Some of you have already been asking me about “new rules for receiving Holy Communion.” Archbishop Shelton has promulgated new rules that will take effect on June 22, coinciding with the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). Our two parishes are studying these rules to develop procedures that we will observe at both St. Brigid and St. James so that we comply with the guidelines. This is a brief summary of what might look different from what we currently do at our two parishes.
The first change we will need to make is to more accurately count the number of attendees at each Mass and prepare a sufficient number of hosts for consecration at that Mass so that each worshipper receives communion that was consecrated at that particular Mass. We have been using previously consecrated hosts from the tabernacle to supplement the number of hosts set out for each particular Mass. The new procedures will require us to count more accurately rather than estimate and supplement.
No One Will Be Required to Kneel
Most are hearing about posture, particularly kneeling, during and after Communion. In this case, little will change from our current practice. In the United States, it is common for the assembly to kneel throughout the Eucharistic Prayer, to stand during the Our Father through the Sign of Peace, and to return to kneeling during the Lamb of God. This is what we already do. However, people who cannot kneel for whatever reason are not required to kneel.
A Change in Taking Hosts to Homebound
The biggest change affecting us has to do with people taking communion to the homebound. They will no longer be permitted to receive Holy Communion to take away while in the communion procession. Those who take communion to a homebound person will bring their pyx up to get the consecrated host after the conclusion of the Mass, not during the Mass.
The Norm in Canon Law is to Stand While Receiving Communion
Under canon law, each person is permitted to choose to receive Communion in the hand or on the tongue. This remains unchanged. The new procedures clarify that everyone is to stand when receiving Communion. A small number of people kneel on the floor as a personal reverence. They are asked to refrain from this departure from the norm of standing.
It is the archbishop’s responsibility to safeguard the ritual celebration of the sacraments. These new procedures are designed so that the different parishes are using the same posture and handling communion to the homebound the same way. I am confident the small changes we need to make will be relatively smooth and that Mass will not seem any different than what we are currently doing.
