--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be a Catholic: When you kneel before an…" description: "\"Be a Catholic: When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may be able to recognize that you know before whom you kneel.\" — Maximil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/maximilian-kolbe-30122_able_be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-a_2880690.png" --- # Be a Catholic: When you kneel before an altar, do it in… ![“Be a Catholic: When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may be able to recognize that you know before whom you kneel.” quote by Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/maximilian-kolbe-30122_able_be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-a_2880690.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/maximilian-kolbe-30122_able_be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-a_2880690.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/maximilian-kolbe-30122_able_be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-a_2880690.png) > “Be a Catholic: When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may be able to recognize that you know before whom you kneel.” [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourage public reverence so others recognize sincere devotion. **In simple terms:** Show faith openly to inspire others. Key Takeaway Practice visible humility. Themes faith public worship humility Mood respectful inspirational Type spiritual teaching When to use this quote - church services - public prayers - religious education Key Concepts religious expression social influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance sincerity with visibility? - What signals convey genuine devotion? A Different Perspective May be misinterpreted as showmanship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Altar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altar/) [Altars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altars/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Catholic Kneel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-kneel-3990207/) [Kneel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kneel/) [Kneel Altar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kneel-altar-3990208/) [Know Kneel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-kneel-308510/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“If she were Catholic, she could kneel, kneel and bow her head inside a church with brilliant stained-glass windows and streaks of golden light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/if-she-were-catholic-she-could-kneel-kneel-and-bow-her-head-inside-a/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [American imperialism has always been the imperialism that has been frightened of speaking its name. Now it's beginning to do so. In a way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/american-imperialism-has-always-been-the-imperialism-that-has-been/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [“Do you need a safeword, in case things get too normal for you, and you need me to stop being vanilla for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleatha-romig/do-you-need-a-safeword-in-case-things-get-too-normal-for-you-and-you/) [Aleatha Romig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleatha-romig/) > [“The altar, as in pre-history, is anywhere you kneel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-altar-as-in-pre-history-is-anywhere-you-kneel/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Since once again, O Lord, in the steppes of Asia, I have no bread, no wine, no altar, I will raise myself above those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/since-once-again-o-lord-in-the-steppes-of-asia-i-have-no-bread-no/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [This is the sacrifice: the endless possibility that is offered up on the altar of the form...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/this-is-the-sacrifice-the-endless-possibility-that-is-offered-up-on/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [It is when we are in misery that we revere the gods; the prosperous seldom approach the altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silius-italicus/it-is-when-we-are-in-misery-that-we-revere-the-gods-the-prosperous/) [Silius Italicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silius-italicus/) > [My mother worshipped at the altar of the accessory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/my-mother-worshipped-at-the-altar-of-the-accessory/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [The goal isn't to be restrictive or tight about what passes through the altar (your mouth) and into the temple (your body). It's to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/the-goal-isn-t-to-be-restrictive-or-tight-about-what-passes-through/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [The Devil is not afraid to sit on an altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/the-devil-is-not-afraid-to-sit-on-an-altar/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [I am standing on my own altar; The poses are my prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/i-am-standing-on-my-own-altar-the-poses-are-my-prayers/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [We dare not trim stones to make God an altar, for if we do we ruin everything. We would spend time bringing people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/we-dare-not-trim-stones-to-make-god-an-altar-for-if-we-do-we-ruin/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [I acknowledge that the sacrament of the altar is very God's body in form of bread, but it is in another manner God's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wycliffe/i-acknowledge-that-the-sacrament-of-the-altar-is-very-god-s-body-in/) [John Wycliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wycliffe/) > [I was, not an altar boy, but a reader of the Epistle, and I walked in on a nun and a priest furiously French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-was-not-an-altar-boy-but-a-reader-of-the-epistle-and-i-walked-in-on/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [Don't sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-jones-sr/don-t-sacrifice-the-permanent-on-the-altar-of-the-immediate/) [Bob Jones, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-jones-sr/) ## More by Maximilian Kolbe > [My aim is to institute perpetual adoration," spoke St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Franciscan priest and founder of the Knights of the Immaculata. For he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/my-aim-is-to-institute-perpetual-adoration-spoke-st-maximilian-maria/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [Jesus honored her before all ages, and will honor her for all ages. No one comes to Him, nor even near Him, no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/jesus-honored-her-before-all-ages-and-will-honor-her-for-all-ages-no/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [ Let us give ourselves to the Immaculata \[Mary\]. Let her prepare us, let her receive Him \[Jesus\] in Holy Communion. This is the manner… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/let-us-give-ourselves-to-the-immaculata-mary-let-her-prepare-us-let/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [The most deadly poison of our time is indifference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/the-most-deadly-poison-of-our-time-is-indifference/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/if-anyone-does-not-wish-to-have-mary-immaculate-for-his-mother-he/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [That night, I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me, a Child of Faith. Then she came to me holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/that-night-i-asked-the-mother-of-god-what-was-to-become-of-me-a-child/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [The whole world is a large Niepokalanow where the Father is God, the mother the Immaculata, the elder brother the Lord Jesus in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/the-whole-world-is-a-large-niepokalanow-where-the-father-is-god-the/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [Modern times are dominated by Satan and will be more so in the future. The conflict with hell cannot be engaged by men, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/modern-times-are-dominated-by-satan-and-will-be-more-so-in-the-future/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/the-most-deadly-poison-of-our-times-is-indifference-and-this-happens/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [For Jesus Christ I am prepared to suffer still more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/for-jesus-christ-i-am-prepared-to-suffer-still-more/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/no-one-in-the-world-can-change-truth-what-we-can-do-and-should-do-is/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [My aim is to institute perpetual adoration," he said, for this is the "the most important activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/my-aim-is-to-institute-perpetual-adoration-he-said-for-this-is-the/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [The Immaculate alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves entirely to her, that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/the-immaculate-alone-has-from-god-the-promise-of-victory-over-satan/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [Prayer is powerful beyond limits when we turn to the Immaculata who is queen even of God's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/prayer-is-powerful-beyond-limits-when-we-turn-to-the-immaculata-who/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [Niepokalanow is a home like Nazareth. The Father is God the Father, the mother and mistress of the home is the Immaculata, the firstborn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/niepokalanow-is-a-home-like-nazareth-the-father-is-god-the-father-the/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) [Explore all 17 Maximilian Kolbe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be a Catholic: When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may be able to recognize that you know before whom you kneel.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maximilian Kolbe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-altar-do-it-in-such-a-way-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-altar-do-it-in-such-a-way-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/maximilian-kolbe-30122_able_be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-a_2880690.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/maximilian-kolbe-30122_able_be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-a_2880690.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/maximilian-kolbe-30122_able_be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-a_2880690.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be a Catholic: When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may be able to recognize that…” — Maximilian Kolbe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Maximilian Kolbe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be a Catholic: When you kneel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-altar-do-it-in-such-a-way-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/be-a-catholic-when-you-kneel-before-an-altar-do-it-in-such-a-way-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```