Suggestion Box: February 2008
Note: All suggestions
are transcribed exactly as written.
Affirmations:
The music choices for the liturgical hyms
[sic] on 2/16 were nice. Older tunes
that I miss! Like the Sanctus, Great
Amen, and Lamb of God. Thanks! Your comments were
passed on to our choir director. Thanks
for the affirmation!
Liturgical:
(note: the
following four suggestions/questions were submitted typed on one sheet of
paper. We wish to acknowledge and thank
the individual for the level of research done in making the suggestions).
1. Is it appropriate
to put web links to non-religious or non church-related web sites on the
Church’s web site? Although Forge Cattle
Co. is run by Fr. Michael, we do not put links to other companies that also
advertise in our Church’s bulletin. This is a good observation/suggestion. We will ask the web master to set up a
separate link for parishioners who advertise on our bulletin and wish to have
their business web site linked to our parish web site. Final approval or denial of a link will be at
the discretion of the pastor.
2. Shouldn’t we be
calling Eucharistic ministers by their appropriate title “Extraordinary
Ministers of Communion” as referenced in the GIRM, Canon 910 of the Code of
Canon Law, and Article 8 of Ecclesiae de mysterio: On certain questions regarding collaboration of
the non-ordained faithful in the Sacred ministry of the priest (since the
bishop, priest, or deacon is the “ordinary minister”)? This is not reflected in the church bulletin
or in announcements before mass. Again, another good observation. Old habits are
difficult to root out. We have, however,
after receiving this suggestion re-evaluated our language and terminology and
have made changes on ministry assignment lists, bulletin and web site. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
3. Canon 907 states “In the eucharistic
celebration deacons and lay persons are not permitted to offer prayers,
especially the Eucharistic prayer, or to
perform actions which are proper to the celebrating priest” (my
emphasis). This is also further
supported in Article 6, paragraph 2 of Ecclesiae
de mystery – “Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful
use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant.” Therefore, is it appropriated for the
extraordinary ministers of communion or the deacons to be performing blessings
on children when they come up with their parents at communion since this is the
proper action of the celebrating priest?
We believe that Canon 907 and the quote from
Article 6, paragraph 2 of Ecclesiae de
mystery sited above refer to actions and gestures of the priest celebrant,
such as extension of hands at the greeting “The Lord be With You,” extending
hands over the gifts at the epiclesis, or making the sign of the cross over the
gifts, as in Eucharistic Prayer I, or at the conclusion of Mass. These are examples of a gesture proper to the
priest celebrant.
Offering a blessing to a child
during Communion, however, is not a role proper only to the
priest-celebrant. Actually, blessing
children or adults during Communion is a local custom, not a liturgical
function, unique to the
A Deacon, of course, can make the
sign of the cross with his hand outstretched when blessing religious articles
or people. Extraordinary ministers and
laity, however, are not permitted to “mimic” this action at any time, but they
may certainly offer a blessing to children or adults during Communion or at any
time. Parents should bless their
children every day. A simple “God bless
you” is always appropriate.
4. Why do we hold hands during the Our Father? I thought communion was supposed to be the
sign (and sacramental reality) of our unity.
Quite honestly, we don’t know why some families
hold hands during the Our Father.
Perhaps this is how they pray together as a family in the home and they
feel comfortable bringing that closeness/intimacy into their church
family? Technically, the proper posture
while praying the Lord’s Prayer is the “Orans”
position (hands open). Liturgically,
however, the
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