Mass and the do's and don'ts, have they changed?

[Kelkidsmom]

I have just recently changed parishes in the same diocese and noticed that at the new parish there are a lot of differences. Someone help me to know if I am doing these things wrong?

• Should we be genuflecting when entering and leaving the pew?
• Is Holy Water still to be taken when entering and leaving the church?
• I thought we weren’t supposed to hold hands during the Our Father, which is right?
• Is it totally wrong to do the sign of the cross after receiving communion?
• I was always taught to stay kneeling after communion until the Blessed Sacrament was in the tabernacle. That is not the practice of this parish.

The tabernacle is behind the altar behind a stained class window, it can be seen, does this make a difference.

All of these things to me are key parts of my celebration of mass. I have always taught to show reverence to the Blessed Sacrament by genuflecting and not sitting in it’s presence. Taking the holy water reminds me of my baptism…

Are there actual rules, or is it just this parish? I know they don’t do rosaries or have adoration, that is not the “direction they wanted to go”.

Thanks for any answers.

LCK

 

[netmilsmom]

Kelkid(name removed by moderator):

Are there actual rules, or is it just this parish? I know they don’t do rosaries or have adoration, that is not the “direction they wanted to go”.

LCK

They wanted to go Protestant?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Kelkid(name removed by moderator):

• Should we be genuflecting when entering and leaving the pew?

Yes when the tabernacle is present in the main part of the church.

- Is Holy Water still to be taken when entering and leaving the church?

It’s a sacramental and can be used any time.

- I thought we weren’t supposed to hold hands during the Our Father, which is right?

It is NOT required and you are not to be instructed to do so.

- Is it totally wrong to do the sign of the cross after receiving communion?

Of course not

- I was always taught to stay kneeling after communion until the Blessed Sacrament was in the tabernacle. That is not the practice of this parish.

That is a personal choice no one is to prohibit you from doing so and no one is to require you to do so.
Kelkid(name removed by moderator):

The tabernacle is behind the altar behind a stained class window, it can be seen, does this make a difference.

What is the point of hiding the taberncale, it is still with in the main part of the church.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Kelkid__,

Your problem seems to be what other people do. Everything that you do is right. Let others worry about themselves.

Verbum

 

[bogeyjlg]

There is a book out called Mass Confusion: The Do’s and Don’ts of Catholic Worship that addresses these issues.

amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1888992050/103-6164180-9139811?v=glance

 

[buffalo]

Kelkid(name removed by moderator):

• Is it totally wrong to do the sign of the cross after receiving communion?

I have read on EWTN that it is redundant to sign yourself after receiving. I will see if I can find the reference.

Other than that, having little or no reverence for the Mass and Eucharist is a modernistic trend and is a mistake.

Take this quiz: How Much Do You Know About The Liturgy? Take the Quiz

 

[mgy100]

redundant to sign yourself after receiving? That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard today. Signing yourself is a prayer and God blesses those that remember the cross.

 

[buffalo]

Instruction Concerning Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery

                      **Inaestimabile Donum**

Prepared by the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship
Approved and Confirmed by His Holiness
Pope John Paul II
April 17, 1980

1. The Church has always required from the faithful respect and
   reverence for the Eucharist at the moment of receiving it.
   With regard to the manner of going to Communion, the faithful can
   receive it either kneeling or standing, in accordance with the norms
   laid down by the episcopal conference: “When the faithful communicate
   kneeling, no other sign of reverence towards the Blessed Sacrament is
   required, since kneeling is itself a sign of adoration. When they
   receive Communion standing, it is strongly recommended that, coming
   up in a procession, they should make a sign of reverence before
   receiving the sacrament. This should be done at the right time and
   place, so that the order of people going to and from Communion is not
   disrupted.”(21)
   The Amen said by the faithful when receiving Communion is an act
   of personal faith in the presence of Christ.

If I remember since the sign is already made before receiving the sign after is redundant. I myself was surprised by this. I will still check for the actual Q and A.

 

[buffalo]

*Dear Father Mateo.
I have several questions regardin different things.
*

1. the same Pope has also written: The Church has always required from the faithful respect and reverence for the Eucharist at the moment of receiving it. With regard to the manner of going to Communion, the faithful can receive it either kneeling or standing ... : When the faithful communicate kneeling, no other sign of reverence towards the Blessed Sacrament is required, since kneeling is itself a sign of adoration. When they receive Communion standing, it is strongly recommended that, coming up in procession, they should make a sign of reverence before receiving the Sacrament. This should be done at the right time and place so that the order of people going to and from Communion is not disrupted. The AMEN said by the faithful when receiving Communion is an act of personal faith in the presence of Christ'' ([Inaestimabile Donum’’](CIN - Inaestimabile Donum - Instruction Concerning Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery), 4-17-1980, #11).

N.B. Though not required, the sign of reverence is ``strongly
recommended’’. It can be a sign of the cross, a bow, a genuflection.
This is done BEFORE receiving.

 

[buffalo]

Holy Communion Question

 

[Madia]

Is it totally wrong to do the sign of the cross after receiving communion?

Does anyone know what exactly is supposed to be done after receiving Holy Communion? If I remember correctly, I used to genuflect to the Crucifix and make the sign of the Cross. Is genuflection to the Crucifix after Holy Communion wrong or is it a sign of respect of our Lord’s Passion?

 

[SMHW]

Madia:

Does anyone know what exactly is supposed to be done after receiving Holy Communion? If I remember correctly, I used to genuflect to the Crucifix and make the sign of the Cross. Is genuflection to the Crucifix after Holy Communion wrong or is it a sign of respect of our Lord’s Passion?

If you were genuflecting it would have been to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, not to the Crucifix. It should be OK to continue genuflecting but you might need to find some way to move out of the Communion ‘traffic’ in order to do so safely.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

SMHW:

If you were genuflecting it would have been to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, not to the Crucifix. It should be OK to continue genuflecting but you might need to find some way to move out of the Communion ‘traffic’ in order to do so safely.

It is against the request of the Bishops to genuflect after receiving Holy Communion. Genuflect before re-entering your pew if you want. That way no one else trips over you.

 

[Madia]

It is against the request of the Bishops to genuflect after receiving Holy Communion.

What exactly is the proper gesture? Do we receive, step aside, and then make the Sign of the Cross?

 

[Tonks40]

Madia:

What exactly is the proper gesture? Do we receive, step aside, and then make the Sign of the Cross?

That’s what I was taught to do many years ago, and continue to do so today. I also show a sign of reverence before I partake of the Eucharist.

In my parish, you see not only this, but people genuflecting afterwards…but usually, it’s the older or more devote person who does. The major of the people, sadly, don’t show any reverence to Him…like they were going down the line at a buffet station.

 

[MikeWM]

I bow before receiving and then just return to the pew. I thought (and it makes sense) that there is no need to acknowledge Jesus in the tabernacle at that point, as He is inside you as well. As for crossing oneself - I don’t, but I don’t imagine it is important whether you do or not right at that point.

Mike

 

[palmas85]

MikeWM:

I bow before receiving and then just return to the pew. I thought (and it makes sense) that there is no need to acknowledge Jesus in the tabernacle at that point, as He is inside you as well. As for crossing oneself - I don’t, but I don’t imagine it is important whether you do or not right at that point.

Mike

I was taught that a single or double knee genuflection was required whenever you passed by the Tabernacle… I know that many people bow here in the States. I don’t know if that is the correct or acceptable method or not but I think it probably is.

Most people don’t do anything at all however so I guess any form of acknowledgement and respect is better than that.

 

[MikeWM]

palmas85:

I was taught that a single or double knee genuflection was required whenever you passed by the Tabernacle… I know that many people bow here in the States. I don’t know if that is the correct or acceptable method or not but I think it probably is.

Well, you genuflect to the Tabernacle, or bow to the altar if there isn’t a Tabernacle in the sanctuary. But I meant at communion - you are supposed to show a sign of reverence before receiving communion - whether kneeling, bowing, or whatever else is reverential (?). My point was that you don’t need to genuflect on returning to the pew because Jesus is inside you as well as in the Tabernacle. At the start and end of the Mass, leaving the pew, one should genuflect if there is a Tabernacle.

Mike