Receiving Communion
I had been to a Byzantine rite Liturgy before, but at a daily mass with a friend of mine while we were at a conference in San Luis Obispo. The Sunday Liturgy, similar to in the Latin rite, is much more beautiful. There was a choir that led us in our responses, all chanted. Some of the more beautiful ones were the few in Slavonic (the majority of these Byzantine Catholics are from Eastern Europe and are ethnically Slavs, so the Slavonic language is used a little). None of us on the pilgrimage speak Slavonic, but we sang the same thing in English, but it seemed to flow better for some reason in Slavonic. Another nice addition was while we were chanting the creed, the celebrant or the deacon (my attention was on the words and the tone, not on the actions) were knocking two pieces of metal together. As Stevie Vasquez said later, "It brought back to mind the hammering of the nails from the Passion of Christ."
In our rite, only those of age who have received their First Holy Communion walk to the front and receive the Sacred Host with the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord, and then consume the Sacred blood from a chalice. In the Byzantine rite, children are baptized and confirmed at the same time. As confirmed Catholics, they can, and do, receive Communion as well. As Father Anthony explained it to us later, in the West, we have seen it as something that the one receiving needs to understand, hence waiting until the age of reason (defined as being 7-8 years old) before a child can receive Communion. In the East, that distinction was never made, as it is a grace, a gift from God, and therefore is given regardless of whether the recipient understands or not. Interesting difference, no?
In the West, we process up, the Minister (ordinary or extraordinary) says, "The Body of Christ", and then we say, "Amen" and stick out our tongue or hand to receive Him. Next follows the optional "Blood of Christ" and consumption of the precious Blood, also with an Amen. In the Extraordinary form (in Latin), where we don't respond, the priest says everything, including the "Amen." There is the strange (and not entirely appropriate) addition of some non-Catholics or non-confessed Catholics crossing their arms across their chest for a blessing.
In the Byzantine rite, all process up towards the altar with their arms crossed (if they aren't Catholic or not disposed properly, they stay in their seats). The process is to state one's name first, so that the celebrant can include the name in the prayers stated while giving Communion. I don't have the entire verbiage, but it does include "Servant of God, NAME, may this ..... Amen." A corporal (cloth that doesn't allow any smaller particles to fall out) in put up to our chin (like the patens for mass in Latin), while those of us taller crouch down to make it easier for the priest. I don't believe that their are any Extraordinary Ministers (even in locations where there are more laity), as all of the Eucharist is contained within chalices which don't leave the area close to the altar. Instead of having separate Body and Blood, those Eucharist prepared beforehand, already with the Blood, are spooned into our open mouths. "Do NOT stick your tongue out" is stated clearly in the written Liturgy (which made it much easier for us to follow along).
Overall, I felt, and heard the same from others, the devotion and reference in the Divine Liturgy and all of its aspects was truly amazing. That doesn't mean that any of us will be rushing to the Bay Area to start attending only Byzantine rite Liturgies from now on, but it was a truly beautiful experience that I recommend to all in order to deepen your faith.
In our rite, only those of age who have received their First Holy Communion walk to the front and receive the Sacred Host with the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord, and then consume the Sacred blood from a chalice. In the Byzantine rite, children are baptized and confirmed at the same time. As confirmed Catholics, they can, and do, receive Communion as well. As Father Anthony explained it to us later, in the West, we have seen it as something that the one receiving needs to understand, hence waiting until the age of reason (defined as being 7-8 years old) before a child can receive Communion. In the East, that distinction was never made, as it is a grace, a gift from God, and therefore is given regardless of whether the recipient understands or not. Interesting difference, no?
In the West, we process up, the Minister (ordinary or extraordinary) says, "The Body of Christ", and then we say, "Amen" and stick out our tongue or hand to receive Him. Next follows the optional "Blood of Christ" and consumption of the precious Blood, also with an Amen. In the Extraordinary form (in Latin), where we don't respond, the priest says everything, including the "Amen." There is the strange (and not entirely appropriate) addition of some non-Catholics or non-confessed Catholics crossing their arms across their chest for a blessing.
In the Byzantine rite, all process up towards the altar with their arms crossed (if they aren't Catholic or not disposed properly, they stay in their seats). The process is to state one's name first, so that the celebrant can include the name in the prayers stated while giving Communion. I don't have the entire verbiage, but it does include "Servant of God, NAME, may this ..... Amen." A corporal (cloth that doesn't allow any smaller particles to fall out) in put up to our chin (like the patens for mass in Latin), while those of us taller crouch down to make it easier for the priest. I don't believe that their are any Extraordinary Ministers (even in locations where there are more laity), as all of the Eucharist is contained within chalices which don't leave the area close to the altar. Instead of having separate Body and Blood, those Eucharist prepared beforehand, already with the Blood, are spooned into our open mouths. "Do NOT stick your tongue out" is stated clearly in the written Liturgy (which made it much easier for us to follow along).
Overall, I felt, and heard the same from others, the devotion and reference in the Divine Liturgy and all of its aspects was truly amazing. That doesn't mean that any of us will be rushing to the Bay Area to start attending only Byzantine rite Liturgies from now on, but it was a truly beautiful experience that I recommend to all in order to deepen your faith.