Liturgical abuse?

[spellinggirl]

Hi! I’m a college student at a small, private, liberal arts university that is not affiliated with any religion. There is a Newman Club on campus, however, which provides Mass every Sunday night. I just got back from a Mass that seemed… strange. There were only four students at Mass (and the club advisor).

When it came time for communion, Father motioned for us to all surround the altar. He distributed the Body of Christ to us all but said “we will partake of it together.” So we stood there, holding the Body. He said a prayer I hadn’t heard before about the body of Christ, then ate the wafer and motioned for us all to do so as well. Then he drank from the chalice and administered it to the guy next to me, who then administered it to me. Then I administered it to the girl next to me, and so on. None of us are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

This all felt very off to me. It is liturgical abuse? We’ve had this priest before and never done something like this. If it was illicit, what do I do? Should I notify the bishop? Have I committed a mortal sin by participating? Thanks so much in advance for your help.

 

[Like]

Hi! I’m a college student at a small, private, liberal arts university that is not affiliated with any religion. There is a Newman Club on campus, however, which provides Mass every Sunday night. I just got back from a Mass that seemed… strange. There were only four students at Mass (and the club advisor).

When it came time for communion, Father motioned for us to all surround the altar. He distributed the Body of Christ to us all but said “we will partake of it together.” So we stood there, holding the Body. He said a prayer I hadn’t heard before about the body of Christ, then ate the wafer and motioned for us all to do so as well. Then he drank from the chalice and administered it to the guy next to me, who then administered it to me. Then I administered it to the girl next to me, and so on. None of us are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

This all felt very off to me. It is liturgical abuse? YES! We’ve had this priest before and never done something like this. If it was illicit, what do I do? Should I notify the bishop?YES! Have I committed a mortal sin by participating? Thanks so much in advance for your help.

In MHO NO, you did not commit a mortal sin.

 

[marty1818]

Sounds like the priest had you self communicating which only priests concelebrating are permitted to do. This would be something to bring to the attention of the bishop. As noted by the previous poster, I can’t see this being a mortal sin for you. There’s not really anything you could have done anyways since it sounds like you were put on the spot.

 

[japhy]

When it came time for communion, Father motioned for us to all surround the altar. He distributed the Body of Christ to us all but said “we will partake of it together.” So we stood there, holding the Body. He said a prayer I hadn’t heard before about the body of Christ, then ate the wafer and motioned for us all to do so as well. Then he drank from the chalice and administered it to the guy next to me, who then administered it to me. Then I administered it to the girl next to me, and so on.

The prayer he said is probably the one he is supposed to say (quietly) before receiving the Host himself. But as for the practice of everyone consuming the Host together, that is permitted only for priests; when Mass is being concelebrated by a number of priests, they all consume the Host together. But the Church has specified that this practice is not permissible for deacons or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs). E.g. “To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches: extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants.” (Ecclesiae de mysterio article 8, number 2)

Daisy-chaining the chalice from one communicant to the next is the same as treating each person as an EMHC. This is also inappropriate: “The faithful are not permitted to take the consecrated bread or the sacred chalice by themselves and, still less, to hand them from one to another.” (GIRM 160)

It is liturgical abuse? We’ve had this priest before and never done something like this. If it was illicit, what do I do?

You have not sinned in doing this, because it was out of your control. I would recommend that before you go over this priest’s head by contacting his superior or a bishop, you speak with him first. Charitably and calmly express your concern with his actions at that Mass. If you have questions, ask them, and listen to his answers. You may also want to express your discomfort, which may impact his decision to celebrate Mass that way in the future.

 

[dconklin]

I would recommend that before you go over this priest’s head by contacting his superior or a bishop, you speak with him first. Charitably and calmly express your concern with his actions at that Mass. If you have questions, ask them, and listen to his answers. You may also want to express your discomfort, which may impact his decision to celebrate Mass that way in the future.

I fully agree. Going to the Bishop should be a last resort. I am not a priest, so I will not try to determine if this was “major infraction”. I have been to Masses with a very small crowd and we gathered around the altar.

 

[Thomas_Francis]

I fully agree. Going to the Bishop should be a last resort.

Yes, try to approach the priest first, though be aware that this is indeed an abuse.

I am not a priest, so I will not try to determine if this was “major infraction”. I have been to Masses with a very small crowd and we gathered around the altar.

This has been going on since at least the 80’s and in 1984 the Vatican released a statement on standing around the altar. You can read the EWTN article on it here.

The assembly of the faithful take their place in the Church outside the “presbyterium,” which is reserved for the celebrant or concelebrants and altar ministers.

Also Inaestimabile donum, issued in 1980 specifically condemns this action..

nor may the chalice be passed from one communicant to another

 

[Irishgal49]

Yes, try to approach the priest first, though be aware that this is indeed an abuse.

This has been going on since at least the 80’s and in 1984 the Vatican released a statement on standing around the altar. You can read the EWTN article on it here.

Also Inaestimabile donum, issued in 1980 specifically condemns this action..

excellent article–I went to a church where we did this as well.—everyone gathering around the altar. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[superamazingman]

Hi! I’m a college student at a small, private, liberal arts university that is not affiliated with any religion. There is a Newman Club on campus, however, which provides Mass every Sunday night. I just got back from a Mass that seemed… strange. There were only four students at Mass (and the club advisor).

When it came time for communion, Father motioned for us to all surround the altar. He distributed the Body of Christ to us all but said “we will partake of it together.” So we stood there, holding the Body. He said a prayer I hadn’t heard before about the body of Christ, then ate the wafer and motioned for us all to do so as well. Then he drank from the chalice and administered it to the guy next to me, who then administered it to me. Then I administered it to the girl next to me, and so on. None of us are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

This all felt very off to me. It is liturgical abuse? We’ve had this priest before and never done something like this. If it was illicit, what do I do? Should I notify the bishop? Have I committed a mortal sin by participating? Thanks so much in advance for your help.

All of the things you mention are serious matter. You committed no sin in participating. However, I would not go along with it in the future, since you now know.

 

[spellinggirl]

Thank you, everyone! I appreciate your help!

Because we don’t have a regular priest, the priest each week is basically just whoever is available from the diocese. The priest in question does not come frequently at all, so I think I may just contact the bishop directly. I will keep you all updated!

 

[newyorkcatholic]

Going to the bishop isn’t last resort, it’s second resort (or third).

Talk to the priest first. Then if you need to and he’s no the pastor, talk to the pastor. Then the bishop. But you can go from there to the CDF.

Edited to add: actually probably the CDW.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Yes, try to approach the priest first, though be aware that this is indeed an abuse.

This has been going on since at least the 80’s and in 1984 the Vatican released a statement on standing around the altar. You can read the EWTN article on it here.

Also Inaestimabile donum, issued in 1980 specifically condemns this action..

The gathering around the altar happens here at Life Teen Masses. We went to one and were and never went back. Yet another reason why my sons have not been confirmed as of yet. The Life Teen program had taken over most of the parishes around here and it was 2 years of Sunday Masses and an after-program until you could be confirmed. And the Mass abuse was horrible. How dare teenagers approach the Holy Altar of God with no reverence at all! Not their fault, obviously, having been shown no better…

 

[newyorkcatholic]

The gathering around the altar happens here at Life Teen Masses. We went to one and were and never went back. Yet another reason why my sons have not been confirmed as of yet. The Life Teen program had taken over most of the parishes around here and it was 2 years of Sunday Masses and an after-program until you could be confirmed. And the Mass abuse was horrible. How dare teenagers approach the Holy Altar of God with no reverence at all! Not their fault, obviously, having been shown no better…

LifeTeen was officially asked to stop doing that. Not surprised, honestly, that they haven’t obeyed (as they should have always known not to do it).

Anyway, you should research the founders of LifeTeen and what became of them. Sobering. Avoid it all costs, though it seems like you already do, God bless you.