That would have been news to all the religious sisters who taught us catechism.What were the responsibilities of clerics that the laity were forbidden to do?
For example, only lectors can catechize children and adults. I’m not sure if this is true but this is the best example I can think of.
Lectors were limited to seminarians or priests.What were the responsibilities of clerics that the laity were forbidden to do?
For example, only lectors can catechize children and adults. I’m not sure if this is true but this is the best example I can think of.
This is still practised in Traditionalist parishes or Masses if they are celebrated in Ordinary Form Parishes. This practice has ancient origins and is maintained. In fact, I have seen this at Opus Dei Masses; laypeople cover their hands with a purificator cloth to touch the Sacred Vessels. This is a perfect example of something that has changed without good reason; Vatican II did not positively mention this pious custom.Certainly in my parish there was NO touching of sacred vessels by laity. I remember as an altar boy we couldn’t even touch the tabernacle key if it was in the tabernacle lock.
Priests did - and should - perform this function. Traditionally the priest would wear a pyx around his neck. The Priest would walk with eyes lowered clasping the pyx in his hand. An altar boy would walk ahead ringing a bell. All Catholics in the area would kneel as the Priest passed by. Such was the adoration shown to Our Eucharistic Lord in the ages of Faith. These days, Catholics disrespectfully pass Him around in their unconsecrated hands like he’s a cookie/wafer. I shudder when I consider the possibility of eucharistic fragments being trodden underfoot.I"m not sure about the laity taking Communion to the sick. Maybe someone else can answer that question.
I have some anecdotal evidence of lay people giving out communion. It was under circumstances that were rare and unusual. If there as a war or an insurrection then a lay person might distribute communion in order to prevent a sacrilege…The Cronnicles of the Catholic Church in Lithuania describes an instance where a bishop allowed a woman to bring communion to her husband who was in prison as a political prisoner for her marriage. The Soviet Union did not allow the promulgation of the reforms of Vatican II at that time so the people were using the pre-Vatican II mass and rules.I don’t believe the laity were allowed to distribute Communion during Mass.
I"m not sure about the laity taking Communion to the sick. Maybe someone else can answer that question.
I don’t know if it was “allowed” or not, but it just wasn’t done and never came up around here.I don’t believe the laity were allowed to distribute Communion during Mass.
.