Assembly Line Communion

[cecilia97]

Dear Jotobo,

With a little searching, you may find a OF parish in your area that shows great reverence for the Eucharist. IMHO, parishes with perpetual adoration are good places to begin your search.

Our parish is large, and there’s no way to avoid the long shuffling Communion lines, but our pastor and Adoration have made all the difference. We bow to reverence the Host and the Chalice. Many receive on the tongue. Our acolytes hold patens under our hands or chins and will NOT let us walk away before consuming the Host, at our pastor’s direction. We check our hands for particles.

re: receiving the Precious Blood…this is not required and, frankly, I do not because of germs. Whether or not the Chalice can pass along germs is a topic for another day, but God has given me an understanding of biology and a weak immune system, so I abstain. Even at our very reverent parish, maybe 50% receive from the Chalice. I have never considered it a sign of orthodoxy. The Church did not offer the laity Communion under both species for many hundreds of years.

Many prayers for your journey!

 

[Mrs_Sally]

It is a Communion Procession. Think oif it that way, each of us coming to bow before the King for a moment, and you will not think of it as an ordinary queue again. Also, very early on there was good advice to avoid watching others receive–if, how, both species, etc. Focus on your own preparation before and your own Thanksgiving after.

 

[Lycorth]

It is a Communion Procession. Think oif it that way, each of us coming to bow before the King for a moment, and you will not think of it as an ordinary queue again. Also, very early on there was good advice to avoid watching others receive–if, how, both species, etc. Focus on your own preparation before and your own Thanksgiving after.

I agree; that is a good way to look at it, and a fine way of injecting a traditional mentality of reverence into the NO Mass.

It’s a shame most churches don’t seem to require a sign of reverence before one receives the Eucharist; requiring a genuflection or a profound bow or at least a slow and reverent sign of the cross would go a long way into truly creating that reverential “Eucharistic Procession” atmosphere. My church discourages bowing or genuflecting when you arrive at the priest for Communion, so I bow or genuflect when I’m about the third or second person away, so I don’t seem to be holding up the procession at all and with my action I can perhaps serve as a good example to others.

It’s part of what makes those little reverential actions so important - the good example they set for others in the church with us.

 

[Young_Thinker]

My entire diocese does the “assembly line” communion you mention–and there is no blood of Christ served, either. That’s just how we do it here. It does not show more or less reverence than another service, because people don’t know any other way.

You want to get on your knees and pause for a bit. Some people do that here. And the effect? It interrupts the rhythm and distracts everyone else. I don’t feel rushed, but I also don’t feel its appropriate to sit there while 80 people behind be are waiting to receive the Eucharist.

I think the moral of the story is that, anytime you have more than one person around, you have to make certain sacrifices for the group. If everyone sat for even 15 seconds at the front, the mass would take an extra 30 minutes or more, and lots of people would stop showing up completely.

This reminds me a bit of a line out of the litany for humility: “That others may become holier than me, provided I become as holy as I should.”

That is the problem; Mass should never be rushed like a cafeteria or a college-class (i.e. with students saying that the class is being over time, or the teacher having to often look at his watch). For one thing, a lot of the beauty and serenity is taken away, not to mention that people should never take the Eucharist themselves- that is one of the reasons why the priest is there.

 

[cecilia97]

It is a Communion Procession. Think oif it that way, each of us coming to bow before the King for a moment, and you will not think of it as an ordinary queue again. Also, very early on there was good advice to avoid watching others receive–if, how, both species, etc. Focus on your own preparation before and your own Thanksgiving after.

I agree that we should focus on our own state when receiving and then spend time in silent thanksgiving. However, since last Easter when we witnessed a person walking away with the consecrated Host and putting it in a pocket, I try to keep an eye out just in case the altar boys miss something. It’s sad but sometimes necessary.

 

[Topaz1128]

Ok, going to stop you in your tracks along this line of thought here and now. The moment you start comparing yourself to others is where pride sets in. We all are along different levels of spiritual understanding and growth, some are much stronger in others in certain areas, weaker then others in other areas.

If you go back to scripture, where Paul talks about the new church followers comparing themselves to one another, boasting over this or that, he tears into them by stating, if they want to compare among themselves, compare them to him, and know they all severely lack in every single area, he goes on to point out how it’s foolish to stay within this line of thinking, and that his boasting he’s addressing, is merely set as an example to show them how they all fail if they want to play the compare game.

What you can do is lead through example, others may take note and follow it, others may not be ready, they may never be ready, and it’s sad, but we have people that do not take the mass, much less communion seriously enough. You never really reach absolutes with this, just when you think you have transcended, you find out there is yet another, and another, and another level to go, it’s part of the process, and the bottom line, you move forward or backwards, the dangerous place to be is luke warm.,

Personally, I make the sign of the cross after receiving communion while I look at the cross, the bread is the fullness, just as the wine, either or, and I do not always partake of the wine due to the fact, I don’t need to and it is not as sanitary, so prefer not to take the risk of getting a cold or flu, so it’s something I reserve for special occassions. When I was a child, the parishes I frequented didn’t even offer the wine. After I return to my pew, I always kneel and go into prayer and reflection, often focusing on one of the stations of the cross. When mass is ended, I also kneel and pray and reflect again, and often I find myself the only one, but at my local parish, people are starting to follow my lead.

I totally agree. I am a new catholic, and I’ve never looked at it as “assembly line communion.” I’m just grateful to God that He called me into the Church so that I CAN receive the True Body and Blood.

I kneel, pray, and reflect as soon as I get back to the pew. Most congregants do as well. I also pray and reflect as the priest performs the consecration and also
as I approach the altar.

 

[A2SciTeach]

The parish I attend (NO) began using the altar rail for communion on Holy Thursday. The priest explained how we could go up at our own time and not wait for the whole pew to go and once we got up there to stand in a line behind those at the rail. Whenever there was an opening at the rail, one could just go up and take the place. This procedure did not explain how the people in line to receive the cup would further complicate matters, as would an EMHC standing between the altar rails to give communion to those who chose to stand.

As the process was quite chaotic, especially when people tried to return to their place in the pews and people were already in the pew kneeling. What is the protocol?

I thought the people returning to the pews should look to see if the people on the other side of them had returned and if not, sit, until everyone was back. My husband disagreed, he thought we should go across an unoccupied pew and get back into the communion line until we reached our pew.

Granted the church is very small and space is limited. There is only a central aisle and a side aisle on each side, with each pew having room for 8 adults. We usually sit on the central aisle, I’m thinking if we sit on the side aisle we won’t have to worry about it then we can also institute my idea of sitting until everybody in the pew returns.

I know there have to be people here who go to Churches that use altar rails. Can you tell me how it’s supposed to work?

Thanks.

 

[malphono]

The parish I attend (NO) began using the altar rail for communion on Holy Thursday. The priest explained how we could go up at our own time and not wait for the whole pew to go and once we got up there to stand in a line behind those at the rail. Whenever there was an opening at the rail, one could just go up and take the place. This procedure did not explain how the people in line to receive the cup would further complicate matters, as would an EMHC standing between the altar rails to give communion to those who chose to stand.

It sounds like a recipe for confusion. I know how it usually works in the EF, but while I have no first-hand experience, I don’t think it’s supposed to chaos in the OF either. Maybe best to mention it to the pastor and see what he has to say.

 

[Jennifer_J]

It is a Communion Procession. Think oif it that way, each of us coming to bow before the King for a moment, and you will not think of it as an ordinary queue again. Also, very early on there was good advice to avoid watching others receive–if, how, both species, etc. Focus on your own preparation before and your own Thanksgiving after.

Thank you! Thank you! I’ve waded through this whole thread and SOMEONE finally said it. It’s a Communion Procession…sheesh. (Assembly Line??? ugh.)

 

[ElizabethPH]

The parish I attend (NO) began using the altar rail for communion on Holy Thursday. The priest explained how we could go up at our own time and not wait for the whole pew to go and once we got up there to stand in a line behind those at the rail. Whenever there was an opening at the rail, one could just go up and take the place. This procedure did not explain how the people in line to receive the cup would further complicate matters, as would an EMHC standing between the altar rails to give communion to those who chose to stand.

As the process was quite chaotic, especially when people tried to return to their place in the pews and people were already in the pew kneeling. What is the protocol?

I thought the people returning to the pews should look to see if the people on the other side of them had returned and if not, sit, until everyone was back. My husband disagreed, he thought we should go across an unoccupied pew and get back into the communion line until we reached our pew.

Granted the church is very small and space is limited. There is only a central aisle and a side aisle on each side, with each pew having room for 8 adults. We usually sit on the central aisle, I’m thinking if we sit on the side aisle we won’t have to worry about it then we can also institute my idea of sitting until everybody in the pew returns.

I know there have to be people here who go to Churches that use altar rails. Can you tell me how it’s supposed to work?

Thanks.

We don’t have altar rails; but on the occasion that we have had Latin Mass we use the front pews as the altar rails. It is still done in an orderly fashion with a line. I have attended a Monastery for Latin Mass. there is a line as well both coming and going. It just makes going to Communion more smooth and orderly. Seems without one it would be more chaotic with folks vying for position and crawling over each other in the pews.

 

[Joannm]

The parish I attend (NO) began using the altar rail for communion on Holy Thursday. The priest explained how we could go up at our own time and not wait for the whole pew to go and once we got up there to stand in a line behind those at the rail. Whenever there was an opening at the rail, one could just go up and take the place. This procedure did not explain how the people in line to receive the cup would further complicate matters, as would an EMHC standing between the altar rails to give communion to those who chose to stand.

As the process was quite chaotic, especially when people tried to return to their place in the pews and people were already in the pew kneeling. What is the protocol?

I thought the people returning to the pews should look to see if the people on the other side of them had returned and if not, sit, until everyone was back. My husband disagreed, he thought we should go across an unoccupied pew and get back into the communion line until we reached our pew.

Granted the church is very small and space is limited. There is only a central aisle and a side aisle on each side, with each pew having room for 8 adults. We usually sit on the central aisle, I’m thinking if we sit on the side aisle we won’t have to worry about it then we can also institute my idea of sitting until everybody in the pew returns.

I know there have to be people here who go to Churches that use altar rails. Can you tell me how it’s supposed to work?

Thanks.

This is how it was done when I was growing up (with the Tridentine Mass). There was no order to going up to receive communion, you just climbed over the other people in the pew. Of course back then not everyone went to communion so sometimes you had to climb over a lot of people.

 

[John_Grudzien]

Some of us do not receive because we are not worthy (not in a state of Grace), and to receive while in a state of sin would compound our sin.

That’s the way I was raised to as well. The nuns I had back in the pre-VII days always stressed that you wouldn’t invite your favorite movie star or athelete or even politician over to your house if it wasn’t absolutely spotless, so why would you invite our Lord “under your roof” if you weren’t spiritually clean? Judging by the vasy disparity most weeks between the confessional lines and the communion lines, either I’m in a parish that is primarily inhabited by inviolate saints or people who don’t believe in the Real Presence of Our Lord.
Anyway, after returning to my pew after receiving Holy Communion, I try to converse with The Lord, but it’s very hard with the organ flute and trumpet having a battle royale in the choir loft, and the organist exhorting us to sing the latest pop tune or protestant hymn out of the Oregon Catholic Press hymnal we use. Why can’t we ever have any peace abd quiet in the OF to commune with OuR Lord?

 

[CradleCath]

The parish I attend (NO) began using the altar rail for communion on Holy Thursday. The priest explained how we could go up at our own time and not wait for the whole pew to go and once we got up there to stand in a line behind those at the rail. Whenever there was an opening at the rail, one could just go up and take the place. This procedure did not explain how the people in line to receive the cup would further complicate matters, as would an EMHC standing between the altar rails to give communion to those who chose to stand.

As the process was quite chaotic, especially when people tried to return to their place in the pews and people were already in the pew kneeling. What is the protocol?

I thought the people returning to the pews should look to see if the people on the other side of them had returned and if not, sit, until everyone was back. My husband disagreed, he thought we should go across an unoccupied pew and get back into the communion line until we reached our pew.

Granted the church is very small and space is limited. There is only a central aisle and a side aisle on each side, with each pew having room for 8 adults. We usually sit on the central aisle, I’m thinking if we sit on the side aisle we won’t have to worry about it then we can also institute my idea of sitting until everybody in the pew returns.

I know there have to be people here who go to Churches that use altar rails. Can you tell me how it’s supposed to work?

Thanks.

I attend a Latin Mass & we have no problem.

1. Unless the attendance at Mass was larger than usual, i.e., an EXTRAordinary number (for this particular parish) attending Communion, there would be no need of EXTRAordinary ministers of Communion & that solves one of your problems.
2. Since the whole of Christ’s Body is contained in the Host, the Wine is superfluous…as well as unsanitary.
3. Though I’ve never been TOLD that we are to file up pew by pew, in every parish I’ve attended that uses an Altar rail, that’s the way we’ve done it. I’ve never seen anyone in the fifth pew, jump out ahead of those who are sitting in the second pew. This is just common sense.
4. As we file up, the first people fill the altar rail, the next people line up behind them & take their place as they receive & leave the Altar rail.
5. Since we filed up in the order of our seating, there is no problem returning to the pews.

It sounds as if the priest you refer to is trying to institute a more devout way of receiving. You might want to cut him some slack while it’s all being ironed out.

 

[A2SciTeach]

Thanks to everyone for your answers. We’ll see how it goes tonight, where the church will be packed to the gills. I know we are breaking some ground here with our NO church inching ever closer to an EF and we have been told the TLM will begin as soon as we can get altar servers trained.

 

[ProVobis]

Of course back then not everyone went to communion so sometimes you had to climb over a lot of people.

Very true. You were envied if you were sinless and had fasted for a whole three hours. Not to mention that the fewer that received communion, the quicker the Mass would resume. I’m not kidding. But let’s be honest, how exciting is it to watch others receive communion when you don’t?

 

[ElizabethPH]

Thanks to everyone for your answers. We’ll see how it goes tonight, where the church will be packed to the gills. I know we are breaking some ground here with our NO church inching ever closer to an EF and we have been told the TLM will begin as soon as we can get altar servers trained.

That’s great! and my prayers go out to you and your community. My community is finding it extremely hard to get a Latin Mass. There’s not enough interest in my parish. And another parish there is a lot of interest but the obstacles are endless for them.

Good Luck and God Bless

 

[betty_ann]

It is a Communion Procession. Think oif it that way, each of us coming to bow before the King for a moment, and you will not think of it as an ordinary queue again. Also, very early on there was good advice to avoid watching others receive–if, how, both species, etc. Focus on your own preparation before and your own Thanksgiving after.

Thank You !! That is exactly what it is!

 

[CradleCath]

Very true. You were envied if you were sinless and had fasted for a whole three hours

. Not to mention that the fewer that received communion, the quicker the Mass would resume. I’m not kidding. But let’s be honest, how exciting is it to watch others receive communion when you don’t?

The 3 hr. fast was instituted in 1957. Before that, we fasted 12 hrs. before we received the Eucharist. In high school our daily Mass started at 10AM, which meant that we went to school without Breakfast. One was pretty hungry by 10:45, when one actually received.

We didn’t have lunch until 12:30, yet I don’t remember anyone complaining. That’s the way it was, that’s how important we felt the Eucharist to be.

 

[ProVobis]

The 3 hr. fast was instituted in 1957. Before that, we fasted 12 hrs. before we received the Eucharist.

 

[Ockham]

It is a Communion Procession. Think oif it that way, each of us coming to bow before the King for a moment, and you will not think of it as an ordinary queue again. Also, very early on there was good advice to avoid watching others receive–if, how, both species, etc. Focus on your own preparation before and your own Thanksgiving after.

It is customary to genuflect in front of a King.

If Holy Communion is only given on the tongue then there’s not much reason to worry that people are walking away with the Blessed Sacrament. Check out youtube for all the Black Masses and other desecrations to consecrated hosts these days.

Most NO parishes I know make the Communion Procession as quick as possible. I liken it to a fast food drive through. If reverence towards the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass in general is what you are looking for then the safest bet is to find a EF.