Communion/altar rails

[japhy]

With that in mind I do not believe any of the Vatican II documents mentioin anything about the specifics of the liturgy.

While Sacrosanctum Concilium (the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) was not terribly specific about the reforms to be made to the liturgy, it did mention a few things in particular, like the restoration of the homily to its liturgical place, the “prayer of the faithful”, and the possibility of allowing Communion under both kinds in certain circumstances.

 

[m134e5]

Okay, so I need the basic low-down…

Communion rails, were they supposed to be taken out after Vatican II?

NO. Vatican II never said anything about removing them- ever- nor has their removal been mandated by canon law or any other authoritative source since Vatican II. They are no longer specifically called for in the building of new churches- but no church document has ever officially called for their removal.

I’ve read all of Sanctosanctum Concilium (sp?) and I can’t find anything. I ask this because a priest at my local parish brought up the topic in this past Sunday’s homily (I have no idea what communion rails have to do with 2 Sm 7, Rom 16, or Lk 1) and seemed to be at odds with some of the Cardinals who are calling for putting the rails back in. His rationale: you can’t contain God within rails and separate the congregation from God…

The communion rails aren’t like a fence- if you want to go into the sanctuary, just go around through the sacristy. I know of some newer ones that even open in the middle so the priest and servers can still process in and out of the sanctuary down the main aisle. The communion rail does not separate us from God. It is low enough to the ground that an adult of normal height can kneel in front of it, and still see above it clearly- it hardly constrains God or separates the congregation from Him. All it does is allow us to go forward, stand in a line facing the sanctuary, and kneel to receive communion easily (if we choose to). The communion rail shouldn’t be that big a deal for those who don’t want it- just stand in front of it. For those who prefer to kneel to receive communion, it makes things a lot easier.

you ask me, his rationale sounds WEAK.

It *is *weak- perhaps he would find himself more at home in an evangelical church.

 

[Torroidial]

I was taught (as a kid) that the altar rail represented the table of the Lord, not a barrier.

I was taught the altar did.

 

[Torroidial]

The “stripping” of altar rails parallels several eastern churches pre-V II removal of the Iconostasi and/or curtains.

The Byzantine Rite and Coptic Rite both use Iconostasi (Icon Screens), a wall-like barrier between the sanctuary (altar) and the nave (where the people are), with 3 doorways (Deacon Door, the twin Royal Doors, and the other Deacon Door). in the 1940’s and later, several Byzantine Churchs in union with Rome started removing these iconostasi so the “the people may see the actions of the priest.” Some Byzantine Churches had a curtain lowered right behind the Doorway of the Royal Doors during the consecration; it too, often disappeared…

That’s very true. Many Eastern Catholic parishes were “latinized” in a host of different ways beginning in the late 19th century and through most of the 20th century. These latinizations along with other problems caused many parishes to leave for Eastern/Oriental Orthodoxy or the Polish National Catholic Church.

The desecration of Catholic churches in the 1960’s-1980’s was nothing new or unique.

My parish has an entirely new sanctuary then in decades past. Far nicer and more formal than the past too. Given the age of some of our priests and the increased number (6) into the sanctuary, altar railings would not only look incongruent, they would be dangerous unless they opened automatically when triggered by an electric eye which would look very bad.

We would probably end-up blocking them open (as they often do at EWTN’s shrine) which would look even more hideous.

 

[katy]

Yes, I always found that interesting. The Lutheran church I sometimes have worked in as musician, will have all of the congregants kneel to receive. The same with many of the Anglican and Episcopal churches in my city. They take their time receiving and don’t seem to care that their mass/service might take a few minutes longer. Some actually can’t understand why we, as Catholics, wouldn’t want to receive the Lord kneeling.

They even kneel to receive communion at my sister’s Methodist church. I can’t figure out why we, as Catholics, generally don’t any more. I would love to see it return. Being able to receive the Lord kneeling is one reason I often to the EF mass during the week.

 

[Sir_Anthony]

I have been to parishes with the communion rails and those who removed it back in the day, and I don’t know what it is. But the church looks more complete with the communion rails, this is more of a sense of sanctity. My question is what was the purpose of moving the tabernacle to the sides? That didn’t make much sense to me.

 

[rick43235]

The LUTERAN church in my town has an altar rail that communicants kneel at to revieve.
Its really sad that even those receiving fake communion are doing the gesture better than most Catholic churches.

Classy…real classy.

 

[John_Augustine]

The LUTERAN church in my town has an altar rail that communicants kneel at to revieve.
Its really sad that even those receiving fake communion are doing the gesture better than most Catholic churches.

With that in mind I do not believe any of the Vatican II documents mentioin anything about the specifics of the liturgy. [Edited]

Fake communion? Wouldn’t any Anglicans or Lutherans who actually believe in the Real Presence be making a spiritual communion when they receive, regardless of the validity of the celebration?