Prie-dieu

Desk article for private devotional use A fairly large, elaborately carved prie-dieu with a built-in altar that can be closed Prie-dieu facing the casket of the US President John F. Kennedy in the East Room of the White House in 1963. The priests Robert Mohan and Gilbert Hartke are praying on two more to the right. A prie-dieu (pl. prie-dieux; French: [pʁi djø], lit. 'pray [to] God') is a type of prayer desk primarily intended for private devotional use, but which may also be found in churches. A similar form of chair in domestic furniture is called "prie-dieu" by analogy. Sometimes, a prie-dieu will consist only of the sloped shelf for books without the kneeler. History The prie-dieu appears not to have received its present name until the early 17th century. In that period in France, a small room or oratory was sometimes known by the same name. In the Middle Ages, the faithful attended the parish services standing. 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 so