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Mt19_26
Guest
Is a Novus Ordo Mass that uses altar rails rare?
Also, if a parish decided to install and use altar rails do they have to get approval from their diocese?
Also, if a parish decided to install and use altar rails do they have to get approval from their diocese?
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jbarkley
Guest
netmil(name removed by moderator):
I currently attend St. Lawrence, and I’m thinking about switching back. I was trying to get my daughter accepted in to the school, but money talks more than anything else there.
I love Saint Cyrils. I was married there. My daughter was one of Father Ben’s first Baptisms after he became pastor. Father Mikus (sp?) was the best. He was so very, very sick - yet he inisisted on getting out of his sick bed to perform my marriage ceremony, another priest performed the Mass.
I currently attend St. Lawrence, and I’m thinking about switching back. I was trying to get my daughter accepted in to the school, but money talks more than anything else there.
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msproule
Guest
Mt19:26:
Mt19:26:
Generally speaking, I would say it is rare.
Mt19:26:
I believe the diocesean Bishop must approve of any remodelling.
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BasBleu
Guest
The parish in my hometown (700 families) uses the altar rail for Holy Communion as well. The church holds about 100-125 people and has one elderly priest, NO EMHCs. Communion takes probably 10-15 min. as one side of the church is served than the other. Father also encourages people to remain at the altar to pray after receiving, so I think that’s why it takes a little longer, but it’s not excessive by any means. There is also plenty of time to pray and meditate before and after receiving, depending on where you are seated. Father regularly admonishes regular confession and lingering to pray at the altar during his homilies.
I didn’t know this the first time I attended mass there, but I nearly wept with joy when I saw communion being distributed this way. It’s a Norvo Ordo Mass, but Father is quite elderly and PERFECTLY Orthodox. This is also the only church I’ve ever attended where people stand at the proper time, **before saying **“May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands…” rather than **after **it. I probably shouldn’t be so picky, but **why **do people find this so difficult??
I didn’t know this the first time I attended mass there, but I nearly wept with joy when I saw communion being distributed this way. It’s a Norvo Ordo Mass, but Father is quite elderly and PERFECTLY Orthodox. This is also the only church I’ve ever attended where people stand at the proper time, **before saying **“May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands…” rather than **after **it. I probably shouldn’t be so picky, but **why **do people find this so difficult??
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baltobetsy
Guest
My parish (Shrine of the Little Flower, Baltimore, MD) still has and uses the altar rail. Every other weekend, we receive kneeling at the rail, and on the opposite weeks, we receive standing to accomodate both species. At daily Mass, it’s always kneeling at the rail. Some people (mainly older folks with arthritis, it appears) stand at the rail; most kneel. A few years ago, we used the rail all the time, but at a Bishop’s visitation, he instructed us to go to the every-other-week schedule.
Betsy
Betsy
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Catholic_Heart
Guest
Mt19:26:
My own parish uses ARMIES of Extradordinary Ministers of Holy Communion! It’s amazing to watch them all come to the altar…
I grew up int the Methodist Chruch, and was used to using altar rails for communion. I still miss that…It just seems natural to me.
Wow…Sounds so good…The only parishes I have been to that are like that are TLM ones.
My own parish uses ARMIES of Extradordinary Ministers of Holy Communion! It’s amazing to watch them all come to the altar…
I grew up int the Methodist Chruch, and was used to using altar rails for communion. I still miss that…It just seems natural to me.
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dumspirospero
Guest
I don’t mean to brag…huh huh…but I am fortunate enough to go to a Parish where we do receive at the altar rail 
Catholic Heart:
Catholic Heart:
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Cherub
Guest
I agree that the Communion line goes much faster and more smoothly when the altar rail is used.
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Catholic2003
Guest
When receiving communion at an altar rail, is it mandatory to receive on the tongue? If so, could someone indicate where in the GIRM (or other liturgical law) this mandate can be found.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Melissa
Guest
We use the altar rail in my parish, and pretty much everyone who is capable does kneel.
I’d also estimate that close to 3/4 of the people do choose to receive on the tongue, however that isn’t required, even while kneeling at the rail. They do, however, in teaching the children for First Communion, only teach how to receive on the tongue. Our pastor says that any family that wants to teach reception in the hand may do so, but all children must learn to receive on the tongue. (Admittedly, I’ve chosen reception on the tongue for the purely practical reason that it stresses me out to receive in the hand due to major nerve damage in my hand that causes me to drop all sorts of mundane things, and I’d be spending all my time worrying that I’d drop the Host
Just not a chance I’m ever willing to take.)
I’d also estimate that close to 3/4 of the people do choose to receive on the tongue, however that isn’t required, even while kneeling at the rail. They do, however, in teaching the children for First Communion, only teach how to receive on the tongue. Our pastor says that any family that wants to teach reception in the hand may do so, but all children must learn to receive on the tongue. (Admittedly, I’ve chosen reception on the tongue for the purely practical reason that it stresses me out to receive in the hand due to major nerve damage in my hand that causes me to drop all sorts of mundane things, and I’d be spending all my time worrying that I’d drop the Host
Just not a chance I’m ever willing to take.)- Status