Communion

[pf41]

Hi everybody. I’m an Episcopal, and I’m much more towards the liturgical side of the Episcopal church than most people.

Anyhow, I went to my first Catholic Mass, I didn’t go up and try to receive communion or anything. I was surprised to see people receiving communion in the middle of the sanctuary from a man in an aloha shirt. I feel sort of judgmental for saying this…but I’ve never received the host or chalice from anyone any less dressed up than alb and stole, and always at the front of the sanctuary near the altar.

Was this just an evangelically inclined congregation? If not, we liturgical Episcopals have some really wrong ideas about Catholic customs…

 

[KarenElissa]

Hi everybody. I’m an Episcopal, and I’m much more towards the liturgical side of the Episcopal church than most people.

Anyhow, I went to my first Catholic Mass, I didn’t go up and try to receive communion or anything. I was surprised to see people receiving communion in the middle of the sanctuary from a man in an aloha shirt. I feel sort of judgmental for saying this…but I’ve never received the host or chalice from anyone any less dressed up than alb and stole, and always at the front of the sanctuary near the altar.

Was this just an evangelically inclined congregation? If not, we liturgical Episcopals have some really wrong ideas about Catholic liturgy…

A couple of quick notes on terminology, the guy passing out Communion is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, or EMHC for short. They are lay people who assist in distributing Communion. They are certainly allowed although you will see a fair amount of discussion around here about exactly how often they should be used and how.

Also, I assume by “in the middle of the sanctuary” you mean some where other than around the front of the church. In the Catholic Church the sanctuary is the front area around the altar, often set apart by being a step or two up or with altar rails. The whole area with the pews and such is called either the nave or the church proper. (a bit confusing for those of us coming from protestant backgrounds ) And again, yes this is allowed. Previously everyone received Communion kneeling at the altar rail, but right now that isn’t the norm. Again you will hear plenty of discussion about whether it should be or not, but in the majority of Catholic Churches we receive standing.

 

[Tietjen]

I was surprised to see people receiving communion in the middle of the sanctuary from a man in an aloha shirt. I feel sort of judgmental for saying this…but I’ve never received the host or chalice from anyone any less dressed up than alb and stole, and always at the front of the sanctuary near the altar.

Was this just an evangelically inclined congregation? If not, we liturgical Episcopals have some really wrong ideas about Catholic customs…

KarenElissa has already addressed the terminology so I’ll address the Hawaiian shirt by simply saying that unfortunately not all the clergy are good at insisting that the EMHCs dress respectfully. And without starting an argument with those EMHCs who feel that serving at a Mass in a Hawaiian shirt is perfectly acceptable, I’ll simply say that there are many in the pews who are disappointed when we see such things. God bless.

 

[NewAgeCatholic]

Hi everybody. I’m an Episcopal, and I’m much more towards the liturgical side of the Episcopal church than most people.

Anyhow, I went to my first Catholic Mass, I didn’t go up and try to receive communion or anything. I was surprised to see people receiving communion in the middle of the sanctuary from a man in an aloha shirt. I feel sort of judgmental for saying this…but I’ve never received the host or chalice from anyone any less dressed up than alb and stole, and always at the front of the sanctuary near the altar.

Was this just an evangelically inclined congregation? If not, we liturgical Episcopals have some really wrong ideas about Catholic customs…

I can recall in the early 70’s we had a young priest assigned to our parish who wore vestments a bit foreign to the norm of the ole tarts. He was known as our hippie priest. Long hair, glasses, Polish by descent, tall, and he had an eye for the ladies shall we say and the very young girls loved him outwardly. Many stories were told. He was Father Ed and wanted to be known as Fr. for Father and Ed for his first name and so we called him Fred. He was super kewl for a priest. Far from the stodgy norm of the time, you know the type. He did not really last long at our parish. I never asked why but heard this and that. The young ones bounce around from place to place. I suppose it’s worse than being in the miltary and why we have so few being called. Priests come and go so quickly. However our beloved Msgnr, pastor for decades died as that. He was never transferred and was dearly loved.

What do you think of former Gov. McGreevey converting and to grace your people with his being a priest in your faith?

 

[pf41]

A couple of quick notes on terminology,…Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, or EMHC for short…the sanctuary is the front area around the altar, often set apart by being a step or two up or with altar rails. The whole area with the pews and such is called either the nave or the church proper.

Thank you.

but in the majority of Catholic Churches we receive standing.

All right. I guess that is the reality in the majority of Catholic churches. It is different from what some liturgically-minded people among Episcopals think occurs in Catholic Mass. Thank you.

And without starting an argument with those EMHCs who feel that serving at a Mass in a Hawaiian shirt is perfectly acceptable, I’ll simply say that there are many in the pews who are disappointed when we see such things. God bless.

I would be disappointed, too!

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