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Taking community out of Communion
Publication date:
December 12, 2008
Section:
C. Editorials As happened in 2007 when rumors circulated that Pope Benedict XVI would restore the Tridentine Mass as an option for Catholics unhappy with the Second Vatican Council, trial balloons are once again going up about another change to the Mass most Catholics celebrate and find meaningful.
During a Nov. 24 interview, Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, said that the pope is considering moving the sign of peace from within the Communion rite -- after the Our Father and before the assembly receives Communion -- to another place in the Mass, possibly before or during the offertory rite. (See story.)
The stated reasons for the move, which has the support of many of the U.S. bishops, reflect some long-standing differences among bishops and their liturgical experts over questions of theological emphasis, church history and the liturgical appropriateness of what clearly became a hallmark of the new way of celebrating Mass after Vatican II.
While public statements talk about correcting abuses and restoring reverence to the liturgy, the change would signal another, deeper victory for those who have resisted the council’s horizontal theology -- God with the community -- in favor of the vertical theology of the Tridentine Mass -- God above, mediated by the clergy to the laity below.
-- CNS/Paul Haring: Students attending daily Mass at the Heights School in Potomac, Md., shake hands during the sign of peace.Repositioning the rite of peace would be a noticeable change for a whole generation of Catholics. For almost 40 years, the “kiss of peace,” a gesture deeply rooted in the scriptures and the Eucharist, has been the approved expression of love and reconciliation by the community about to receive holy Communion. As liturgy is meant to do, this gesture helped catechize the assembly to be the Communion they were receiving and to be the body of Christ they were then to carry out into the world. Where it was placed was significant.
By invoking the peace of Christ, then inviting the community to express that peace to one another immediately before Communion, the eucharistic species and the community were united in a single real presence of Christ. Removing the sign of peace from the Communion rite eliminates this potent sign.
For many Catholics who have understood the connection, the proposed change will only add to the palpable sense that Rome is listening to a vocal minority who have campaigned and complained that the renewed liturgy interrupts their personal prayer and forces them to shake hands with strangers at Mass. Ordinary Catholics who either don’t care or are weary of finding worship caught up in these quarrels will probably do what the pope decides, but they should not be faulted if it feels to them that, bit by bit, community is being taken out of Communion.
And while these ritual tempests come and go, we might all lament that the deeper meaning of Eucharist as bread for the world, the nonviolent leaven of history, as body and blood being broken and spilled to bring justice, as incarnate God among us, still waits to be fully acknowledged and celebrated.
National Catholic Reporter December 12, 2008
What a preposterous
What a preposterous argument! The community is not diminished if the "Sign of Peace" is placed immediately before receiving Communion or the beginning of Mass. Community is based on what is in the hearts of believers and not where a gesture is positioned in the Mass. I know a priest who says that at weddings he places the "sing of peace" at the beginning of the Mass because at weddings this act becomes a circus with the bride and groom and everyone else is running around while the priest and Jesus are waiting at the altar to proceed. This priest loves the Eucharist too much to let it become a theatrical act.
The Roman Rite is unique in
The Roman Rite is unique in placing the sign of peace before Holy Communion.
It is based on monastic practice. All other ancient liturgies have the sign of peace before the offertory in accordance with the Gospel saying of Jesus that we should be reconciled with our neighbor before presenting our gift at the altar. Repositioning the sign of peace before the offertory would be in accord with Scripture and the almost universal Tradition of the Church.
"but they should not be
"but they should not be faulted if it feels to them that, bit by bit, community is being taken out of Communion."
- Wow. If this is all it takes for someone to feel that they are losing their community feeling, than they must have a VERY shallow community indeed.
I suspect that if this
I suspect that if this actually happens, it may be observed in more than a few parishes by the time-honored Catholic practice of benign neglect. As it should be.
The Episcopalians have had
The Episcopalians have had the sign of peace at the offertory since the new prayer book went into effect in 1979. Some have made the same complaint about disrupting the sense of reverence at this location in the Episcoal Church. It is place at the offertory in the Zairian Rite for the Roman Catholic Church. Liturigically it makes more sense and follows a scriptural teaching. I
Brothers and Sisters,
Brothers and Sisters, Throughout my life, I have assisted at Novus Ordo and will forever rejoice in it. Recently, I have attended the extraordinary Rite (Tridentine)and also rejoiced in it. When Pope Benedict announced the loosening of restrictions on Tridentine. I asked the first Catholic Priest that I met what he thought. His reply was instructive. He told me that he was Ambrosian Rite and that he really didn't have an opinion since his Catholic Rite never has changed. Does this mean that he was "vertical"? I think not. Let's not forget the words of America's former "Liturgy Czar" Msgr James P. Moloney in his speech to the 2007 Liturgy Conference in Hartford "..the dream is too great to be the possession of any one group.." (see webpage located at - http://www.fdlc.org/NationalMeetings/Hartford/2007-Moroney.htm . Grace and Peace with prayer always...
My understanding is that the
My understanding is that the ancient custom was to pass the Peace of Christ, after the consecration, beginning at the altar from the celebrant and radiating through the assembly one by one. And, of course, the Peace originates from the Eucharistic Christ sacramentally present in our midst. This peace is a gift from Christ to those who know him. This meaning is slightly obscured in the present form, but would be completely lost if the rubric becomes a mere handshake fest at the offertory.
We just need some quit time
We just need some quit time to get us back after the handhake of peace, after readings, after sermons, after communion. Quiet stllness to bring us to some stillnes... "And know that I am God."
Why not just say "history be
Why not just say "history be damned" and place the handshake/kiss/wave at the beginning of Mass? A lot of churches already have the lector telling people to stand up and "greet your neighbors" while the priest and servers are waiting to walk up the aisle to start the liturgy.
All, Here are my two
All,
Here are my two (admittedly sarcastic) recommendations for the sign of peace:
1) Before Mass, out in the parking lot
2) After Mass, out in the parking lot
In all seriousness, the Mass is the unbloody renewal of the sacrifice at Calvary. If you were at Calvary, what would you do? I'd be terrified if I really believed that the Man on the Cross was God, and I do believe it. Why would I treat the Mass with any less reverence and awe? During the Sanctus, heaven and earth actually unite...when a Mass is said, the angels also sing their praises to God, and they are far more keenly aware of what is happening. In my mind, they are bowed down at the majesty of God. Once again, why would I do anything less?
I could go on, but I'm quite aware that a weekly participant in the Latin Mass (like me) is not taken too seriously, so I'll leave it at this - when you go to Mass, bear in mind you approach the body and blood of Christ...if you really believe Christ is who he says He is, then you'd probably worry more about what the priest is (or is supposed to be) doing, and less about saying hi to everyone. Trust me, after Mass, I run outside and ramble on for 20-30 minutes; but only after my thanksgiving to God.
OK, I'll shut up now.
Yours in Christ,
shane
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