Eucharist
Liturgy-hungry young Christians trade altar calls for Communion rails
By Kathryn Post — June 18, 2020
(RNS) — ‘Low’ or ‘free’ church Christians, raised on contemporary worship services with praise bands and dim lights, are seeking out ‘high church’ traditions replete with sacramental rituals and ancient liturgy.
Pandemic will alter Communion rituals for many US Christians
By David Crary — May 19, 2020
NEW YORK (AP) — Striking changes in Communion will take place at Catholic and Protestant churches across the United States over coming weeks as restrictions on large gatherings — imposed because of the coronavirus outbreak — are gradually eased.
American Catholics, meet the Communion service
By Thomas Reese — May 14, 2020
(RNS) — The coronavirus may force American Catholics to experience what liturgical life is like in the Amazon, where there are few priests and many faithful.
Celebrating Mass safely — but pastorally — during a pandemic
By Thomas Reese — May 8, 2020
(RNS) — American Catholic bishops have received two sets of recommendations on how to proceed once churches begin to meet again. Either way, they should go slow.
How social distancing may change the way we do church
By Thomas Reese — April 22, 2020
(RNS) — Given the average age and low number of Catholic priests, services that conform to social distancing will have to be led by laypersons, most of whom will be women.
As coronavirus keeps parishioners homebound, Christian clergy debate online Communion
By Jack Jenkins — March 27, 2020
(RNS) — With churchgoers holed up in their homes for weeks and even months to come, Christian leaders are starting to ask: Is Communion appropriate for cyberspace?
Coronavirus is a physical and spiritual threat
By Thomas Reese — March 12, 2020
(RNS) — The saints of old risked their lives for those with the plague. We can at least do our civic duty.
Will the world end with a bang, a whimper — or Christ?
By Thomas Reese — December 1, 2019
(RNS) — The Scriptures support the optimistic view that we still have a chance to make the world welcoming for Christ and the view that Christ will come to end a world we've made a mess of.
Communion should be personal, not political
By John Gehring — October 31, 2019
(RNS) — Pastors who think they are protecting the faith by denying pro-choice Catholics Communion should remember that Jesus built his movement by instead inviting the sinful and vulnerable to the table.
Understanding US Catholics’ belief in the Eucharist
By Gregory A. Smith — August 19, 2019
(RNS) — Pew Research Center's understanding is that the belief that the Eucharist is really the body and blood of Christ is central to the Catholic faith. As such, we sought to measure what American Catholics believe on the subject.
The Eucharist is about more than Christ becoming present
By Thomas Reese — August 15, 2019
(RNS) — Using Aristotelian concepts to explain Catholic mysteries in the 21st century is a fool’s errand. When was the last time you met an Aristotelian outside a Catholic seminary?
‘Let’s not wait for the theologians,’ says Pope Francis about sharing the Eucharist
By Thomas Reese — June 5, 2019
(RNS) — Is the pope signaling his willingness to move toward Eucharistic sharing without total theological agreement?
Listening to God’s word between Christmas and Lent
By Thomas Reese — January 12, 2018
(RNS) — This is “Ordinary Time" — a boring title for the part of the year that is not Advent, Christmas, Lent or Easter. But it is also an opportunity to be an extraordinary Catholic.
Reforming Catholic liturgy should be like updating software
By Thomas Reese — September 12, 2017
Over its 2,000-year history, the Catholic liturgy has constantly changed in response to new situations and cultures. Like the software we all use, it must continue to be updated and adjusted to the people and cultures of today.
Video: Priest suspended for using hoverboard during Mass
By David Gibson — December 29, 2015
(RNS) Hoverboards are dangerous for kids but apparently they're also perilous for Catholic priests who get it into their heads that it might be a good idea to use one during Christmas Eve Mass.
