I don't have any memory of NOT shaking hands but RM's statement made me wonder.

 

RM must be really old.

 

:lol: I am, I guess.

 

All Tell, I started grade school in 1972. I went through 8 years at Most Blessed Sacrament. I doubt anyone knows Father Pank, but if they do, they'll understand that if there was any new-fangled idea of shaking hands, holding hand or anything like that, he wasn't having it. :lol: He did, though, know how to do Christmas Mass and Easter Mass in a way that I still long for. The pagentry and celebration were unparalleled...to this day I've yet to experience the same feeling at Christmas Eve Mass, Easter Vigil or Easter Mass.

When I was at Most Blessed Sacrament, bells were rung at Eucharist, and we were taught to bow our heads each time the name "Jesus" was said. We had beautiful May processions, with a statue of the Virgin Mary carried on a litter by 8th grade boys, and a court of first grade girls preceeding with beautiful bouquets. We went to the Sacrament of Confession EVERY Saturday, and we NEVER missed Sunday Mass. We also went to Mass EVERY morning Monday-Friday before school started.

That's okay. I don't know your denomination, but the chances are pretty good that most Catholics would believe that a lot of your beliefs are wrong. No problem with that, to each his own.

Very true. Catholic beliefs are based solely on the entire Word of God, as it is found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. All of the Word of God was originaly passed on by word of mouth -- sacred tradition. Eventually, some of this was written down and became Sacred Scripture, which is the written tradition of the Church.

 

Scripture tells us that not all of the things that Jesus said and did were written down. In his letter to the Theselonians Paul said, "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." Also, in 2nd Timothy it says, "and what you have heard from me before many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." So, the Bible supports the church's teaching that the Word of God is contained in both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

 

As for this particular situation, when no edict has been handed down from Rome an a particular subject, bishops have the authority to decide what is best for their diocese. This same concept carries over to priests at the parish level.

Edited December 2, 201114 yr by Birdsfan

It's one of those things people just started doing.

Like shaking hands after a football game. I bet it all started at a soccer field Mass somewhere.

 

In fact I really don't like going to parishes around Louisville that encourage standing during communion.

That's hard core! If some of the people at our Mass spent that much time kneeling, they'd probably never make it back up. :lol:Personally, I don't do that much kneeling.

Edited December 2, 201114 yr by Birdsfan

When I was growing up we did not hold hands during the Lord's prayer, nor did we shake hands at the sign of peace. And it makes me very uncomfortable to do either to this day. And like PepRock, I kneel until the Eucharist has been put away.

 

I have always knelt until the priest sits.

When I was growing up we did not hold hands during the Lord's prayer, nor did we shake hands at the sign of peace. And it makes me very uncomfortable to do either to this day.

Same here. hey started the handshaking many years ago, but I hadn't seen the hand-holding until just a few years ago, and that was at two different churches in Florida -- everyone held hands. A few scattered people do the lifting of hands at our church, and I've seen the occasional family or couple holding hands during that time. There is no holding hands with strangers though.

I have always knelt until the priest sits.

That's the way we do it at out Mass...oh, wait...duh!

:lol: I am, I guess.

 

All Tell, I started grade school in 1972. I went through 8 years at Most Blessed Sacrament. I doubt anyone knows Father Pank, but if they do, they'll understand that if there was any new-fangled idea of shaking hands, holding hand or anything like that, he wasn't having it. :lol: He did, though, know how to do Christmas Mass and Easter Mass in a way that I still long for. The pagentry and celebration were unparalleled...to this day I've yet to experience the same feeling at Christmas Eve Mass, Easter Vigil or Easter Mass.

 

I was starting middle school in 1972

 

While I do enjoy many of the rituals of the Catholic Mass I don't really have a problem with some modernization. When I was young no one, and I mean no one but a priest was allowed to touch the Blessed Sacrament. Part of our training as an Altar Boy was that if the priest dropped a host to avoid the urge to retrieve it. Now I'm a Eucharistic Minister and a huge majority of the people in my parish accept the host in their hand rather then on their tongue.

 

I really enjoy going to the Easter Vigil Mass when the newly elect are Baptized, Confirmed and receive Communion for the first time. As a cradle Catholic it's all I've ever known. At that Mass I often wonder had I not been born as a member of a fairly devout Catholic family would I have chosen to become Catholic. Now it's just a part of me no different then my age or my sex.

While I do enjoy many of the rituals of the Catholic Mass I don't really have a problem with some modernization. When I was young no one, and I mean no one but a priest was allowed to touch the Blessed Sacrament. Part of our training as an Altar Boy was that if the priest dropped a host to avoid the urge to retrieve it. Now I'm a Eucharistic Minister and a huge majority of the people in my parish accept the host in their hand rather then on their tongue.

When I was little (Just a tad older than RM) we always received the host while kneeling at the rail. The alter boy had a gold pallet that he held under each person's chin.

 

Btw, on Dec. 20, I'll be starting eucharistic ministry in a nursing home setting. Our pastor whispered a little special instruction to me this evening at RCIA, which he said was probably mentioned in the training. It had to do with the eventuality of someone getting sick in the process of receiving the host. No...you do not want to know.

When I was little (Just a tad older than RM) we always received the host while kneeling at the rail. The alter boy had a gold pallet that he held under each person's chin.

 

Btw, on Dec. 20, I'll be starting eucharistic ministry in a nursing home setting. Our pastor whispered a little special instruction to me this evening at RCIA, which he said was probably mentioned in the training. It had to do with the eventuality of someone getting sick in the process of receiving the host. No...you do not want to know.

 

St. Martin's in Louisville still does communion at the rail that way.

When I was little (Just a tad older than RM) we always received the host while kneeling at the rail. The alter boy had a gold pallet that he held under each person's chin.

 

Btw, on Dec. 20, I'll be starting eucharistic ministry in a nursing home setting. Our pastor whispered a little special instruction to me this evening at RCIA, which he said was probably mentioned in the training. It had to do with the eventuality of someone getting sick in the process of receiving the host. No...you do not want to know.

Paten and I highly doubt if it was pure gold .

Paten and I highly doubt if it was pure gold .

I know that. :lol: I just meant the color, not necessarily the material. However, it was definitely plated in gold. Anything that touches or holds the Eucharist must be made of gold.