As Roman Catholics, almost everything else we believe pales alongside our conviction that a priest, acting in the power and person of Christ, can take bread and wine and change it into the Body and Blood of Christ.
This ancient faith is proclaimed by all of the faithful in the liturgy. After the priest consecrates the host, he genuflects, and after he consecrates the wine, he genuflects once again and then joins the people in one of several proclamations of the core of the Christian faith: "Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again."
Our Catholic faith teaches us that what we proclaim in the Eucharist, Christ's death and resurrection, is by the power of God's love and goodness, also re-presented in that very action. The Eucharist is the supreme gift of our loving Lord by which we participate in his death and resurrection as we await his final coming in glory.
A quick read of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will give you an excellent understanding of our Catholic teaching with regard to the Eucharist. There are also several pamphlets that you could read, and each month Emmanuel Magazine offers excellent articles on Eucharistic spirituality.
For the most part, I am impressed by the care that is taken in the celebration of the Mass in our diocese. We are blessed with many beautiful churches, outstanding choirs, good homilists and dedicated people. However, since the Eucharistic celebration is also to be a sign of unity, it is helpful to look at our various practices from time to time.
In general, people should stand from the beginning of the entrance song or when the priest enters until the end of the opening prayer or collect; for the singing of the Alleluia before the Gospel; while the Gospel is proclaimed; during the profession of faith and the general intercessions; from the prayer over the gifts, until after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus. At this point, people should kneel until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, that is, before the Lord's Prayer.
This clarification, which is the liturgical law for Mass in the dioceses of the United States, should cause no problem for the vast majority of our parishes and religious houses. Obviously, this requires kneelers in our churches, chapels and oratories.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal does give me, as Diocesan Bishop, some latitude, and I have asked the pastors and others responsible for churches and chapels without kneelers to be in dialogue with me.
There has also been some question, among pastors, about an act of reverence before one receives the Eucharist. Again, The General Instruction of the Roman Missal talks about an appropriate gesture before receiving Communion, and points out that it should be reverent and uniform.
Therefore, in the Diocese of Sioux Falls, I believe that an appropriate gesture of reverence before the reception of Holy Communion would be a simple bow of the head before an individual steps up to receive the Blessed Sacrament either on the tongue or in the hand. As you can see from the picture, this simple bow takes place while the person ahead of you is receiving Communion.
Someone stated that they prefer to genuflect, and I appreciate that. However, I felt that a simple bow would be something that all of us, including the elderly and the handicapped, could do. I did not want to suggest an act of reverence that would exclude some of our brothers and sisters.
When you step up to receive Communion, you may either receive by extending your tongue and tilting your head slightly back, or you may receive Communion in the hand. You will note in the picture that the two hands are placed together in the form of a cross.
The priest, deacon or Eucharistic minister will also place the host in your hand. The individual person is not to take it in his or her own fingers, but rather to receive the Holy Eucharist.
In the Liturgy of the Hours, there is a beautiful sermon dating back to the 5th century which speaks about receiving Holy Communion: "When you come up to receive . . . make your left hand a throne for the right (for it is about to receive a king), cup your palm, and so receive the Body of Christ . . . carefully hallow your eyes by the touch of the sacred body and then partake . . . taking care . . . why if you had been given gold dust, would you not take the utmost care to hold it fast, not letting a grain slip through your fingers . . . !"
After receiving the Blessed Sacrament, at those Masses in which Communion is offered under both species, you are free to approach the minister of the precious blood. You will note from the picture that you take it in your own hands and drink from the cup. The Eucharist Minister will then wipe the surface of the cup, taking it back and preparing to share the cup with the next communicant.
Although it was once permitted, we are no longer supposed to dip the consecrated host into the precious blood. This is called intinction, and it is no longer to be used.
After receiving Holy Communion, the entire congregation is invited to spend some time in reflective prayer. This will differ from parish to parish and will depend somewhat on the Mass schedule. Obviously, a minute or two is inadequate, and you might want to spend some time in prayer later in the day reflecting on the great gift you have received from God.
I would like to reflect on the vessels that are used at Mass and for Holy Communion. I continue to be surprised that so many parishes use chalices and ciboriums that need to be cleaned or obviously cheap vessels, which detract from the dignity of the Blessed Sacrament.
There also seems to be carelessness in some parishes with regard to altar linens, and even the linens in the tabernacle. Every parish should have someone who regularly changes and cleans the altar linens, and the pastor or associate pastor should see that the linens in the tabernacle and the vessels used for the liturgy are well taken care of. If metal vessels are used, they should be replated from time to time, and all of the vessels should be adequately purified.
Recently I said Mass at a parish where it was clear that the chalice had not been purified after its last use. I was shocked at the carelessness of those responsible.
In closing, I share with you a meditation on the most holy Eucharist by John Henry Cardinal Newman: "I place myself in the presence of him, in whose incarnate presence I am before I place myself there. I adore thee, O my Savior, present here as God and man, in soul and body, in true flesh and blood . . . I praise, and bless, and give myself wholly to him, who is the true bread of my soul, and my everlasting joy."
