What now virtually-abandoned liturgical practices from your youth do miss most?

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These were all things which I regularly experienced in my post-Vatican II youth (the 1970s), yet, for the most part, I haven’t seen in two decades.

In no particular order:
  • Receiving communion at altar rails
  • Altar boys (not girls) with patens
  • Sanctus bells
  • Priests actually preaching from the pulpit (instead of wandering around like a talk show host)
  • The priest purifying the sacred vessels at the altar (however I recently saw an Indian priest at one local parish doing this)
  • The choir actually in the choir loft
  • Extra priests coming out at communion time to help distribute
  • Confessions offered immediately before Mass
  • Pre-Mass rosaries
  • Post-Mass recitations of the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
  • Post-Mass benedictions
  • May crownings
I’ve barely experienced any of them in the last 20 years despite the fact that I attend Mass at many parishes in my travels…and despite the fact that Vatican II NEVER abolished any of these practices!

What now virtually-abandoned liturgical practices from your youth do miss most?
 
lepanto said:
I haven’t seen in two decades.
  • Sanctus bells
  • Priests actually preaching from the pulpit (instead of wandering around like a talk show host)
  • The priest purifying the sacred vessels at the altar (however I recently saw an Indian priest at one local parish doing this)
  • The choir actually in the choir loft
  • Extra priests coming out at communion time to help distribute
  • Confessions offered immediately before Mass
  • Pre-Mass rosaries
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All the ones I have kept I have seen and still see at various parishes from time to time. It depends on the parish and time of year.

I know of a couple parishes that still have (or have brought back) the bells.

Priests do purify at the alter in some parishes.

Choir is placed in the loft sometimes on big occasions at some churches (Christmas/Easter) (depends on worship space).

If there is an extra priest visiting (for whatever reason), he usually helps out but it is hard to find parishes with more than one regular priest on staff.

Most parishes do rosaries before mass, sometimes it is all masses at all weekends, some are one mass one weekend a month (depending on when the grandmas arrange it). The St Michael prayer is usually said at the end of the rosary and before mass (local customs).
 
Except for the altar rails and receiving communion with patens…our parish still does the other items listed.

The one thing I remember was pre-Vatican II…masses with catefaloques…masses for the dead…black covered mock coffins
 
real choirs with real singers singing real sacred music. I think of all the pain, confusion, doubt and real hurt experienced with the changes–mainly due to lack of teaching or explanation and the lack of charity with which they were introduced–the desecration of sacred music has been the hardest to live with when it comes to regular participation in the Mass.

the most damaging overall has been IMO and experience is the general disrespect for the Real Presence of the Eucharist articulated by many priests, catechists and liturgical ministers (and the multiplication of lay liturgical roles) by the casual way in which Eucharist is administered and received (contrary to Church law) in so many places. First and foremost being the removal of the tabernacle in so many parishes.
 
  • Receiving communion at altar rails No, the rails are long gone I’m afraid
  • Altar boys (not girls) with patens Check
  • Sanctus bells Check
  • Priests actually preaching from the pulpit (instead of wandering around like a talk show host) Check
  • The priest purifying the sacred vessels at the altar (however I recently saw an Indian priest at one local parish doing this) Check
  • The choir actually in the choir loft Check
  • Extra priests coming out at communion time to help distribute Check
  • Confessions offered immediately before Mass Only before Saturday’s vigil Mass
  • Pre-Mass rosaries Check, During the Week; Not on Sunday
  • Post-Mass recitations of the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel Doesn’t everyone?
  • Post-Mass benedictions No, you got me there
  • May crownings Check
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Guess I shall count my blessings again . . .
 
Receiving communion at altar rails Not yet as we still have not restored the rails; however, people kneel and receive on the tongue
  • Altar boys (not girls) with patens yes
  • Sanctus bells yes
  • Priests actually preaching from the pulpit (instead of wandering around like a talk show host) yes
  • The priest purifying the sacred vessels at the altar (however I recently saw an Indian priest at one local parish doing this) yes
  • The choir actually in the choir loft yes
  • Extra priests coming out at communion time to help distribute yes
  • Confessions offered immediately before Mass yes
  • Pre-Mass rosaries yes
  • Post-Mass recitations of the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel yes
  • Post-Mass benedictions yes
  • May crownings yes
But to be fair, until I found my current parish 2 years ago, for the 20 years previous to that, I had NOT seen any of the above and while nearby parishes may offer one or two of the above, none save ours offer all.
 
When I was a kid, in the 80’s in New Mexico, everyone received communion on the tongue. No controversy, it wasn’t even a question; there was no other option. I wish it was still like that.

I receive in my hand now, because it’s what 98% of the other people do, and I don’t think I should draw attention to myself or “take a stand” on this issue. Because I know either way is fine…but I prefer it the old way.
 
lepanto said:
These were all things which I regularly experienced in my post-Vatican II youth (the 1970s), yet, for the most part, I haven’t seen in two decades.

In no particular order:
  • Receiving communion at altar rails Church where I worship was built after Vat. II so never had altar rails
  • Altar boys (not girls) with patens – No, not since my brother was an altar server
  • Sanctus bells – last Easter
  • Priests actually preaching from the pulpit (instead of wandering around like a talk show host) Depends on the priest. Pastor stands by the first occupied pew.
  • The priest purifying the sacred vessels at the altar (however I recently saw an Indian priest at one local parish doing this) – Last year. Young Polish priest.
  • The choir actually in the choir loft. Loft was turned into a crying room because of a young priest who disliked kids.
  • Extra priests coming out at communion time to help distribute. Never saw that since I’ve never been in a parish with more than one priest. If there are missionaries in residence in my parish they usually concelebrate or go say mass at the Mission down the road.
  • Confessions offered immediately before Mass – Had those until 2004 when our new pastor decided it wasn’t worth his while to sit in the Reconciliation Room. We can go get him by the hand if we feel a need to confess but he usually doesn’t show up until 15 min. before Mass.
  • Pre-Mass rosaries – Before every weekday Mass. I avoid this one like the plague because the mumbling that goes on is not conducive to prayer. A decade well said would beat this ‘guess what prayer is being said now’ time.
  • Post-Mass recitations of the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Never heard those.
  • Post-Mass benedictions – Never experienced that, even before Vat. II.
  • May crownings – Only read about this on boards like this. Never experienced such a thing.
I’ve barely experienced any of them in the last 20 years despite the fact that I attend Mass at many parishes in my travels…and despite the fact that Vatican II NEVER abolished any of these practices!

What now virtually-abandoned liturgical practices from your youth do miss most?
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  • The priest purifying the sacred vessels at the altar (however I recently saw an Indian priest at one local parish doing this) Check
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Is this referring to before the concecration, or right after communion?
 
lepanto said:
Wow…your parish sounds downright medieval! 😉
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That’s been said of the entire diocese, although some of the individual parishes are more modern than others . . . 😉

That’s the nice thing about Catholicism – the Church can offer a safe home for all her children.
 
lepanto said:
These were all things which I regularly experienced in my post-Vatican II youth (the 1970s), yet, for the most part, I haven’t seen in two decades.

In no particular order:
  • Receiving communion at altar rails
Click to expand...
No; standing has become the norm here.
  • Altar boys (not girls) with patens
Click to expand...
Yes.
  • Sanctus bells
Click to expand...
Yes.
  • Priests actually preaching from the pulpit (instead of wandering around like a talk show host)
Click to expand...
Yes.
  • The priest purifying the sacred vessels at the altar (however I recently saw an Indian priest at one local parish doing this)
Click to expand...
Yes.
  • The choir actually in the choir loft
Click to expand...
Yes.
  • Extra priests coming out at communion time to help distribute
Click to expand...
Yes.
  • Confessions offered immediately before Mass
Click to expand...
Yes.
  • Pre-Mass rosaries
Click to expand...
Yes.
  • Post-Mass recitations of the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
Click to expand...
Yes. Actually, pre-Mass.
  • Post-Mass benedictions
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Yes, but pre-Mass.
  • May crownings
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Not crownings per se, but the offering of flowers.
 
lepanto said:
These were all things which I regularly experienced in my post-Vatican II youth (the 1970s), yet, for the most part, I haven’t seen in two decades.

In no particular order:
  • Receiving communion at altar rails I’ve never seen Altar rails except in pictures of my parent’s wedding.
  • Altar boys (not girls) with patens I miss the patens, No one, including our priest has been able to give me a straight answer about why alter servers don’t wear the red/white or black/white garments, and instead wear the white albs.
  • Sanctus bells hear them every week.- Priests actually preaching from the pulpit (instead of wandering around like a talk show host)ours does most of the time, unless he gathers the children up to question and teach them about the gospel at the children’s mass
  • The priest purifying the sacred vessels at the altar Ours does this every week, sometimes with the deacon
  • The choir actually in the choir loft If you don’t have a choir loft, the choir can’t sing from it.
  • Extra priests coming out at communion time to help distribute This is done on special occasions or when extra large congregations are expected.
  • Confessions offered immediately before MassOnly before the Sat. eve mass, the Sunday masses are too close together for that to be practical.(rented space, no building of our own yet.) And I haven’t noticed a demand for it, although our Priest has recently been telling people they must all be perfect becasue confession attendance is so low.
  • Pre-Mass rosaries We, the choir, were pressed into service for this a few months ago.
  • Post-Mass recitations of the Prayer to St. Michael the ArchangelNever heard it done.
  • Post-Mass benedictions Short ones on the feast of the body and blood of Chirst. again, short time frame between masses.
  • May crowningsWhatever are you talking about?
    I’ve barely experienced any of them in the last 20 years despite the fact that I attend Mass at many parishes in my travels…and despite the fact that Vatican II NEVER abolished any of these practices!
What now virtually-abandoned liturgical practices from your youth do miss most?
Click to expand...
I miss the kneelers, the patens, the altar server outfits, and using tongs to take put a host into the container if you were going to communion. (OK, I grew up in a small town in protestant country)
 
I actually experienced less of the things mentioned during the 1970’s and experience more of them now.
 
Our parish still has/does most of the list as well.

A question of sorts…on communion rails…during my VERY young altar boy days, I remember at different times during Mass, before/during/after the Eucharistic Prayer, we had to shift various “sheets” off and on the communion rail. Red and White.

I remember doing it very vividly, I just can’t remember why. We stopped doing it long before the rails came down in the late 70’s.

Any help out there?
 
I don’t miss any of these things and don’t think they are worth bringing back.
 
  • Receiving communion at altar rails we used to have rails, but in the 80’s they remodeled the church and it was too much of a pain to lay carpeting around the rails which weren’t being used for communion anymore, so they removed them. They wound up using the rail to make a side table, chairs for servers and Father, and a new ambo, plus two sections of the rail that are intact in front of the side altars.
  • Altar boys (not girls) with patens got that.
  • Sanctus bells**got that. **
  • Priests actually preaching from the pulpit (instead of wandering around like a talk show host) got that.
  • The priest purifying the sacred vessels at the altar (however I recently saw an Indian priest at one local parish doing this) got that.
  • The choir actually in the choir loft got that. well, not strictly a choir, but group of singers…
  • Extra priests coming out at communion time to help distribute no priests to do this.
  • Confessions offered immediately before Mass saturday.
  • Pre-Mass rosaries got that.
  • Post-Mass recitations of the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel in the rosary…
  • Post-Mass benedictions not that.
  • May crownings still do that with schoolkids.
 
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