I just came across this pic of a beautiful communion rail. I seldom see them anymore. I was wondering how many of us on the forum still have a communion rail at their church? I so miss having one
Me Me too but no rail in any of our churches around here. In the chapel of the Cathedral there is one however.
None in our church. A few old churches in the city centre still have them although they are rarely used.
Saint Joseph has them but it is an FSSP parish. Honestly I am getting to the point where I don't like to go to Mass anywhere else although I do. At our local parish I kneel to receive Our Lord and it is painful on the best of days on a marble floor but I just don't care anymore.
What a sacrifice, Don! I can no longer do that, but good for you! They would need a crane to get me up off the floor, so not worth attracting attention. HA When I do go to a Mass with a rail (haven't in years) I stand, and then as the priest gets closer I kneel quickly on the padding and then get up. I am not the only one. I see a few others who need to do that. I actually stand in the confessional and lean over to the priest's ear. The priests do not mind. I do not go face to face. They understand folks with wonky knees.
Yes, they are very understanding that way. My knees don't always cooperate and sometimes I am so sick and swollen up I can not manage it but if I am feeling well enough I do. Even if it is only one knee for care of falling over! lol. The confessional here is horrible though and I have been thinking about bringing my own pillow.
This is a picture of St Joseph's from 1935 and another from 2016. It has changed little. The white alter rail is barely visible. I think that the stations of the cross are the same ones, they are beautiful. I love this little parish. I often wonder how many have kissed the feet of Our Lord on His cross.
The Methodist church that I grew up attending had one and we would kneel to receive our wafer and grape juice. There's one at the chapel of the Institute of Christ the King near where I live, but I don't think that any of the other churches in town have one.
John's Lane where I went to Mass last Friday: https://www.churchservices.tv/johnslane It has lovely shrines and stained glass windows. Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=KBmecqXk1vw
In the Church I go to for mass, St Therese's Somerton Road there are no longer altalr rails but since we do the Traditional Mass we have portable wooden altar rails which are set up in a matter of minutes and are kept up in the stalls at the back of the Church. it is really surprising how quickly the altar and Church can be transformed to the way it used to be years ago and is wonderful to see. We ahve the most gorgoeus old golden Large Crucifix, for instance which is now in a side altar but is moved to the maina ltar for the mass. Also flowers are moved round the altar. Special altar clothes and hanging ect. It all only takes about 15 minutes to set up. I must see if I can find pictures before and after. This is it set up for the Tridentine Mass, with the little wooden altar rails. (If you look to the left there is the most wonderful staute of the Blessed Virgin , which I am very fond of and dates, I supect to the 1920's)
Now compare this to our main Parish Church , which I avoid like the plague and which looks, I think, like a bowling alley (Where would you even put altar rails?)
Yes , what were they thinking when they built it? However I notice modern Catholic Churches nowadays generally go back to the older desings, thank God. Not always, but often.
Yep. I have to be careful of the knees. I genuflect as best I can before I receive. And kneeling in a confessional is almost impossible.
