Missing things at mass

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Wojo42

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Hi everyone.
When I was an altar boy back in the 1980’s at the church I belonged to we had to stand next to the lectern holding candles while the Priest read the gospels, and more particularly at communion we altar boys stood next to the priest and deacon and held patens below the chins or hands of people depending on how they received communion.

I have not seen either of these things in my diocese at all. They seem to have disappeared. The only place I have seen these things is at mass at the EWTN chapel. One reason for the disuse of patens at communion, I think, seems to be the design of the new churches, churches in the “half round” as I call them, which have multiple aisles leading down toward the alter and make it inevitable that many extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist need to be used to distribute communion.

I always felt that alter boys using patens at communion in a sense added to the belief that what we were receiving was holy and sacred and since these are no longer used there is a loss of sacredness toward the host. I see many people at mass go up and just kind of take the host and pop it into their mouths and walk back down to their seats.

I was just wondering if anyone felt the same way or had thoughts about these things?
 
As an observer at the moment (revert who is not confirmed yet) I notice that, too. I am someone who remembers coming up and kneeling when receiving the host. My priest back then instructed us to let the host slowly melt in your mouth, you go back to your seat and kneel until it is complete gone.
 
i agree with you as well!

i’ve only been attending Mass for two years but in that time i’ve seen my parish stop using incense during the “incense” Mass, and stop using the candles beside the Priest/Deacon during the Gospel reading in all Masses…

being a life long protestant finally making his way into the Church i am quite sad to think the Catholic Church may be slowly fashioning the historic liturgy into just another protestant type worship experience.

but that’s speaking from my own limited experience in my parish, of course…YMMV
 
I think the OP comment is a great observation! I am fortunate that my parish does maintain the use of the patens with the priest at least, even though there are a number of extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, and I love that the alter boys do accompany the Gospel with the candles. Each really does communicate the incarnation of the Word and the Body of Christ at Mass. Great comment! Perhaps it should not be a mystery why so many Catholics dont even realize the mystery of the Real Presence at Mass. Tradition (small “t” tradition) , such as the use of candles and patens, teaches theology. When you strip the Church of its traditional symbols, the theology can be easily lost unless there is good instruction. Of course we know Catechesis has been lacking for couple generations now.
 
I would consider seeing if there is an extraordinary form of the mass in your area. I know our FSSP parish does these things.
 
It would make sense to continue with patens. In my opinion, perhaps today’s fast-paced culture is the reason why multiple lines form for communion, and the paten would “slow things down.”

A Filipino lady in my RCIA class told me that the priest was the only one who distributed communion; if there were hundreds of parishioners, then so be it. She told me patens were used.

I’ve only been Catholic for three years, but it seems to me that we should treat the Eucharist more reverently (i.e. not popping it into our mouths and walking off).
 
I miss those things from then too. I was an altar boy around the early 80’s at St. Thomas in Chickasaw, AL. They did seem to add something for me as well. I think though this time around, I am going to trust the Holy Spirit is giving us the right instructions with regards to the Mass. I have to believe anything new here is going to be for God’s greater glory even if it’s strange/difficult. Peace be with you.
 
Wojo42 said:
Hi everyone.
When I was an altar boy back in the 1980’s at the church I belonged to we had to stand next to the lectern holding candles while the Priest read the gospels, and more particularly at communion we altar boys stood next to the priest and deacon and held patens below the chins or hands of people depending on how they received communion.

I have not seen either of these things in my diocese at all. They seem to have disappeared. The only place I have seen these things is at mass at the EWTN chapel. One reason for the disuse of patens at communion, I think, seems to be the design of the new churches, churches in the “half round” as I call them, which have multiple aisles leading down toward the alter and make it inevitable that many extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist need to be used to distribute communion.

I always felt that alter boys using patens at communion in a sense added to the belief that what we were receiving was holy and sacred and since these are no longer used there is a loss of sacredness toward the host. I see many people at mass go up and just kind of take the host and pop it into their mouths and walk back down to their seats.

I was just wondering if anyone felt the same way or had thoughts about these things?
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Our Church still does the candles alongside the priest/deacon during the Gospel.

God Bless
 
This reminds me of the quote of Fulton Sheen: “If you don’t behave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave.” maybe instead though:“If you don’t worship as you believe, you will end by believing as you worship.” Or lex orandi, lex credendi.
If we lose all the little things will our faith erode? How far can the liturgy be stripped down before it effects the believers faith? Or are the so called little things extraneous?
 
Wojo42 said:
Hi everyone.
When I was an altar boy back in the 1980’s at the church I belonged to we had to stand next to the lectern holding candles while the Priest read the gospels, and more particularly at communion we altar boys stood next to the priest and deacon and held patens below the chins or hands of people depending on how they received communion.

I have not seen either of these things in my diocese at all. They seem to have disappeared. The only place I have seen these things is at mass at the EWTN chapel. One reason for the disuse of patens at communion, I think, seems to be the design of the new churches, churches in the “half round” as I call them, which have multiple aisles leading down toward the alter and make it inevitable that many extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist need to be used to distribute communion.

I always felt that alter boys using patens at communion in a sense added to the belief that what we were receiving was holy and sacred and since these are no longer used there is a loss of sacredness toward the host. I see many people at mass go up and just kind of take the host and pop it into their mouths and walk back down to their seats.

I was just wondering if anyone felt the same way or had thoughts about these things?
Click to expand...
My parish still does the patents, when there are altar servers present. The space near the ambo is not adequate enough to safely accommodate 2 altar servers, so we don’t have that at my parish.

I remember my on my First Holy Communion, I was told to let the host melt in my mouth. Unfortunately, it got stuck in the roof of my mouth and after Mass I had to use my finger to poke Jesus back down to consume Him. 😊

As for incense, when there are more than one Mass for the day (when it’s needed), the priest (usually it’s the pastor for all the Masses) uses incense only for the first Mass of the day.
 
The paten fell into disuse along with Communion on the tongue. There’s virtually no chance of dropping the host when it’s receiving on the hand.
 
johnmann said:
The paten fell into disuse along with Communion on the tongue. There’s virtually no chance of dropping the host when it’s receiving on the hand.
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All the parishes I’ve visited still use the paten. If reception is in the hand, then the paten goes underneath the hands. If reception is on the tongue, then the paten goes under the chin. 🤷
 
Just an observation. It is interesting that you remember the 1980’s as the good old days. Many older traditionalist Catholics would say that the 1980’s were the absolute low point of the Catholic Church. Different perspectives.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
Just an observation. It is interesting that you remember the 1980’s as the good old days. Many older traditionalist Catholics would say that the 1980’s were the absolute low point of the Catholic Church. Different perspectives.
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Interestingly, in my experience, while the liturgy hit a low point in the 80’s or 90’s, altar service didn’t follow suite. I suspect it’s because it was largely ignored by the liturgical reformers.
 
Wojo42 said:
This reminds me of the quote of Fulton Sheen: “If you don’t behave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave.” maybe instead though:“If you don’t worship as you believe, you will end by believing as you worship.” Or lex orandi, lex credendi.
If we lose all the little things will our faith erode? How far can the liturgy be stripped down before it effects the believers faith? Or are the so called little things extraneous?
Click to expand...
I think you’re on to something. In regard to the Incarnation, and just plain human nature, the “little things” can’t be completely extraneous . God works through those things.
Some of them are even sacramentals (eg: incense, blessed candles).

I’m wondering if these “things” might even have a protective effect when used in the proper manner.

As far as erosion of faith is concerned, it seems that this could actually be influenced to one degree or another by the lack of/misuse of liturgical sacramentals…we are human, and we relate to “things” that symbolize what we believe and the degree of importance we place on certain truths. The use of the paten is just one example.

Wow. Really good point, Wojo42.
 
johnmann said:
The paten fell into disuse along with Communion on the tongue. There’s virtually no chance of dropping the host when it’s receiving on the hand.
Click to expand...
That seems to be true. On the other hand, I have recently read a series of articles saying that reception on the hand is at the root of a tremendous amount of host crumbs falling on the floor or staying stuck on the hand, which is a terrible desecration. Some of these crumbs are very small, and so people don’t even realize that they are doing it.
 
Yes. This is very sad. I read somewhere that some Catholic churches are even taking out the kneelers. :eek: Luckily my parish still uses incense and the altar boys still use patens and they hold up candles as the priest/deacon reads the gospel. What bothers me is all of the lay people giving communion in their regular street clothes…with a separate layperson next to them holding a paten. It’s a big church and I realize the priests and deacons can’t give communion to everyone without taking all day. It would be nice if the lay people giving communion could at least wear matching gowns, choir robes or something uniform.
 
Casilda said:
As an observer at the moment (revert who is not confirmed yet) I notice that, too. I am someone who remembers coming up and kneeling when receiving the host. My priest back then instructed us to let the host slowly melt in your mouth, you go back to your seat and kneel until it is complete gone.
Click to expand...
:eek:
I would be there for a week.

First, I have a very dry mouth.

Second, I receive a low gluten Host.

My priest said something last week that seemed to be a good explanation about “not chewing” the Host.

I wonder how many priests or nuns told kids that so they wouldn’t walk back to their seats chomping on the host, mouth open, like a cow? So they told you to let it dissolve.

Reading the Gospel, Jesus tells us to “take and eat.” He doesn’t say, “take and suck on.”
 
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hotdiggity:
i agree with you as well!

i’ve only been attending Mass for two years but in that time i’ve seen my parish stop using incense during the “incense” Mass, and stop using the candles beside the Priest/Deacon during the Gospel reading in all Masses…

being a life long protestant finally making his way into the Church i am quite sad to think the Catholic Church may be slowly fashioning the historic liturgy into just another protestant type worship experience.

but that’s speaking from my own limited experience in my parish, of course…YMMV
Click to expand...
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You said it for sure.👍
 
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