Prie-dieu

A prie-dieu (French: literally, "pray [to] God") is a type of prayer desk primarily intended for private devotional use, but which may also be found in churches.

[2] From the 16th century onwards, wooden benches or chairs were made available, according to an order fixed by the customary law, and rented from the farmer who was the successful bidder for the "chair farm" or from the churchwarden, the fixed prices (increased during solemn masses) being collected by the chairmaker.

[3] The design of this prayer stand varied in time, eventually settling[4] as a small, ornamental wooden desk furnished with a thin, sloping shelf for books or hands, and a kneeler.

This type is useful for devotions such as the Rosary, which do not require a book, or for private, non-liturgical prayer.

In the Byzantine Rite, a prie-dieu is provided for the bishop when he kneels in the Holy Doors during the consecration of a church.