I can see the faith in my family being nourished by the Altar rail in my parish. My children see my wife and I silently praying and reverently receiving. The see the rest of the parish (friends, teachers, young, old) doing the same. Kneeling isn't mandated, but my parish does it almost universally. It feels right. Nobody really notices w…
I can see the faith in my family being nourished by the Altar rail in my parish. My children see my wife and I silently praying and reverently receiving. The see the rest of the parish (friends, teachers, young, old) doing the same. Kneeling isn't mandated, but my parish does it almost universally. It feels right. Nobody really notices when someone remains standing, nor cares. The Eucharist is our love, and the only thing we want is for others to desire Christ and rejoice in His presence. Altar rails allow us to do this communally.
Listening to the lives of the saints through Glory Stories, having Altar rails, a rosary before Mass, the 'O Sacrament Most Holy' and 'St. Michael' prayers after Dismissal, and the hard work of our Priests and parish school (https://www.lincolndiocese.org/joyandwonder) have instilled a yearning for communion in my children. I can see it in their eyes, hear it in their questions, and see it in their posture as they kneel between my wife and I at the Altar rail. My oldest is getting ready for his first communion this spring. They have been learning about Blessed Carlo Acutis (who is canonized the day after my oldest's first communion) and HIS devotion to the Eucharist.
Knowing that there are bishops who would extinguish these practices that are helping me bring up my children in the faith, well, I can better understand Matthew 18:6.
I can see the faith in my family being nourished by the Altar rail in my parish. My children see my wife and I silently praying and reverently receiving. The see the rest of the parish (friends, teachers, young, old) doing the same. Kneeling isn't mandated, but my parish does it almost universally. It feels right. Nobody really notices when someone remains standing, nor cares. The Eucharist is our love, and the only thing we want is for others to desire Christ and rejoice in His presence. Altar rails allow us to do this communally.
Listening to the lives of the saints through Glory Stories, having Altar rails, a rosary before Mass, the 'O Sacrament Most Holy' and 'St. Michael' prayers after Dismissal, and the hard work of our Priests and parish school (https://www.lincolndiocese.org/joyandwonder) have instilled a yearning for communion in my children. I can see it in their eyes, hear it in their questions, and see it in their posture as they kneel between my wife and I at the Altar rail. My oldest is getting ready for his first communion this spring. They have been learning about Blessed Carlo Acutis (who is canonized the day after my oldest's first communion) and HIS devotion to the Eucharist.
Knowing that there are bishops who would extinguish these practices that are helping me bring up my children in the faith, well, I can better understand Matthew 18:6.