Altar Rail Puts Communicants on Right Track

[Phemie]

Unfortunately your priest is wrong.

Jim

Certainly his priest is free to follow the rules stringently. Since he seems to have no problem distributing Communion by himself you cannot say he’s wrong.

 

[Phemie]

I did call you “he”, I won’t make that mistake again.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

True, it is up to the celebrant whether to use EMCH’s or not.

Jim

 

[pnewton]

Necessity, is the noun form of they word “needed”. They be used if they are needed. Adding the word “absolutely” would limit this and completely change the meaning. If a priest does not see them as needed, and does not want to use them whenever possible, that is good, and it is his decision. If a priest needs them, in his opinion, then he can use them, even if it is every Mass.

Like Phemie, we are required by the bishop to offer communion under both species. As it is, the priest says four Masses on Sunday in a six hour period. Time is a real issue. We pack the Church in two of the Masses and are still growing. They are a necessity.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

The new parish administrator of my parish, had the deacon and EMHC’s distribute communion while he sang and played the guitar.

Jim

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Why do you you have a problem with the way someone else receives communion when it is perfectly fine?

As a priest, I simply ignore those who have such issues about the legitimate preferences of others. They deserve to be treated as trouble-makers, which is what they are.

 

[on_the_hill]

I’ll never understand some people’s need to bring everyone into conformity, despite the Church’s own rubrics, as if their own salvation depends on being officious.

 

[StarMapp]

Our Lord leaves many decisions in the hands of his creatures whom he created in his image. I think this is purposeful. He waits in anticipation, and is anxious even to see what expression of devotion these beings can devise that make use of the graces he was bestowed. Every part of planning and improvement is of keen interest, right up to the final product and decision that is offered to glorify his Maker, even if it is a simple matter of whether to stand or kneel or to change a simple alcove to a sanctuary for devotion of a Saint. There is much the celestial observers could learn of devotion who now dwell in the grace of their particular beatification. I believe He waits to draw aside the curtain and say, "Observe the product of devotion and love they have for me. To what end will they not go to show their thanks and honor?.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 245…

It is one of the four ways approved in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church for administering Holy Communion under the form of wine as well as of bread: "The norms of the Roman Missal admit the principle that in cases where Communion is administered under both kinds, ‘the Blood of the Lord may be received either by drinking from the chalice directly, or by intinction, or by means of a tube or a spoon’

Once again, the Bishops of the United States are quite clear:

1. Distribution of the Precious Blood by a spoon or through a straw is not customary in the Latin dioceses of the United States of America.

Priests who are incardinated in the United States – as well as those of us who are not but who have presided at Eucharist there – are to observe what is an articulated custom of the Particular Church, or in this case, the Particular Churches in a region. This goes hand in hand with:

1. The General Instruction then indicates that the Diocesan Bishop may lay down norms for the distribution of Communion under both kinds for his own diocese, which must be observed.

 

[godisgood77]

Very well said… I would hate to see millions of dollars spent on returning altar rails across the country.

To me expending they type of energy on a purely external item wild border on a gross misuse of funds, time and effort. I get that some people prefer kneeling (they are welcome to kneel today), but is a sylistic preference, not something that automatically changes ones mindset, knowledge or heart.

 

[godisgood77]

The point is: if people kneel to royalty, why would they not kneel to God?

Some people kneel to royalty… many, many never did and never will… Catholics kneel to God all of the time during mass. If you have a preference to kneel for communion, you are welcome to, just like those who prefer to stand can stand.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Well, 100 to 150 is not an unreasonable number. Obviously is is a very small congregation and personally distributing Eucharist would, in that circumstance, allow him to have a personal contact with each person assisting at the liturgical assembly.

It obviously is predicated, too, on the fact that Communion is only distributed under one species…that is not something to be encouraged in this day and age.

As the parish priest, the decision is properly his – until either he can no longer do it or his Bishop overrules his decision.

I will add that the matter is all together different for the priest who is Presider at Eucharist with 500, 700, 1000 or more in the liturgical assembly.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

That is unfortunate. As the Bishops of the United States themselves have stated…

1. The revised Missale Romanum, third typical edition, significantly expands those opportunities when Holy Communion may be offered under both kinds. In addition to those instances specified by individual ritual books, the General Instruction states that Communion under both kinds may be permitted as follows /…/

 

[phil19034]

phil19034:

The point is: if people kneel to royalty, why would they not kneel to God?

Some people kneel to royalty… many, many never did and never will… Catholics kneel to God all of the time during mass. If you have a preference to kneel for communion, you are welcome to, just like those who prefer to stand can stand.

Personally, I don’t kneel to receive communion because I have bad knees. But I love kneeling for communion at parishes that have nice wide, soft pads at the altar rail.

What I like about kneeling is the extra 10-15 seconds of silent prayer kneeling close to the altar during mass, before receiving communion.

For me, it’s not so much about the kneeling, but the quiet/still time at the altar before receiving.

God Bless

 

[godisgood77]

What I like about kneeling is the extra 10-15 seconds of silent prayer kneeling close to the altar during mass, before receiving communion.

I enjoy that time as well. My family typically sits 8-10 pews in… and we usually have 2-3 minutes of silent prayer kneeling before receiving before approaching the altar.

 

[phil19034]

phil19034:

What I like about kneeling is the extra 10-15 seconds of silent prayer kneeling close to the altar during mass, before receiving communion.

I enjoy that time as well. My family typically sits 8-10 pews in… and we usually have 2-3 minutes of silent prayer kneeling before receiving before approaching the altar.

I typically sit in the first or second row. When I sit further back, I get distracted.

Kneeling at the altar rail also allows me to be physically very close to Eucharist for a longer amount of time, which is also very powerful for me.

So that’s why I prefer the altar rail. NOTE: I will never say that the communion line is wrong, nor will I ever say that one must kneel at the altar rail. But it my parish ever had a vote on it, I would vote for using the altar rail (with the understanding that one may continue to stand & continue to receive in hand).

God Bless

 

[pnewton]

Priests who are incardinated in the United States – as well as those of us who are not but who have presided at Eucharist there – are to observe what is an articulated custom of the Particular Church, or in this case, the Particular Churches in a region.

I think one point that has been missed is that the initial article was by a bishop in Kazakhstan. It has already been mentioned how culture affects the way we see posture, and as we see here, the number of priests, communion under two species and a host of other issues make taking what a bishop says in Kazahstan and applying it to the United States, or any where else, problematic. The Church allows that options in administering the Sacraments be decided at the episcopal level, and that of episcopal conferences, because a lot of the reasons for the options do not transfer from one point on the globe to another.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

If a priest does not see them as needed, and does not want to use them whenever possible, that is good, and it is his decision. If a priest needs them, in his opinion, then he can use them, even if it is every Mass.

I would not go so far as to say that it is good. It is however, as you rightly say, his determination to make, as parish priest. Of course, that determination can be overruled. His Bishop could make a decision for him.

 

[godisgood77]

I understand… I think we are saying the same thing… it’s a personal preference or style choice

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I think one point that has been missed is that the initial article was by a bishop in Kazakhstan.

I personally would have qualified it as the Auxiliary Bishop from Kazakhstan. From his press and publicity, he seems to spend an astonishing amount of time precisely not being in Kazakhstan.