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Congregations during elevation Chas Sunday, June 26, 2016

Question:

What is the congregation supposed to do during the consecration? I learned as a child that we were supposed to reverently look at the Host and the Blood and "silently" adore Jesus. We can silently recite some prayers of adoration but never out loud. Lately, I have started to hear some murmuring from the congregation at both elevations. I know that this is due to some so called charismatic masses where during the Elevation people will pray out loud in "tongues" and at times there can be nothing short of hysteria.

Should I mention this to the priest? I know that's what happened during the Our Father were people now hold hands and supposedly it started during those same charismatic masses where people hold hands, jump pews, "dance for the Lord", etc.

Your comments.

Thanks and God Bless.
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Chas,

I would agree completely with what you were originally taught:  that the moment of consecration is a time for silent adoration.  There is no instruction for the people what to do during the elevations, however in the rubrics the priest in instructed to "show the Host to the people".  This means, that the people are to LOOK at the host reverently..  and NOT speak in tongues.  Brief mental prayers or adoration of course are completely acceptable, such as "My Lord and my God" and this could even be prayed out loud at most as a whisper, as long as nobody around would hear and become distracted.

About informing your priest.. well if there truly is a hysteria  then I'm sure he already knows about the problem.  :-)  But yes you could at least let him know how distracted you are a request that he do something to keep the most sacred moment of the Mass just a bit more reverent.

Mr. Slavek
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