Communion Service mimicking the Holy Mass?

[Oneofthewomen]

The answer is education, not restricting reception of the sacraments.

-Tim-

Unfortunately, we are not talking about “restricting the sacraments”. I am just thinking about the opportunities for daily Mass within a 5 mile radius of my home and I can think of 8 Masses that happen at different times of the day, starting at 6:30am and the last at 5:30pm. It is not unusual for at least one of these parishes to have a communion service instead of a daily Mass. My question is why? If there are 7 other Masses available, within a very reasonable distance (most think nothing of driving farther to their favorite grocery store everyday!), there really is no legitimate reason to substitue a “communion service”.

I agree that catechesis is important, but I must concur with Phemie.
Most of the people I know who complain the loudest when the reins on communion services get pulled in are the ones who are abusing them to begin with.:sad_yes:

My understanding is that this rite was written to help address a real issue- lack of priests to say even ONE Mass a week! Not as a substitute for lay people to "play Mass"on the priest’s day off.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh. This is based on my experience in attending and yes, even conducting, (before I knew any better:blush these types of communion services.
I have also witnessed very reverent communion services, led by wonderful volunteers in the nursing home where I work. Without them, and these communion services, most of my residents with have no coneection with the Church at all. So I see the need to have this rite, I just do not think it should be used as freely as it is, in my area, as a substitute for daily Mass.

 

[JaKael02]

While Rome leaves it up to the diocesan bishop to decide, a reading of Redemptionis Sacramentum shows that the CDW would prefer that these services didn’t happen during the week, especially if Mass is celebrated either the Sunday before or after. Even on Sunday it says that “It is necessary to avoid any sort of confusion between this type of gathering and the celebration of the Eucharist. The diocesan Bishops, therefore, should prudently discern whether Holy Communion ought to be distributed in these gatherings.”

Teaching will have no great effect. I see people now who come to Church on Sunday and express delight that it’s a Celebration of the Word instead of Mass. They honestly couldn’t care less that we never have Mass as long as they can get Communion.

Great resource! That’s exactly what I’ve heard on CA.Live radio before.

 

[JaKael02]

Unfortunately, we are not talking about “restricting the sacraments”. I am just thinking about the opportunities for daily Mass within a 5 mile radius of my home and I can think of 8 Masses that happen at different times of the day, starting at 6:30am and the last at 5:30pm. It is not unusual for at least one of these parishes to have a communion service instead of a daily Mass. My question is why? If there are 7 other Masses available, within a very reasonable distance (most think nothing of driving farther to their favorite grocery store everyday!), there really is no legitimate reason to substitue a “communion service”.

I agree that catechesis is important, but I must concur with Phemie.
Most of the people I know who complain the loudest when the reins on communion services get pulled in are the ones who are abusing them to begin with.:sad_yes:

My understanding is that this rite was written to help address a real issue- lack of priests to say even ONE Mass a week! Not as a substitute for lay people to "play Mass"on the priest’s day off.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh. This is based on my experience in attending and yes, even conducting, (before I knew any better:blush these types of communion services.
I have also witnessed very reverent communion services, led by wonderful volunteers in the nursing home where I work. Without them, and these communion services, most of my residents with have no coneection with the Church at all. So I see the need to have this rite, I just do not think it should be used as freely as it is, in my area, as a substitute for daily Mass.

I’m with you here. I am feeling the same thing regarding our Parish.

In your opinion, should I avoid communion service then? Or maybe attend service and just not receive? I don’t know. There is no blessed Sacrament during this time because they take the hosts from the Tabernacle to use for the COmmunion service.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I’m with you here. I am feeling the same thing regarding our Parish.

In your opinion, should I avoid communion service then? Or maybe attend service and just not receive? I don’t know. There is no blessed Sacrament during this time because they take the hosts from the Tabernacle to use for the COmmunion service.

Not sure what you mean by what I highlighted above.
The Blessed Sacrament is present. What you are receiving is the “Body of Christ” that was consecrated during a Mass, and resposed in the tabernacle, for use to bring to the sick/homebound and for services like this.

As far as should you attend, that is entirely up to you.
I do participate at the Communion services at my nursing home whan I am able,
but I would not go ‘out of my way’ to attend one in lieu of a daily Mass. If I show up for a daily Mass that gets switched to a communion service, for whatever reason, I usually don’t receive, but that is just me.

 

[Irishgal49]

When you say everything, do you mean a layperson reads the gospel, gives the blessing after the confiteor, and the final blessing at the end?

I’ve seen a deacon do this at a weekend communion service, but I thought these were parts the laity can never do.

I suggest digging deeper and if this isn’t allowed, kindly inform your parish priest. If it’s illicit, he probably doesn’t know it’s happening (i.e. probably thinks those parts are omitted when he isn’t there). I’m sure he’ll fix things right.

At our parish people were calling the occasional communion service, “The Deacon’s Mass” and he straightened them out in a hurry. He’s a great Deacon and he made sure they understood the difference.

 

[JaKael02]

Not sure what you mean by what I highlighted above.
The Blessed Sacrament is present. What you are receiving is the “Body of Christ” that was consecrated during a Mass, and resposed in the tabernacle, for use to bring to the sick/homebound and for services like this.

As far as should you attend, that is entirely up to you.
I do participate at the Communion services at my nursing home whan I am able,
but I would not go ‘out of my way’ to attend one in lieu of a daily Mass. If I show up for a daily Mass that gets switched to a communion service, for whatever reason, I usually don’t receive, but that is just me.

I may be using wrong language.

They take the Ciborum from the Tabernacle in our Chapel to use for communion service. So I am unable to go into the Chapel for Eucharistic Adoration during communion service because the ciborum is outside in the Main church hall.

Does that make sense?

 

[superamazingman]

FWIW, I am not a big fan of communion services in lieu of daily Mass.

Nor am I. In fact, there never should be communion services in place of daily Mass. The only time they should really be used is on a Sunday if a priest can not make it, for example, if there is 3 priests in the county.