(ZENIT News / Rome, 16.10.2024).- A recent survey carried out by the Real Presence Coalition (RPC) has shown a profound concern among practicing Catholics in the United States: a desire for greater solemnity and reverence in the celebration of the Eucharist. With almost 16,000 answers, this is the largest survey ever among the country’s faithful Catholics, highlighting a longing for a liturgical renewal and a return to traditional practices that, according to many, have been eroding over time.
97% of those surveyed identified themselves as Catholics that go to Mass regularly, and the majority pointed out that the growing irreverence towards the Eucharist is one of the main reasons for a diminution of faith in the Real Presence of Christ. Among the most common concerns is the distribution of Communion in the hand, a practice that has been generalized since the 1970 decade, but that, according to 58% of those surveyed, has had a negative impact on belief in the Holy Eucharist.
Call to a Return to Traditional Practices
The survey not only revealed the generalized discontent regarding the distribution of Holy Communion in the hand, but also the use of Extraordinary Ministers for its distribution, a practice that, according to the Church, should be reserved for exceptional cases. 65% of those surveyed in the Novus Ordo Rite expressed their preference to receive Communion directly from a Priest or Deacon, which reflects a desire for greater reverence in the act of receiving the Sacrament.
Moreover, many of those surveyed advocated for a return to the traditional Mass in Latin, with 20% of the participants attending exclusively this Rite and 43% that attend it occasionally. This growing interest in the traditional liturgical forms is especially notable among younger Catholics, who seem to be seeking a more profound connection with the roots of the Church.
Criticisms of Irreverence and Lack of Leadership
Among the concerns expressed, Catholics pointed out the clergy’s conduct around the Eucharist, which has been irreverent in many cases. Reports on priests hurrying through the liturgical prayers, or handling the Eucharist without due respect, has been a motive of scandal for many faithful. The survey also revealed that there is a generalized perception of weakness in the ecclesiastical leadership, which undermines the Church’s moral authority. In particular, those surveyed mentioned the lack of rigorous implementation of Canon 915, which stipulates that public sinners must not receive Communion.
The transfer of the Tabernacle from the center of the sanctuary, the lack of genuflexions and the informal attitude towards the Eucharist were mentioned as factors that have contributed to the diminution of reverence. For many of the faithful, these attitudes send a worrying message about the centrality of the Eucharist in Catholic life.
The Impact of the Abuse Crisis and the Contemporary Culture
Another issue pointed out by more than 71% of those surveyed was the crisis of clerical abuse and the role of homosexuality in the priesthood, identifying them as elements that have eroded trust in the Church and affected faith in the Eucharist. The combination of these factors has generated a feeling of disillusionment among the faithful, who feel that the Church has failed in defending her most sacred teachings.
Moreover, the more contemporary practices within the liturgy, such as the replacement of sacred music by more modern music and the removal of the altar railings, are seeing by many as a deviation of Tradition that has weakened the solemnity of Eucharistic worship.
Recommendations for a Eucharistic Renewal
The RPC, together with those surveyed, has issued a series of recommendations addressed to the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States (USCCB), which will meet in its Plenary Assembly in November. The main suggestion is to foment the reception of the Eucharist on the tongue while kneeling, a practice that, according to many faithful, should be reestablished to stress the reverence due to the Most Holy Sacrament. Likewise, Bishops are urged to reinforce the catechesis on Transubstantiation and the dignity with which the faithful must approach Communion.
Another important point is the elimination of the generalized use of Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, in addition to promoting more solemn gestures such as genuflexion and kneeling before the Tabernacle. The faithful also requested that Communion be denied to public sinners, in an effort to restore respect for the Church’s moral teachings.
The Future of the Catholic Liturgy in the United States
This Report, the largest of its type in the recent history of the Church in the United States, highlights a profound concern among practicing Catholics: the fear that the Eucharist, the center of the Catholic Faith, is being treated with too much indifference in many ambits. As the Church faces these challenges, the clamour for greater reverence in Eucharistic worship seems to be gaining strength, especially among young Catholics, who seek a return to the roots of the Liturgical Tradition.
The USCCB’s November Assembly will be a crucial opportunity for American Bishops to listen to these voices and consider a change that could revitalize faith in the Eucharist and return the sense of the sacred to the Liturgy.
