What Does GIRM 160 for the USA Really Say? (Communion posture) [Catholic Caucus]

WDTPRS.com ^ | 24 June 2011 | Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

[Salvation]

What Does GIRM 160 for the USA Really Say?

Posted on 24 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

 

When the new English translation of the Roman Missal is released, it will sport a new translation of the GIRM, the General Institution/Instruction of the Roman Missal.

There are, of course, adaptations for the USA and other Anglophone regions.

As it happens, the Congregation for Divine Worship has … tweaked some items.  I am sure this was to harmonize the language of the GIRM with the language of the rest of the Roman Missal.  However, tweaks may have been tweaked for other reasons.

For example, take a look at GIRM 160 for the USA.  The Latin is found on the USCCB website.

LATIN:
… Fideles communicant genuflexi vel stantes, prout Conferentia Episcoporum statuerit. Cum autem stantes communicant, commendatur ut debitam reverentiam, ab iisdem normis statuendam, ante susceptionem Sacramenti faciant.

 

OLDER USA ADAPTATION VERSION:
… The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.

NEWER USA ADAPTATION VERSION:
… The norm established for the Dioceses of the United States of America is that Holy Communion is to be received standing, unless an individual member of the faithful wishes to receive Communion while kneeling (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction, Redemptionis Sacramentum, March 25, 2004, no. 91).

The rest of GIRM 160 remains as it was.

There is no mention of addressing the instances “pastorally” or giving “properly catechizing” people who kneel to receive their GOD.

In other words, when people kneel to receive Almighty GOD, priests and other ministers are to give Communion to the person and keep their mouths shut.

[Salvation]

Quite interesting. I'm going to be posting something else the the USCCB version of the GIRM.

[Salvation]

Here’s the url for the beautiful picture that isn’t showing. Put it in your browser to see it.

http://www.wdtprs.com/images2/11_06_24_First_Communion.jpg

[Salvation]

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass (from the USCCB website)

Liturgy Guides
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass

 

 

General Principles

In every celebration of the Eucharist, there should be a sufficient number of ministers of Holy Communion so that it may be distributed in a reverent and orderly manner. Bishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord. ⁽¹⁾

When the size of the congregation or the incapacity of the bishop, priest, or deacon requires it, the celebrant may be assisted by other bishops, priests, or deacons. If such ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are not present, "the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may also depute suitable faithful for this single occasion (GIRM 162)."

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should receive sufficient spiritual, theological, and practical preparation to fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence. In all matters they should follow the guidance of the diocesan bishop (Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds for the Dioceses of the United States of America, NDRHC, no. 28). When recourse is had to Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, especially in the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds, their number should not be increased beyond what is required for the orderly and reverent distribution of the Body and Blood of the Lord. In all matters such Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should follow the guidance of the diocesan bishop (IBID).

All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine. Should there be any mishap--as when, for example, the consecrated wine is spilled from the chalice--then the affected "area . . . should be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium [GIRM, 280]." (NDRHC, 29).

Liturgy of the Eucharist:

• As the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God is begun, the Bishop or priest alone, or with the assistance of the deacon, and if necessary of concelebrating priests, breaks the eucharistic bread. Other empty ciboria or patens are then brought to the altar is this is necessary. The deacon or priest places the consecrated bread in several ciboria or patens, if necessary, as required for the distribution of Holy Communion. If it is not possible to accomplish this distribution in a reasonable time, the celebrant may call upon the assistance of other deacons or concelebrating priests.
• If extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are required by patoral need, they should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion. After the priest has concluded his own Communion, he distributes Communion to the extraordinary ministers, assisted by the deacon, and then hands the sacred vessels to them for distribution of Holy Communion to the people.
  
• All receive Holy Communion in the manner described by the General Instruction to the Roman Missal, whether priest concelebrants (cf. GIRM, nos. 159, 242, 243, 246), deacons (cf. GIRM, nos. 182, 244, 246), or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (cf. GIRM, no. 284). Neither deacons nor lay ministers may ever receive Holy Communion in the manner of a concelebrating priest. The practice of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion waiting to receive Holy Communion until after the distribution of Holy Communion is not in accord with liturgical law. (NDRHC, 39; GIRM, 160).
  
• After all Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion have received the Eucharist, the bishop or priest celebrant reverently hands vessels containing the Body or the Blood of the Lord to the deacons or extraordinary ministers who will assist with the distribution of Holy Communion. The deacon may assist the priest in handing the vessels containing the Body and Blood of the Lord to the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. (NDRHC, 40).
  
• The proper and only permissible form for distributing Holy Communion is to offer the consecrated bread by saying, "The Body of Christ" and to offer the consecrated wine by saying, "The Blood of Christ." No other words or names should be added; and the formula should not be edited in any way. (Cf. GIRM, 161; 284-287).
  
• If the Eucharistic bread or some particle of it falls, it should be picked up reverently by the minister. The consecrated bread may be consumed or completely dissolved in water before being poured down the sacrarium.
  
• Should there be any mishap, for example, if the consecrated wine is spilled from the chalice, the area should be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium.
  
• In those instances when there remains more consecrated wine than was necessary, if needs dictate, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from their cup of distribution with the permission of the diocesan bishop. The sacred vessles are to be purified by the priest, the deacon or an instituted acolyte. The amount of wine to be consecrated should be carefully measured before the celebration so that none remains afterward. It is strictly forbidden to pour the Precious Blood into the ground or into the sacrarium. (NDRHC, 51-55).
  
• Similarly, "consecrated hosts are to be reserved in a ciborium or vessel in sufficient quantity for the needs of the faithful; they are to be frequently renewed and the old hosts properly consumed" (Code of Canon Law, no. 939). Burying hosts or consecrated Eucharistic bread is strictly forbidden.

Notes

1. Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds for the Dioceses of the United States of America [NDRHC] (August, 2002), no. 26 and cf. GIRM no. 162 and NRHC, no. 28

[Salvation]

Some new guidelines for Communion Ping!

[Ciexyz]

That is beautiful religious artwork.

[Salvation]

What Does GIRM 160 for the USA Really Say? (Communion posture) [Catholic Caucus]
Liturgical Vigilantes
Vatican Officials Say Bad Masses Lead to Weak Faith [Catholic Caucus]
[CATHOLIC CAUCUS] THE TEN MOST COMMON LITURGICAL ABUSES
Another Look at the Orans Issue
THE TEN MOST COMMON LITURGICAL ABUSES And Why They're Wrong
Liturgical Abuses: Summarized from Redemptionis Sacramentum
Discipline Regarding Reception of Holy Communion

[ArchAngel1983]

"However, tweaks may have been tweaked for other reasons."

Even as an Alter-Boy at St Josephs Church in Oil City , PA back in the 1960's I always suspected some of these guys were tweaking. . . even though we didn't know what the heck it even meant back then.

[aimee5291]

I’m hoping to find out what new G says about ‘hand holding’ and ‘foot washing’...

[Condor51]

I found out when our Granddaughter Tara made her 1st Holy Communion on April 29, 2011 that they do it 'a little bit different' than they did 50 years ago when I made mine :-)

Heres' a few of the pics I took at the church (existing light, no flash, hand held, sitting a pew near back of church). I took a total of 131 photos that day. Good thing I'm using digital now the Film Costs & Processing would have been huge.

And here the Priest is looking directly at me ;-)

But what got everyone in our family 'irked' were that the girls were instructed: NO Vail, and NO Gloves. Our Granddaughter was the ONLY one to comply!

I was the only one using 'professional grade' Camera Equip and a long zoom lens.
These are all raw, unfinished, un-retouched, 'proof grade' pics. All of these are resized way down. The originals on Photobucket are very large, as exactly from the camera's settings (large is needed for easier 'finishing') .

[Jvette]

Last Sunday, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the EM’s were used to give instruction on the proper reception of Holy Communion.

As any EM knows, there is much that the parishioners do that is wrong yet they don’t even know it.

I was unaware, for example, that it is wrong to bless oneself with the consecrated host before consummation.

Our priest did a nice job of explaining that the Eucharist must be received and not taken. He said that is why the EMs should never take the ciborium or the cup from the altar, but must receive it from the priest.

It was interesting and I though needed, but, no surprise, the people who receive improperly, still did so. We have been told that it is not our place to correct people as they come to us. I guess that goes for the priest too.

Unless the errors are particularly egregious, i.e. walking away without consuming the host or putting it in their pocket, we are not to say or do anything when one approaches us and does something incorrectly.

[Salvation]

When the person receiving the Eucharist fails to say “Amen”, I will look into their eyes and intone it in a quiet voice for them.

You are right about people receiving the Body of Christ and not taking it.

If they only realized! The REAL Body of Christ that he gave us at the Last Supper!

[Salvation]

Wearing a veil and a beautiful white dress is part of First Communion. I’m wondering about your priest.

[k omalley]

We were told the same thing some years ago, when my youngest daughter had her first Communion. The priest said no white dresses or veils and Communion was to be taken in the hand. Most people complied, a few did not. We did comply and later I was very sorry.

[Condor51]

*** Wearing a veil and a beautiful white dress is part of First Communion. I’m wondering about your priest. ***

Yes I know and that Priest isn't exactly 'well liked' as he is not exactly 'traditional' I'm told. Like what he has, or lets, the Deacons do during mass.

Our SIL really doesn't like the way he runs things or the church itself (like me he's used to the big 'Old Fashioned Churches' with stained glass windows. But that Parish is the only Catholic Church in Bolingbrook, IL. A pretty big suburb to have only one church.

[baa39]

What do we expect? The laity consistently passively accepts wrong instruction, behavior, rubrics, and even invalid consecrations (changing the words) from priests. We see these problems, and it’s not being “not traditional” - as long as we persist with this ultra-niceness we are going to lose our Church in this country. The problem is not Traditional vs. Progressive, it’s a problem of an egomanical heretic with total power cramming his personal preferences on innocent victims and making the Mass into his personal ideology.

Where are your letters and photos too (excellent dramatic photos), to your bishops? If the bishop doesn’t care, to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. At least make a half-hearted fight to save our Church. The Church is is serious danger in this country. It’s not right to expect Pope Benedict to fight the battle alone.

I happen to be affiliated with a group of priests, very educated, all pre-Vatican II, ranging from the most orthodox to the wackiest anti-Catholic teachings. A few of them told me recently quite matter-of-factly, 40% of the priests in this country are gay and about 80% are heretics.

Follow like blind sheep at your own peril.

[Condor51]

*** Where are your letters and photos too (excellent dramatic photos), to your bishops? ***

Well, the thing is this isn't my Parish. It's where our oldest daughter SIL and kids live and go to. I've only been there twice - this last time for our Granddaughters First Communion and for our youngest Grandson's Baptism, their littlest guy, now 2+.

And though our SIL is a great guy he's not exactly the 'confrontational type' when it comes to things like this (but in a fight I'd want him in my Foxhole anytime). And he works so much (2 extra PT jobs) and goofy night hours he's always beat. So him doing something and going to the Bishop is beyond remote.

I even recommended they change Parish's and go to the Church near me, and still close to them. But there was a a priest there who was transfered for allegations of ... you know what. So our daughter nixed that idea.

FWIW I think most of these allegations are/were phony. An easy payday for something that 'allegedly happened' 30 years ago and said priest is now dead or senile and can't defend himself.

[baa39]

I’m with ya on all points. Sadly these are the issues we deal with today as regular Catholics. It is hard to confront bishops if you don’t have a knack for it too.

One point, however, regarding your kids switching to your parish: they should not hesitate if someone was removed due to problems. That’s an indication either the Pastor or Parish Council on on the ball and it’s probably a safe parish for youngsters, maybe safer than most with hyper-vigilant types.

Whereas, hate to say this because of course I cannot judge by a photo, it’s an impression only, in the last picture of the priest in the First Communion set, he has a supercilious expression and my thought was, “Looks like one of those typical gay progressives.”

Isn’t it child abuse in a way for a priest to treat a young, innocent girl full of expectation on her special day as if she is some sort of freak?

[Coleus]

old priest before the jpii generation, hopefully, some things will change.