| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| Communion Service Rubrics | Deacon Larry | Monday, January 7, 2008 |
Question: In the document Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass there is no reference to beginning the service with the Sign of the Cross. Is this right or is it implied that one begins all Catholic prayer with the Sign of the Cross? Also, there is no rubric for the priest or deacon reverencing the altar. I can understand this if a lay person is conducting the service. But what about a deacon - reverence the tabernacle and then reverence the altar with a kiss - both at the beginning and end of the service? Is this gesture apt to imply that the service is comparable to the Mass? Is it still proper to kiss the altar anyhow? In the SCAP the celebration begins with the Sign of the Cross but no reference in the rubrics to reverencing the altar - implied? Or, will these questions be answered in the new USCCB document on weekday Communion Services? Thank you, Deacon Larry |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Rev. Mr. Lottier, Yes, that's right it's not in there. Although it is generally appropriate to begin prayer with the Sign of the Cross, it is also true that nothing is implied in the Liturgy. There are exceptions, but they are usually pretty obvious. For example, in the same document the text of the "Our Father" is not included, it simply says "Our Father..." and it is implied that the entire prayer is recited. But when there is no mention at all of the Sign of the Cross, it is not implied that it must be added. The same goes for the gestures. Of course that doesn't mean that one cannot make the customary reverences before the Liturgy begins. Thanks for writing, Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively. |
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