Catholics Prepare for Changes in Communion Ritual

Crosswalk ^ | David Briggs

[Notwithstanding]

CLEVELAND -- Raising their hands at the Lord's Prayer. Losing the handshake and embracing the person in the next seat at the sign of peace. In an extra act of reverence, bowing before receiving the Communion host.

And undoing a lifetime of tradition by not kneeling in prayer after Communion. Instead, in a sign of the communal nature of the sacrament, worshippers will stand and sing until each person has received Communion.

American Catholics are about to experience major changes in the Communion rite as dioceses begin implementing the updated General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

[Polycarp]

Ping. (As usual, if you would like to be added to or removed from my "conservative Catholics" ping list, just send me a FReepmail. Please realize that some of my "ping" posts are long.)

[blu]

I feel your pain! At our local Catholic-But-Wanna-Be-Protestant church, the organ music is so loud we can't hear ourselves singing. She tones it down when the choir is singing a "special song" that is not in the missal....so we can't sing, but "You Vill LISTEN!"

We call it "The Church of the Living Choir" because, as you said, they'll sing at the drop of a hat! And they act so dramatic, like they're in a production of "Phantom of the Opera"! It's like the whole mass is about them....Father can't talk till they cease.....so, if the song has 7 verses, and the organgrinder likes it.....!

The thing that finally convinced me I was in the wrong church was when I noticed that Christ is not in our church anymore. Yes, there is a cross. But, instead of a statue of Jesus, there is now a piece of fabric draped. There is a statue of a saint in the lobby (yes, I know the entrance to a church is a vestibule, but if the church looks like a conference room at the local Holiday Inn, the entrance is a lobby), and one stained glass window. At Christmas, the creche scene is parked in the back of the church....almost like they don't want to offend anyone with the blantant religiousness of a manger scene. I don't know, maybe they think one of the parishoners will call the ACLU??

I think all these changes are to make the church more catholic (small c, indicates inclusiveness) and thus get Protestants to join. Gotta be the money....

As for me, I figure God doesn't like it when I go to mass and spend the whole time kevchting about the whole thing. So I don't.

[Campion]

Notice:

The diocese is encouraging people to return to their pews and continue to stand and sing until everyone has received Communion and the priest has sat down to pray.

The new GIRM says nothing about this; it's strictly an innovation that Cleveland is promoting. If I'm not mistaken, Rome has already said that the practice of kneeling after communion is "laudably retained".

[NeoCaveman]

This article is pure Bravo Sierro.

[Final Authority]

My wife and I used to go to a certain mass in Manchester NH noted for the shortest duration. Parking was easy too as it was essentially a LeMans start after the host was accepted. The Priest used to place his wristwatch on the Altar like a college prof would do in a lecture hall. Mass was usually over in 20 to 22 minutes even with with the ushers running the collection baskets down the pews three times. It was very well attended. I think if genuflecting before accepting the host was required the mass would require at least several more minutes and will older folks get a dispensation? For income reasons I think some priests will look askance at the new regs. Do you think? BTW, I can't see hugging and hand waving never mind singing.

[xsmommy]

glad to hear it, but it sounds entirely too plausible given how the Novus Ordo do tend to carry on.

[NeoCaveman]

Cleveland bishop backpedalling....

[SuziQ]

As for me, I figure God doesn't like it when I go to mass and spend the whole time kevchting about the whole thing. So I don't.

If you're Catholic, I'd think you'd want to be there to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, and just ignore the silliness.

[Thorondir]

And... Coming soon to a parish near you! Rainbow clown wigs and tapdance lessons for our wacky irreverent new Rubrics Dejure! Stand by while Father Lightloafers replaces that stuffy old pipe organ with a brand new calliope! Free cotton candy and condom baloons for the kids! And be sure to meet in the parish hall at the witching hour for a viewing of the film Bishop Limpwrist has approved for all audiences: The Theology of NAMBLA.

Wow... I just can't wait...

[Coleus]

I don't think the GRIM addresses these issues so it's fair game and up to the local bishops.

[Loyalist]

I don't think the GRIM addresses these issues

Freudian slip?

[NYer]

Someone here said that the article is full of errors. Do you know if that is true?

According to the Revised GIRM ...

The Lord's Prayer

81. In the Lord's Prayer a petition is made for daily food, which for Christians means preeminently the eucharistic bread, and also for purification from sin, so that what is holy may, in fact, be given to those who are holy. The priest says the invitation to the prayer, and all the faithful say it with him; the priest alone adds the embolism, which the people conclude with a doxology. The embolism, enlarging upon the last petition of the Lord's Prayer itself, begs deliverance from the power of evil for the entire community of the faithful.

The invitation, the Prayer itself, the embolism, and the doxology by which the people conclude these things are sung or said aloud.

The Rite of Peace

82. The Rite of Peace follows, by which the Church asks for peace and unity for herself and for the whole human family, and the faithful express to each other their ecclesial communion and mutual charity before communicating in the Sacrament. As for the sign of peace to be given, the manner is to be established by Conferences of Bishops in accordance with the culture and customs of the peoples. It is, however, appropriate that each person offer the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner.

HOWEVER there is a codicil entitled: " Adaptations Within the Competence of Bishops and Bishops' Conferences". I find nothing in here that says anything about raising hands or hugging people. You decide ...

Adaptations Within the Competence of Bishops and Bishops' Conferences

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The new GIRM says nothing about this[stand and sing until everyone has received communion]; it's strictly an innovation that Cleveland is promoting. If I'm not mistaken, Rome has already said that the practice of kneeling after communion is "laudably retained".

In my diocese (Monterey, CA) Bishop Ryan wrote an article for the newsletter explaining that the stand and sing thing is in the GIRM. As a recent (Easter 2002) convert, I didn't have a reference point from which to evaluate the matter. When I have attended mass outside the diocese the people generally kneel after communion and I happily go along with the locals. I feel better able to reflect on the meaning of the eucharist and communicate with my Lord while kneeling than I do standing and trying to join in the final refrain of the communion hymn.

[Notwithstanding]

Yes, as I posted, genuflecting is a good thing to do immediately prior to recieving communion.

Bowing can also be a good thing to do in the alternative.

Both are good things.

Many have been told by bishops, priests, deacons and "liturgists" - in error - that genuflecting is a bad thing, BUT I point out that the Vatican has clarified that it is a GOOD thing.

AND, kneeling to recieve the Eucharist is NEVER illicit or disobedient - in fact a bishop, priest, deacon or extraordinary minister of the Eucharist who tells you otherwise can be punished for doing so.

[rogator]

I don't believe local bishops have the authority to change or add anything without Rome's approval.

[rogator]

IMNSHO Sylvester Ryan is a notorious liberal. I would take anything he says with a truckload of salt.

[ninenot]

The article likely reflects an accurate rendition of an interview with a Liturgy Club member who is making up rules on the fly.

No hand-waving is recommended by Rome; no "stand until we shut up" rule is recommended by Rome---

But in Cleveland, with the Pink Triangle on the Diocesan website--such rules are made. Grave Disorder reigns.

[Coleus]

I don't believe local bishops have the authority to change or add anything without Rome's approval.

Right, sort of, Rome gives the "conference of bishops some say in what is done at mass>>>

The GRIM gives Bishops leeway in regard to certain practices. For example with the Lord's Prayer, there is nothing to say that hand holding is NOT allowed meaning it can be done, etc.

Is it stated somewhere that you MUST Kneel after the Lamb of God? I don't thing is says that. the word "should" is not "must", then the word "except" appears, then it gives license to the "conference of bishops" to make a decision.

From the GRIM:
They should kneel at the consecration, except when prevented by reasons of health, lack of space, the number of people present, or some other good reason. However, those who do not kneel at the consecration ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration.

But it is up to the Conference of Bishops to adapt the gestures and posture in the Order of the Mass to the customs and reasonable traditions of the people according to the norm of law.

[ninenot]

Nice post. Evidently Pilla was peppered with persnickety questions.

He's still full of it: the "orans" stuff (imitating Christ) is the proper ONLY to the priest, as the priest is the "alter Christi," NOT THE LAITY.

But by God, they're going to blur that line as best as possible...

[rogator]

"For example with the Lord's Prayer, there is nothing to say that hand holding is NOT allowed meaning it can be done, etc."

I am not trying to be argumentative but I never understood this line of reasoning. I thought that the GIRM prescribed not proscribed liturgical actions. By this line of reasoning anything from shuffleboard in the main aisle to throwing the money at the foot of the altar at the collection could be justified.