AccountDeleted Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 (edited) Oh how I wish we had a communion rail. When I attended the Latin Mass in Melbourne, they put back their communion rails and it was so beautiful. But this is in a NO community!! I just love the idea that they gave them a choice, and most preferred to kneel. [quote] Is kneeling the new standing? From a deacon: [indent=1]We just finished a refurbishing of the inside of our church shortly before Christmas which included [b]bringing out of the basement the old altar rail and re-installing it[/b] . For midnite mass our pastor announced before mass that “the norm in our diocese for reception of communion is a solemn bow just before recieving standing either on the tongue or in the hand . In order to accomodate those who wish to recieve our Lord while kneeling we will from now on recieve communion at the rail . You can either stand or kneel and recieve either on the tongue or in the hand but all will be done at the rail “. Happy to say that over [b]75% OF THE CONGREGATION KNELT[/b] ! Of those who knelt to recieve the majority were on the tongue . Several had tears in their eyes as they recieved our Lord.What a great start .[/indent] Will old traditions be forgot? In with the old and out with the new? [url="http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/12/if-you-install-it-they-will-kneel/"]http://wdtprs.com/bl...hey-will-kneel/[/url] [/quote] Edited January 1, 2012 by nunsense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneLine Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 What a brilliant and respectful solution to all involved.... Two Thumbs Way up for the Pastor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faithcecelia Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 If they really want to encourge kneeling they dont even have to go that far (though its nice). My parish uses the first row of pews, reserved for the purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountDeleted Posted January 1, 2012 Author Share Posted January 1, 2012 [quote name='faithcecelia' timestamp='1325376754' post='2360898'] If they really want to encourge kneeling they dont even have to go that far (though its nice). My parish uses the first row of pews, reserved for the purpose. [/quote] But that presume having a pew with kneelers. some churches (one of the four in our parish) only has chairs, and I know a lot of US churches have chairs as well - no place to kneel, even during the Mass! When the Holy Father does a Mass, they use a prie dieu, so maybe this would be good too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faithcecelia Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 [quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1325377543' post='2360911'] But that presume having a pew with kneelers. some churches (one of the four in our parish) only has chairs, and I know a lot of US churches have chairs as well - no place to kneel, even during the Mass! When the Holy Father does a Mass, they use a prie dieu, so maybe this would be good too? [/quote] Ooops that never crossed my mind. We do also have a prie dieu which is used on Fridays when Mass is in a sideways, funny shaped chapel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandelynmarie Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 The mental image of this chapel has never failed to amuse me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FutureCarmeliteClaire Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 How wondeful!! My pastor's mouth would drop if someone suggested installing one. Just gonna have to kneel on the hard floor for now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 That's great. I love it when churches bring back out "old relics" that they had before. An altar rail is one of many things that can help Catholics understand the meaning of the True Presence again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountDeleted Posted January 1, 2012 Author Share Posted January 1, 2012 [quote name='Ash Wednesday' timestamp='1325388866' post='2361028'] That's great. I love it when churches bring back out "old relics" that they had before. An altar rail is one of many things that can help Catholics understand the meaning of the True Presence again. [/quote] And yet I know Catholics who would think this was 'going backwards' and 'not in the spirit of Vat 2" ! And I am talking even some religious! For me, I love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 I can kneel ok - its the getting up that is the real problem (lower back injury). It would be wonderful to see at the front, where Holy Communion is received, say a prie-dieu on either side for those who wish to kneel and the centre open for those who wish to stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faithcecelia Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 [quote name='brandelynmarie' timestamp='1325380479' post='2360945'] The mental image of this chapel has never failed to amuse me. [/quote] Just remember to add the priest's noisy shoes to get the full picture Fridays are truely a day of penance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das8949 Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 [quote name='faithcecelia' timestamp='1325376754' post='2360898'] If they really want to encourge kneeling they dont even have to go that far (though its nice). My parish uses the first row of pews, reserved for the purpose. [/quote] [quote name='faithcecelia' timestamp='1325378282' post='2360922'] Ooops that never crossed my mind. We do also have a prie dieu which is used on Fridays when Mass is in a sideways, funny shaped chapel. [/quote] Congrats on Reliious status! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slappo Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 one of the great things about an altar rail vs a prie dieu is that the altar rail shows a clear separation of the nave and the sanctuary which visually elevates the sanctuary into sacred space. The sanctuary at my church is smack dab in the middle with circle seating. People walk right past the altar all the time right through the sanctuary with no thought to "That is where the sacrifice of the mass takes place". In fact it is hard for me to think or remember that and I know much much better and can't claim or feign ignorance or poor instruction. Architecture plays a huge part in worship, and altar rails, even if not used for communion, are a helpful visual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 (edited) Because of our shortage of priests, our parish is a twinned parish (once two parishes are now the one parish). We have two Churches. The one I attend is very traditional and 'old fashioned' and reminds me very much of my childhood Church. In fact, the Stations of The Cross and the Crucifix are exactly the same although this is what the 'non video' human memory tells me. A few weeks ago, I was seated right down the back and heard dripping and it was pouring with rain outside and the roof was leaking. The whole structure is very badly in need of repair. Our other Church is one of those that has seating all around the altar and is actually a hall converted into a Church with a hall next door and since the Church is air conditioned, and we really do have dire shortage of priests in Australia, I suspect that the Church to be eventually closed will be the traditional one I attend. What I do love about the modern Church is that it does have an altar to Our Lady with rack for intention candles - well used. Its always decorated with flowers. I've been to weekday Mass there a few times and I am starting to feel more comfortable there than initially. It also has on one wall a huge wooden carving of Jesus with a cross laying on its side behind Him. It fascinates me and I am becoming very fond of it and look forward to seeing it. We dont seem to have a Confessional per se in this Church. Doubtless if it is adopted as our only Church some changes will take place. Sometimes things do not appeal to my preferences for one reason or another and then I tell myself that loving obedience is a virtue and my preferences are not. One still has preferences of course and one can either obey grudgingly and resentfully or lovingly. There is so much that is political 'push and pull' in The Church and each party seems to know the best and for the best reasons. I think that common sense guided by The Holy Spirit shows the way. Some things are necessary and important, other things are not. I think it is important that our Churches do help us to experience the sacred - but then this experience can be enhanced by different things for different people. Edited January 1, 2012 by BarbaraTherese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 [quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1325388969' post='2361029'] And yet I know Catholics who would think this was 'going backwards' and 'not in the spirit of Vat 2" ! And I am talking even some religious! For me, I love it! [/quote] Though I have for the most part always been a liturgical traditionalist at heart, I'm embarrassed to say that I used to use the term "spirit of Vatican II" ...I think a lot of people that use these kinds of terms are just very poorly informed. Especially those of us that had catechesis that was absolutely horrible growing up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now