by Father Walter Ray Williams

Part VI

            In our continuing examination of the high points of the new General Instruction of the Roman Missal, we finish today “Chapter II:  The Structure of the Mass and Its Elements and Parts”  But first a concluding observation about the Lord’s Prayer.  Some have asked about the people’s posture during this prayer.  Fact is, although the American bishops discussed the "orans" posture (hands held up like the priest does at the altar) for the people during the Lord's Prayer, in the end they decided against recommending it. There is no specified posture for the Lord's Prayer.  However, the tradition of the Roman Rite, which the Church holds up as being a constant means of guidance, is for the people to hold their hands clasped in front of them as the altar servers do. 

• The Rite of Peace follows the Lord’s Prayer and is the means 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.”  The priest says, “The peace of the Lord be with you always,” to which the people respond, “And also with you.”  Then, the rite may be extended (this is optional) to the all the people with the words of the priest (or deacon if present), “Let us offer each other the sign of peace.”  The manner of exchanging the sign of peace “is to be established by Conferences of Bishops in accordance with the culture and customs of the peoples.”  In America, this normally means that the sign of peace is communicated by handshake, a friendly nodding of the head or by an embrace with those familiar to oneself, along with the word(s), “Peace,” or “Peace be with you,” or “the Peace of Christ be with you,” etc.  “It is, however, appropriate that each person offer the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner.”  We must remember that at this point in the liturgy our Lord is present with us in the holy Eucharist on the Altar, and that our manner and demeanor should reflect that.  In like manner, the priest may give the sign of peace to servers or other ministers near to him, but he “always remains within the sanctuary [raised area of the altar], so as not to disturb the celebration.”  Only on very special occasions – funeral, wedding, etc. – “the priest may offer the sign of peace to a few of the faithful near the sanctuary.” 
• The Fraction Rite follows as the priest breaks the Eucharistic bread, “which signifies that the many faithful are made one body (1 Cor 10:17) by receiving Communion from the one Bread of Life which is Christ, who died and rose for the salvation of the world.”  “This rite [of the breaking of the Bread] is reserved to the priest and the deacon.”
• Communion  “The priest prepares himself by a prayer, said quietly, that he may fruitfully receive Christ’s Body and Blood.  The faithful do the same, praying silently.”  The priest’s and the faithfuls’ response to “This is the Lamb of God…” is an act of humility, “Lord, I am not worthy…”  The Instruction recommends that Communion be offered under both kinds (Body and Blood) “in the instances when it is permitted” to foster by sign “more clearly [Communion] as a participation in the sacrifice actually being celebrated.”  The norms for reception of Communion are as follows.  The faithful form a kind of procession toward the altar and make a sign of reverence before receiving.  The sign of reverence is, according to the norm in the USA, a bow of the head; though other signs – as is the Roman tradition, the genuflection – are not forbidden.  Reception of Holy Communion on the tongue is also the universal norm of the Church; reception in the hand is permitted in most of the dioceses of the world, including all the dioceses of the USA.  The norm of posture for reception, in the USA, is standing.  After the promulgation of this norm, reports of members of the faithful being denied Holy Communion because they continue the “immemorial practice” of kneeling for Communion began to make their way to Rome.  The Holy See sharply rebuked priests for this and made it clear that one kneeling is not to be refused Communion.  From the Congregation for Divine Worship:

The Congregation in fact is concerned at the number of similar complaints that it has received in recent months from various places, and considers any refusal of Holy Communion to a member of the faithful on the basis of his or her kneeling posture to be a grave violation of one of the most basic rights of the Christian faithful, namely that of being assisted by their Pastors by means of the Sacraments (Codex Iuris Canonici, canon 213). In view of the law that "sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who opportunely ask for them, are properly disposed and are not prohibited by law from receiving them" (canon 843 ¶ 1), there should be no such refusal to any Catholic who presents himself for Holy Communion at Mass, except in cases presenting a danger of grave scandal to other believers arising out of the person's unrepented public sin or obstinate heresy or schism, publicly professed or declared. Even where the Congregation has approved of legislation denoting standing as the posture for Holy Communion, in accordance with the adaptations permitted to the Conferences of Bishops by the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani n. 160, paragraph 2, it has done so with the stipulation that communicants who choose to kneel are not to be denied Holy Communion on these grounds.  In fact, as His Eminence, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has recently emphasized, the practice of kneeling for Holy Communion has in its favor a centuries-old tradition, and it is a particularly expressive sign of adoration, completely appropriate in light of the true, real and substantial presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the consecrated species. 

To Be Continued…