The Altar Rails Came Back

[Eileen_T]

Today at Mass I was surprised, and delighted, to see altar rails on either side of the main aisle that would each kneel 4 people.

Our new (young) PP took over less than one month ago. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

 

[havemercy]

PP stands for Parish Priest?

 

[Eileen_T]

Yes

 

[netmilsmom]

Yes

Fantastic!!!

 

[decn2b]

All I can say is WOW. I am sure that most churches tossed their altar rails out 35 years ago or more. The church I attend didn’t get rid of theirs until 1983. THis is of course decades before I settled here. Interestinly enough when my parish renovated in '83 they kept the altar rail and put it in the religious education center for decoration. It looks quite nice. It has been re-finished and nice and clean. I am told that the parish center was built in 1993. I wonder where the altar rail was for that 10 years? WOW I wonder…if someone at my church had the forsight enough to encourage keeping that altar rail for “nostalgia” but really encouraged keeping for the secret motive of waiting for that right priest to come along some day…hmmmmm

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

A lot of the altar rails in the Diocese of Rockford were never removed. Our paish church was built in 1956, and still has them, marble ones. To be fair, they aren’t used, but I think a group of parishioners would chain themselves to the rails if somebody tried to remove them. Somebody even built a credence table a year ago with wrought iron and the same color marble to match the rails.

 

[Unfinished]

Today at Mass I was surprised, and delighted, to see altar rails on either side of the main aisle that would each kneel 4 people.

Our new (young) PP took over less than one month ago. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

 

[Caesar]

Wow! Lucky you

 

[brotherhrolf]

Our neighboring parish kept the altar rails. That parish is our diocese’s indult parish. I would really like to be able to kneel to receive Communion again.

 

[patrick457]

Wow.
Unfortunately, the destruction of Churches is still going on, thanks to those who think Churches should be stripped bare.
It’s nice to see that the Backlash has begun.

 

[Caesar]

Our neighboring parish kept the altar rails. That parish is our diocese’s indult parish. I would really like to be able to kneel to receive Communion again.

Why not attend Mass at the indult parish instead?

 

[havemercy]

Railing would look odd in my parish. It would also get in the way of putting on Christmas concerts, Passion Plays, and talent shows.

 

[Kielbasi]

I don’t see altar rails as a very practical fixture in the current day.

Back during the 60s , they were needed. But today , I see them as counterproductive.

I think they would be a hinderance to foot traffic around the altar, with the EHMC’s, altar servers, lectors and readers entering and leaving. Further, in as much as 90% + of the faithful receive communion standing, there really isn’t any mandated reason to have them.

 

[Bob67]

Why not attend Mass at the indult parish instead?

I would love nothing more than to attend the indult every week!
Problem? Car is 11 years old, Gas is High & a round trip to
Latin Mass in Cleveland at IC would be 170 miles!
Plus the time it takes - Noon Mass I leave @ 10am & get back @ 3pm!
But, I do make the trip a few times a year!

Hopefully things will get better as the Holy Father broadens the use
of Latin but, I don’t think most of our liberal Priests will even consider it!

But, It sure is AWESOME to hear a Parish got their Altar Rail back!!!

:clapping: That is WONDERFUL!!!

 

[Caesar]

I don’t see altar rails as a very practical fixture in the current day.

Back during the 60s , they were needed. But today , I see them as counterproductive.

I think they would be a hinderance to foot traffic around the altar, with the EHMC’s, altar servers, lectors and readers entering and leaving. Further, in as much as 90% + of the faithful receive communion standing, there really isn’t any mandated reason to have them.

Solution:

1. Stop the practice of letting laity, other then servers, in the sanctuary.
2. Tell the faithful to stop standing and grabbing the host, and recieve reverantly for a change.

 

[brotherhrolf]

Why not attend Mass at the indult parish instead?

Member of the cathedral choir. The indult Mass is a low Mass. Ours may be NO but at least we get to sing traditional Catholic hymns and motets.

 

[LilyM]

Solution:

1. Stop the practice of letting laity, other then servers, in the sanctuary.
2. Tell the faithful to stop standing and grabbing the host, and recieve reverantly for a change.

Grabbing? GRABBING?

I reverently hold out my hands in order to make them a throne and cradle and gently receive the Sacred Body of the Lord into them. Then I just as reverently and gently pick up the host from my hand and place it in my mouth. Then I slowly make the sign of the cross and return to my seat.

Through the whole process I gratefully thank him for the precious gift and privilege of being able to receive Him.

I grab nothing.

 

[brotherhrolf]

I don’t see altar rails as a very practical fixture in the current day.

Back during the 60s , they were needed. But today , I see them as counterproductive.

I think they would be a hinderance to foot traffic around the altar, with the EHMC’s, altar servers, lectors and readers entering and leaving. Further, in as much as 90% + of the faithful receive communion standing, there really isn’t any mandated reason to have them.

There are those of us who remember that we knelt to receive Our Lord. This WAS the norm until the late 1960s. It went every bit as smoothly for foot traffic and there were NO EHMCs - just the priest and ONE altar boy holding the paten. Communion took the same amount of time.

Like I said, our neighboring parish still has the communion rails and one can go to Communion and kneel to receive Our Lord at a NO Mass. I don’t see the problem with this. 90% of the faithful receive standing because this is what happend after VII! What about all of us who were alive during VII and didn’t appreciate what was done? Everyone assumes that “the new springtime” was accepted overwhelmingly by all Catholics alive in the 60s. Sorry, hate to disabuse you of this idea, but I was a teenager in the 60s and I in no way, no how approved of the changes. I quit attending Mass for years until I found a reverent NO. IMHO the baby got thrown out with the bathwater.

Just look at all the responses! We’re not all wackoes! But we remember a Church that is far, far different from what we encounter today. Clown Masses? Liturgical dancers? A cast of thousands on the altar for Communion? Oh, for the Church of my childhood. Tridentine or NO is NOT the issue - the issue boils down to one word and one word only - reverence!

 

[Wolseley]

Today at Mass I was surprised, and delighted, to see altar rails on either side of the main aisle that would each kneel 4 people.

Our new (young) PP took over less than one month ago. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Thank you for posting this. I see, or read, or hear about these kinds of things, and it gives me hope.

Please God, the Era of Lite Catholicism is dying as we speak.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

I don’t see altar rails as a very practical fixture in the current day.

Should the zeitgeist dictate practice?

Back during the 60s , they were needed. But today , I see them as counterproductive.

I think they would be a hinderance to foot traffic around the altar, with the EHMC’s, altar servers, lectors and readers entering and leaving. Further, in as much as 90% + of the faithful receive communion standing, there really isn’t any mandated reason to have them.

As others have said, there should not be “foot traffic” around the altar. There should be a clearly defined sanctuary in which laymen don’t tread unless there is a very good reason for them to do so.

The altar rail (in churches that still have them) provides a very clear boundary between the nave and the sanctuary. We’ve had enough of this “worship space for the communal meal” nonsense.