The same reason everyone else kneels to priests. they are GOD.
It's not before the priest. Because they're getting married, they get to be up in the front, but because it's church, they still kneel when everyone else does. Location makes it appear as though they kneel to the priest, but they, like everyone else, are kneeling for God, not the priest.
The faithful kneel down when in the presence the Lord, not just the presence of the priest. Marriage is a blessed sacrament and involves the unity of a man and wife in the presence of the Lord. The priest is the servant of the Lord ("I am the vine, you are the branches..."- John 15:5). And the Lord is present during the marriage ("For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.†- Matthew 18:20), and it is correct and proper to kneel before the Lord in prayer:
Psalm 95:6
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
1 Kings 8:54
"And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the LORD, that he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven...."
Matthew 17:14
"And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,..."
Matthew 20:20
"Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him...."
same reason people kneel before their mattresses when they pray before going to bed.... they are praying and paying homage to God. they aren't praying to the priest, they are on the altar and so is the Tabernacle. sound like you were trying to get a rise out of people here and - didn't work.
Marriage is a sacrament, and has three people in it, not two: the man, the woman, and God.
They are kneeling in respect to the Father and asking for His blessing and presence in their marriage.
God bless.
The whole point of a Catholic wedding to exchange vows in the presence of God, the Church, and the community.
I know it sounds a bit old fashioned, but Catholics still knell in the presence of God, their Creator.
With love in Christ.
It is already in the tradition when people, even during in the old testament times, knelt before their parents, elders, and high priests for a blessing.
So you were watching the Priest and completely missed the alter and Tabernacle ect...?
BTW, the Priest is a representative of Christ if that helps :)
They aren't kneeling before the priest -- they are kneeling before Christ. The priest is the Lord's servant, and he is simply providing the Lord a voice and hands to use to bless the couple.
The Bride and Groom do not kneel before the priest. They kneel before God,as God is the one the bride and groom are consecrating their vows to.
Catholics kneel when praying and taking communion. The couple takes communion first before everyone else.
Well, they're not kneeling *to the priest. They are kneeling in the presence of God during a sacrament of the church.
Act 14:11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
Act 14:12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Act 14:13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
Act 14:14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
Act 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
pfft...catholics are always kneeling for something. have you ever been to a catholic church? they have kneel bars behind each pew on hinges, so that you can easily lift it and lower it. Im telling ya, a good 45% of a catholic service is kneeling.
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