Went to a memorial mass

[Publisher]

I went to a memorial mass this Saturday for a Sister of Mercy I knew. From reading on this fourm I realized some “liturgical abuses” I would never have noticed the things which many of you don’t consider “kosher” in your liturgies if not for this board…so I was pleased some of the things I learned actually “stuck”.

Many held hands during the Lord’s Prayer…many of the commicants dipped their wafer in the wine…I did notice that some of the commicants bypassed the wine altogether…the wine was only served by women…the priest served the bread.

It was a moving service.

 

[benedictgal]

I went to a memorial mass this Saturday for a Sister of Mercy I knew. From reading on this fourm I realized some “liturgical abuses” I would never have noticed the things which many of you don’t consider “kosher” in your liturgies if not for this board…so I was pleased some of the things I learned actually “stuck”.

Many held hands during the Lord’s Prayer…many of the commicants dipped their wafer in the wine…I did notice that some of the commicants bypassed the wine altogether…the wine was only served by women…the priest served the bread.

It was a moving service.

First of all, we need to get terminology straight. After the consecration, the “wafer, or bread” is now the Body of Christ and the “wine” is now the Blood of Christ. Self-intinction is not allowed. If their is to be intinction, it can only be done by the ordinary minister of Holy Communion (deacon, priest, bishop). It is the communicant’s choice as to whether or not to receive the Precious Blood.

Here is what Francis Cardinal Arinze said when asked about intinction (this comes from the archives of the Adoremus bulletin):

One thing I’ve seen before [is] where they have the ciborium out, and people come up and take our Precious Lord out of there and dip our Lord into the Precious Blood and place it on their own tongue themselves.

Forbidden. Not correct. Because the nature of the Holy Eucharist is such that the person who is not a priest celebrating the Mass must be given the Body of Christ. You say “amen”. And you receive, on the tongue or in the hand. If you are not the priests celebrating Mass – if you are the deacon assisting – you must be given [Communion]. You may not take.

Even if you are bishop or cardinal, and you are not celebrating that Mass, you must be given. You must not take.

For example, if you watch us in Rome in St. Peter’s basilica or square, when the pope is saying a major Mass, there may be 40 cardinals, 100 bishops. When we are not concelebrating – we are wearing red vestments but we are not concelebrating – we are just assisting at Mass as all of you who are baptized. When it is time for Communion, we receive, exactly as everybody else. A deacon comes to us and says “the Body of Christ”. I say “amen”. He gives to me, and the same for all.

None of us is allowed to take. We must be given. This is the Church law. It is not to lower anybody, it is just the nature of the sacrament. Even when Christ multiplied bread and fish, He told the apostles to distribute it. It was a sign.

So the Church that regulates Eucharistic practice says that the holy Body and Blood of Christ will be given us. We will not take. Only the celebrating priests or the concelebrating communicate themselves. Everybody else must be given it, even if that person is a bishop or a priest.

Holding hands during the Our Father is not an official liturgical posture. It’s something that the charismatics brought into the Mass. There is no requirement to hold hands, in fact, as soon as I can get my hands on it, I’ll post something that Msgr. Peter Elliot said to that effect.

 

[Publisher]

I gave an account from a Quaker perspective…Catholic “terminology” seems very foreign to me, so I ask your forebearance.

I didn’t participate out of respect for Sister and what I have learned of Catholic belief. Many did “self intinction” rather than sip from the glass…which was another thing I noticed…I thought the chalice was to be made of metal or pottery…I didn’t think glass was allowed since the glass could break if knocked over or dropped?

I also noticed there wasn’t a whole lot of genuflecting…but a simple head bow before entereing the pew…I hadn’t been to a Catholic service in decades…

Also I noticed there were no crucifix at the head of the sanctuary…there was a statue of the Pieta…the only cross/crucifix was a small brass one on a pole to the left of the alter which someone carried during the procession…of course there were the stations of the cross on the walls but no crucifix to speak of…now I was very surprised about that.

 

[benedictgal]

I gave an account from a Quaker perspective…Catholic “terminology” seems very foreign to me, so I ask your forebearance.

I didn’t participate out of respect for Sister and what I have learned of Catholic belief. Many did “self intinction” rather than sip from the glass…which was another thing I noticed…I thought the chalice was to be made of metal or pottery…I didn’t think glass was allowed since the glass could break if knocked over or dropped?

I also noticed there wasn’t a whole lot of genuflecting…but a simple head bow before entereing the pew…I hadn’t been to a Catholic service in decades…

Also I noticed there were no crucifix at the head of the sanctuary…there was a statue of the Pieta…the only cross/crucifix was a small brass one on a pole to the left of the alter which someone carried during the procession…of course there were the stations of the cross on the walls but no crucifix to speak of…now I was very surprised about that.

Sorry if I sounded harsh. You do need to have a crucifix during the Mass. As soon as I get home, I’ll get the proper citation for you on that one. It’s also a sad note about the genuflecting, or, lackthereof.

 

[Publisher]

Sorry if I sounded harsh. You do need to have a crucifix during the Mass. As soon as I get home, I’ll get the proper citation for you on that one. It’s also a sad note about the genuflecting, or, lackthereof.

As I said I have not attended a Catholic service in decades, from much of the things I’ve read here on Catholic Answers actual practice and form must vary greatly from one parish to another…I wouldn’t have known I was in a Catholic Church instead of an Episcopalian or Presbyterian Church except the sign out in front said St. Stevens Catholic Church.

 

[THurifer2]

Precious body not “wafer”

Precious Blood not “wine”

 

[porthos11]

Precious body not “wafer”

Precious Blood not “wine”

Please cut the guy some slack; he’s not Catholic, and is merely using terms according to what he believes. He does not intend to offend.

 

[peary]

I went to a memorial mass this Saturday for a Sister of Mercy I knew. From reading on this fourm I realized some “liturgical abuses” I would never have noticed the things which many of you don’t consider “kosher” in your liturgies if not for this board…so I was pleased some of the things I learned actually “stuck”.

Many held hands during the Lord’s Prayer…many of the commicants dipped their wafer in the wine…I did notice that some of the commicants bypassed the wine altogether…the wine was only served by women…the priest served the bread.

It was a moving service.

The RSMs have a reputation of being quite liberal. Yet, having been taught by them in college, they are by far the most intelligent and gifted group of women religious I know. Personally, I see nothing wrong with anyone “holding hands” for the Lord’s Prayer. It is a sign of Christian unity, in my opinion. As for the other stuff, such as communicants dipping the Host into the wine, I don’t think we can do this as a form of intinction as it is the priest who would have authority to do this.

 

[Publisher]

****The RSMs have a reputation of being quite liberal. Yet, having been taught by them in college, they are by far the most intelligent and gifted group of women religious ********I know. Personally, I see nothing wrong with anyone “holding hands” for the Lord’s Prayer. It is a sign of Christian unity, in my opinion. As for the other stuff, such as communicants dipping the Host into the wine, I don’t think we can do this as a form of intinction as it is the priest who would have authority to do this.

That doesn’t come as a surprise concerning them being…“liberal”…they were very “ecumenical” and had no issue worshipping with a Quaker…or Episcopalian…or Buddhist for that matter. The sisters were very much involved with AIDS ministry to street women, homeless, and we delivered food baskets one year as a joint effort. They were always kind to me…a good friend of mine is an “associate”.

Some of the women went to the women servers and dipped the host into the wine.

I’ve been reading the threads on glass chalices…interesting…this parish uses glass…it looked like there was gold on the glass but glass or crystal just the same.

Thanks for the information.