Or did it have one and your parish priest just hammered it away?
You will be surprised to know that Vatican II DID NOT, I repeat, DID NOT say that churches must have no altar rails nor did the Council say that the rails need to be torn down.
In fact the GIRM states that:
295. The sanctuary is the place where the altar stands, where the word of God is proclaimed, and where the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their offices. It should suitably be marked off from the body of the church either by its being somewhat elevated or by a particular structure and ornamentation. – General Instruction of the Roman Missal
Thankfully, Manila Cathedral still has it.
How about your church, do you still have your altar rails?
Why do we need it?
Here is a reflection from Fr. Evan Harkins:
Practically, the rail is a help to people, both physically and spiritually. The use of rail and the way Holy Communion is distributed with it sets a solemn pace for the reception of Holy Communion. On the part of the priest, more of his time is spent actually distributing the Blessed Sacrament and less time waiting. On the part of the person receiving, the hurried tone is removed; there is a great opportunity for quiet and prayer both a few moments before and after receiving our Lord. The rail also is a help to people in kneeling and standing back up.
I hope someone could help me, everytime i bring up the topic of communion rails, ang laging kong naririnig na counter argument is "pag ginamit ulit ang altar rails, tatagal ang distribution of communion sa sobrang daming nagsisimba". Could someone help me answer this.
ReplyDelete"It should suitably be marked off from the body of the church either by its being somewhat elevated or by a particular structure and ornamentation."
ReplyDeleteit doesn't state that it is an altar rail so we must torn down the altar rails because it blocks the active participation of the laity..
Nakaklungkot lang kasi sa Binondo Church inalis 'yung altar rail noong nagrenovate sila this year.
ReplyDeleteIn all the churches that I went to in Cebu City, the only church that still has a communion rail is the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. Not even the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral has a communion rail left.
ReplyDelete