Understanding the new changes in the Church is an ongoing struggle for many people. With the New Roman Missal we went back to some old ways and some new ways.
1. We don't kneel to receive the Eucharist. people are not forbidden from doing this but it is highly discouraged. Begging the question of why is it discouraged? Some would argue that it is a greater sign of reverence. Others would argue that it draws attention to ourselves and not to what we are receiving. One of the keys to this is found in the words we recite just before we receive the Eucharist, we profess that we are not worthy, but only say the word and i shall be healed. Because we are healed we don't coming in supplication but rather we come in jubilation and exaltation, we stand.
2. Even if we are not receiving the Blood of Christ we still bow to the Chalice as we pass by. Why? Because contained in the Chalice is the Blood of Christ and we need to offer due respect for the Blood of Jesus. In the same way before we receive the Body of Christ we should have offered a head bow to the Body of Christ in the Ciborium, we are not bowing to the Eucharistic Minister but what is in the Ciborium.
3. Receiving on the tongue or in the hand are both totally acceptable. But if we are going to receive on the hand we should make sure our hands are clean and when we present our hands that we are forming a plate with them. When we receive on the tongue, the tongue should extend outside the mouth in a sense forming a plate to receive the Body of Christ.
As a general rule we do not take the Body of Christ, it should not be handed from the priests fingers to our fingers. the exception to this, and there are always exceptions. is due to age or arthritis.
4. The Rule on state of Grace has not changed. We are still suppose to be in a State of Grace, that is free from sin. Sadly many people don't seem to realize that if we have serious sins on our hearts the only sacrament that takes them away is Reconciliation. Probably the worst sin in this area is believing we don't need to go to Reconciliation. But Reconciliation is not just about what we have done, it is also about what we have failed to do.
5. Abstaining from food for an hour before receiving the Eucharist is also still in affect. And for those not aware, that includes not chewing gum during mass. One of the upsetting things is people taking the gum out of their mouths to receive Jesus and then putting the gum back in right after. Then particles of Jesus become mixed in with the persons gum and sooner or later they throw the gum away, with Jesus stuck to it.
6. Now after we receive we stand until everyone has received and then we kneel or sit to say our personal prayers. Again the exception for this would be the elderly and parents with small children.
1. We don't kneel to receive the Eucharist. people are not forbidden from doing this but it is highly discouraged. Begging the question of why is it discouraged? Some would argue that it is a greater sign of reverence. Others would argue that it draws attention to ourselves and not to what we are receiving. One of the keys to this is found in the words we recite just before we receive the Eucharist, we profess that we are not worthy, but only say the word and i shall be healed. Because we are healed we don't coming in supplication but rather we come in jubilation and exaltation, we stand.
2. Even if we are not receiving the Blood of Christ we still bow to the Chalice as we pass by. Why? Because contained in the Chalice is the Blood of Christ and we need to offer due respect for the Blood of Jesus. In the same way before we receive the Body of Christ we should have offered a head bow to the Body of Christ in the Ciborium, we are not bowing to the Eucharistic Minister but what is in the Ciborium.
3. Receiving on the tongue or in the hand are both totally acceptable. But if we are going to receive on the hand we should make sure our hands are clean and when we present our hands that we are forming a plate with them. When we receive on the tongue, the tongue should extend outside the mouth in a sense forming a plate to receive the Body of Christ.
As a general rule we do not take the Body of Christ, it should not be handed from the priests fingers to our fingers. the exception to this, and there are always exceptions. is due to age or arthritis.
4. The Rule on state of Grace has not changed. We are still suppose to be in a State of Grace, that is free from sin. Sadly many people don't seem to realize that if we have serious sins on our hearts the only sacrament that takes them away is Reconciliation. Probably the worst sin in this area is believing we don't need to go to Reconciliation. But Reconciliation is not just about what we have done, it is also about what we have failed to do.
5. Abstaining from food for an hour before receiving the Eucharist is also still in affect. And for those not aware, that includes not chewing gum during mass. One of the upsetting things is people taking the gum out of their mouths to receive Jesus and then putting the gum back in right after. Then particles of Jesus become mixed in with the persons gum and sooner or later they throw the gum away, with Jesus stuck to it.
6. Now after we receive we stand until everyone has received and then we kneel or sit to say our personal prayers. Again the exception for this would be the elderly and parents with small children.
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