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Services of Word and Holy Communion; commonly called "Eucharistic Services"
Topic Started: Monday, 23. April 2007, 23:55 (2,627 Views)
Joseph

In responding to a query about this subject, on another Catholic Forum, I came across an article that made the comparison, and which I'd like to share in here.

It's American, but the format is pretty standard I think.

Mass and Communion Service: What's the Difference?
by Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M. americancatholic.org

Link:- http://tinyurl.com/3xtlrs

Any comments?
Joseph
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PJD

Joseph: If you are referring to Mass as compared with Eucharistic service. The first is Sacrament and Sacrifice - the second is distribution of Hosts already consecrated.

PJD
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Rose of York
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I have heard people call for rural parishes to have Eucharistic services mid week, but my fear is, that with the passage of time, the difference between Mass and a service could be blurred. It would surely be better to have lay led Rosary, Stations or Divine Office to maintain our Catholic traditions and ethos?
Keep the Faith!

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Deacon Robert
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I agree with Rose. Places where a communion service becomes the norm, people tend to confuse the two. The official service for Sundays in absence of a Priest is structured in a way so that they can't be confused. Prior to the instructions, and I'm sure in many places today, the service was made up by individual Priests and followed the Mass leaving out certain presidential prayers and the consecration.
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne

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Rose of York
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A woman told me a Eucharistic service is "almost a Mass", with "just a few prayers missing". That was the moment I saw the dangers of having those services mid week, in a parish that does have a weekly Vigil Mass. Also, I consider that if we have them unnecessarilly they could lead to confusion between ministerial priesthood (in persona Christi), and emergency support from laity.

I would dearly love the opportunity for a few minutes total silence in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Why do we always need to have something scheduled? Prayer does not have to be communal every time.
Keep the Faith!

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I agree absolutely with Rose and Deacon Robert - I'd even go further and say we are already at that stage when the difference between the Holy Sacrifice of The Mass, and a lay led Eucharistic Service has become blurred to many people
KatyA
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Rose of York
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Redemptoris Sacramentum
 
[164.]  "If participation at the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible on account of the absence of a sacred minister or for some other grave cause",269 then it is the Christian people's right that the diocesan Bishop should provide as far as he is able for some celebration to be held on Sundays for that community under his authority and according to the Church's norms. Sunday celebrations of this specific kind, however, are to be considered altogether extraordinary.

Redemptoris Sacramentum
 
[165.]  It is necessary to avoid any sort of confusion between this type of gathering and the celebration of theEucharist.271 The diocesan Bishops, therefore, should prudently discern whether Holy Communion ought to be distributed in these gatherings.


Redemptoris Sacramentum
 
[166.]  Likewise, especially if Holy Communion is distributed during such celebrations, the diocesan Bishop, to whose exclusive competence this matter pertains, must not easily grant permission for such celebrations to be held on weekdays, especially in places where it was possible or would be possible to have the celebration of Mass on the preceding or the following Sunday. Priests are therefore earnestly requested to celebrate Mass daily for the people in one of the churches entrusted to their care.


Redemptoris Sacramentum
 
[167.]  "Similarly, it is unthinkable on the Lord's Day to substitute for Holy Mass either ecumenical celebrations of the Word or services of common prayer with Christians from the ... Ecclesial Communities, or even participation in these Communities' liturgical services".272 Should the diocesan Bishop out of necessity authorize the participation of Catholics for a single occasion, let pastors take care lest confusion arise among the Catholic faithful concerning the necessity of taking part at Mass at another hour of the day even in such circumstances, on account of the obligation.


I consider the above make it clear that such services should not take place, other than in circumstances when a weekly Mass is out of the question.


Keep the Faith!

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Derekap
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If a Holy Mass is not available on a Sunday or other Holyday of Obligation then surely some kind of alternative should, if possible, be available. This to be led by a Deacon or (sadly the oft-maligned) EHMC. If Holy Communion is to be distributed (and why not?) then some form of penitential element should be included. Also the congregation should hear the Readings (including the Gospel) of the Sunday (why not?). And why not some prayers of the Holy Mass of the Day, including Bidding Prayers? Therefore inevitably there becomes a similarity of The Holy Mass. Of course there could be occasionary cautionary comments in parish announcements and bulletins that it is not Holy Mass but an appropriate necessary alternative. I have on weekdays attended a few such services which seemed to be a collection of readings and Psalms from a kind of Breviary. I am sure I am not the only lay person to find some of the Psalms difficult to understand and digest.

In my days as an EMHC we followed Holy Mass until The Bidding Prayers and from The Lord's Prayer, with slight variations. I can see nothing sinful in such. After all some Catholics who are unable to attend Holy Mass themslves read through the Holy Mass in their Missal. Sometimes when travelling I used to rob the Sunday Missalettes from the Sacristy under the nose of the pp. If I was able to attend Holy Mass I could read the English Translations of the Readings or if unable read through the whole Holy Mass.
Derekap
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CARLO
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Rose of York
Apr 24 2007, 07:01 PM
I have heard people call for rural parishes to have Eucharistic services mid week, but my fear is, that with the passage of time, the difference between Mass and a service could be blurred.  It would surely be better to have lay led Rosary, Stations or Divine Office to maintain our Catholic traditions and ethos?

A number of Bishops e.g. Bishop Mark Jabale of Menvia (South Wales) have warned against this. There is room for an Eucharistic Service if no Mass is available on Sunday but during the rest of the week such Services are not to be encouraged for the reasons stated by Rose.

There is no 'right' to receive Communion every day!

Some of the green cardigan and 'we are the church' brigade may find that surprising.


Veritas
Truth


CARLO
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Rose of York
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Derekap
Apr 24 2007, 10:48 PM
If a Holy Mass is not available on a Sunday or other Holyday of Obligation then surely some kind of alternative should, if possible, be available. This to be led by a Deacon or (sadly the oft-maligned)  EHMC.  If Holy Communion  is to be distributed (and why not?) then some form of penitential element should be included.  Also the congregation should hear the Readings (including the Gospel) of the Sunday (why not?). And why not some prayers of the Holy Mass of the Day, including Bidding Prayers?

Fair enough, Derek, if there is no Sunday or Vigil Mass, but when these services take place mid week, in a parish that has a Sunday Mass, they are in disobedience to directives laid down by the Vatican. Therefore, I say no parish priest is allowed to permit them in "his" church.

How often, and in how many locations in Britain, is there regularly, no Sunday Mass available in a parish, apart from places as remote as offshore islands off Scotland and in the Scillies?
Keep the Faith!

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Derekap
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I know, Rose, that at present by far the majority of churches have a Holy Mass at least on a Saturday Evening, a Sunday Morning or a Sunday Evening. However, this situation looks very much like deteriorating and we must prepare for such.

Whilst I appreciate there are rulings and official discouragement of Holy Communion Services on ordinary weekdays, I cannot understand the seemly attitude of some people against such as if they were wrong or even sinful in themselves. It seems they can, if necessary, be tolerated, albeit reluctantly, on Sundays but NEVER on weekdays.
Derekap
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Clare
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Derekap
Apr 25 2007, 10:16 AM
Whilst I appreciate there are rulings and official discouragement of Holy Communion Services on ordinary weekdays, I cannot understand the seemly attitude of some people against such as if they were wrong or even sinful in themselves.

So you don't appreciate the rulings and official discouragement then, Derek?

:huh:

Clare.

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Derekap
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Clare. Please read what I wrote:

"Whilst I appreciate there are rulings and official discouragement of Holy Communion Services on ordinary weekdays, I cannot understand the seemly attitude of some people against such as if they were wrong or even sinful in themselves. It seems they can, if necessary, be tolerated, albeit reluctantly, on Sundays but NEVER on weekdays. "

I was referring to people who by the way they write seem to condemn a Holy Communion Service particularly if it is on weekdays and only bearably tolerable in the absence of Holy Mass on Sundays.

Correction. I should have written: "I cannot understand the attitude of some people seemingly against such.........."


Derekap
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newminster
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Derek, did you mean 'seemly' or 'unseemly'?
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CARLO
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Derek

You are tilting at windmills!

We are only seeking to follow the guidance of the Bishops.

Seems like you don't like the guidance so you have a go at those who support it!

Most unCatholic behaviour old chap!
:wacko:

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Whatever


CARLO
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