Regulations concerning Communion.
Fasting, preparation, reception, and thanksgiving.
The photo shows Carthusian monk-priests making their thanksgiving after Communion. Theirs is an ancient tradition that emulates St. John leaning back upon Jesus’ chest at the last supper, although this position is anything but comfortable, as I found out when I was with the Carthusians. Nevertheless, it illustrates the beauty of taking time to make a prayerful thanksgiving after Communion. St. Teresa of Avila recommended fifteen minutes of thanksgiving would be appropriate for her nuns, and encouraged it as a proper exercise by which to learn mental prayer. Of course, for most busy people, such a lengthy thanksgiving is not practicable, although a few minutes of deep recollection might be. (I’m not telling anyone how to pray here, just merely suggesting a wonderful practice.)
Times are changing however.
A commenter or two have suggested that certain dissident attitudes, or practices, or even the state of mortal sin, while being an impediment to the worthy reception of Communion, if observed, would mean there would be fewer people receiving Holy Communion. I responded that would not be a bad thing at all.
Penance.
Growing up, frequent, even daily Communion was encouraged and practiced, but the rules were clear, one must be in the state of grace to receive. Hence the lines for confession on Saturdays were very long, and even in small parishes, at least 2 priests were available to hear them. People understood the necessary dispositions for receiving Communion. On Sundays, less than half the congregation approached the Communion rail. You see, the people attended Mass, but they were not obligated to receive Communion.
Fasting.
Preparation also included a lengthy Eucharistic fast. Pius XII lessened the fast from midnight to whenever one was able to receive that day, to 3 hours before Mass. Since Paul VI, we are required to fast only one hour before the reception of the sacrament. Today Fr. Z has a post asking what people think of restoring the 3 hour fast. (Don’t get upset, he is just “asking”.) I personally think it is a good idea - but it isn’t my call - although privately, I’m free to fast as long as I want. I’m also free to not approach the sacrament if I feel I am not properly disposed. (I think it is chiefly self-love and undue regard for human respect that causes people to feel ashamed if they remain in their pew while everyone else approaches the sacrament.)
Kneeling.
News today is that the Holy Father will distribute Communion on the tongue and to those people who kneel. I personally prefer that. These matters have been under much discussion for years in this country - at one point a California bishop said it was a sin to kneel. Crazy people, huh? Thank God for Pope Benedict.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Very good post, Terry. Yes, thank God for Pope Benedict!
I fully agree with this statement of yours - I think it is chiefly self-love and undue regard for human respect that causes people to feel ashamed if they remain in their pew while everyone else approaches the sacrament.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
My Priest stopped Mass because I genuflected ,and then recieved Communion on my tongue.He actually yelled at me . He said that I would make people behind me fall ,because they were not expecting anyone to stop to do this.I was so embarrassed, and coupled with social anxiety, that I wanted to die. I cried all of the way home. I never went back. I drove 30 minutes out of my way every Sunday until he was transfered.God bless him.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Thank you Pope Benedict!
June 26th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I like the idea of a longer fast, except for one thing - my daily Mass is at 6:45 a.m., and I have to get up by about 5 a.m. to be able to drink my coffee and get my one-hour fast before Mass. I’m not sure I could handle a 3 a.m. wakeup!!
June 26th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
“The photo shows Carthusian monk-priests making their thanksgiving after Communion.”
THE
CARTHUSIANS
To be “Hanged in their habits”
What a glorious thing,
For their silence screamed,
“Christ is the King!”
And like the Innocents
So Holy, that died,
With sword-cut bodies
Their mothers cried
And wept like mothers
Do today,
Who send their sons
Into the fray
Like Innocent Carthusians,
With staff and rod,
Who continue the defence…
The Priest-sons of God!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Terry, how many orders did you try out?
June 26th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Dymphna - Three. 1st - Discalced Carmelites - very dissapointing. 2nd - Trappists - very good, I was simply restless. 3rd - Carthusians - I found heaven on earth with them, but they sent me away as totally unsuited. Took me years to understand that - but I finally do. “Once a monk always a monk” though - as a priest just told me yesterday.
June 26th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
That is a very interesting posture. I wonder how they managed it when communion rails were in place?
June 27th, 2008 at 4:46 am
Sometimes I make my thanksgiving before Mass (because God is outside of time, right?). I am in choir and right after Communion we are singing and it is sometimes hard to stay focused, even though the song itself is a prayer.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I doubt the fast will be extended just because of the reasons you point out Robin. Also - in canon law, there is a provision for health care workers that they do not have to fast from coffee and the like while caring for the sick - this is probably out of consideration for religious working in hospitals, etc.
Gette - the monks have Mass in the Charterhouse church - so there is no altar rail at all - and the choir monks make their thanksgiving in their stalls. The “railing” would actually be at the grill for outsiders or visitors.
Melody - That is difficult isn’t it. Many people make their thanksgiving in their solitary walk or drive home as well. Many times circumstances do not permit a quiet thanksgiving - say someone who has to leave right after communion to get to work on time. Years ago, I knew a nun who had to do that - so I started leaving after communion too, until the priest told me she was a nurse and had to return to her duty. I had no reason except to be the first out of the parking lot.
Belinda - so sorry you had to endure that - I know a woman whose priest threw the host at her because she was going to receive on the tongue - fortunately she caught it.
June 28th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I recall they had Eucharistic Adoration at some point around the morning Mass. But the Adoration was such that the Host was on a plate. I don’t think you could see the Host. It was like there was this Dearth even in Eucharistic Adoration