The Communion Hymn
This action by Christ's body, the Church assembled for the Eucharist, is manifested
and supported by the Communication Hymn, a hymn in praise of Christ sung by the
united voices of those who believe in him and share his life. The General Instruction
of the Roman Missal takes this hymn very seriously, mandating that it should
begin at the Communion of the priest and extend until the last person has received
Communion.
For some, however, the singing of this hymn is perceived as an intrusion on their
own prayer, their private thanksgiving after Communion. In fact, however, this
hymn is prayer, the corporate thanksgiving prayer of the members of Christ's
Body, united with one another. Over and over again the prayers of the liturgy
and the norms of the General Instruction emphasize this fundamental concept
of the unity of the baptized, stressing that when we come together to participate
in the Eucharistic celebration we come, not as individuals, but as united members
of Christ's body. In each of the Eucharistic Prayers, though the petition is
worded in slightly different ways, God is asked to send his Holy Spirit to
make
us one body, one spirit in Christ; the General Instruction admonishes the faithful
that they should become one body, whether by hearing the word of God, or joining
in prayers and liturgical song.. (n.96) it describes one of the purposes of
the opening song of the Mass as to ...intensify the unity of those who have
assembled and says of the Communion Song that its function is to express outwardly
the
communicants' union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, ...and
to highlight the 'communitarian' character of the Communion Procession.
Communion as an Act of Unity
It is difficult for some of us to embrace this emphasis on Mass as the action
of a community rather than an individual act of my own faith and piety, but
it is important that we make every effort to do so. Christ himself at the Last
Supper
pleaded with his Father: Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to
your name, so that they may be one like us... Father may they be one in us, as
you
are in me and I am in you.. Jn. 17:11;21. Baptism has joined us to Christ
and to one another as the vine and its branches. The life of Christ, the Holy
Spirit,
animates each of us individually, and all of us corporately and guides us together
in our efforts to become one Christ.
Finally, the fact that the Communion Procession is a profoundly religious action
tells us something about the way in which we should participate in this procession.
We are the Body of Christ, moving forward to receive the Christ who makes us
one with himself and with one another. Our procession should move with dignity;
our bearing should be that of those who know they have been redeemed by Christ
and are coming to receive their God!
The Posture and Sign of Reverence for Receiving Communion
The new edition of the General Instruction asks the Conference of Bishops
in each country to determine the posture to be used for the reception of
Communion
and the act of reverence to be made by each person as he or she receives
Communion. The Conference of Bishops in Canada has determined that in this
country Communion will be received standing and that a bow will be the
act
of reverence
made by those receiving communion. This act of reverence is to be made
in procession just before it is your turn to receive the Body of the Lord
and just before
it is your turn to leave receive the Precious Blood. The diocesan bishop
may also
determine the posture following the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) when the priest
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