Questionable Prayer

[airforcemom]

A year or so ago a former Pastor introduced the following prayer to be said after we had finished receiving the Eucharist. The majority of the parishioners loved it and a small group did not and complained. The Pastor moved it to after the mass when we say a prayer from the archbishop. We now have a new Pastor who wants to move it back where he said it belongs. I see another “fight” coming on. This is the prayer:

Immaculate Virgin Mary, by the holy will of your Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, you are my Mother in Heaven. Your Immaculate Heart is full of love, mercy and compassion for sinners like me. I ask you dear beloved mother Mary to prepare and intercede for me that I may be your beloved child, an acceptable offering to God the Father, the holy, mighty and immortal God, through the offering of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the sake of his sorrowful passion, at this holy moment of receiving your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ in the form of the Holy Eucharist, and that the Father’s mercy be on me, on my beloved ones, living and deceased, and on the whole world. (Intentions) I trust in your intercession before the throne of God for my needs. Please pray also that if my requests are not in accordance with the will of God, that I may be, like you, conformed to His will and not my own. Amen.

Most of us love the prayer and do feel it belongs after the Eucharist. The small group opposes it because there should not be a prayer after receiving the Eucharist. I would appreciate some thoughts on this. If anyone knows the origin of the prayer I’d like to know that too. I could never get Father to say if he wrote it or where he found it at. He is not American so I find it hard to believe he wrote it.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

According to the GIRM, no one should be adding anything to the Mass, no matter what it is. While I can understand a priest recommending this particular prayer to pray privately after receiving, leading the congregation in it , during the Mass is a no-no.

On a personal note, if “forced” on me in this situation, I would complain also. After I receive is a very special time between me & Jesus, and I have my own prayer that I say, as well as trying to relish in the small silence, before the actual prayer after Communion.

 

[Beryllos]

The prayer is too wordy for me, and too Marian. I would not like to be made to pray it after receiving Holy Communion. :twocents:

 

[7_Sorrows]

According to the GIRM, no one should be adding anything to the Mass, no matter what it is. While I can understand a priest recommending this particular prayer to pray privately after receiving, leading the congregation in it , during the Mass is a no-no.

On a personal note, if “forced” on me in this situation, I would complain also. After I receive is a very special time between me & Jesus, and I have my own prayer that I say, as well as trying to relish in the small silence, before the actual prayer after Communion.

I agree. Saying the prayer privately is fine after receiving the Eucharist, but you can’t add to the Mass. I also consider it my special time with Jesus after receiving and when I return to my pew to kneel I am in prayer. I suppose after Mass has ended and we are dismissed those that wish could say it?

 

[peter26]

Nothing can be added to the Mass. I see nothing questionable about the prayer itself aside from its addition to the Mass. It could be used after the final blessing.

 

[pianistclare]

The prayer itself is a copy of the Divine Mercy devotion.
Harmless by itself, but not for a “group” prayer post communion.
Lovely to be prayed on one’s own though.
FWIW, in Ireland in some parishes, they pray the Anima Christi together before the closing Prayer. Love that one.
But yeah…as every has said, additions are not allowed.

The priest must have devised it himself.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

It’s not that no addition or subtraction can be made to the liturgy…it is that such an addition or subtraction must be done according to the law. That is a crucial distinction. The bishop of the diocese, as but one example, is the moderator of the liturgy for his diocese and can make such changes as the law permits him to make.

That said, in this case the matter of this prayer being inserted into the body of the Mass should be referred to the bishop of the diocese. It is not appropriate.

 

[FAB]

There is a time for reflection after communion. It can be filled with silence, often there is a song of reflection by the choir. This prayer I believe would fall into this category. A reflective prayer on what has been received and asking the blessed mother to pray with us. As a church liturgist, I can see how the priest would want it after communion.

I do wonder why so many want to set up a conflict with their clergy.

Deacon Frank

 

[ProVobis]

There is a time for reflection after communion. It can be filled with silence, often there is a song of reflection by the choir. This prayer I believe would fall into this category. A reflective prayer on what has been received and asking the blessed mother to pray with us. As a church liturgist, I can see how the priest would want it after communion.

I do wonder why so many want to set up a conflict with their clergy.

Bingo, there’s the appropriate venue.

 

[FAB]

Bingo, there’s the appropriate venue.

So, if the prayer were chanted or set to music, it’s OK, but not if it is spoken?

 

[airforcemom]

Thank you Deacon Frank. Our Deacon who is a personal friend said the same. We have a small group who opposed the previous Pastor in everything he did - he was Vietnamese and a very holy and a great devotion to the Divine Mercy and Rosary. We had adoration and devotions daily. This small group opposed it all. We now have a priest from Africa and unless someone starts the Rosary before Mass we have no more devotions or adoration because he says adoration should be after Mass and not before - no one is going to stay afterwards. We can still have adoration in a small chapel if we want but nothing before any of the Masses. I have seen attendance go down and we are a very small church so if 10-20 people stop coming it is noticed. I’m very aware of that because I’m the secretary and keep the records. The small group is very happy because they are getting just about everything they want. If this Pastor puts the prayer back after the Eucharist I’m sure they will go to the diocese again even though the Bishop did not tell the previous Pastor he could not have this prayer where he placed before. We voted on to keep or do away with the prayer and all results were sent to the Dean and the Archbishop. Apparently it is a practice done more so in Vietnamese parishes and no complaints. I’ve learned many from other countries who settle here have a greater devotion to our faith than we do. Glad to know it has its origins in the Divine Mercy devotion I now know where it stems from and can understand why Father liked it so much. Thanks to all of you who responded and I do understand the not adding or subtracting from the Mass, but following Katrina I’ve attend Mass in various states and I have to say I have seen Pastors who wrote poetry and read it afterwards and choirs singing for what seemed like 5 minutes after communion, and I have to say that 1-2 minute prayer thanking the Lord for what He just allowed us to receive seems a better way of saying thanking you. God bless!!

 

[ProVobis]

So, if the prayer were chanted or set to music, it’s OK, but not if it is spoken?

I thought you answered that in mentioning that part about the choir. I see no problem with that.

 

[rondirect]

There is a time for reflection after communion. It can be filled with silence, often there is a song of reflection by the choir. This prayer I believe would fall into this category. A reflective prayer on what has been received and asking the blessed mother to pray with us. As a church liturgist, I can see how the priest would want it after communion.

I do wonder why so many want to set up a conflict with their clergy.

Deacon Frank

This is true, but I have to agree with some here that this prayer is rather lengthy though. We have one priest who asks us to pray the “Hail, Mary” for an end to war and terrorism during the reflection period. People like it.

One more thing: it was mentioned that some say that we should not have a prayer after receiving communion by the original poster. Hello! The prayer the priest says after communion is called, “Prayer after Communion.” Those people think it’s a “closing prayer.” I’ve heard that said sooooo many times.

 

[Redd_Jackal]

Until recently, our pastor was having everyone recite The Stewardship Prayer after Eucharist remains are stored. Even had it posted in the weekend “worship aid”. It begins with Almighty God…

Pastor also sings a little ditty following Prayers of The Faithful which changes with the Season and not listed in said Worship Aid. However, a number of folks in the pew know the lyrics and sing along as the choir and organist stay mute. “Plants” I call them as some priests have groupies which follow them from parish to parish. The tune performed during Ordinary Time could be described as Ba Ba Black Sheep, sung in a minor key. I’ve attended Mass in 3 other diocese in recent years, and never encountered such an improvisation on part of the celebrant.

 

[ProVobis]

This is true, but I have to agree with some here that this prayer is rather lengthy though. We have one priest who asks us to pray the “Hail, Mary” for an end to war and terrorism during the reflection period. **People like it. **

So why were the Leonine Prayers (after Low Mass) eliminated?

 

[rondirect]

So why were the Leonine Prayers (after Low Mass) eliminated?

Don’t know; but, weren’t the Leonine prayers recited after the mass? We are talking about, and I am referring to a simple prayer during mass at the time of Reflection.

 

[ProVobis]

Don’t know; but, weren’t the Leonine prayers recited after the mass? We are talking about, and I am referring to a simple prayer during mass at the time of Reflection.

Technically they were recited after Mass, maybe because every Mass didn’t have them. But they’re a known quantity, like the Angelus, and might enounter less difficulty getting implemented. If people like the Hail Mary, it seems they should have no difficulty with the the Leonine prayers, whether they’re part of the Mass or after Mass.

On second thought, maybe they will. Things never turn out as they’re planned.

 

[rondirect]

Technically they were recited after Mass, maybe because every Mass didn’t have them. But they’re a known quantity, like the Angelus, and might enounter less difficulty getting implemented. If people like the Hail Mary, it seems they should have no difficulty with the the Leonine prayers, whether they’re part of the Mass or after Mass.

On second thought, maybe they will. Things never turn out as they’re planned.

The “Hail Mary” is quick and to the point and hopefully, we pray, that our persistence in reciting it will help bring peace to this troubled world.

One might be asking for a miracle for people to stay for the Leonine prayers after mass. After all, we can’t get them to stay past the introduction to the closing song! And, what about those who receive Christ and say the balance of the mass is not needed, so they leave! Furthermore, the pastor will get upset because the people leaving might just interfere with the people coming in for the next mass. We live in a very different world today.

 

[airforcemom]

At my church if anyone leaves before the Altar Server has returned the cross to the Altar we know they are visitors. We always stay a few minutes after Mass in silent prayer before leaving. After Katrina it was hard to get use to everyone rushing out. I’d let those out of the pew that were in a hurry and then kneel back down.

I truly enjoyed reading all the responses so far. Unfortunately, I still don’t see a solution to the situation. I do feel like if the priest is going to lead the communion antiphon once he has sat down I don’t see much difference in reciting this prayer except for the length. Once you know the prayer it really isn’t that long.

I will have to wait to see what the new Pastor decides to actually do. I’m sure the “group” will have already spoken to him about their displeasure in the prayer but I’m hoping the remainder 90% of the parishioners also voice their opinion. He is aware that this group is also opposed to our Adoration Chapel and like me he doesn’t understand anyone being opposed to Adoration.

 

[zab]

At my church if anyone leaves before the Altar Server has returned the cross to the Altar we know they are visitors. **We always stay a few minutes after Mass in silent prayer before leaving. After Katrina it was hard to get use to everyone rushing out. I’d let those out of the pew that were in a hurry and then kneel back down.
**
I truly enjoyed reading all the responses so far. Unfortunately, I still don’t see a solution to the situation. I do feel like if the priest is going to lead the communion antiphon once he has sat down I don’t see much difference in reciting this prayer except for the length. Once you know the prayer it really isn’t that long.

I will have to wait to see what the new Pastor decides to actually do. I’m sure the “group” will have already spoken to him about their displeasure in the prayer but I’m hoping the remainder 90% of the parishioners also voice their opinion. He is aware that this group is also opposed to our Adoration Chapel and like me he doesn’t understand anyone being opposed to Adoration.

Remaining a few minutes for silent prayer after Mass is over can be a good and holy practice to do. But I don’t know why you feel it necessary to describe those who do not stay a few minutes longer like yourself as “rushing out”. We have several people that remain a few minutes after Mass, too. And some give sour looks to those leaving. (Maybe that is just my impression. I have been accused of the same )But those who are leaving in an orderly manner after staying for the entire Mass and after singing every last verse of the closing hymn are not “rushing out”. They are leaving at the proper time.