I recently read a post on another list (HOBD) where a Priest described their intentional reversal of this rubric (receiving last after everyone else) as "a sign of servant leadership" I do not believe they were trying to be ironic.
I don't want to get off on a rant here, but:
1. Doesn't a good servant obey the rubrics?
2. The tradition, as understand, it was that the lowliest servant tasted the dish first, so that the least valuable slave was the one poisoned.
eg. King's Food Taster wanted - lifetime employment assured.
3. In Church precedence the ranking person goes last, at least that is what I tell the Bishop when I walk in front of him.
4. How do I, with integrity, tell the people "This is the Body, this is the Blood" if I haven't received the truth of it in my own mouth?
5. How is my reception at the last liturgically differentiated from the reverent consumption of the remains of Our Lord in the ablutions BCP 409?
So again addressing +Andy's first bullet,
• our particular manner of Sacramental ministry is:
Defiant of the rubrics?
Our own damn business?
Whatever innovation takes our whim?
Confused?
??
<><
Hoss+
2 comments:
I think you're right Hoss. These individual changes are, as I've stated before, simply another sign of deconstructivism in the church.
But in fairness I would acknowledge some other rubrics in which the Church in Texas is in violation. One custom I've inherited parochially, the other I've broken because I personally inherited it by tradition.
The rubric that addresses the "Alleluias" at the dismissal only allows that the phrase "may" be used from the Easter Vigil until Pentecost. How many congregations use the Alleluias throughout the year and thus in Easter lose the benefit of expressing an Alleluia for the uniqueness of the Resurrection season? The second rubric that is broken frequently is found on page 409 of the BCP. A hymn may be sung before or after the post communion prayer. I was taught according to the rubrics the dismissal and blessing should be tied together. But we seperate them by the singing of a hymn. In this case I'm not familiar with a reasonable argument as to why one way would be more acceptable than the other. I just know that I'm breaking or strechting a rubric. Some clergy, I think, don't care one way or another about these things, but, despite my hypocracy, I think it behooves us as leaders to set a good example of obedience to our people.
Thoughts?
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