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MichaelStEdmund
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| Joined: | Fri Dec 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 98 |
| First Name: | Michael | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Convert from pentacostal/charismatic/holiness background |
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Posted: Mon Jan 21st, 2008 05:26 am |
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My wife and I attended a Latin Mass at a local parish recently, and I walked away with a few questions regarding the reception of the Eucharist.
1) Everyone desiring to receive the Eucharist knelt at the altar rail. My knees are pretty bad, and kneeling is a real problem for me. What is the norm for dealing with this at a Mass where everyone else is kneeling? I don't want to be treated like a special case - I would just like to participate as unobtrusively as possible.
2) What is the proper way of receiving? In the Mass I normally attend, I make my hand into a little throne (as per St. Cyril of Jerusalem), bow my head, and say "Amen!" What is the norm in the Latin Mass? To be plain about it, is there more to reception than just sticking out one's tongue?
Thanks.
= M
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"Faith seeking understanding" - St. Anselm of Canterbury.
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catholic
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| Joined: | Mon Jan 15th, 2007 |
| Location: | Dublin, Ohio USA |
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| First Name: | Paul | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Non-Specific Protestant -> Catholic (Latin Rite) |
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Posted: Mon Jan 21st, 2008 12:11 pm |
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| My wife and I have attended Mass (Mass of Pope Paul VI - not the 1962 Latin Mass) at a Parish with an altar rail. My wife had a hip replacement and still has a fractured pelvis, so she can't kneel. She told me she stood at the altar rail and received in the hand.
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"A teacher who is not dogmatic is simply a teacher who is not teaching."
Gilbert K. Chesterton
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David W. Emery
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| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
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Posted: Mon Jan 21st, 2008 12:37 pm |
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MichaelStEdmund wrote:What is the norm for dealing with this at a Mass where everyone else is kneeling? I don't want to be treated like a special case.
Like it or not, you are a special case at a Mass according to the Extraordinary Form. I suggest that you ask the priest how he wants to handle it.
David
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MichaelStEdmund
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| Joined: | Fri Dec 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 98 |
| First Name: | Michael | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Convert from pentacostal/charismatic/holiness background |
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Posted: Mon Jan 21st, 2008 02:02 pm |
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David W. Emery wrote:
MichaelStEdmund wrote:What is the norm for dealing with this at a Mass where everyone else is kneeling? I don't want to be treated like a special case.
Like it or not, you are a special case at a Mass according to the Extraordinary Form. I suggest that you ask the priest how he wants to handle it.
David
That's the first thing that occurred to me, David. I don't think that the Latin service has a regular priest, unfortunately. I was hoping that there was a standard way to deal with the situation. Thanks.
= M
____________________
"Faith seeking understanding" - St. Anselm of Canterbury.
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MichaelStEdmund
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| Joined: | Fri Dec 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 98 |
| First Name: | Michael | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Convert from pentacostal/charismatic/holiness background |
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Posted: Mon Jan 21st, 2008 02:05 pm |
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catholic wrote:
My wife and I have attended Mass (Mass of Pope Paul VI - not the 1962 Latin Mass) at a Parish with an altar rail. My wife had a hip replacement and still has a fractured pelvis, so she can't kneel. She told me she stood at the altar rail and received in the hand.
Thanks. You've made me feel a little bit less like an oddball with this. 
= M
____________________
"Faith seeking understanding" - St. Anselm of Canterbury.
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Jan 21st, 2008 02:07 pm |
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MichaelStEdmund wrote: catholic wrote:
My wife and I have attended Mass (Mass of Pope Paul VI - not the 1962 Latin Mass) at a Parish with an altar rail. My wife had a hip replacement and still has a fractured pelvis, so she can't kneel. She told me she stood at the altar rail and received in the hand.
Thanks. You've made me feel a little bit less like an oddball with this.
As far as I know, the general norms are still in place, which means that one may receive standing or kneeling, in the hand or on the tongue, in the United States.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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David W. Emery
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Posted: Mon Jan 21st, 2008 06:39 pm |
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CajunRick wrote:As far as I know, the general norms are still in place, which means that one may receive standing or kneeling, in the hand or on the tongue, in the United States.
This is definitely true of the Paul VI Mass (Ordinary Form), whether in the vernacular or in Latin. However, the 1962 Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) has its own rules. Special arrangements can be made for any Mass, and physical handicaps can and should be accommodated, but it usually requires prior arrangement. This is why a consultation with the priest is advised.
David
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Tina in Ashburn
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| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
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| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
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Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 11:41 pm |
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Hey Michael, I sympathize with your inability to kneel and your discomfort with looking ‘odd”. I hope that you can get word to or confer with the celebrating priest before Mass about your situation. In the meantime, I wonder if you simply placed your hands on the altar rail and leaned in as you receive on the tongue? This might signify that you mean no disrespect while demonstrating your physical inability to kneel. Just a thought...
When receiving on the tongue, simply open wide and stick out the unobstructed tongue as far as possible. You want to ensure the priest has no difficulty putting the host carefully on the tongue. At the pre-Vatican II Mass, you don't say "Amen" before receiving.
Its a good idea to be familiar with receiving on the tongue. It is my impression that this is the preferred method, while 'in-the-hand' is allowed. As one local DRE told me, she prepares children for both methods at First Communion, since there are dioceses in the world that only observe reception on the tongue. And you never know, some parish, some priest, you may find yourself in line where this is practiced some day!
When we were kids, we practiced receiving communion with Necco candy wafers... any old fogeys remember those? When my brothers were practicing their altar boy stuff, my middle brother was the 'priest' and my youngest brother the trainee "altar boy". I was the 4-year old "congregant", with my little veil, sticking out my tongue for the Necco wafer, while the younger brother followed the “priest” with the communion paten.
If you are uncomfortable, try practicing with a friend or family member "receiving" on the tongue using something edible. You can still find Necco wafers if you look. Now there's a 'Tradition". 
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Tina
Arlington Diocese
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
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Posted: Wed Jan 23rd, 2008 01:10 am |
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Tina in Ashburn wrote: When we were kids, we practiced receiving communion with Necco candy wafers... any old fogeys remember those?
Old fogeys?? The Stark Candy Company in Thibodaux, Louisiana, (about 20 miles up the bayou from my house) made Stark Candy Wafers for decades, until they were bought out by Necco, which eventually closed the plant. I grew up down the street from where they were made! (At least the Stark version …Iwas grown by the time they changed the name.)
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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EMarshallBuckles
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
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| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Wed Jan 23rd, 2008 02:40 pm |
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Well, I still remember 10 cent Cokes and 5 cent peanutbutter crackers (my favorite childhood snack)! Lowest I ever saw gasoline prices was 5 cents a gallon when these two gas stations were having a price war over near East Tennessee State University. AH, the good ol' days! 
Anyway, my geezerness aside, although ecumenical in outlook, I have been a Baptist since 1979, although occasionally attending Episcopalian or Anglican services, and Baptists pass a plate around with individual cups of grape juice (Welch's Grape Juice was originally produced for Protestant communion services, by the way) as well as little communion wafers at the pews. However, in recent years, when I have attended Episcopalian or Anglican services, I have found that kneeling at the altar rail does become a bit more difficult. Most Episcopal and Anglican churches will allow people who have mobility difficulties or kneeling difficulties to either stand to receive or to give word to an usher who will arrange for the Priest to come to one's pew where one may receive. The standard practice in the Episcopal/Anglican services is to place one's right hand over one's left hand, palm up, the Priest will place the communion wafer on the tip of one's fingers and one may guide it to one's mouth from there or pick it up with one's fingers to dip it (intinct) in the chalice before consuming it. When watching Catholic Masses on television, I have noticed that most people receive it on their tongue but some do receive it in their palm or tip of their finger. I have seen some go from a standing position, in front of the Priest or Lay Eucharistic Minister, to a kneeling position on the floor, however, while I admire those who can do it, I think that most of us, as we get older, would hesitate to try that!
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CajunRick
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Posted: Wed Jan 23rd, 2008 03:20 pm |
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EMarshallBuckles wrote: I have seen some go from a standing position, in front of the Priest or Lay Eucharistic Minister, to a kneeling position on the floor, however, while I admire those who can do it, I think that most of us, as we get older, would hesitate to try that!
I have no problem kneeling. Of course, I need a forklift to help me up...
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Tina in Ashburn
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| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
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Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2008 04:48 pm |
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CajunRick wrote: I have no problem kneeling. Of course, I need a forklift to help me up...
Rick, would that be diesel- or gas-powered?
At one point, for a short time, one local parish decreed "no more kneeling" at the reception of Communion after somebody couldn't get up and falling over, took down the priest...
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Tina
Arlington Diocese
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CajunRick
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Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2008 05:45 pm |
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Tina in Ashburn wrote: Rick, would that be diesel- or gas-powered?
Bio-diesel or ethanol made from sugar cane.
At one point, for a short time, one local parish decreed "no more kneeling" at the reception of Communion after somebody couldn't get up and falling over, took down the priest...
Seriously, that is one of the problems with a single individual deciding to depart from the practice of the rest. The way that most parishes distribute communion, there is no railing to prevent accidents. If the priest went down, I'm sure the ciborium must have gone down with him, risking serious disrespect to the Blessed Sacrament. Imagine if he had been holding a cup of the Precious Blood! (I hope he wasn't -- people who kneel for communion rarely receive under both species.)
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Tina in Ashburn
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Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2008 06:33 pm |
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CajunRick wrote: the problems with a single individual deciding to depart from the practice of the rest. The way that most parishes distribute communion, there is no railing to prevent accidents. If the priest went down, I'm sure the ciborium must have gone down with him, risking serious disrespect to the Blessed Sacrament. Imagine if he had been holding a cup of the Precious Blood!
Those pesky pious parishoners.
It would be nice to have a kneeler there wouldn't it - the "prie-dieu" - to give the unsteady something to hold onto if desired.
Its not just the kneelers who have problems. Just this past season, I accompanied my husband to the Catholic Church in Danville VA to visit his family for the holidays. Its not the most conservative parish and I'm always terribly uncomfortable there. As I was waiting to line up for communion, I was horrified when a woman knocked into the Eucharistic Minisiter as she was preparing to take the cup. The Precious Blood spilled all over. The EM looked confused and simply straddled all the spots on the floor - and continued offering the cup. Thank goodness he had a firm grip on the cup at impact and didn't drop it. I didn't see any evidence of anybody covering the spot with the little white cloth or abluting during distribution or afterwards. The priest was right there at the head of the other line so I know he saw it. Besides, there was this huge reverberating "klunk" as the lady knocked into the EM and the cup. Oh, and my loud horrified gasp.
There's not much offering of the cup in the parishes I frequent around here. I've witnessed other spills and drips at times. For this reason, I have always avoided the Cup and simply receive the Host and walk past that other line to my place. Afterall, receiving the Host is sufficient. Golly, 40 years ago, that's all we did anyway.
I still cringe remembering that huge spill of the Precious Blood I saw as I walked by the EM.
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Tina
Arlington Diocese
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Kayla
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Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2008 08:42 pm |
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I have seen some go from a standing position, in front of the Priest or Lay Eucharistic Minister, to a kneeling position on the floor, however, while I admire those who can do it, I think that most of us, as we get older, would hesitate to try that!
As a nice, young and able bodied youth (), I would personally love to kneel when receiving. Back home I sometimes go to a Dominican parish that has a kneeling rail and I think it's great.
Unfortunately, I refrain from doing what you mentioned above because of the way the communion line works. It seems silly, but it's true. The priest (or EMHC) gets into a rhythm. I've seen it be quite a distraction at times.
I wish it were a more common practice. I would definitely go for it.
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I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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CajunRick
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Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2008 09:32 pm |
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Kayla wrote:
As a nice, young and able bodied youth ()
There you go, rubbing it in again!
BTW, you forgot cute.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Annie
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 04:45 pm |
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Tina,
Your description of the spillage gives me the heeby jeebies (sp?). I suggested at our parish that they might consider getting rid of the traditional altar rug because of the danger of an accident. I was told by a staff member, "oh, we would just send it out to be laundered."
oh dear.
To answer the original question, anyone who cannot kneel at a traditional altar rail can stand and get as far toward the priest as possible. Open your mouth and tilt your head part way back. Lots of people over the centuries have been unable to kneel. People have never been denied Communion because they have bad knees or hips or back. God wants all of us to be there regardless of our "state in life" which includes our poor beat up bodies.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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