No More Communion Services

[zab]

It doesn’t make sense for anyone who loves Jesus in the Eucharist to shun a Communion Service and prefer something else like adoration rather than receiving Jesus in Communion. There is nothing wrong with a Communion Service. And not all women who lead a Communion Service are feminists. Some truly want to serve God and to assist when needed. The problem is that when Communion Services are held regularly some people get used to them and lose what little understanding they have regarding the importance of the Mass. Our priests and bishops have learned from the past when priestless parishes held regular Communion Services, many people began to feel that they did not need a priest and they were doing just fine without one. So our priests and bishops decided that we needed to experience that loss when we are without a priest. And then the Church issued the Document, Redemtionis Scramentum, addressing liturgical abuses and covered the topic of Communion Services. One of the reasons that it is better to have a Liturgy of the Hours Service, or a Reading of the Word and Benediction (with Deacon) or something similar in the absence of a priest rather than a Communion Service is that we need to experience that loss. It is not that a Communion Service is bad.

 

[RyanK]

It doesn’t make sense for anyone who loves Jesus in the Eucharist to shun a Communion Service and prefer something else like adoration rather than receiving Jesus in Communion. There is nothing wrong with a Communion Service. And not all women who lead a Communion Service are feminists. Some truly want to serve God and to assist when needed. The problem is that when Communion Services are held regularly some people get used to them and lose what little understanding they have regarding the importance of the Mass. Our priests and bishops have learned from the past when priestless parishes held regular Communion Services, many people began to feel that they did not need a priest and they were doing just fine without one. So our priests and bishops decided that we needed to experience that loss when we are without a priest. And then the Church issued the Document, Redemtionis Scramentum, addressing liturgical abuses and covered the topic of Communion Services. One of the reasons that it is better to have a Liturgy of the Hours Service, or a Reading of the Word and Benediction (with Deacon) or something similar in the absence of a priest rather than a Communion Service is that we need to experience that loss. It is not that a Communion Service is bad.

Well, actually the woman read the letter and it said the end of communion services was to “end abuses” and “calm down the laity.” I would much rather have no Communion Services than to cause our Lord pain through irreverence towards him. Also, like others have said, Communion services were only intended to be used in necessity, not for daily mass when you can easily go to a nearby parish and receive at a mass there. And if the women are truly God-fearing people then they will be able to accept and understand the decisions of the Church to end these services.

 

[zab]

Well, actually the woman read the letter and it said the end of communion services was to “end abuses” and “calm down the laity.” I would much rather have no Communion Services than to cause our Lord pain through irreverence towards him. Also, like others have said, Communion services were only intended to be used in necessity, not for daily mass when you can easily go to a nearby parish and receive at a mass there. And if the women are truly God-fearing people then they will be able to accept and understand the decisions of the Church to end these services.

Like I said, it was addressed in the Church document, Redemptionis Sacramentum.
It is one thing to be submissive in doing what the church directs us to do. She has her reasons. But it is quite another thing to say that you would actually prefer doing something else rather than receiving Jesus in Communion.

 

[RyanK]

Like I said, it was addressed in the Church document, Redemptionis Sacramentum.
It is one thing to be submissive in doing what the church directs us to do. She has her reasons. But it is quite another thing to say that you would actually prefer doing something else rather than receiving Jesus in Communion.

There’s other parishes nearby. I would rather go to mass than a Communion Service.

 

[zab]

There’s other parishes nearby. I would rather go to mass than a Communion Service.

I would too! The point that I was trying to make is that a Communion Service in itself is not bad or an abuse. But it can be if people do not follow the directives.
Just for clarification, In my post that you quoted, I was not referring to you personally when I wrote “you”. I should have written “…that one would actually prefer…” I’m sorry if it came across differently.

 

[ProVobis]

There’s other parishes nearby. I would rather go to mass than a Communion Service.

Indeed. Without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, how can you have communion in a meaningful sense? There’s been plenty of debate about distributing on Good Friday for that same reason.

 

[Elizabeth502]

It is one thing to be submissive in doing what the church directs us to do. She has her reasons. But it is quite another thing to say that you would actually prefer doing something else rather than receiving Jesus in Communion.

Except that I didn’t say, did I? I said that I would rather receive Jesus at Daily Mass. It’s right there in my post. Stop misrepresenting what posters actually write.

 

[zab]

Except that I didn’t say, did I? I said that I would rather receive Jesus at Daily Mass. It’s right there in my post. Stop misrepresenting what posters actually write.

 

[Elizabeth502]

What are you “confused” about, zab?

Here is what I wrote.

I would much rather attend a Daily Mass (in either form) over a Word/Communion service.

Here’s what you wrote:

It doesn’t make sense for anyone who loves Jesus in the Eucharist to shun a Communion Service and prefer something else like adoration rather than receiving Jesus in Communion.

Perhaps you were talking about a different poster than me? It’s just that your posts followed in rapid succession after mine. I never said I’d prefer adoration to a Communon Service. I echoed Miss Rose’s post (with a ) that I prefer Mass to Communion Services. Nothing in there about Adoration.

 

[BellsSmells]

I would much rather attend a Daily Mass (in either form) over a Word/Communion service. I am privileged that there are many churches near me that offer Daily Mass either every day or a few days a week.

I would rather see the laity getting involved in doing things like having Bible study (private or at church), devotions, and/or some form of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament if Daily Mass is not available.

How come? First I agree 100% that communion services should not be conducted in areas where people can get to a Mass or where people cannot attend Mass and cannot get a priest to come to them such as in a nursing home. One could even argue that they should not be conducted except where Mass is an impossibility on Sundays.

But within those constraints why would you rather see what you described rather than by-the-book communion services?

 

[BellsSmells]

Indeed. Without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, how can you have communion in a meaningful sense? There’s been plenty of debate about distributing on Good Friday for that same reason.

Well, without the Mass there is no Blessed Sacrament and without the Blessed Sacrament there is obviously no Holy Communion. Is that what you are speaking of? Because if you’re not, if you are suggesting there cannot be very meaningful reception of Holy Communion outside of Mass then you are wrong.

 

[BellsSmells]

If there was absolutely no Mass available and I had the choice of: 1) A proper communion service, 2) Eucharistic adoration or 3) Bible study, there is no question – #1, by far.

 

[ProVobis]

Well, without the Mass there is no Blessed Sacrament

Precisely the point because the Mass is our proper form of worship, whether we choose to receive or not or whether we are properly disposed or not.

So as far as communion services go, of what benefit is it to me if I’m not properly disposed to receive? Seems as if I can receive the same if not more spiritual benefits if I visit the Blessed Sacrament, no?

 

[angelic06]

If there was absolutely no Mass available and I had the choice of: 1) A proper communion service, 2) Eucharistic adoration or 3) Bible study, there is no question – #1, by far.

Why is not the Divine Office one of the options listed here (not a retort to Bells)? If Bible Study is recommended alongside Eucharistic adoration, then surely the Church’s own Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) can be recommended as well. I mean, it is part of the cycle of the Church’s official prayers, of which the Holy Eucharist is one part.

If the Church ever intends to re-introduce the chanted Office to the laity, would not the absence of a priest be the perfect lucuna which could be filled in with the Office?

A pair of religious sisters, working at a Catholic Student Center where I used to attend, helped introduce the chanted Divine Office to me, when Wednesday Mass could not be offered.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Yeah, it’s weird because the woman who led the communion service hasn’t showed up to daily mass since the day this all happened.

I hope you haven’t been taking attendance at daily Mass! If your parish is blessed to now have a Mass where there wasn’t one, be thankful. Don’t ruin your joy with wondering who is where, when, and why.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Why is not the Divine Office one of the options listed here (not a retort to Bells)? If Bible Study is recommended alongside Eucharistic adoration, then surely the Church’s own Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) can be recommended as well. I mean, it is part of the cycle of the Church’s official prayers, of which the Holy Eucharist is one part.

If the Church ever intends to re-introduce the chanted Office to the laity, would not the absence of a priest be the perfect lucuna which could be filled in with the Office?

A pair of religious sisters, working at a Catholic Student Center where I used to attend, helped introduce the chanted Divine Office to me, when Wednesday Mass could not be offered.

This is exactly what the church recommends - that the laity should gather for the divine office rather than a communion service in the absence of daily Mass.

In fact, a communion service shouldn’t replace a **daily **Mass ever. It is meant for those locations where even Sunday Mass is not regularly available. And my understanding is that if Sunday Mass is every other week, a communion service doesn’t necessarily need to be held on the opposite weeks.

 

[Phemie]

Why is not the Divine Office one of the options listed here (not a retort to Bells)? If Bible Study is recommended alongside Eucharistic adoration, then surely the Church’s own Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) can be recommended as well. I mean, it is part of the cycle of the Church’s official prayers, of which the Holy Eucharist is one part.

If the Church ever intends to re-introduce the chanted Office to the laity, would not the absence of a priest be the perfect lucuna which could be filled in with the Office?

A pair of religious sisters, working at a Catholic Student Center where I used to attend, helped introduce the chanted Divine Office to me, when Wednesday Mass could not be offered.

Of all things it should be next on the list after Mass, since it is the official prayer of the Church. I personally think it’s better than a Communion Service, because it’s all about God.

A Communion Service is about us. It’s about what we get out of it, not what we offer God. That becomes pretty obvious when you simply do a Liturgy of the Word on Sunday and people don’t come saying ‘I don’t get anything out of it.’

 

[zab]

This is exactly what the church recommends - that the laity should gather for the divine office rather than a communion service in the absence of daily Mass.

In fact, a communion service shouldn’t replace a **daily **Mass ever. It is meant for those locations where even Sunday Mass is not regularly available. And my understanding is that if Sunday Mass is every other week, a communion service doesn’t necessarily need to be held on the opposite weeks.

We used to do the Liturgy of the Hours on Father’s day off, but then there was a group that formed to pray the Liturgy of Hours every morning 30 minutes before Mass begins. So it was decided that since LOTH was already being done every morning, that in the slot for the Mass time in the absence of a priest, the Deacon would lead a Liturgy of the Word followed with a homily and Benediction.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

We used to do the Liturgy of the Hours on Father’s day off, but then there was a group that formed to pray the Liturgy of Hours every morning 30 minutes before Mass begins. So it was decided that since LOTH was already being done every morning, that in the slot for the Mass time in the absence of a priest, the Deacon would lead a Liturgy of the Word followed with a homily and Benediction.

That’s actually wonderful! You get Mass on some days, LOTH with a group every day, and benediction once a week!

 

[OraLabora]

We have them more often than I’d like, but always on a Sunday and always when there is no priest in the parish. We have no deacon and no Sisters, so a few of the parishioners have been trained to lead them. We have been allowed to give a reflection and most of the leaders make use of a homiletics service online. I prefer to leave a good long period of silence after the Gospel so I don’t search for a ‘reflection’, I let the congregation ponder what they’ve heard on their own.

I think a good “reflection” for such a service would be to read the patristic reading from the Office of Readings of the LOTH (or from the approved two-year monastic lectionary), for that day. The reading would be appropriate to the day or feast, and most certainly from an approved source.

As for the lady that made the inappropriate comments, ISTM that she simply was annoyed that she could no longer be pretend-priest. It sounds like the communion service was serving her need to be at the centre of attention rather than she serving the needs of the communion service and her brothers and sisters in Christ.

There really is little need for a weekday communion service unless a major feast or it’s a day of obligation, or as pointed out, for shut-ins within an institution. And as a big fan of the Divine Office, I really think that’s the preferable option for weekdays when no Mass is possible.