Communion Rails

[PapistWyf]

I happened to be reading a "Theological tour of the church" for one of our local parishes and it said this about the altar rail:
[quote][b]Sanctuary[/b][list]
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This is the “Holy of Holies,” the most sacred and important place of the entire church, for it is here that the sacrifice of the Mass takes place, and it is here that our Lord dwells in the tabernacle.
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In the Jewish temple, the Holy of Holies was set off by a massive veil. That veil was a 60 foot tall, 4 inch thick piece of material that hung as a barrier between the Holy of Holies, which was the dwelling place of God, and the rest of the Temple, the place where man dwelt. It was made in such a way that two horses tied on either end of it and running in opposite directions could not pull it apart. The veil was meant not only to demarcate the holiest place of the Temple, but also, in a sense, to symbolically demonstrate the utter separateness between God and man – that sinful man was unfit for the presence of God. Thus the veil was the symbol of man’s separation from God because of sin. And only the high priest was permitted to pass beyond the temple veil on behalf of all Jews in order to make atonement for their sins – and this only once a year.
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We don’t set off the sanctuary, our “Holy of Holies” with a veil, but we do demarcate it from the nave. This is done here by steps, a change of materials, and the altar rail.
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The altar rail is the Catholic representation of the veil that separated the profane world from the Holy of Holies in the Jewish Temple. The altar rail not only demarcates the area of the sanctuary, but it also reminds us very clearly that sanctuary, because it is the very dwelling place of God, is not a place that we should feel free to enter. We should only enter it if we have reason to do so.
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[url="http://www.stanncharlotte.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=616:theological-tour-of-our-church&catid=34:about-st-anns&Itemid=56"]http://www.stanncharlotte.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=616:theological-tour-of-our-church&catid=34:about-st-anns&Itemid=56[/url]

[fides' Jack]

Personally, I like them. The thought of "roping off Jesus" seems, I don't know, a little off. I'm sure it feels that way to some, but I think it's enlightening to keep in mind that this whole mindset of "being close to Jesus" is a pretty recent thing. Of course, the idea was always there, to some extent, but if you read a lot of old writings of the saints and bygone Catholics, you'll find they shied away even from using the name "Jesus" quite a bit. Instead, they would refer to Him by one of His titles, e.g. "Christ". The name was considered so holy that it wasn't used in speech much - which goes to show the mindset of reverence behind communion rails.

I think people these days are more focused on "Jesus being there for them" than they are on actually worshiping Christ in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I don't think it's more personal now (I honestly felt it was more personal before), but there certainly seems to be a lack of reverence for things, such as Christ's name, that deserve more. And perhaps even less reverence for the holiness of the sanctuary, which I think people should rightly have a little apprehension about entering.

How often do we say the name "Jesus" without following through on "every knee must bend"?

[quote name='cappie' timestamp='1338244946' post='2436622']
The proper form or prayer for the reception of Holy Communion according to the EF is :Corpus Dómini nostri Jesu Christi custódiat ánimam tuam in vitam æternam. Amen. This is said by the priest and should be said before giving Holy Communion to each person. In my experience as an Altar Server in what has now become called the EF the priest sometimes would give communion to 3 or 4 people for each prayer. Besides the Eucharistic Fast was from Midnight and also included fasting from water(this was changed by Pope PiusXII) so many people did not go to Holy Communion at later Masses. The precept of the Church said one must HEAR Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. But one only had to go to Holy Communion once a year. The practice of regular and frequent Communion was one of the 20th Century.
[/quote]

Huh - that's interesting, Padre! I'm fairly certain that the priests at the Extraordinary Form parish in town have always said the whole prayer for each person. It never occurred to me that they could say one prayer for multiple people! It doesn't slow them down, any, either - I think they're just faster with Latin than those with less experience.

[quote name='CMoon72' timestamp='1338576326' post='2439491']
Maybe I'm just a crazy Southern hack, but it sure seems that removing and/or not using the altar rails, sure Protestantizes the Mass...what do y'all think?
[/quote]

That's how it seems to me, but I've been indoctrinated to think that way (by some pretty crazy schismatics). Not sure how legit those feelings are...

[fides' Jack]

Just another thought - how wonderful would it be if everyone did genuflect when they heard the name of Jesus! The thought fills me with warm fuzzies!

[cappie]

[quote name='fides' Jack' timestamp='1338928971' post='2441374']
Just another thought - how wonderful would it be if everyone did genuflect when they heard the name of Jesus! The thought fills me with warm fuzzies!
[/quote]

It was traditional to bend the head at the name of Jesus, and during the Mass make a profound bow it the Holy Name was mentioned in the prayers. Also priests wearing the Biretta used to raise it in respect of the Holy Name especially if mentioned in a sermon. Unfortunately that seems to have by and large disappeared.

[qfnol31]

[quote name='cappie' timestamp='1338977021' post='2441697']


It was traditional to bend the head at the name of Jesus, and during the Mass make a profound bow it the Holy Name was mentioned in the prayers. Also priests wearing the Biretta used to raise it in respect of the Holy Name especially if mentioned in a sermon. Unfortunately that seems to have by and large disappeared.
[/quote]I thought that the current missal had the instruction to bow our head at Jesus' and Mary's name in it still?

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='qfnol31' timestamp='1338988967' post='2441727']
I thought that the current missal had the instruction to bow our head at Jesus' and Mary's name in it still?
[/quote]Icould almost swear I'd read that in the GIRM when I was looking for something else. I know many of the older people at my old parish did it, and some at the new parish. So I could be wrong about it being in the GIRM, though it seems like a good practice to me.

[cappie]

[quote name='Archaeology cat' timestamp='1339008996' post='2441854']
Icould almost swear I'd read that in the GIRM when I was looking for something else. I know many of the older people at my old parish did it, and some at the new parish. So I could be wrong about it being in the GIRM, though it seems like a good practice to me.
[/quote]

It's there, just not practiced or taught it seems:

275. A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. There are two kinds of bow: a bow of the head and a bow of the body.

a) A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.

b) A bow of the body, that is to say, a profound bow, is made to the altar; during the prayers Munda cor meum (Cleanse my heart) and In spiritu humilitatis (With humble spirit); in the Creed at the words et incarnatus est (and by the Holy Spirit . . . and became man); in the Roman Canon at the Supplices te rogamus (In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God). The same kind of bow is made by the Deacon when he asks for a blessing before the proclamation of the Gospel. In addition, the Priest bows slightly as he pronounces the words of the Lord at the Consecration.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='cappie' timestamp='1339017696' post='2441907']


It's there, just not practiced or taught it seems:

275. A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. There are two kinds of bow: a bow of the head and a bow of the body.

a) A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.

b) A bow of the body, that is to say, a profound bow, is made to the altar; during the prayers Munda cor meum (Cleanse my heart) and In spiritu humilitatis (With humble spirit); in the Creed at the words et incarnatus est (and by the Holy Spirit . . . and became man); in the Roman Canon at the Supplices te rogamus (In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God). The same kind of bow is made by the Deacon when he asks for a blessing before the proclamation of the Gospel. In addition, the Priest bows slightly as he pronounces the words of the Lord at the Consecration.
[/quote]Thank you, Father. I remember now that I was looking up bowing during the Creed, probably after it was mentioned here. I'd never been taught that, but I do see some doing it.

[Archaeology cat]

Another reason altar rails would be helpful/nice: I wouldn't have to worry about one or more children trying to get up there. Oy ve.

[Guest Alyosha]

Personally I think that communion rails are very important and should be restored as the norm for all Roman Rite parishes. For one, they signify a seperation of space between the sanctuary and the nave, clearly demarking the sacred domain of the Blessed Sacrament, the altar, and the sacred ministers, from the mundane area of the Church where the congregation gathers. Of course, the entire church is sacred space, but few would disagree that the sanctuary is of a special degree of religious importance, and should be considered and treated as sacred space. Communion rails, rood screens, an iconostasis (such as in the Byzantine rite), sanctuary curtains (such as in some forms of the Antiochene or East Syriac rites), and other such things have all been used consistently throughout Church history to seperate the sacred locus of the priests' sacramental activity from the area of the parish congregation.

Communion rails make it less easy to easy the sanctuary. Someone has to either step over them (which feels wrong, particularly for Catholics; it feels like unlawful tresspassing) or open the gate to step in. It makes it clear that we should not enter the sanctuary unless necessary. It helps in restoring the sense of the sanctuary as sacred space in the minds of the congregation. This in an important step in restoring the general sacrality of the Roman Rite which has been diminished since the Second Vatican Council.

As for receiving communion kneeling and on the tongue, it should be the norm for those who ae physically capable. Those unable to kneel should still receive communion on the tongue, albeit standing, or sitting in the pew. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, does not give communion in the hand at all, only on the tongue. This was the traditional manner of Eucharistic communication always used in the Roman Rite, and reflects proper reverence and veneration due to the reception of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The reception of communion in the hand is only an exception to the norm, granted only as an indult. It was not meant to become standard. Monsignor Guido Marini, Maste rof Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, has stated,

[quote]"It is necessary not to forget," he added, "that the distribution of Communion on the hand continues to remain, from the juridical standpoint, an exception (indult) to the universal law, conceded by the Holy See to those bishops' conferences who have requested it."

http://www.zenit.org/article-23028?l=english
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Cardinal Arinze has also clarified that receiving communion kneeling and on the tongue is the normative and preferred method of eucharistic communication: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap1KL2D5ae4

[Guest Alyosha]

[quote name='dominicansoul' timestamp='1338237618' post='2436520']
Back in the day when everyone received kneeling at the altar rail... how did the priest get through distributing Holy Communion all by himself?
[/quote]

Very quickly and without difficulty, even if there is a large number of communicants in the congregation, as can be seen at any Extraordinary Form celebration of the Mass. When people kneel for communion along the communion rails, it makes it a much faster process of just moving along the rail rather than having each person step forward individually, hold out their hands, get in the awkward eye-contact exchange of 'the body of Christ - amen," etc. Communion distributed kneeling and on the tongue along the communion rails is more efficient, faster, more reverent, more secure (i.e., it makes it more difficult for someone to profane the holy Eucharist) and more condusive to belief in the Real Presence and veneration of the Blessed Sacrament.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='CMoon72' timestamp='1338576326' post='2439491']Maybe I'm just a crazy Southern hack, but it sure seems that removing and/or not using the altar rails, sure Protestantizes the Mass...what do y'all think?[/quote]

you're Southern? coulda sworn you were from Iowa.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1339897636' post='2445418']

you're Southern? coulda sworn you were from Iowa.
[/quote]

That is southern... from where I sit.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' timestamp='1339897954' post='2445419']
That is southern... from where I sit.
[/quote]

oh, too true. south from me, as well. but i thought actual Southerners were a bit *touchy* about which states are actually "Southern" states.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='CMoon72' timestamp='1338576326' post='2439491']
Maybe I'm just a crazy Southern hack, but it sure seems that removing and/or not using the altar rails, sure Protestantizes the Mass...what do y'all think?
[/quote]

Funny you should say that.... For the first 18 years of my life, I received on the tongue, kneeling at a communion rail. Of course, I was a Methodist at that time. So, in my experience, that posture has a very Protestant feel to me. I am not at all opposed to their use in Catholic churches, of course.