Use of Altar Rails

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Mt19_26

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I attended a parish this morning in which communion was distributed using the altar rails. Also, all of the parish priests came out to distribute communion. No extraordinary ministers were used at all. Does anyone else attend a parish in which altar rails are still used?
 
I have been to such parishes, but I do not live near any. I really like receiving Holy Communion while kneeling…
 
It was the first time I’ve received communion using the altar rails. Prior to this morning I used to think it would take a long time to distribute communion this way but it actually went pretty smooth and didn’t take long at all. I also liked the fact that all the priests came out to distribute communion instead of using extraordinary ministers.
 
Mt19:26:
It was the first time I’ve received communion using the altar rails. Prior to this morning I used to think it would take a long time to distribute communion this way but it actually went pretty smooth and didn’t take long at all.
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I think it might take less time. Just my observation.
 
The church I went to for Easter vigil distributes communion at an altar rail. From what I learned it started at a an early morning Mass and then parishoners attending other Masses wanted to as well. Communion cloths were also used.
 
Mt19:26:
I attended a parish this morning in which communion was distributed using the altar rails. Also, all of the parish priests came out to distribute communion. No extraordinary ministers were used at all. Does anyone else attend a parish in which altar rails are still used?
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Was this parish using the Novus Ordo or the Tridentine mass? Also was in in SoCal?

My parish uses the Novus Ordo but still uses the altar rails, distribution of communion for 500 parishoners take maybe a little more than 10 minuites with 2 priests.
 
Yep…I attend a very conservative Parish that offers the TLM…Holy Communion is distributed with the altar rails…always, even during the Novus Ordo…no extraordinary ministers are ever used…it is always Priest. the altar boys also put the little plate thing under your mouth while receiving the most Holy Eucharist…It is great. We receive communion only in the body…only The Priest receives under both species…
Mt19:26:
I attended a parish this morning in which communion was distributed using the altar rails. Also, all of the parish priests came out to distribute communion. No extraordinary ministers were used at all. Does anyone else attend a parish in which altar rails are still used?
Click to expand...
 
There are a number of parishes in downtown Detroit (inlcuding Sweetest Heart of Mary, Saint Joseph, and Old Saint Mary’s) that still use the altar rails and the faithful receive the Blessed Sacrament while kneeling. I sometimes attend Mass at these parishes during the week.

I truly wish the practice would come back in full force. It is so much more reverent. Why so many felt it was necessary to remove the altar rails is beyond my comprehension. There were never any formal instructions to do so.
 
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msproule:
There are a number of parishes in downtown Detroit (inlcuding Sweetest Heart of Mary, Saint Joseph, and Old Saint Mary’s) that still use the altar rails and the faithful receive the Blessed Sacrament while kneeling. I sometimes attend Mass at these parishes during the week.

I truly wish the practice would come back in full force. It is so much more reverent. Why so many felt it was necessary to remove the altar rails is beyond my comprehension. There were never any formal instructions to do so.
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Try a church in the suburbs…
saintcyrils.org/
We don’t have an Altar rail but use kneelers.
 
Not being a Roman Catholic, I am curious about how the new American interpretation of the GIRM has been adapted to permit kneeling to recieve communion in those parishes where rails remain in use.

Do diocesan bishops have to give special dispensation from the American interpretation of the GIRM? Is the local priest permitted to offer this dispensation? Just Curious.

As for me, in my tradition, our Churches are most definately still set up with Communion Rails. Those too frail to kneel will stand, but for the most part, kneeling it is. I find it far easier to commune kneelers than standers… but that’s the practice I prefer - even though I use a modern vernacular (though not inclusive language) liturgy.

Rob+
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
Try a church in the suburbs…
saintcyrils.org/
We don’t have an Altar rail but use kneelers.
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I have been to Saints Cyril and Methodius. To say the least, I was impressed. If you are ever on the far west side of town, try Holy Spirit in Hamburg…
rc.net/lansing/holyspirit/
No altar rail either, but you would never know it!
 
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FrRobSST:
I am curious about how the new American interpretation of the GIRM has been adapted to permit kneeling to recieve communion in those parishes where rails remain in use.
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There are people on these forums far more knowledgeable than I on the subject, but I will provide a short explanation as best I understand it.

The Instruction indicates that the normative posture for reception of Holy Communion is for the faithful to stand. However, it is also written that nobody is to be refused the Sacrament if they choose to kneel.

In other words, if there were people who chose not to use the altar rails and instead wanted to receive while standing, this would be perfectly fine according to the norms.
 
We still have and still use our marble altar rails at St. Stanislaus Kostka in Wyandotte. 🙂

I should clarify - it’s optional. Most people stand.
 
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msproule:
I truly wish the practice would come back in full force. It is so much more reverent. Why so many felt it was necessary to remove the altar rails is beyond my comprehension. There were never any formal instructions to do so.
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As alluded to earlier, distribution to communicants kneeling at an altar rail goes much faster than distribution while standing. Best I can tell, a single priest distributing at an altar rail can go as fast as 2-3 people distributing while standing. The priest doesn’t have to wait for one communicant to pause after reception, get out of the way and another to step up and prepare themsleves to receive, but just moves on to the next person going a half step at a time.

Quit using the rail, and people start complaining about how much longer distribution takes, increasing pressure to regularily use EMHCs or return to allowing use of the rail if one was present. Get rid of the rail, and pressuring for regular use of EMHCs is all that’s left to do. Would sound like a far-fetched conspiracy, if that wasn’t exactly what happened as altar rails were removed or quit being used…
 
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FrRobSST:
Not being a Roman Catholic, I am curious about how the new American interpretation of the GIRM has been adapted to permit kneeling to recieve communion in those parishes where rails remain in use.

Do diocesan bishops have to give special dispensation from the American interpretation of the GIRM? Is the local priest permitted to offer this dispensation? Just Curious.

As for me, in my tradition, our Churches are most definately still set up with Communion Rails. Those too frail to kneel will stand, but for the most part, kneeling it is. I find it far easier to commune kneelers than standers… but that’s the practice I prefer - even though I use a modern vernacular (though not inclusive language) liturgy.

Rob+
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What happened is there were 3 letters fronm the Council of Divine Worship from the Vatican that in effect, disallowed any penalties for kneeling for communionm, and the letters said those who do kneel for communion should not be considered disobidient or imposed upon.

Of course, people should be prudent still(kneeing when there are people who are in line behind someone creates a potential tripping hazard), but the Vatican saved this pious practice in the US.
 
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buffalo:
I think it is faster as the people at the rail are** queued.**
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I think I just discovered a practical application for all the Queueing Theory I learned in school… It would seem to me that serving time is reduced when using a altar rail.
 
I could not agree more that “Communion at rail” proceeds faster than “Communion in single file”. More amazing is that it accomplishes this while still demonstrating more reverence!

The logical progression from Communion in single file to excessive EMHC is very clear.

I am continually perplexed at how one parish in my area continues to employ excessive numbers of EMHC despite the fact that most of the faithful are willing to wait longer in line to receive from the priests or deacons. When will somebody understand that we really do want a reverent liturgy?
 
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Benedictus:
I think I just discovered a practical application for all the Queueing Theory I learned in school… It would seem to me that serving time is reduced when using a altar rail.
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Yes, add to that - propagation delay in a Communion line.
 
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JNB:
Was this parish using the Novus Ordo or the Tridentine mass? Also was in in SoCal?

My parish uses the Novus Ordo but still uses the altar rails, distribution of communion for 500 parishoners take maybe a little more than 10 minuites with 2 priests.
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The Mass was at Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara and was a Novus Ordo Mass.

Does anyone know of parishes in SoCal, or more particularily San Diego, that uses altar rails?
 
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