Question about the Communion Rail

[MissRose73]

I will be attending my first ExtraOrdinary Form Mass on Sunday at a church that is part of a diocese that has several churches that offer the EF Mass in Latin during a weekend vacation.

May I get some hints about etiquette and what to do when approaching the rail, at the rail receiving and leaving etc please?

I will also make sure I am in a state of grace to receive as I will go to Confession the day before I leave for my vacation.

 

[Will_S]

I will be attending my first ExtraOrdinary Form Mass on Sunday at a church that is part of a diocese that has several churches that offer the EF Mass in Latin during a weekend vacation.

May I get some hints about etiquette and what to do when approaching the rail, at the rail receiving and leaving etc please?

I will also make sure I am in a state of grace to receive as I will go to Confession the day before I leave for my vacation.

In most places, there will be an orderly line for Holy Communion just as in any other Catholic parish. When you get to the front, go kneel at the next available place at the communion rail.

When the priest comes to you, he will make a (small) sign of the cross with the host and say (in Latin) “May the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto life everlasting” and place the host on your tongue. You don’t say anything at all. Just open your mouth and extend your tongue slightly to receive the host.

After receiving Holy Communion, you get up and return to your seat as usual.

 

[hudson]

Will, I went to an EF mass the other day and the assisting Priest only said “Corpus Christi”. This was obviously different then what I was used to hearing. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Will_S]

Will, I went to an EF mass the other day and the assisting Priest only said “Corpus Christi”. This was obviously different then what I was used to hearing. Any thoughts on that?

Up until the recent release of Universae Ecclesiae, diocesan traditional Masses have (unfortunately) often incorporated changes made in the mid-60s into their celebrations, such as the “Corpus Christi” at Holy Communion.

Universae Ecclesiae made it clear that the rubrics of 1962 are to be strictly adhered to, so “Corpus Christi” is now unambiguously illicit. However, it is to be expected that it will take a while for everyone to get the message.

 

[corsair]

Good answers, Will S.
Our local parish just completed our first TLM low Mass in decades. It was a wonderful feeling to have this offered again. Its only once a month on a Sunday afternoon, but you have to start somewhere.

 

[hudson]

I hadn’t heard that before, so I said “amen” to myself as I walked off. I also was under the impression when done the appropriate way, the Priest is supposed to say “amen” for you. Is this correct? It seems as though I hear him do it for the person next to me but don’t actually hear it done when I receive.

 

[laszlo]

Will, I went to an EF mass the other day and the assisting Priest only said “Corpus Christi”. This was obviously different then what I was used to hearing. Any thoughts on that?

Either the priest has difficulty to memorize the formula, or something wrong with him. Unfortunately neither form of the Mass has mystical power against adlibbing

 

[Stavros]

I saw a great list of Five tips on receiving the Holy Eucharist on your tongue (from the Canturbury Tales blog) that I thought would be of help:

1. 
   *]Open your mouth wide. Make your mouth into a landing pad, not a quarter slot.
   *]Stick out your tongue. Don’t be embarrassed.
   *]Close your eyes. Why? If you leave your eyes open you’ll be tempted to move your head toward the priest. Moving targets are hard to hit. Close your eyes and keep your head still.
   *]Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Sticking out your tongue will insure that his hand doesn’t come into contact with your teeth (or lips - gross!)
   *]Please do not chew the Holy Eucharist. Let it soften in the mouth and then swallow. By doing this, you’ll avoid having the smallest particle of Our Lord stuck in your teeth where it might be desecrated later by coming into contact with the profane.
   
   I was amazed at how much of a difference closing my eyes made when receiving the host. The first time, the priest kind of shoved the host into my tongue and it startled me a bit, but ever since then it’s been a gentle setting down of the host on my tongue.
   
   I also pause for a moment after the priest moves, and then lean back a bit before I cross myself and get up. I learned very quickly that when one takes the host with one’s eyes closed, one can bump the communion paten and startle everyone involved if one doesn’t lean back.

 

[MissRose73]

Great advice here, thank you. I will keep them in mind for Sunday.

 

[Bluegoat]

Either the priest has difficulty to memorize the formula, or something wrong with him. Unfortunately neither form of the Mass has mystical power against adlibbing

A couple of weeks ago when I was at the communion rail, my priest got mixed up and sort of forgot his place. I could see him stand up and try to figure out what he was supposed to be doing - he had forgotten to bless my daughter, and said the blessing for her to me while he administered the Eucharist.

Anyone can get mixed up like that on occasion (perhaps especially when confronted with a three year old known to yell at the priest without warning).

 

[Zacdecat]

I hadn’t heard that before, so I said “amen” to myself as I walked off. I also was under the impression when done the appropriate way, the Priest is supposed to say “amen” for you. Is this correct? It seems as though I hear him do it for the person next to me but don’t actually hear it done when I receive.

The priest does not say “Amen”, you can quietly and even make the sign of the cross before leaving the communion rail. However, it is redundant…you have received the Eucharist and NOTHING can “top” that. It is the same with entering and exiting the church using holy water. It is common practice to bless yourself on entering the church but it is redundant on exiting…you have been blessed by the Mass and the reception of the Eucharist.

 

[PJM]

=MissRose73;8016389]I will be attending my first ExtraOrdinary Form Mass on Sunday at a church that is part of a diocese that has several churches that offer the EF Mass in Latin during a weekend vacation.

May I get some hints about etiquette and what to do when approaching the rail, at the rail receiving and leaving etc please?

I will also make sure I am in a state of grace to receive as I will go to Confession the day before I leave for my vacation.

It should be noted that removal of Communion rails was an innovation of the post-vatican II period, NEVER mandated and never even suggested.

The Communion rail had several important THEOLOGICAL functions including:

1. Seperating the Ministerial Priesthood from the “preisthood” of the “Mystical body of Christ.” There is a REAL difference in one being a SACRAMENT whereby one is CALLED by God for select service. And Is Annointed and COMMISSIONED to do what no-one else can do. For example say Mass, Make jesus present in Holy Communion, hear Confessions and grant absolutuion from sisn, and administer the Last Rites." In addition they ALONE [deacons included] are called to PREACH in Church. While we, of the lesser priesthood are called to participation [IN THE ROLES PERMITTED BY ROME] in unity with the Ordaqined preisthood. “Active participation” refers DIRECTLY to singing and praying; not participation is priestly ministery.
2. It by a very GREAT margin improved the personal piety of the one receivg Christ by requiring one to Kneel and Receive on Ones tongue [and NEVER tough much-less HOLD God in our ordinary and unconsacrated- hands.] BECAUSE kneeling itself is the most pious position, NO other form such as bowing or even genuflectuions are necessary. THUS the Sacrifice of Christ is made “more worthy” by our humilty and personal abasement.

I would suggest you sit about mid-way so you can see and copy what others are doing.

NOTE: ANYONE receiving Communion from our Pope MUST Kneel and receive on the tongue. BOTH OF WHICH REMAIN THE NORM for the Universdal Catholic Church.

The primary difference between the now ordinary form [Novus Ordo] and the Extrodinary Form isn teo fold:

1. The entire Mass is FOCUSED ON GOD ALONE [we become secondary; which DOES NOT mean unnecessary.]
2. Is the level of evident piety. Both from the Celebrans to the faithful in the pews.

It is a AWESOME experience, humbling and profound! Pray to the Holy Spirit to allow you to REALLY accept the GRACES being offered.

God Bless you.
Pat

 

[Fink]

… I also was under the impression when done the appropriate way, the Priest is supposed to say “amen” for you. Is this correct? It seems as though I hear him do it for the person next to me but don’t actually hear it done when I receive.

The “Amen” you hear might be the end of the priests prayer: "May the Body...unto life everlasting. Amen.". Will didnt include the “Amen” at the end (Post #2)!

 

[MikeDunphy]

Will, I went to an EF mass the other day and the assisting Priest only said “Corpus Christi”. This was obviously different then what I was used to hearing. Any thoughts on that?

Is there any chance that you were at an OF in Latin, rather than the EF? Was there a Gospel reading at the very end of Mass?

 

[hudson]

It was def. a EF. It was a Missa Cantata. The Priest that said “Corpus Christi” was not the Priest presiding. The Mass was billed as having the other Priest present. He was there but did not participate in anything other then giving the Eucharist to the Laity. I doubt it is a big deal, I was just unsure of why he said that instead of what Will stated they usually say.

 

[Will_S]

It was def. a EF. It was a Missa Cantata. The Priest that said “Corpus Christi” was not the Priest presiding. The Mass was billed as having the other Priest present. He was there but did not participate in anything other then giving the Eucharist to the Laity. I doubt it is a big deal, I was just unsure of why he said that instead of what Will stated they usually say.

In that case, he probably just didn’t know the correct words and went with what he knows. I can’t see any reason to complain in that case.

 

[lizaanne]

May I get some hints about etiquette and what to do when approaching the rail, at the rail receiving and leaving etc please?

The rail is an extension of the altar - don’t rest your hands or arms or elbows on the rail, but place them in front of your waist in any way that makes you comfortable. Also - leaning or having your hands on the rail can cause the priest to catch his vestments or knock the Holy Eucharist out of his hands as he passes by.

If there is a cloth over the altar rail, place your hands UNDER the cloth, and not on top of it.

Enjoy your vacation!!

~Liza

 

[PJM]

Originally Posted by hudson
… I also was under the impression when done the appropriate way, the Priest is supposed to say “amen” for you. Is this correct? It seems as though I hear him do it for the person next to me but don’t actually hear it done when I receive.

***NO ! Exactly the opposite.

“Amen” mean I BELIEVE and is an afirmation of the Catholic Faith and OUR personal belief in Christ Real Presence***.

God Bless you,
Pat

 

[MissRose73]

Thank you for the additional detail

The rail is an extension of the altar - don’t rest your hands or arms or elbows on the rail, but place them in front of your waist in any way that makes you comfortable. Also - leaning or having your hands on the rail can cause the priest to catch his vestments or knock the Holy Eucharist out of his hands as he passes by.

If there is a cloth over the altar rail, place your hands UNDER the cloth, and not on top of it.

Enjoy your vacation!!

~Liza