Altar Rail Returning to Use

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In Tiverton, R.I., when some parishioners suggested returning altar rails to the sanctuary of Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Father Jay Finelli gladly accepted, little knowing shortly thereafter the Pope’s 2007 motu proprio letter Summorum Pontificum would follow and he would be interested in learning how to celebrate the extraordinary form of the Mass.

In Norwalk, Conn., when a groundswell of parishioner support encouraged pastor Father Greg Markey to restore St. Mary Church, the second-oldest parish in the diocese, to its original 19th-century neo-gothic magnificence, he made sure altar rails were again part of the sanctuary.

Altar rails are present in several new churches architect Duncan Stroik has designed. Among them, the Thomas Aquinas College Chapel in Santa Paula, Calif., the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wis., and three others on the drawing boards.

Read more: ncregister.com/daily-news/altar-rails-returning-to-use#ixzz1REWlDrVk
 
(1) Our Tripled size membership in 3 years traditional Parish: Holy Trinity Catholic, Gainesville VA, Sent one of our priests who volunteered for the Months Training in the very detailed requirements for the Tridentine Mass Liturgy. It is complex, but very beautiful, Moving Liturgy. He and we now love our Tridentine Mass; attendance has grown significantly.
(2) Tridentine Mass requires Kneeling, and On Tongue Only, no Amen response, and never on hands. We use extra portable Kneelers for Tridentine Communion, removed by Altar boys following Mass. Full Altar Railings are a problem, because of the also very ancient Novus Ordo Mass (Based on First Centuries practices of chewing on the “Bread”, and standing Reception). portable cushion kneelers are available for Tridentine Mass. Our “Instant MegaChurch” of 3 years Tripled membership also has a Gregorian Chant Cantor, and many youth Gregorian Choir.
 
Excellent article!!! 👍 I love the use of altar rails at our parish. We have even started using a rail cloth as well.

~Liza
 
Personally, I love the altar rail, but there are none in my diocese, even though the Tridentine Mass is regularly celebrated. In the cathedral, when the altar rails were taken down in the aftermath of Vatican II, demonstrators chained themselves to the rails! The general opinion seems to be that they merely seperate the laity from the sanctuary, but they have a practical function in that they support the kneeling communicant. The result is that I once almost lost my balance while kneeling; good thing I did not collpase into the priest’s knees!
 
I love the rail as it just makes sense even just from a logicists stand point. (and i go to an anlgican use mass not a TLM mass)

I mean i perfer to recieve on the tongue but i am a 5’10 women so I have to gauge sometimes the height of the priest or the EMHC to see if i am going to have to recieve in the hand when i go to other churches. I would rather receive in the hand then have someone drop Jesus. When everyone is kneeling you don’t have that problem. Plus i think the line moves just as fast.

Plus I think it just adds to the beauty of the litgury. When my church shuts the gates to make the altar rail across the whole front of the altar it is a phsycially reminder that something is extra important is going on. Plus the rail is a reminder that the Altar is truly a sacared place that is different from the rest of the church.
 
I miss having an altar rail, so I’d be very happy if my parish’s church had them put in.

If for no other reason than having to kneel to receive our Lord it will reinforce at a deeper level – a level that really cannot be described with words – o what is happening.

Our parish church has 3 (well, 4) between pews.

Aisle #1 is on the furthest East side of the church building. That would be “Line #1.”

Aisle #3 is on the furthest West side of the church building. That would be “Line #3.”

Aisle #2 is straight down the center of the Church building. That would be “Line #2a” and “Line #2b.”

As it is now, there are so many people at some of the Sunday morning Masses that Father stands on the floor directly in front of the altar, at the head of the center aisle (Aisle #2) with an EMHC a pace away on his left side and closer to the mouth of the aisle (Line #2a) as well as another EMHC on his left side on his right side also closer to the mouth of the aisle (Line #2b).

This way, each of the 2 lines that go down the center aisle lead you (depending on which line you’re in) to the EMHC on your side of the aisle. If there’s a backup at either EMHC, then you take a few more steps directly forward and receive the Host from Father who is standing a few paces beyond the EMHC’s who are at the head of Line #2a and Line #2b.

Now, if there was a permanent altar rail, that “traffic congestion” at the head of the center aisle would not be happening.

So, another reason for a permanent altar rail would keep me from having to decide whether to change lanes at the last moment and head straight toward Father to receive Communion. It never fails when walking up the center aisle that people in Line #2a and people in Line #2b all have to make that same last-minute decision.

I guess it’s a good thing that we have so many people at a couple of our morning Sunday Masses. But, I think that what are we rushing for? After all, our Masses are scheduled to end between 20 minutes and 30 minutes before the next Mass.
😦
 
beckers said:
I love the rail as it just makes sense even just from a logicists stand point. (and i go to an anlgican use mass not a TLM mass)

I mean i perfer to recieve on the tongue but i am a 5’10 women so I have to gauge sometimes the height of the priest or the EMHC to see if i am going to have to recieve in the hand when i go to other churches. I would rather receive in the hand then have someone drop Jesus. When everyone is kneeling you don’t have that problem. Plus i think the line moves just as fast.

Plus I think it just adds to the beauty of the litgury. When my church shuts the gates to make the altar rail across the whole front of the altar it is a phsycially reminder that something is extra important is going on. Plus the rail is a reminder that the Altar is truly a sacared place that is different from the rest of the church.
Click to expand...
I’m 5’8" so the only time I’ve had difficulty is when the EMHC is 5’2" and so has to reach higher than I think they could ever reach.

So, if I want to receive on the tongue, I have to somehow make myself shorter. So, I squat after I say “Amen.” And stand up directly once I’ve received Him on my tongue. And walk back toward my pew.

That, too, is quite a moment – fodder for meditation on humility!!
:o
 
AntalKalnoky said:
(1) Our Tripled size membership in 3 years traditional Parish: Holy Trinity Catholic, Gainesville VA, Sent one of our priests who volunteered for the Months Training in the very detailed requirements for the Tridentine Mass Liturgy. It is complex, but very beautiful, Moving Liturgy. He and we now love our Tridentine Mass; attendance has grown significantly.
(2) Tridentine Mass requires Kneeling, and On Tongue Only, no Amen response, and never on hands. We use extra portable Kneelers for Tridentine Communion, removed by Altar boys following Mass. Full Altar Railings are a problem, because of the also very ancient Novus Ordo Mass (Based on First Centuries practices of chewing on the “Bread”, and standing Reception). portable cushion kneelers are available for Tridentine Mass. Our “Instant MegaChurch” of 3 years Tripled membership also has a Gregorian Chant Cantor, and many youth Gregorian Choir.
Click to expand...
At our Parish, the Communion rails are there, permanently. They are used not only for the Latin but also for the Novus Ordo where at least 1/2 kneel for communion. (there is the option of standing and using your hand) As our Monsignor says, there is no greater reverence for Jesus Christ’s physical presence in the Eucharist than kneeling before our savior when we consume him.
 
I would welcome the return off altar rails. My parish has portions on each side of the sanctuary, but what happened to the rest, I do not know. The original altar rails, and those remaining, were/are Italian marble.
 
This is fresh hope, indeed…my heart sings to think that in the politically liberal state of R.I. this would happen and more gladly so in response to the parishioners request!

AWESOME!!
 
garygodin said:
At our Parish, the Communion rails are there, permanently. They are used not only for the Latin but also for the Novus Ordo where at least 1/2 kneel for communion. (there is the option of standing and using your hand) As our Monsignor says, there is no greater reverence for Jesus Christ’s physical presence in the Eucharist than kneeling before our savior when we consume him.
Click to expand...
That’s ideal. I can’t understand how, with full Communion rail we Prefer… Our Kneelers are portable, for Tridentine Mass only. Some of us genuflect before we are up for Novus Ordo Eucharist. Our Pastor taught our many Altar boys to receive Communion On Tongue, as the Holy Father requires, kneeling: Papal Masses on EWTN
 
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