Pastoral Letter on Liturgy
THE COMMUNION RITE
As the Great Amen is concluded, the assembly stands to prepare for the intimate moment of communion. It is a moment of communion with the Christ entered into as the Body of Christ here on earth. Chanting the Lord's Prayer can help strengthen the bonds of the community as it moves toward the reception of Holy Communion. The Greeting of Peace is offered to those around us as a fervent wish that "Christ's peace be with you." The procession comes forward to share the Eucharist. As is stated in the Order of the Mass, "The sign of Communion is more fully experienced when people are able to receive both the Body and the Blood of Christ." Sharing Communion under both species should become the norm in our parishes. Likewise, careful attention to the proper amount of breads and wine can ensure that people receive Holy Communion from bread and wine consecrated at the Mass they participate in. (Communion from the tabernacle should be rare at Sunday Mass.)
The ritual procession joins the Body of Christ together as it comes forward to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. To create the sense of encompassing the entire community, the procession could begin with the people in the back pews coming forward so that the whole space is surrounded with a moving procession of people. Processional movement symbolizes the ENTIRE MEANING OF ALL EXISTENCE, as the human person – in whom all of creation, matter and spirit, comes together – moves forward to be united with the Creator. In this summit of our Christian worship, we enact and realize the return of all creation to the divine origin of all. The procession should indeed encompass the entire community! We need to encourage people to take whatever steps are necessary for taking part in Eucharistic communion: "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day" (Jn 6:53-54).
Music for the procession should be carefully chosen. Some pastoral musicians suggest that a community should choose carefully perhaps as few as 10 or 12 Communion procession songs for the entire year. Processional music should normally be such that no music or missalette is required. One song should be used that continues until all have received Eucharist and the altar is cleared. This idea would suggest that music for the communion rite should have a refrain that becomes familiar to all with verses sung by a cantor or choir. The song should normally begin immediately after the invitation to Communion, "This is the Lamb of God…"
Communion ministers could already be in place so that the procession could begin immediately. The extraordinary ministers of holy communion should be chosen from among those who live lives of holiness and consideration should be given to diversity of ministers – religious, lay, men and women, young and old (confirmed), from different backgrounds and circumstances. Each individual in the procession is treated with reverence. After a simple bow of reverence to the presence of Christ in the Sacred Species, the minister greets each individual with "The Body of Christ" or "the Blood of Christ." The minister then carefully places the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. The cup is carefully handed over to the communicant. It may take time before most people receive from the cup, but a spirit of invitation needs to be given. To drink from the cup of salvation is needed by each person to quench the 'dry, weary soul.' This drinking of the Blood of Christ complements the eating of consecrated bread. Offering Communion in forms of bread and wine is nothing more than following the command of the Christ, "Take and eat…take and drink."
In the Mystagogical Catechesis of Cyril of Jerusalem (fourth century) he speaks eloquently of this action: When you approach … make the left hand into a throne for the right which shall receive the King, and then cup your open hand and take the Body of Christ, reciting the Amen. […] Then, after you have partaken of the Body of Christ, approach the chalice with the Blood … in a position of worship and reverence, and repeat the Amen and sanctify yourself by receiving the Blood of Christ. Should your lips still be moist, then touch them with your hands and sanctify your eyes and your forehead and the other senses. Then in prayer, thank God who has made you worthy of such mysteries. A moment of silence or a song of praise may be sung after Communion. This may take the form of a psalm or a polyphonic hymn by the choir, or a hymn sung by the assembly. During the season of Lent, this may be a good moment of silence, to further meditate on Communion and the Word we have heard – preparing ourselves to carry this message with us as we return to our homes. The post-communion prayer sums up our entire prayer of the communion rite.
