this dissension is particularly on its trial before the churches, the Lord will give His grace that the dissentients may either yield, or else indulge their opinion without offence to others. We, however (just as we have received), only on the day of the Lord’s Resurrection ought to guard not only against kneeling, but every posture and office of solicitude; deferring even our businesses lest we give any place to the devil.156    Eph. iv. 27. Similarly, too, in the period of Pentecost; which period we distinguish by the same solemnity of exultation.157    i.e. abstaining from kneeling: kneeling being more “a posture of solicitude” and of humility; standing, of “exultation.” But who would hesitate every day to prostrate himself before God, at least in the first prayer with which we enter on the daylight?  At fasts, moreover, and Stations, no prayer should be made without kneeling, and the remaining customary marks of humility; for (then)158    i.e. at fasts and Stations. [Sabbath = Saturday, supra.] we are not only praying, but deprecating, and making satisfaction to God our Lord.159    For the meaning of “satisfaction” as used by the Fathers, see Hooker, Eccl. Pol. vi. 5. Touching times of prayer nothing at all has been prescribed, except clearly “to pray at every time and every place.”160    Eph. vi. 18; 1 Thess. v. 17; 1 Tim. ii. 8.

CAPUT XXIII .

1191A

De genu quoque ponendo varietatem observationis patitur oratio per pauculos quosdam, qui sabbato abstinent genibus. Quae dissensio cum maxime apud Ecclesias caussam dicat, Dominus dabit gratiam suam, ut aut cedant, aut sine aliorum scandalo sententia sua utantur. Nos vero, sicut accepimus, solo die dominico Resurrectionis non ab isto tantum, sed omni anxietatis habitu, et officia cavere debemus, differentes etiam negotia, ne quem diabolo locum demus. Tantumdem et spatio Pentecostes, quae eadem exultationis solemnitatem dispungimur. Caeterum omni die quis dubitet prosternere se Deo vel prima saltem oratione, qua lucem ingredimur? Jejuniis autem et stationibus nulla oratio sine genu, 1191B et reliquo humilitatis more, celebranda est. Non enim 1192A oramus tantum, sed et deprecamur, et satisfacimus Deo Domino nostro. De temporibus orationis nihil omnino praescriptum est, nisi plane omni in tempore et loco orare.