Regarding the Muslim Sajdah and Catholic protration: We go to an Eastern Rite parish and the priest (usually, I think it depends on how his knees are doing that day) after the consecration does in fact get down on his knees and touches head to floor in front of the altar.  (On the days his knees are bothering him, he bows low at the waist.) Then he promptly get up. I think the congregation, where the pews not in the way, are technically supposed to do likewise, but I’m not sure on that.

It is posible the Diocese in question was trying to reach across the aisle to it’s Eastern-rite neighbors…and promptly botched it.  Eucharistic adoration isn’t really an Eastern tradition, as I understand it, so prostrating in an Eastern-rite way does not seem appropriate.

DJ,

I wanted to promote discussion on this because I do prostrate such as a Muslim anytime I enter a room with the Blessed Sacrament exposed, then I proceed to kneel or sit down for prayer.

So if there is a rebuttal, I’m all ears!

If you go to an Eastern Orthodox Church for any weekday service during Lent, you will see people doing this, & at least one hieromonk told me that the Muslims copied this posture from the Christians in the 1st place, 
Some Orthodox monks go so far as to claim that this is the posture described in scripture when the prophet Elias AKA Elijah AKA Ilya put his face “between his knees”

As a priest who serves an Eastern Catholic Church the “Muslim sajdah” is in fact the sign of worship made by many priests after the Epiclesis (which comes after the Lord’s words) in Divine Liturgy in adoration of the Body and Blood of the Lord.

It is called a “metany” (a change of heart, which is embodied in a physical way).  Prostrations are a falling down in homage and worship before God.  They are a way of “making ourselves small” before the greatness and majesty of the Most Blessed Trinity.

The same posture is used throughout the Great Fast (Lent before Pascha/Easter) in weekday celebrations of the Hours and the Pre-Sanctified Liturgies during the Prayer of St. Ephrem.

Prostrations are a regular part of Eastern Christian personal daily devotions.

The metany is mandated in the liturgical books of the Eastern Churches both Catholic and Orthodox.

In classical iconography the Transfiguration of the Lord the apostles are shown in the position of metany.

Muslims might use the same sign but this is because Christianity which came from the East is also where Islam originated.  Some types of Islamic architecture (notice how some mosques look like Eastern churches) were adapted from Eastern Christian buildings.  Christianity was the source of some postures of prayer and other customs that were adapted (and altered) by Islam.

Long before the genuflection was used in Christian worship the profound bow or metany was used as a sign of worship.  The Latin practice of prostration as seen at Ordinations and by the clergy on Good Friday is another outward form of abjection and worship before God.

To brand the metany the as “Muslim” is to forget that it predated Islam and probably extends back to Hebrew and other pre Christian worship.

The women of the parishes I have served manage to do the metanies very well and very modestly.

It is always better to research what one is talking about before making sweeping statements in the blogosphere or in the print media.  This is especially true regarding expressions of prayer, worship and devotion that have long had approval of the Church.

Thank you for the explanation Father Philip.

Tito Edward: I really can’t address whether “metany” is good or bad for Eucharistic adoration.  It just doesn’t feel right to me.  When I go (which is not often) I genuflect and then kneel.  But that’s just me.

Thank you Fr. Philip for your post. As a Byzantine Catholic the metany is used when possible. We girls and women have learned how to maintain our dignity and still “hit the floor” LOL. I believe that the metany is the reason that many Church buildings did not have western pews at one time.

Tito,  Tastes do differ, but I think that it is important that customs of others are not portrayed in a negative light. If I see something done in church (especially outside of the Liturgy) that might not be appealing to me but that is an obvious sign of faith and devotion I don’t comment on it.

Kathleen, you are exactly right; our churches traditionally do not have pews so that we can do the metanies and and move freely with signs of devotion during Liturgy.