Altar Rail?

Dear Parishioners,

It has been a whirlwind of activities here at St. Joseph and St. Mary’s over the last 18 months as your pastor.  I am continually humbled by your zeal for Christ and the desire for greater devotion to the Eucharist and in sharing the joy of the Gospel.  Since arriving at the parishes, the most frequent request I have received has been a return to the full use of the altar rail for the distribution of the Most Sacred Body of Christ.  With the help of various families and individuals of the parishes, we are now ready to begin using the altar rail at St. Joseph on Ash Wednesday. 

To facilitate this transition, I offer a few thoughts on why the Church uses altar rails and their function in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  First, it is called an altar rail because the name has reference to the altar. The truth is that the altar rail is meant to be an extension of the altar of sacrifice for the laity to kneel before, to consummate the sacrifice. We cannot receive the Body of Christ at the main altar as priests do, but we can receive at the altar of the laity, the altar rail.  The altar rail reminds the faithful that Mass is a sacrifice, that Christ’s one sacrifice is made present at every single Mass. This extension of the Main Altar, the altar rail, serves to unite the faithful to all the sufferings, joys, and sacrifices of Christ for the sake of the Church and the whole world.  The altar rail is not just a physical barrier between the sanctuary (Heaven) and the main body (Earth), but a profound symbol of the laity’s participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  It represents the culmination of the layperson’s sacrifice of joining their sufferings, joys, and sacrifices to Christ’s Body.  The altar rail becomes that sacred space where the laity go up to the Banquet Table (the altar rail) of the Lord in communion.  And it is there that our Lord comes to us.  Christ Himself becomes present on the altar and invites us to be fed at His altar via the rail.  Interestingly, the appearance of the rail often matches or imitates the appearance of the main altar, with an altar cloth. 

There are practical reasons to return to the use of the altar rail.  One, it can enhance the sense of reverence and the sacredness of the Mass.  Altar rails help to visibly delineate the sanctuary as a holy space, fostering a deeper experience of the mystery and transcendence present in the liturgical celebration.  Due to the space they provide for the faithful to individually come and stand or kneel before the altar of the Lord, they encourage a meditative and prayerful atmosphere.  Further, by offering a kneeling space to receive Holy Communion, the faithful are invited to a physical expression of humility, reverence, and devotion towards the Eucharist, acknowledging the real presence of Christ.  The altar rail provides a space for the faithful to receive the Eucharist either standing or kneeling, in the hand or by the tongue, while giving time for the laity to ponder the mystery of the Eucharistic sacrifice.  In this space, the altar rail fosters time for the communicant to fully receive the Eucharist before moving away from the priest, who is the caretaker of the Eucharist and is bound to ensure the full reception of the Eucharist before continuing.

I want to emphasize that the altar rail is not a space of division, but of unification between Heaven and Earth, Christ the Head and His Body the Church.  It makes an important distinction.  Ultimately, if what I am receiving is only a piece of bread or a drop of wine, then I don’t need a sacred space for it.  However, if it truly is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, then it's worth considering how we express that reception.

In Christ,

Fr. Luke Fleck