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EphelDuath
Guest
I vaguely understand what they are (a “wall” around the Sanctuary); what are they for, and why do traditionalist Catholics resist their removal? Why were they removed in the first place?
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IrishDude45
Guest
I will only answer the first part of your question because I believe many other posters will have much better answers to the last bit.
They are for the faithful to receive Holy Communion kneeling, on the tongue. Traditionalist Catholics resist their removal because then priests can make arguments against receiving Holy Communion kneeling and even almost prevent parishioners from doing so, i.e. asking them to receive standing or in the hand or both because kneeling in the Communion line would be dangerous for tripping or draw undue attention to an individual. This is what has happened in my experience.
I look forward to this thread.
Pax Vobiscum
They are for the faithful to receive Holy Communion kneeling, on the tongue. Traditionalist Catholics resist their removal because then priests can make arguments against receiving Holy Communion kneeling and even almost prevent parishioners from doing so, i.e. asking them to receive standing or in the hand or both because kneeling in the Communion line would be dangerous for tripping or draw undue attention to an individual. This is what has happened in my experience.
I look forward to this thread.
Pax Vobiscum
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Hesychios
Guest
The communion rail helps to define the altar area as sacred space. In a very real sense, during the Mass this was thought of as where heaven and earth would meet.
The rail is actually a remnant from a much larger structure known as the rood screen, which would reach up higher to form a type of fence. People would receive through the screen or from the door, I am not sure if they were customarily kneeling for communion at rood screens.
When I was young we would all line up along it in rows three deep, the foremost line kneeling at the rail, and the priest would come along and deposit the Host upon our tongues. I remember being terrified of even touching a part of the floor beyond the rail. When we did so (as wee ones) we thought we were being very naughty and might be in BIG trouble with God.
Nuns (or the altar and rosary society) would scrub the floor around the altar on their hands and knees in total reverence. Nowadays, in many places almost anybody might walk up and around the altar, not having a sense that it is inappropriate.
These “rails” were actually a fine quality piece of wooden furniture, or in many beautiful old parishes sculpted out of attractive durable stone like granite or marble. Highly decorative, there was a sense of increasing holiness beginning at the edge where this ribbon of art wrapped around the altar space, then on an elevated level the high altar with an impressive reredo rising above and beyond the altar to the Eastward.
Four decades ago the idea was current that the communion rail provided a barrier which made God and His priesthood seem less approachable. There was also a lot of discussion about how we had lost the sense that the Holy Eucharist was a common meal and some of the liturgical and architectural changes were meant to address that.
Naturally, once the rails were gone the altar area began to take on aspects of a theatrical stage.
I think that removing the rails was a bad idea, but that was not at all clear at the time. For some of the older folks, it is a part of the nostalgia for old familiar things. But for the church in general it was part of a decline in a sense of the sacred which admitted numerous other problems later.
Michael
The rail is actually a remnant from a much larger structure known as the rood screen, which would reach up higher to form a type of fence. People would receive through the screen or from the door, I am not sure if they were customarily kneeling for communion at rood screens.
When I was young we would all line up along it in rows three deep, the foremost line kneeling at the rail, and the priest would come along and deposit the Host upon our tongues. I remember being terrified of even touching a part of the floor beyond the rail. When we did so (as wee ones) we thought we were being very naughty and might be in BIG trouble with God.
Nuns (or the altar and rosary society) would scrub the floor around the altar on their hands and knees in total reverence. Nowadays, in many places almost anybody might walk up and around the altar, not having a sense that it is inappropriate.These “rails” were actually a fine quality piece of wooden furniture, or in many beautiful old parishes sculpted out of attractive durable stone like granite or marble. Highly decorative, there was a sense of increasing holiness beginning at the edge where this ribbon of art wrapped around the altar space, then on an elevated level the high altar with an impressive reredo rising above and beyond the altar to the Eastward.
Four decades ago the idea was current that the communion rail provided a barrier which made God and His priesthood seem less approachable. There was also a lot of discussion about how we had lost the sense that the Holy Eucharist was a common meal and some of the liturgical and architectural changes were meant to address that.
Naturally, once the rails were gone the altar area began to take on aspects of a theatrical stage.
I think that removing the rails was a bad idea, but that was not at all clear at the time. For some of the older folks, it is a part of the nostalgia for old familiar things. But for the church in general it was part of a decline in a sense of the sacred which admitted numerous other problems later.
Michael
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I_Believe
Guest
~cymbal crash~
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Volodymyr_988
Guest
Michael is right.The communion rail helps to define the altar area as sacred space. In a very real sense, during the Mass this was thought of as where heaven and earth would meet.
The rail is actually a remnant from a much larger structure known as the rood screen, which would reach up higher to form a type of fence. People would receive through the screen or from the door, I am not sure if they were customarily kneeling for communion at rood screens.
http://www.execulink.com/~dtribe/blog/roodscreen.jpg
http://burtonlatimer.info/images/Churches/Churchinterior.jpg
When I was young we would all line up along it in rows three deep, the foremost line kneeling at the rail, and the priest would come along and deposit the Host upon our tongues. I remember being terrified of even touching a part of the floor beyond the rail. When we did so (as wee ones) we thought we were being very naughty and might be in BIG trouble with God.
These “rails” were actually a fine quality piece of wooden furniture, or in many beautiful old parishes sculpted out of attractive durable stone like granite or marble. Highly decorative, there was a sense of increasing holiness beginning at the edge where this ribbon of art wrapped around the altar space, then on an elevated level the high altar with an impressive reredo rising above and beyond the altar to the Eastward.
Four decades ago the idea was current that the communion rail provided a barrier which made God and His priesthood seem less approachable. There was also a lot of discussion about how we had lost the sense that the Holy Eucharist was a common meal and some of the liturgical and architectural changes were meant to address that.
Naturally, once the rails were gone the altar area began to take on aspects of a theatrical stage.
I think that removing the rails was a bad idea, but that was not at all clear at the time. For some of the older folks, it is a part of the nostalgia for old familiar things. But for the church in general it was part of a decline in a sense of the sacred which admitted numerous other problems later.
Michael
I say, bring back our Rood Screens!
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Shin
Guest
Yes, let’s do this! 
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Monica4316
Guest
I was born way after VII and have never been to a church with altar rails, but I really, really…want them to be brought back. 
does anyone know… was it decided at VII to get rid of the rails, or was it one of the “modernizations” that were taken too far by people who misinterpreted the Council???
Do the rails still exist at parishes where they have Tridentine Mass?
I think they really add reverence…
does anyone know… was it decided at VII to get rid of the rails, or was it one of the “modernizations” that were taken too far by people who misinterpreted the Council???
Do the rails still exist at parishes where they have Tridentine Mass?
I think they really add reverence…
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Rabbititus
Guest
As far as I know, Vatican II itself said nothing on the matter. They were largely removed after communion standing and in the hand became the default in practice. Apparently a lot of people argued - and still argue - that they create a “barrier” that limits the “active participation” called for by the council (a silly reason, IMO, I’ve yet to feel separated from God because of a two-food six-inch high decorative railing).I was born way after VII and have never been to a church with altar rails, but I really, really…want them to be brought back.
does anyone know… was it decided at VII to get rid of the rails, or was it one of the “modernizations” that were taken too far by people who misinterpreted the Council???
Do the rails still exist at parishes where they have Tridentine Mass?
I think they really add reverence…
Altar rails are still listed as one of the ways the sanctuary can be clearly set apart from the rest of the church, along with raising the area up on steps, and new churches can be built with them. The new shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Lacrosse, WI has rails.
Since rails were almost universally removed, they may or may not be present in churches that celebrate the TLM. Churches dedicated to the purpose seem to either still have original railings or have had new ones installed.
Like others, I say bring them back!
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Black_Dog
Guest
Prior to beginning the process of conversion to Catholicism I was Anglican and our church had altar rails, incense and we knelt for Communion and received the host on the tongue. It was a bit of a surprise when I attended my first Mass and discovered a much more informal scenario. BUT I very soon realised that outward appearances and props have little to do with the validity of a Mass.
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manualman
Guest
Intellectually, the scared space has NOTHING to do with the validity or holiness of the mass. Possibly some of the most fervent masses in history were celebrated on the hoods of army jeeps…
But catholicism has never before in history accepted the argument that the spiritual world is divorced from the physical world. Church architecture SHOULD be conceived and constructed in a manner befitting the spiritual realities that take place there.
With that in mind, it should be little wonder that we’ve seen a decrease in the sense of the sacred in the sanctuary, the architecture today almost commands the people to relax and enjoy themselves.
But catholicism has never before in history accepted the argument that the spiritual world is divorced from the physical world. Church architecture SHOULD be conceived and constructed in a manner befitting the spiritual realities that take place there.
With that in mind, it should be little wonder that we’ve seen a decrease in the sense of the sacred in the sanctuary, the architecture today almost commands the people to relax and enjoy themselves.
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forever_always
Guest
i agree, they really do add reverence.I was born way after VII and have never been to a church with altar rails, but I really, really…want them to be brought back.
does anyone know… was it decided at VII to get rid of the rails, or was it one of the “modernizations” that were taken too far by people who misinterpreted the Council???
Do the rails still exist at parishes where they have Tridentine Mass?
I think they really add reverence…
I would love for them to come back.
the only time i have ever gone to mass with communion rails was during a tridentine mass. we had a visiting priest come to our church a few times, and he insisted that kneelers were placed in front of the alter for mass. =] i loved it.
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scylla
Guest
The purpose of communion rails can be described in many ways, to defend and instruct on on the holiness of God and the greatness we have in respect to Him. To assist us in receiving Communion in a reverent manner and to help those who need help in kneeling to be able to kneel easily.
It also helps the Priest serve others efficiently and in a reverent manner.
Why are they gone?
After Vatican II which never said a word about removing Altar Rails removed them in a desire to reform the Church. Since it is easier to destroy than build up so they were torn out easily and in most the Catholic Churches we saw widespread destruction of our Holy Faith.
Pray for our Church, be faithful and we will rediscover the faith.
Scylla
It also helps the Priest serve others efficiently and in a reverent manner.
Why are they gone?
After Vatican II which never said a word about removing Altar Rails removed them in a desire to reform the Church. Since it is easier to destroy than build up so they were torn out easily and in most the Catholic Churches we saw widespread destruction of our Holy Faith.
Pray for our Church, be faithful and we will rediscover the faith.
Scylla
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