Why Are Communion Rails out of vogue?

[nsper7]

Today, at Church, I received Communion on the Tongue for the first time. Anyway, wouldn’t it make things easier, regardless of how one chooses to receive…hand or tongue) if communion rails were brought back.

The first Anglican Church I ever went to (it had schismed from the Episcopal Church and was now affiliated with the Anglican Church of Kenya) used communion rails (part of it was because the church it was using…it had been forced out of the Episcopal building I think or something like that…had an ‘altar rail’ already). Anyway, I liked having the rail. Whether you receive on the hand or the tongue, it seems a bit more reverent than just waiting in line and you feel less rushed.

 

[Malkin71]

Today, at Church, I received Communion on the Tongue for the first time. Anyway, wouldn’t it make things easier, regardless of how one chooses to receive…hand or tongue) if communion rails were brought back.

The first Anglican Church I ever went to (it had schismed from the Episcopal Church and was now affiliated with the Anglican Church of Kenya) used communion rails (part of it was because the church it was using…it had been forced out of the Episcopal building I think or something like that…had an ‘altar rail’ already). Anyway, I liked having the rail. Whether you receive on the hand or the tongue, it seems a bit more reverent than just waiting in line and you feel less rushed.

To sum it all up take all the 60’s and 70’s rebellion and VII not being explained, add the progressives, modernists and liberal’s agenda’s and that is why they were removed in my opinion.

I would still like to know the official reason why? Who’s orders dictated it. Was it folllow the leader? If one does it; should we follow?

 

[BayernAnhaenger]

To sum it all up take all the 60’s and 70’s rebellion and VII not being explained, add the progressives, modernists and liberal’s agenda’s and that is why they were removed in my opinion.

I would still like to know the official reason why? Who’s orders dictated it. Was it folllow the leader? If one does it; should we follow?

Because the 60s and 70s liberals thought it was “old” and “medieval” and “out of style”, and we were in a New Era for the Church.

 

[Schluns]

With Pope Benedict encouraging communion on the tongue, you will see them slowly coming back into the church. Not only does my parish have a communion rail, but with our recent de-wreckovation, we installed a communion rail similar to the original one installed 100 years ago.

 

[Ockham]

We can rebuild this Church, but it will indeed be brick by brick.

 

[Walden]

They are most certainly not "out of vogue."We are installing altar rails in my parish (along with other renovations) soon after the Easter season. Thank God the beautiful high altar survived the 70’s.

I’m a younger guy so I wasn’t around in those times, but I’ve recently been trying to imagine what it must have been like to see the sanctuary gutted. Surely there are some here that remember. It must have been heartbreaking.

 

[Kielbasi]

I would still like to know the official reason why? Who’s orders dictated it. Was it folllow the leader? If one does it; should we follow?

Changes like this were done on a individual case by case basis.

I think the real reason for communion rail removal wasn’t “rebellion” at all, but just practical , foot traffic control considerations.

Before the 70s, it was only the priests and altar servers that were involved in communion distribution. Since then, lay assistance at communion has dramatically increased foot traffic in the sanctuary area at communion.

 

[Ockham]

Before the 70s, it was only the priests and altar servers that were involved in communion distribution. Since then, lay assistance at communion has dramatically increased foot traffic in the sanctuary area at communion.

Since the 70’s things haven’t been going so well for the Church, so perhaps it’s worth putting the rails back up for awhile just to see what happens.

When I’ve been active in a parish it seems most of the volunteers, committee members, basically the parish leaders have been fairly liberal. I suspect when the ‘spirit of Vatican II’ winds were first blowing through the Church it was these liberals who pushed hardest for changes such as removing the altar rails. I also suspect the motivation in some cases was to satisfy the individual’s ego of being able to become a lecture, EMHC, or lead the choir from the front, not the loft.

By diminishing the role and prestige of the priests we’ve seen the numbers in semenaries drop signifcantly and now we have a priest shortage. I’ve yet to see a lecture or EMHC shortage though. If this trend continues ‘lay ministers’ will be all we have. To what purpose will this serve, a few bloated egos in each parish?

 

[Schluns]

Changes like this were done on a individual case by case basis.

I think the real reason for communion rail removal wasn’t “rebellion” at all, but just practical , foot traffic control considerations.

Before the 70s, it was only the priests and altar servers that were involved in communion distribution. Since then, lay assistance at communion has dramatically increased foot traffic in the sanctuary area at communion.

In TLM we get along fine with the alter rail and no EMs. In the OF Monsignor decided after our renovation that they would also start using the alter rail and give the congregation the option to kneel at the alter rail or stand at it. The amazing part? The “foot traffic” has improved. He usually gives a mini instructional for visitors during “major event” masses, such as C&E, and the ones prior to any speaker series, and the Italian festival put on by the parish. It has gone very splendidly.

 

[Cracker_Mom]

They are most certainly not "out of vogue."We are installing altar rails in my parish (along with other renovations) soon after the Easter season. Thank God the beautiful high altar survived the 70’s.

I’m a younger guy so I wasn’t around in those times, but I’ve recently been trying to imagine what it must have been like to see the sanctuary gutted. Surely there are some here that remember. It must have been heartbreaking.

Good for your church!

 

[Malkin71]

In TLM we get along fine with the alter rail and no EMs. In the OF Monsignor decided after our renovation that they would also start using the alter rail and give the congregation the option to kneel at the alter rail or stand at it. The amazing part? The “foot traffic” has improved. He usually gives a mini instructional for visitors during “major event” masses, such as C&E, and the ones prior to any speaker series, and the Italian festival put on by the parish. It has gone very splendidly.

A second GOOD FOR HIM!

 

[palmas85]

The reason most often given was that in the new age there was no real difference between the Clergy and the laity so the artificial separation maintained by the altar rail was no onger necessary and was actually harmful. Remember, prior to Vatican II the sacrament of Holy Orders was taught to be the highest calling. not just one of many as is the case now. I remember he old Baltimore Catechism having an illustration of a couple getting married. The caption said THIS IS GOOD On the next page a drawing of a woman receiving the veil and a man receiving Holy Orders. the caption said THIS IS BETTER

So in order to drive home the point that Holy Orders was just another calling, another vocation, the rails came down, habits and cassocks basically vanished and the prestige of the Clergy and religious plummeted.

Of all of the misinterpretations that came forth of the Vatican II documents, I think that the interpretation of the statement that all are called to Holiness to mean that we are all equal and traveling together with no one leading, was just about the worst, the most tragic and has caused the most destruction of them all…

 

[Ockham]

You reap what you sow.

At the TLM I attend as much as possible there are a few young men who arrive early, pray, sometimes assist, stay after Mass, pray, and look like future priests. No one fitting that description is at the NO Mass I attend weekly. The FSSP and SSPX seminaries are full while most others are near empty or closing.

Watering down the Catechism, dumbing down the Liturgy, and diminishing the prestige of the Priesthood obviously lowered the number of seminarians. In my youth I considered the priesthood but there was something missing from the call. Having found the TLM and pre-Vatican II Church I now know what that was.

 

[nsper7]

The reason most often given was that in the new age there was no real difference between the Clergy and the laity so the artificial separation maintained by the altar rail was no onger necessary and was actually harmful. Remember, prior to Vatican II the sacrament of Holy Orders was taught to be the highest calling. not just one of many as is the case now. I remember he old Baltimore Catechism having an illustration of a couple getting married. The caption said THIS IS GOOD On the next page a drawing of a woman receiving the veil and a man receiving Holy Orders. the caption said THIS IS BETTER

So in order to drive home the point that Holy Orders was just another calling, another vocation, the rails came down, habits and cassocks basically vanished and the prestige of the Clergy and religious plummeted.

Of all of the misinterpretations that came forth of the Vatican II documents, I think that the interpretation of the statement that all are called to Holiness to mean that we are all equal and traveling together with no one leading, was just about the worst, the most tragic and has caused the most destruction of them all…

Well, when I have received Communion in parish with altar rails (the only altar railed parishes I have received Communion at were Anglican/Episcopalian), I never thought it put up an ‘artificial separation’, but was merely a method to receive the Sacrament in such a way so that you do not feel rushed. After all, at the altar rail, you can pray a little bit before you head back to your seat, whereas when you have lines, you feel rushed.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Well, when I have received Communion in parish with altar rails (the only altar railed parishes I have received Communion at were Anglican/Episcopalian), I never thought it put up an ‘artificial separation’, but was merely a method to receive the Sacrament in such a way so that you do not feel rushed. After all, at the altar rail, you can pray a little bit before you head back to your seat, whereas when you have lines, you feel rushed.

i also grew up in the episcopal/anglican communion and that was a special part of the Eucharist approaching the altar rail and kneeling. it seemed a very reverent way of receiving Holy Communion. when i began looking into the Catholic church about 10 years ago, i was a little taken aback at the way people lined up to receive communion, and i am a Roman Catholic now, so i did convert, but i do miss the altar rail and i would love it if all of the Catholic churches brought it back.

 

[Jimzz12]

Today, at Church, I received Communion on the Tongue for the first time. Anyway, wouldn’t it make things easier, regardless of how one chooses to receive…hand or tongue) if communion rails were brought back.

The first Anglican Church I ever went to (it had schismed from the Episcopal Church and was now affiliated with the Anglican Church of Kenya) used communion rails (part of it was because the church it was using…it had been forced out of the Episcopal building I think or something like that…had an ‘altar rail’ already). Anyway, I liked having the rail. Whether you receive on the hand or the tongue, it seems a bit more reverent than just waiting in line and you feel less rushed.

Because communists took a great deal of pleasure in decimating our heritage. I want my stinking altar rail back!

 

[T700]

Because communists took a great deal of pleasure in decimating our heritage. I want my stinking altar rail back!

The communists took the altar rails? Are you sure it wasn’t the escaped aliens from Area 50 in Roswell?

Back on topic, I too wish my parish had them back. Also coming from the Anglican tradition, it just seems so rushed and like a cafeteria serving line to see people process through for communion.

Paul

 

[Jimzz12]

The communists took the altar rails? Are you sure it wasn’t the escaped aliens from Area 50 in Roswell?

Back on topic, I too wish my parish had them back. Also coming from the Anglican tradition, it just seems so rushed and like a cafeteria serving line to see people process through for communion.

Paul

Well… if you would rather another word.

The horizontalists gutted our historically vertical parish churches.

In a way, they do fufill the requisites for communists.

In the city, I used to go to a parish where there were altar rails. The beauty was the effect; making apparant the line drawn in the sand. Altar rails are excellent reminder that once the priest steps aboard he is not to come down until after Mass --to include prohibition to descending during a homily or to distribute the Eucharist. He is to stay up to there. The altar reminds us of this.

As far as the feeling of Communion being rushed. That is certaintly tangible. I’ve found that there is a particular reverence that the altar rail enables, even at the novus ordo Mass. When it comes to approaching in a line. It seems a lot more forced.

When I was young, I remember being told by those with assumed authority that the reason why we don’t use altar rails anymore is because in the “Olden Days” people would bring farm animals into church and the rail was neccessary to keep them off of the altar. It continued, now that we don’t bring animals into church anymore, we don’t need altar rails. I took that seriously as a young mind takes most everything as fact.

Now, I chock logic like that up to as ‘completely missing the point’. Why did they miss the point? Well… communism creeps in. And, I’m not talking about the Russians. Communism is a flawed philosophical approach, not a form of government. The patent denial that me, the miserable man coming to Christ, could be any different than what has happened on the altar. All appearances have been reduced to the same level, as corn of different talent is reduced by the tyrannical scythe.

This is in line with the thought process of many of the new theological authors. The re-introduction of altar rails into parish churches where the construction was originally vertical would be a good step back on to the road toward proper orienatation.

On a personal note. I get a kick out just going up an kneeling. Waiting there not really knowing when my time will come. It introduces a certain lack of situational control, and allows me to ‘approach the Lord as a child’.

 

[NeedImprovement]

i also grew up in the episcopal/anglican communion and that was a special part of the Eucharist approaching the altar rail and kneeling. it seemed a very reverent way of receiving Holy Communion. when i began looking into the Catholic church about 10 years ago, i was a little taken aback at the way people lined up to receive communion, and i am a Roman Catholic now, so i did convert, but i do miss the altar rail and i would love it if all of the Catholic churches brought it back.

There were still some altar rails around when I made my first Holy Communion. My present parish, like so many others , no longer has the rails.

St. Joseph’s Oratory here in Montreal still has beautiful altar rails. Ironically that can prove to be bittersweet: While I do love being able to receive kneeling at the rails and the recollection this can foster , it is there, at the Oratory, where I can end up “missing” the rails most of all, since one or two of the many priests who serve there opt to distribute Holy Communion “line style”, ignoring the rails at the Masses they celebrate.

…guess I’ll just enjoy it when I can…

 

[7_Sorrows]

There were still some altar rails around when I made my first Holy Communion. My present parish, like so many others , no longer has the rails.

St. Joseph’s Oratory here in Montreal still has beautiful altar rails. Ironically that can prove to be bittersweet: While I do love being able to receive kneeling at the rails and the recollection this can foster , it is there, at the Oratory, where I can end up “missing” the rails most of all, since one or two of the many priests who serve there opt to distribute Holy Communion “line style”, ignoring the rails at the Masses they celebrate.

…guess I’ll just enjoy it when I can…

yes, and we will have to pray that possibly some day they will return!!