Demolishment of Altar Rails

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I have seen old photos of my parish, showing the faithful kneeling at the altar rail for the Eucharist. But the altar rail is gone now, and I have never seen it myself. Same happened in many Churches in my Diocese, only few of them kept it. Even the Cathedral and the Chapel in our Diocesan Priestly Formation Monastery have no altar rails.

Why was the altar rail removed in many Churches? I suppose it happened after 1969, when Eucharist in the hand and standing was allowed in my diocese. However, unlike freestanding low altar and tabernacle in “truly noble” place, I think the Pauline Missal or the GIRM didn’t recommend the altar rail to be gone. Is the demolishment of altar rails another result of the “Spirit of Vatican II”, or is it due to some other proper reasons?
 
The “spirit” of Vatican II. Vatican II nor any Vatican directive called for this but it was done by most through a misguided sense of reform.
 
What is misguided?Why would there ever be a rail between the Real Presence of Christ and the Congregation?
 
Not quite accurate. I cannot remember the details, but I do recall the GIRM being referenced at times regarding some design decisions in our new church.
 
Since after the reform, Communion is frequently received standing and in processional form, the people approaching the priest while he remains in one spot. Hence, the Communion rail has often lost one of its principal functions.

Likewise, where Communion is often distributed under both species and by more than one minister the rail can sometimes be an obstacle.

 
You lost me. What is meant by " lots"?
I don’t see a danger of crowd control if that is what you mean. Based on a lifetime of observation, mass isn’t like a rock concert.
 
As I understand it , communion kneeling and on the toung was to remain (still remains to this day) the universal law of the Church.

Communion in the hand was allowed as an indult to the law, under strict conditions.

The alter rails should have remained, no Church document called for their removal.

Seems what happened is the exception (communion in the hand) was ilegitamitly presented as the new “norm” and alter rails were illegitimately removed to allow this new norm to flurish.

Lay people handing out communion was only allowed in certain circumstances, was never intended or comanded to be made a normal thing.
 
This topic has been around the washing machine hundreds of times.
It always generates contentiousness and circular pointless arguing. (not that your motivation is such, but that is always the result)

Just search the forum and you can read all about the topic without picking the scab open.
 
Remind me of the purpose of doors between us and the real presence?
 
Jesus never intended any notion of walling off the real presence.
God’s message is I want you to devour my flesh and drink my very blood. Consume me! It was never a prize for those priests consider worthy. I understand the idea of reverence, but assuming people are reverent, the reasons to create a barrier dissapear. And if cynical, you can assign a motivation of ," you need me to get this," beyond simply wanting it and being a Catholic.
 
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Doors are very useful things. They allow movement that is free between two things, yet permit separation when necessary for protection.

Have you noticed that often consecrated hosts are stolen for use at Black Masses, or otherwise displayed as souvenirs etc.? How much more do you think that might happen if tabernacles didn’t have doors?
 
Mac said:
As I understand it , communion kneeling and on the toung was to remain (still remains to this day) the universal law of the Church.
Click to expand...
It is still the universal law? That is strange because at the local church everyone receives in the hand? I thought even the Pope gave communion in the hand to someone standing up.
 
Maximus1 said:
Why would there ever be a rail between the Real Presence of Christ and the Congregation?
Click to expand...
This reminds me of the people who say that the priest used to “turn his back on the congregation.” The altar rail, which can easily be crossed by human means is to remind us of the division between the Holiest of Holies and our physical world. When we receive the Body of Our Lord it’s the Heavenly realm reaching into our lives. The rail is also practical when you receive kneeling.
Edit: reaching, not teaching.
 
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The altar rail didn’t show reverence between Christ and the people, but restriction, which is why it was removed.

The early Christians were not separated from the Eucharists as the Church in later centuries created.

Also, the elderly and others had a difficult time kneeling at the altar rail. Receiving while standing is more practical and doesn’t make them stand out as being different.
 
Yes it still is. . .just as abstinence on Fridays year round is still the Universal Norm even though most countries have an indult permitting this only on Fridays in Lent.
 
You THINK that, but it’s remarkable that none of the documents of Vatican 2 EVER mention such a thing.

The whole “The Early Christians never did THIS” or “The Early Christians did THAT” is a parcel of mid-century revisionism based on sloppy scholarship and pushed forward in an agenda driven by anticlericalism, IMO.
 
That’s no fun. Lol. Actually, it is not a bad thing in terms of learning, to have ideas questioned that you have to defend. Socrates became very popular doing this.
 
And right on cue for CAF, the last three Pope’s are heretics and removing the altar rails was part of a satanic plot. 🤫

Not going to take the bait !
 
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