Ceremonies.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XII, Issue 12, 1 June 1922, Page 378

Ceremonies.

In our last article we dealt with the -ceremonies- ordered to be observed at the 'Prayer of Consecration. Before passing .to those used at the Communion.it may be opportune to consider, put. of its place,. the rubric "If the Consecrated Bread or Wine be all spent." Although this prescribes the ritual for consecrating more when the. bread and wine already .consecrated haye r proved insufficient, rather than to the ceremony of the Consecration, we think it calls for some comment. There are two or three different theories as to the moment when the Consecration is effected and as to ,the essential form for Consecration. For example, the .Greek Church considers that the Consecration is not tied to the mere recital of certain words, but is .m answer to the whole Eucharistic prayer and particularly to that which asks. that the -Father will send down JEJis Holy Spirit on us and on the gifts that they may become the Body 'and Blood of Christ. This prayer occurs .m the Greek, liturgies after the recital of. the Institution, the soleniiv breaking . of , the bread and the use of Christ V words, "Take eat this is My Btfdy," "Drink ye all of this for this' is My Blood. " ,0n the other. hand iiv the Western Church the prayer of Invocation has almosj; disappeared and the consecration js associated with the using of the lyords, "This is My Body" and "This is My Blood." /

Most liturgical students are convinced that this Roman idea is a

corruption. Unfortunately /the rubric m our prayer : l)pdk on" which' we are commenting clearly adopts the Roman idea. In our prayer of Consecration we pray "That we receiving these Thy creatures of -bread and wine— may be partakers of -His most blessed Body and Blood" then follow the words of -institution. The player is a real prayer l that we may receive Christ ? s Body and Blood and corresponds to, the old ■■* '■ Epiclesis '<' or prayer for the descent of 'the Holy,/ Spirit on the gifts, referred tot^ above. But this rubric cuts out the prayer altogether, when more of the bread . and wine are to toe consecrated, and orders ,the bare repetition of the so-called of Consecration." WMlst we would riot suggest that Alinigtity God is so tied, to means and words that either the repetition of this' formula is indispensable for a valid consecration, or that no valid conseeratiorican possibly be effected without prayer , yet it seems an undoubted corruption that the Anglican Church follows the Romans rather than'" the rest of Christendom m ascribing the ' 'cbiisecratipii to the bald recitation of the words and acts of Christ, without using any prayer for the Consecration at all. After the Consecration the Priest kneels for private prayer and worship "during the singing of the "Agnus I)ei," or perhaps of some hymn of intercession arid worship; Ttien he coriimunicates hiriiself and offers a short thanksgiving. Then he turns to the people to communicate them. Communicants should be ready to-go up to the altar arid should not keep the priest Waiting. The clergy receive their communion first, theri the choir (if surpliced)/ then the rest of the communicants; It is an ancient custom for the men to receive first. Every communicant's manual gives directions for reverent behavior m receiving, but there are some communicants Who have probably never been instructed and do riot kriow. It goes without saying that all gloves, wraps, etc.; should be left behind ; m the' seat. The communicant kneels at the altar raii-iiot too close to his next neighbor When the priest approaches to deliver to him the Sacrament of Our Lord's Body he extends his right hand, palm upwards, resting it on the palm of the left hand. The ■Blessed Sacrament should on no account be taken between the finger andL thumb, and every care should be taken not to allow crumbs to fall. It is a common and reverent custom •fco make the Sign of the Cross. before receiving. When the priest delivers the Sacrament of Our Lord's Blood, the communicant -should take the chalice firmly with both ; hands, and when handing it back should see that the priest has firmly grasped -it before ;he lets go; A communicant

should iipt leave his place till his next neighbor hias refeeived. The reatoik £or attention to such details is obvious, ;andobseryance of them is necessary to avoid painful accidents. Every care must be taken not to distract the devotion of fellow communicants.

People who, through physical infirmity, are unable to kneel need not be distressed, they can receive while standing reverently.

.^Vhen all have communicated the priest replaces the chalice on the altar and covers it with a veil.