Altar Rail Returning to Use

[YoungTradCath]

It’s such a great experience to be able to kneel at a rail to receive.

 

[LilyM]

"March 8, 1958 " said the young priest beginning his homily **“you will *ALWAYS *** remember this date!”

True! With the other children in my class I sat waiting. The girls were resplendent in “immaculate” white dresses, lacy chapel veils concealing their carefully arranged hair and little white gloves; we boys wore pale blue neckties (like our Dads!) white shirts and dress coats - our Sunday bests for Our Lord (and the photos to come).

The long awaited day of Our First Communion had arrived. The mass prayers were in Latin, readings in English. Crisply dressed altar boys reverently bowed and whispered Latin responses kneeling a step below the priest who faced … the altar, the tabernacle, the crucifix on the front wall (back to the congregation as if leading a procession to Jesus).

Maybe I’ll be an altar boy someday I mused. Slightly older than I, the altar boys had set the scene, reverently lighting all the altar candles, stopping to genuflect each time they passed in front of the holy tabernacle containing the most Holy Eucharist.

They knew each step, gesture, and Latin response. They bowed, brought forward the gifts. Poured the little vial of water over Father’s hands and held the purificator for him.

At the elevation of the consecrated Host they knelt ringing bells three times to call everyone’s attention to the Eucharistic Jesus held high in worship. Thrice more for the elevation of the Chalice.

As the moment of our reception neared, we stood up and orderly processed to our spots
behind those at the communion rail. They knelt, waiting. The priest himself, with blessed hands consecrated by a Bishop approached distributing the sacrament.

Eyes lowered, a dutiful altar boy held the golden paten beneath the chin of each communicant to catch any particle of the Eucharist wihich might fall.

I moved forward, knelt at the altar rail, hands folded, watching the others receive.
The moment had come. I received, reverently walked back to my place in the pew, closed my eyes and spoke to Jesus - now with me closer than ever before.

I felt a gentle warm feeling within. That nice feeling of being home and loved. The security of Dad and the tenderness of Mom all at once. We were told to speak to and listen to Jesus with our eyes closed right after communion.

(snip)

Now it was ending. The priest had carefully cleaned the paten and chalice, consumed any remaining PARTICLE of the Holy Eucharist, In magnificent vestments he ceremonially gathered together the Chalice, purificator, pall, chalice veil, burse and corporal into their proper post-mass configuration, said the final prayers “Ite, missa est!”

“Deo Gratias!” we replied. And priest and altar boys bowed and genuflected to the remaining Eucharist in the centrally located and high golden tabernacle, with its nearby red sanctuary light indicating “HE is here!” … and left the sacristy.

In an orderly manner we waited to leave as the choir sang its Recessional hymn.
“Holy God we Praise Thy Name!”

As our turn to exit the pew came, we faced our Lord in the tabernacle, once more genuflected our fealty to Him as we’d done when we’d entered the church; then turned and exited.

(snip)

I could feel God smiling at all of the wonderful people he’d made. Heaven was going to be better than THIS?

And I think today of communion rails. Genuflectiing to Our Lord. The reverence of my elders back then. The chapel veils and hats of the women. The clicking of high heels as they processed to communion. The rustle of the men’s corduroy pants.

The holy tabernacle high, exalted and central as God’s throne (and how I looked at it during the Holy, Holy, Holy because that’s where Jesus WAS).

Things changed. If if was fine with the Church it was good by me. Guitars, organs, both good! Priest facing the people? Jesus probably faced the apostles. New music? Why not if its good … though for a while only the choir knows the new ones.

A culture of “coming closer to Christ” and “worshipping as a community” was the rationale.
A little more horizontal (we) celebration in the mass instead of giving the Lord his own hour of Kingly worship (vertical) with solemn reverence.

God and neighbor. We are to love them both. Today, when I see that altar rails are returning, I rejoice. Reverence is needed. More important than the rail will be the return
of tabernacles to front, center and high (as is proper to the guest of honor and master of the house).

We WILL have to remember to bend the knees again. And it might be harder than when I was 7. But every knee shall bow and tongue will tell that “Jesus Christ is LORD!” :angel1:

Precious.

I remember being alternately bored and tired, interspersed with probably being scared that the host would fall from my mouth in spite of my receiving on the tongue - I think I saw the same happen to others.

That’s about it apart from setting fire to the little bouquet of flowers I held (it had a lit candle in the centre - what a silly thing to give to young children!). Not a large or especially noticeable fire, and I put it out muself with no permanent damage done, thanks be to God.

Communion rail or not, Latin or not, made not the blindest bit of difference. I later sang in the choir for many another First Communion Mass - in the vernacular with recepients standing or kneeling at their discretion and having the option of CITH or COTT, and observed some of the same boredom and fear in some communicants interspersed with joy and reverence in others. Much the same, in fact, as was experienced by the children at my own First Communion.

No other fires though

 

[petronus]

ncregister.com/daily-news/altar-rails-returning-to-use/

Architects, pastors and parishioners find it enhances reverence in church.
.

How , in heaven’s name , do altar rails enhance reverence in church ?

 

[jwinch2]

How , in heaven’s name , do altar rails enhance reverence in church ?

I don’t know, perhaps kneeling in front our Blessed Lord when we receive Him in the Eucharist?

youtube.com/watch?v=Ap1KL2D5ae4
youtube.com/watch?v=Cc0g3UMRtMM

 

[anp1215]

In the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite, they distribute under both species while kneeling. It works just fine. The priest goes down the line with the Body of Christ and the Deacon follows right behind him with the Blood. No problems at all. I would assume the parishes which have come in through the Ordinariate do the same, but I have not attended their liturgy.

Another potential solution, which seem idea to me is to bring back communion via intinction, and give deacons faculties to distribute in that way also.

Intinction is already in use in some parishes…the Anglican Use parish here uses it and I know of another parish downtown that does too. They also use the altar rail and only offer OF.

 

[jwinch2]

Intinction is already in use in some parishes…the Anglican Use parish here uses it and I know of another parish downtown that does too. They also use the altar rail and only offer OF.

Cool. I hadn’t seen either in that setting, but I am glad to know it is happening. There isn’t any reason to my mind that it could not become more widespread. One thing potentially holding it back is that, per my understanding, Deacons are not presently allowed to distribute communion via intinction. If that changed, it would allow the Mass to keep moving, but still allow for the reverence of Mass to be increased.

 

[CaptFun]

Precious.

I remember being alternately bored and tired, interspersed with probably being scared that the host would fall from my mouth in spite of my receiving on the tongue - I think I saw the same happen to others.

That’s about it apart from setting fire to the little bouquet of flowers I held (it had a lit candle in the centre - what a silly thing to give to young children!). Not a large or especially noticeable fire, and I put it out muself with no permanent damage done, thanks be to God.

Communion rail or not, Latin or not, made not the blindest bit of difference. I later sang in the choir for many another First Communion Mass - in the vernacular with recepients standing or kneeling at their discretion and having the option of CITH or COTT, and observed some of the same boredom and fear in some communicants interspersed with joy and reverence in others. Much the same, in fact, as was experienced by the children at my own First Communion.

No other fires though

Thanks for sharing that LilyM. I may have been distracted too (that’d have been like me) but I don’t remember that part. After a year’s buildup as we studied for our first communions (Dominican Sisters were thorough, perfectionist and dramatic) and then our priest’s frosting on the cake “you will never forget this day” admonition - my little 7 year old brain filed the day under “first place” - the after party where I received presents helped there too I think.

Amazingly enough, I had a crisis of faith in my 30s regarding the Eucharist. I knew it was good … but assaults on the Catholic teaching regarding it had me wobbly. I went to communion anyway but was troubled a bit until a God-sent daydream (I’m convinced) of little 7-year-old me turning around in the Communion line in front of me with a " … don’t you BELIEVE anymore (?) look on his face". I suddenly had that childlike faith back and put the emphasis back on Jesus and His love and desire for intimacy with each of us - rather than cynical objections.

The other night, at the last moment, I took communion on both knees. The priest hesitated, but gave me communion. Usually I quickly genuflect just before I get to the front of the line - quickly so as not to slow the line. A 55th anniversary deserved a little extra.

I posted on this “old thread” on a whim while rereading some things I’d posted in the past.

I liked the old communion rail … and if they bring them back it will probably cause no more of a “problem” than taking them out did. Receiving Jesus on one’s knees is a nice, public, gesture signifying Him as our King. Per the Church’s direction I receive standing, but try to genuflect beforehand (forward so as not to confuse those behind me in line).

The important thing is for us not to be as bored or distracted as a child who doesn’t fully think about what is going on. Which we all do if we aren’t careful I’m guessing.

PS: The fiery bouquet is a great idea … more for Confirmation though. Talk to the liturgy committee. :choocho:

 

[JIB]

I went to my first EF Mass last fall and it was a joy. I really appreciated the reverence. I had neve used an altar rail and had only seen “remnants” of them in older churches. I would like to receive on the tongue, but I’m 6’3" and that can be a bit tricky sometimes so I usually receive on the hand (unless of course I’m at a Maronite Mass). With altar rails height doesn’t matter.

 

[jwinch2]

I went to my first EF Mass last fall and it was a joy. I really appreciated the reverence. I had neve used an altar rail and had only seen “remnants” of them in older churches. I would like to receive on the tongue, but I’m 6’3" and that can be a bit tricky sometimes so I usually receive on the hand (unless of course I’m at a Maronite Mass). With altar rails height doesn’t matter.

I’m the same height as you and I always receive on the tongue. I’ve had a few people who were of shorter stature not realize what I was doing for a second or so, but they always figure it out and things work smoothly. I’ve never come across anyone who cannot reach my mouth easily due to height.

If you prefer to receive that way, you should not have any issue. I’m not trying to tell you what your preference should be, merely let you know that if height is a concern, you might not need to worry about it so much.

Peace,