ROME, FEB. 8, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: I was at Mass at a local pilgrimage site and was concelebrating a Hispanic pilgrimage Mass. The teenage altar server was dressed in a cassock and surplice. When the celebrant reached the epiclesis, this altar server stood up and walked out in front of the altar. He paused for a moment with hands folded and then prostrated on the floor during the entire consecration. Is there any rubric for prostration, outside ordination, in the ordinary rites of the Mass? — P.N., Huntsville, Alabama
A: I have never observed this posture for acolytes at any Masses, Hispanic or otherwise, and can only suppose that it was either an act of personal devotion or a restricted local custom.
The universal act of reverence during the consecration for all the faithful is kneeling, as prescribed in No. 43 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM).
Although this prostration admirably demonstrates a deep faith in the Eucharistic mystery, it would be better to discourage it in favor of a uniform posture by all the faithful. GIRM, No. 42, says: «A common posture, to be observed by all participants, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered for the Sacred Liturgy: it both expresses and fosters the intention and spiritual attitude of the participants.»
The gesture of prostration is the most expressive sign of a sense of deep humility and reverence. Thus, Abraham and Moses prostrated themselves before God (Genesis 17:3; Exodus 34:8). The sick did Jesus homage when asking for healing (Matthew 8:2) as did those who wanted to show him their sentiments of adoration (Matthew 14:33; 28:9). The Book of Revelation also contrasts those who prostrate themselves before God (4:10) and those who do so before the idols or the beast (13:4).
On occasion it also denotes a penitential attitude, such as when Joseph’s brothers prostrated themselves as a sign of respect and in asking for forgiveness (Genesis 42:6; 43:26,28; 44:14).
In the ancient Gallican rite of sixth- to eighth-century France and Germany, the gesture of prostration was used before beginning every Mass. A trace of this practice is still found on Good Friday in which the celebrant prostrates before the bare altar at the beginning of the celebration of the Lord’s Passion. Otherwise, it is a relatively rare gesture in the Roman rite, and for this very reason it serves to underline the importance of the moment at hand.
The most common use of prostration is during the litany of saints at ordinations. It is also used at the same ritual moment for some other special rites, such as the blessing of an abbot or abbess. It may also be used for the rite of consecration of virgins. And some religious orders adopt it for perpetual professions.
In many countries this posture is used in intense private prayer and as an act of penance and self-mortification. The soon-to-be Blessed Pope John Paul II would often pray prostrate before the altar and tabernacle of his private chapel both as archbishop of Krakow and in the Vatican.
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Follow-up: Bows in the Extraordinary Form
Related to our question of possible adaptations for infirm priests (see Jan. 25), a reader from Toronto asked the following:
«We have a dear old priest who comes to say Mass at one of the churches we attend. He moves very slowly and now uses a walker. He has now begun to leave distribution of Communion to the congregation in the hands of laypeople. While Communion is being distributed, he remains standing at the altar. Is there a rubric which would prevent him from distributing Communion while seated? A possible reference is Inaestimabile Donum, No. 10: ‘The faithful, whether religious or lay, who are authorized as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist can distribute Communion only when there is no priest, deacon or acolyte, when the priest is impeded by illness or advanced age, or when the number of the faithful going to Communion is so large as to make the celebration of Mass excessively long. Accordingly, a reprehensible attitude is shown by those priests who, though present at the celebration, refrain from distributing Communion and leave this task to the laity.»
I would say that, following the principles that allow the bishop to permit an infirm priest to celebrate Mass for the people while he is seated, it follows that he can also grant permission to distribute Communion from this position. In his final years Pope John Paul II did so regularly.
At the same time, it is up to the priest to decide to ask for this permission. Administrating Communion can be quite tiring on the arm and more so for an elderly man. If the priest feels that he is no longer up to the task, and especially if he fears dropping the Sacred Host, his decision should be respected.
