Return of the Altar Rail

[Fantine]

I KNEW something like this was going to be posted...

And what is so wrong with my post? I said that if the majority asked for Communion at the altar rail, then the priest made the right decision.

And if it was a small but vocal clique that made the request, he would soon find out.

How open minded my post was, compared to those of you who want to see a return to an anachronistic Church against the wills of the parishioners.

 

[Wolseley]

I can kneel (actually I find it the most comfortable position) just can't get up due to age (and the altar rail would solve *that* problem.)

I can kneel okay, but I have to rest my behind on the edge of the pew behind me; otherwise my lower back starts screaming bloody murder after about30 seconds.

How open minded my post was, compared to those of you who want to see a return to an anachronistic Church against the wills of the parishioners.

So a return to orderly Catholic tradition is "anachronistic"? Not keeping up with the "spirit of the times"?

Let me give you a fast news flash, Fantine: judging from the rest of what I'm seeing in the "spirit of the times" here in 2012, I'd RATHER that the Church be "anachronistic"!

And as far as "the will of the parishioners" goes, that's totally irrelevant; the Church is not a democracy.

 

[Borromeo]

And what is so wrong with my post? I said that if the majority asked for Communion at the altar rail, then the priest made the right decision.

And if it was a small but vocal clique that made the request, he would soon find out.

How open minded my post was, compared to those of you who want to see a return to an anachronistic Church against the wills of the parishioners.

I said that because any time any thing remotely traditional happens the above is said. It wouldn't happen if it was a "small clique." It seems like those who grew up with Vatican II in their teens loathe everything before that and can't imagine anyone might not be happy with it, and can't stand it when people do otherwise.

 

[Azureknight 773]

Hey! Here in my provice, in the municipality of Guindulman, they are using the communion rail during communion and according to my ex-principal, it was orderly.

 

[Brooklyn Knight]

As much as I would love to see this in my parish, I don't think it would work. The number of people that go to Mass on Sunday is resounding. Come Spring, they have to keep the doors open because there are a number of people outside for the mass.

It's still not unheard of to have 6-8 priests give out Holy Communion, and it's not unheard of to see even more (Easter Sunday, Christmas Day).

 

[Wolseley]

I said that because any time any thing remotely traditional happens the above is said. It wouldn't happen if it was a "small clique." It seems like those who grew up with Vatican II in their teens loathe everything before that and can't imagine anyone might not be happy with it, and can't stand it when people do otherwise.

Nominal Catholics maybe. But for those who actually study and care about their Faith, a lot of the kids desire a return to the spirituality and culture of the pre-Vatican II Church. I have heard about college students at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids getting together for devotions like the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, First Fridays, etc., startling the daylights out of baby-boomers who are dismayed that the kids are embracing what they so blithely threw away 40 years ago.

 

[Needing_Grace]

Love that Sanctuary! Very beautiful.

My parish has an altar rail (marble, they couldn't remove it if they wanted to -- it'd bankrupt the parish) but they don't use it. I wish they'd at least allow the option.

 

[AMDG]

My parish has an altar rail (marble, they couldn't remove it if they wanted to -- it'd bankrupt the parish)

Hmm--that might have been another reason a woman I know could have used in her effort to save her parish's marble altar rail--the cost to destroy. (The parish wanted to remove it, she got together with other parisheners and stopped them. She was a photographer, took photos of different altar rails over the entire country and did history on theirs as well. Ended up that since deceased parishioners had donated to build the rail in the first place, the parish decided that it would have been an insult to their families to have just destroyed it.)

 

[WarriorAngel]

As much as I would love to see this in my parish, I don't think it would work. The number of people that go to Mass on Sunday is resounding. Come Spring, they have to keep the doors open because there are a number of people outside for the mass.

It's still not unheard of to have 6-8 priests give out Holy Communion, and it's not unheard of to see even more (Easter Sunday, Christmas Day).

O how awesome.
I am so - has to be a better word than happy - to know how packed the Church is in NY.


It is exciting to know that God is loved...that His Passion is not taken for granted.

Nominal Catholics maybe. But for those who actually study and care about their Faith, a lot of the kids desire a return to the spirituality and culture of the pre-Vatican II Church. I have heard about college students at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids getting together for devotions like the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, First Fridays, etc., startling the daylights out of baby-boomers who are dismayed that the kids are embracing what they so blithely threw away 40 years ago.

I am ok either way - but if it meant that the Church would grow again - and Catholics would come home - out with the new and back in with the old. I would be all for it.

What saddens me is the lack of Church attendance... lack of respect...just plain everything so lacking.