Where Have All the Patens Gone? -
7/24/06
A GOOD CHANGE?

I recently had the opportunity and privilege of witnessing an absolutely beautiful and uplifting ordination
of two young men into the priesthood of Jesus Christ.  However, one change in the liturgy caused me to
pause and ponder what has happened to Catholic liturgical worship.  I had witnessed this liturgical
change once before at a parish in Louisiana but I had never witnessed it on such a large scale.  The
magnitude of the event and the visible change in the liturgy made me stop and really analyze the effects
of this and many other liturgical changes.

This change has taken place in many dioceses throughout the United States and I am told that it is
perfectly within a licit interpretation of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM).  Yet I would
argue that a correct interpretation is not always a beneficial one.  The change in question is the
movement of the congregation, as one body, to stand at the Our Father and remain standing until the
entire congregation has received Holy Communion.  After everyone, and I mean practically everyone, but
we will deal with this issue later, has received Holy Communion and everyone has returned to their seat
the congregation in one movement sits and continues singing.

The basic problem I see with this change is that there is virtually no time for prayer either before or after
receiving Our Lord.  There is no time to kneel before Our Lord, truly present on the altar, in preparation
for this momentous event of receiving Christ nor is there much time afterward for an intimate time of
prayer and thanksgiving.  In my opinion this action is indicative of the American fast food style approach
to the greatest event in human history, Christ giving Himself to us through the events re-presented at
every Mass, the events of the Last Supper, Calvary, and the Resurrection.

A LONG TIME AGO

In days past, not everyone went up to Holy Communion.  This was largely because of a greater
awareness of sin.  From the pulpit we were reminded that our thoughts, words, and deeds or lack
thereof could be sinful.  Today, the only “real” sins mentioned are murder, sans abortion, and smoking.  
Today the communion police, ushers, only performing their duty, will look at you as though you have two
heads if you do not come forward to receive Communion.  This is understandable because they now
know that you either murdered somebody or you were caught less than twenty feet from a building
smoking a pipe, a cigarette or some other tobacco filled device.  It is difficult for many Catholics to
imagine that often when their neighbor in the pew says, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive You” they aren’
t just paying lip service.

Two years ago I was told by a well meaning but thoroughly confused diocesan employee that it is nearly
impossible to commit mortal sin.  She nearly broke into tears when I told her that I would most definitely
be in the state of mortal sin if I were to miss Mass on Sunday on purpose.  The sense of sin, even “big”
sin, is lost to many Catholics today.  If you don’t believe that we have lost our “sense of sin” then I would
suggest checking out your parish Reconciliation times, usually on Saturday from 4:00 – 4:15 PM.  I
would further suggest observing the number of people in line for Confession during that time and
comparing it with the lines of people who come forward to Communion.

In days long past, in most Churches, men, women, and children either genuflected or knelt before
receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist.  Today He receives a head bow at best.  The same observation can
be found in those entering or exiting the Church.  In fact I was asked by one parish priest to begin
incorporating instructions on how to kneel etc., in our school religion program. What has happened to
those profound, outward signs of piety and love?  Surely our earthly relationships would suffer if we
were to give our friends and family the same sort of acknowledgement we give Our Lord and Savior
when entering or exiting His dwelling place.

Long ago communicants were nearly decapitated by an enthusiastic altar server wielding a paten.  
Today it seems that many Catholics would prefer the Benny Hinn approach to Communion where
everyone receives a communion wafer in their pews and the “consecration” takes place right in your
hand without ever leaving the pew.

What were the patens used for and where have they gone?  I would guess that most are either
collecting dust in the Church basement or they have been melted down for some sort of “sacred art.”  
The purpose of the paten was to guard against any particle or piece of the Sacred Host falling to the
floor and being lost.  The use of the paten silently pointed to the perennial belief of the Catholic Church
in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  A belief that is tragically not held my many Catholics
today according to recent polls.

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

Has the Catholic Church stopped preaching this belief?  Not in words.  We need only look to the
encyclical of Pope John Paul II on the Eucharist or the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  However, I do
believe we have failed in our preaching of this belief through our actions.  Those little actions and
movements such as kneeling, using patens, and encouraging extended periods of thanksgiving after
Mass are indispensable catechetical tools.  If we truly understood, to the extent that we are able, the
magnitude of the gift of the Eucharist then we would encourage all of these gestures and more with love
and conviction.  Isn’t that what all of these movements, both liturgical and private, point to, gestures of
love?  Surely Our Lord never grows tired of our little acts of devotion.

A few decades ago a casual observer would have been able to detect that something special,
something sacred, was taking place during the Mass.  The music pointed to God and worshipping Him
unlike today where the music is filled with more personal pronouns than a teenage girl’s phone
conversation.  The focus of our modern “liturgical” music is not God but ourselves.  Perhaps this is the
reason so many are attracted to Protestant services; most of their “worship” music is just that.  It is
focused on giving God glory.  

In days past Jesus Christ was the center of attention not the priest or the music ministry team.  Fasting
from midnight till after Mass was a noble sacrifice and the Church was silent before Mass except for the
sound of rosary beads tapping the wooden pews.  Every Church had kneelers and they were well used.  
The smells and bells pointed to something far greater than us.  They pointed to the fact that the Mass is
the Wedding Feast of the Lamb and that when we enter into the Mass we enter into Heaven.  Yet today
most of us find that when we come to Mass we leave with nothing save the Eucharist.  And yet this is
the argument of many of our well meaning apologists.  I can’t count the number of times I have heard a
Catholic apologist offer this as a final defense against someone touting the uplifting Protestant services.  
It is very much true.  We do have Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist but it is a weak answer.  In fact
we have to wonder rhetorically, do we?  Do we really have Jesus there?  If so, then why do our actions
speak something completely different?  Why is the atmosphere at the beginning of Mass more like that
of a sporting event or school play than one of awe and wonder.  We’re entering into Heaven, right?  
Why, if have Jesus in the Eucharist, do many priests and “liturgical committees” feel the need to dress
up the Mass with their crazy ideas?  Why does the entire congregation come forward to receive Our
Lord and in ways that would make you weep if you were to see them?  Why is there no time for silent
prayer, a time to speak intimately with God, as called for in the GIRM?  

If we truly have Jesus present in the Eucharist, which I believe with all that I am that we do, then we
need to start letting our actions speak louder than our words.  Saint Francis is famous for preaching the
Gospel and only using words when necessary.  The Church has given us many words to base our
actions upon.  Now is the time to begin acting.  Now is the time for obedience to those words so lovingly
given to us by Holy Mother Church.  

As for the liturgical change mention above, I only pray that popular piety will eventually destroy all the
liturgical actions implemented for the sake of convenience.  Please don’t allow yourself to be mis-lead by
a well meaning catechist when they tell you it is a sign of unity.  There is no greater sign of unity than the
Eucharist!  As for the GIRM, it is a great document but I would prefer a Specific Instruction of the
Roman Missal!

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