Prayer And Kneeling

Ad preces genua flectantur, aut prae infirmitate dorsum et caput inclinentur. Id Publicanus observans auditur; id negligens Pharisaeus despicitur. Rogo et admoneo vos, fratres charissimi, ut quotiescumque juxta altare a clericis oratur, aut oratio diacono clamante indicitur, non solum corda, sed etiam corpora fideliter inclinetis. Nam dum frequenter, sicut oportet, et diligenter attendo, diacono clamante, Flectamus genua; maximam partem velut columnas erectas stare conspicio: quod Christianis dum in ecclesia oratur, omnino nec licet, nec expedit, non enim propter nos, sed propter vos diaconus clamat. Et ideo quia ad vos specialiter vox illa, vel maxime ad negligentes dirigitur, justum est ut a vobis fideliter impleatur. Sit ergo vox illa obedientibus in remedium; quia inobedientibus erit in testimonium, propter illud quod scriptum est, Maledictus qui facit opus Dei negligenter. Sed et illud timendum est, fratres, quod Apostolus dixit, et omnimodis observandum, Instate orationi vigilantes in ea et iterum, Sine intermissione orate, in omnibus gratias agite. Et Dominus, Vigilate, inquit, et orate, ne intretis in tentationem; et iterum, Oportet semper orare et non deficere. Et ideo qui pro aliqua infirmitate non potest genua flectere vel dorsum curvare, vel caput non pigeat inclinare; considerans per hanc humilitatem Publicanum illum Dei misericordiam consecutum, qui ad coelum oculos levare non audebat, sed inclinato in terram capite pectus tundebat, et peccata intus inclusa quasi judex severissimus verberabat: et ideo meruit ut de eo Dominus dicere dignaretur, Descendit hic Publicanus justificatus in domum suam magis quam ille Pharisaeus: quia omnis qui se exaltat, humiliabitur; et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur. Exemplum etiam ipsius Pharisaei considerandum est et timendum; ne pro eo quod stans oraverit, ideo non meruerit exaudiri. Sanctus Augustinus Hipponensis, Sermo CCLXXXVI, Ut genua flectantur in oratione, et de verbis otiosis vitandis. Source: Migne PL 39.2285

Let the knees be bent in prayer, or if one is infirm let the back and head incline. Attend to what the tax collector observed and deplore the negligent Pharisee. I beg and I admonish you, dearest brothers, that whenever there is prayer at the altar by the priests, or prayer is declared by the voice of the deacon, that you faithfully incline not only your hearts, but even your bodies. For while frequently, as is necessary, I diligently attend to the voice of the deacon, saying, 'Let us kneel,' I see that a  very great part stand erect like columns, which is not permitted to Christians while they are in Church and there is prayer, nor does it benefit, for it is not because of us, but because of you that the deacon speaks. Therefore because that voice is specifically directed to you and especially to the negligent among you, it is right that it is faithfully fulfilled by you. Let that voice be obeyed as a remedy because disobedience shall be a witness on account of which it was written, 'He is cursed who negligently performs the work of God.' 1  But even this must be feared, brothers, as the Apostle said, and in all ways observed, 'Hold fast in prayer and be watchful,' and again, 'Pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything.' And the Lord says, 'Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation.' And again, 'It is necessary to pray always and not to grow weary.' 2 And therefore he who is unable to kneel because of some infirmity, let him incline the back or the head, thinking of the humility of the tax collector and the mercy of God that followed, he who did not dare to raise his eyes to heaven but bent his head to earth and struck his chest, and denounced the sins within like a most strict judge, and therefore was deserving of what the Lord said of him, 'The tax collector went down to his own house more justified than the Pharisee, because everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.' 3 Think on the example of the Pharisee and fear, that because he stood and prayed he did not merit to be heard. Saint Augustine of Hippo, from Sermon 286, That the knees should be bent in prayer 1 Jerem 48.10 2 Colos 4.2, 1 Thes 5.17-18, Mt 26.41, Lk 18.1 3 Lk 18.14