I am all for at leas a half-a-railing as a compromise. I think kneeling to receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is beautiful and reverent. I also see how an altar railing is too much like the veil that was torn when Christ died on the Cross, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and humanity.
Thoughts?
They certainly are a barrier, complete with gates, and least the ones I’ve seen. I can’t imagine a railing at the Last Supper, which I think was the first Mass (maybe I’m wrong about its being the first Mass). Also, my wife and I are both in our seventies, and I have arthritis, and we have some trouble getting up and down to kneel.
It is my understanding that “The Last Supper” was the first Mass.
I agree that I do not like a full altar-rail, but I do think that bringing back kneeling to receive is humbling and extremely reverent.
As far as arthritis goes, most TLM Churches that I’ve attended have padded kneelers at the altar rail. And though I do not know the amount of pain that you are in, but for me personally, kneeling to receive and to unite my suffering with the suffering Christ endured on the Cross would be worth it. But, again, I’m only speaking for myself.
I was told by an Eastern Catholic that the reasoning for the altar rails and, in his Church, the rood screen, is to be an earthly representation of Revelation 21.
ALL communion rails have a “doorway.” I M O communion standing in line is a significant, cause, in conjunction with Extraordinary “ministers” of The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of JESUS CHRIST, have been at the forefront of the ongoing exodus of Catholics to the world of PROTEST. The obvious lack of reverence compels unbelieve in the Real Presence. No, I AM NOT saying it can’t be done reverently; only that it too often is not.
It Is GOD we receive and kneeling an on the tongue IS a more reverent manner, that once AGAIN separates us from the commonality of Protestantism. Amen!
With kneeling, I’m just creaky, having difficulty but not necessarily pain getting up and down. My wife has more trouble. We still kneel for the parts of the Mass where we are supposed to, except on rare occasions my back will hurt while I’m kneeling and I’ll stop kneeling and sit.
If the Last Supper was the first Mass, I wonder whether the apostles knelt and received Communion on the tongue. But the Bible says that Jesus broke the bread and gave it to them.
I doubt that many people who stop believing in the Real Presence become Protestants when they leave the Catholic Church. I suspect that nearly all of them stop going to church at all.
They probably did it however the Passover was celebrated in their time.
As a Catholic who fell away from His Faith and began attending a non-Denominational Church, I would say that I did not fully understand the Eucharist.
But, I can say that it is the Eucharist that brings most Catholics back to the Faith. And once you understand that the Eucharist is an undeserved gift; The once-and-for-all Sacrifice made present to the faithful throughout the ages; true food and true drink; intimacy with our God; and the wellspring & crest of our Faith, then to where else would we go than where the words of eternal life is found? Jesus.
Your final point led me to GOOGLE it: Here is the results:
Leaving Catholicism | Pew Research Center
Apr 27, 2009 … While 46% of lifelong Catholics report having had very strong faith as children, only 35% of Catholic converts to Protestantism and 30% of those …
As to the last Supper/ Mt. 16:18-19/ grants unlimited powers of Teachings/ governance/ guided by the Holy Spirit / John 17: 16-21 {and of course it MUST align with Sacred Tradition and the Bible}. Jesus Himself/ This IS My Body/This IS My Blood instituted the Sacred Liturgy. instituting the Real Presence/ in a form that is uniquely Catholic & and as of 1054/ through direct Apostolic Succession/ and the powers of unlimited Governance/answerable Only to GOD./
I’m 80, so I get the kneeling issues. I kneel until the pain becomes a distraction to the Mass. And I DO kneel and receive Jesus on my tongue.
Thanks for sharing. You made great points. God Bless you, Patrick Miron