ASK FATHER: Really long Elevation, Consecration – POLL

hand bellsFrom a reader…

QUAERITUR:

We have a new priest in our parish (not the pastor). He’s done a few Sunday masses so far.

He’s got a few quirks, the most noticeable of which are during the consecrations of the bread & wine — elevating the host for about 2 minutes, then kneeling before the altar for another 1-2 minutes, elevating the chalice for the same, kneeling after that for the same. It totals about 6-8 minutes added on to the consecration.

Is this simply unusual, or against protocol?

Of course, it’s always better to have a priest be extra reverent than not reverent enough. Still, this weekend I finally looked up while he was doing it and kids were antsy, a lot of teenagers were just looking around the church, etc. His extra devotion was so long that it was hard not to be distracted.

That’s certainly unusual.  I would say that it is, in a public Mass with a congregation, perhaps a little self-indulgent.  Private Mass is one thing, but Mass with lots of people is another.  I have no doubt that Father is deeply pious, but this sort of liturgical practice could refocus attention to himself, which is contrary to the essence of the moment.

The length of time I elevate the Host is, of course, ideal. If asked, your parish priest will say the same about the length he chooses.

One of the things I have been trying to is to break the altar boys of is long rings (i.e., this isn’t a fire alarm) or a specific pattern that takes no account of what the priest is doing for the elevation (i.e., altar boys don’t get to decide how long the elevation lasts).  They are to make crisp, brief rings, paying attention to what the priest is doing.

Keeping in mind that Mass is not the time for sustained adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as if Mass were Exposition, and keeping in mind that part of the genius of the Roman Rite is the deprivation of our senses of sight and hearing during certain moments, and keeping in mind that bells are secondary to the Blessed Sacrament, how long do you think the priest should extend the elevation?

Please give your best answer and then use the combox.  We had this poll once before, but it is worth posting again, anew.  Anyone can vote, but you have to be registered and approved to leave a comment.

ROUND 2: The Host and Chalice should be elevated during Mass for

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52 Comments

  1. moon1234 says:

    Bells are somewhat a parish thing. In the EF our parish does a short ring for the first genuflection, three shorts for the elevation and another ring for the 2nd genuflection. I have also heard a short all three times and a short followed by a long then a short.

    Some Priests seem to have a preference for one cadence or another. All are better than silence (which seems to be the norm at the new Mass).

  2. majuscule says:

    I voted 5 to 7 seconds although I would be fine with longer, personally. Just trying to be realistic and take into consideration others in the pews!

    One priest, who also celebrates private EF Masses in this NO parish, elevates for 10 seconds or more (it seems) whether EF or OF.

    I have been praying that the other priests would give us more than a brief glimpse. We have bells. The server rings them quickly. At least wait until the bells are done, Father! One of the priests doesn’t actually elevate–he thrusts the host or chalice out toward us as if…what?…offering a toast?

    Question: I have heard some people say they wish to adore at the elevation, while I see others bow their heads. I tend to do one and then the other, if given enough time.

  3. APX says:

    Yes, this is all fine and good, but what about the oscillation, how many seconds per side?

    Our priest seems to be up for three counts, hold for two counts and back down for three counts.

  4. FL_Catholic says:

    I voted more thatn 10 seconds. For many Catholics the Elevation is the only time they get to see the Host and Adore Him, whether because their parish lacks Perpetual Adoration or because their schedules do not allow them to attend it, etc. By giving the faithful more time to Adore during Mass, it not only emphasises that the Sacrifice of the Lamb is the source and summit of our Faith, it also allows for a little period of time for the faithful to Adore Him before the silence is broken by other things happening in the Mass. Obviously, 6-8 minutes is a bit overboard, but even 10 seconds seems too short to properly Adore and thank Him for His great gift of the Holy Sacrifice during the Mass.

  5. Highstream says:

    “Lord Jesus have mercy on me a sinner.” That long.

  6. kimberley jean says:

    Timing the priest?

  7. 5-7 s….seems okay, but there should be flow,

  8. Imrahil says:

    Quoth the patron (in this case, the real one) of the good old manualists of old,

    A priest should offer the Sacrifice of Mass reverently, devoutly, etc., etc., and: within roundabout thirty minutes.

    (St. Alphonsus Liguori, not litterally, but I did catch his meaning)

    The saint meant the missa lecta and wasn’t including the time for repetition of the readings and for the sermon, I guess.

    In my ideal world,
    * both speciês would be elevated for about the same amount of time (not “the Chalice double quick”),
    * altar servers would give their customary (EF) three ringings, with a (non-customary) moment of silence in between.

    I voted 3-5 seconds – though certainly on the upper edge of that. Maybe, coming to think of it, 5-7 would be more appropriate.

  9. Michelle F says:

    I voted for more than 10 seconds.

    I know prayer books and hand missals printed before Vatican II included indulgenced prayers to be used at the elevation of the Host and Chalice. These were fairly short, such as saying at the elevation of the Host, “My Lord and my God!,” or “O Sacrament most holy! O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine,” and at the Chalice, “Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus in satisfaction for my sins, and for the wants of Holy Mother Church.”

    It is a shame that neither of my new missals – one for the Novus Ordo, published by Midwest Theological Forum, and one for the Traditional Latin Mass, published by Angelus Press – include these prayers. Having them under the words of consecration, with the instruction “Look at the Host and pray silently…”, would reinforce Catholic doctrine, and it would keep kids and teenagers (and adults) from getting “antsy” and looking around the Church. They would know what they should be doing.

    Having said all of that, perhaps the priest at the parish of the person who sent in the question could put a notice in the bulletin suggesting that people take the time during the elevation to acknowledge the Lord’s presence, thank Him for coming so we can receive Him in Communion, and ask Him to grant us a worthy Communion. Reprints of old prayer books, such as The Blessed Sacrament Prayer Book by Fr. Francis X. Lasance, contain numerous short prayers that can be printed in the bulletin, or on pew cards.

  10. Chuck3030 says:

    The statistician in me wonders if 4-6 seconds would beat 3-5 seconds…

    I voted 3-5 seconds, but I have attended parishes with regular or perpetual adoration for most of my life. I figure, long enough to ring the bells, but short enough to maintain a sort of continuity in the prayer.

  11. Wiktor says:

    I’d wish priests celebrating versus populum elevated higher, above their heads, and not just before their eyes.

  12. Gail F says:

    I’d say around 3 seconds, maybe up to 7. Too-long elevation was actually a liturgical abuse, centuries ago. People would pay priests to elevate the hosts for a long time, out of the misplaced idea that the longer they got to see it, the more holiness they got (NON-TECHNICAL EXPLANATION). Priests at cathedrals would time Masses at side chapels so that people could go from chapel to chapel and look at the elevated hosts. (Keep in mind, frequent reception of Communion was rare, so people were extra glad to see the consecrated host). Eucharistic Adoration is a good thing, but it should be separate, not during Mass!
    This super long (two minutes!!) elevation strikes me as bizarre. I can’t imagine any good reason for it, although I’m open to hearing one…

  13. Mike says:

    I abstain from the poll. If the celebration of Mass, and the Elevation at its center, is intended to draw us mystically to Heaven, of what use is my opinion of how long the priest should take to get us there?

    Any number of aspects of the celebration (particularly of the Novus Ordo), including distracting paces or cadences, can, to be sure, detract from that intent. Those are justly the subjects of many other posts at this forum but exceed, it seems to me, the scope of this one.

    Even if pressured, I would have to opine that it depends on the priest. Not every celebrant is a St. Jean Vianney or St. Philip Neri, two among many noted for the length of their Elevations.

  14. Matt R says:

    It is as if Fr. Z. read my mind on the bells… We have an enthusiastic server here who rings the bells far too long.

    Chuck, I also think 4-6 is ideal. It accounts for the priest and the bells each being faster or slower than another priest or set of bells. At my home parish, five or six seconds seems on the mark, whereas at school we are in the four or five second range.

  15. Jack007 says:

    As an aside, in our FSSP parish, the actual church bells are rung…starting with the the commencement of the first elevation and continuously through the final one.
    Jack in KC

  16. Fr. A.M. says:

    I must say that when I elevate the Host or Chalice at Holy Mass, I try to give the faithful ‘sufficient time’ to adore Our Lord, and to spiritually unite themselves with Christ’s sacrifice. While it is not an extended form of Eucharistic adoration, the elevation is a beautiful moment in the Mass for adoration and love, for recognizing that ‘it is the Lord’. While I do not utter prayers vocally (I may not) I pray to Our Lord too. I think that each priest should judge this prudently with common sense, without being too scrupulous or using a stop-watch. In relation to lowering the Host, the rubrics say ‘mox’ – ‘soon afterwards’ : i.e. it is not to be prolonged. I am not in agreement with Fortescue’s interpretation of this, when he says that the Host and chalice are lowered ‘without pausing’. Some priests are rather too quick – this is more often the case than being too long. The faithful should be given an opportunity to adore. btw, I agree with Fr Z’s point about altar servers and bells.

  17. Vincent says:

    for servers, really the ideal is just a “bling … bliing … bling” after all, the bells are for the benefit of the people, are they not? Anyhow, that’s how I’ve always done it…

  18. frjim4321 says:

    No bells here.

    Doesn’t the instruction or rubric call for the host to be “shown” after the institution narrative? Is the word “elevate” there? [Latin is, as everyone knows, ostendit, the priest literally “displays, shows, holds up conspicuously” the Host and chalice. Usually this involves elevation in the Latin Church, because the norm for celebration of Holy Mass remains ad orientem versus.]

    The cadence slows a bit at the institution but not really a pause. [There are certainly pauses for the genuflections.]

  19. Jeannie_C says:

    We have a new Pastor at our church and this was his first weekend Mass. I noticed that Fr. Nathan’s elevation was of a slightly longer duration than that of other priests, but only long enough to ensure our attention. Everything he did throughout the Mass was more deliberate, less rushed, and overall extremely reverent. A bonus with this young priest – he is enamored of the EF so hopefully we’ll have a Latin Mass before long, God willing.

  20. mike cliffson says:

    I would answer “none of the above ”
    Time should sorter stop for a bit and the silence, bells included , somehow absorb noise like traffic.
    This DOES happen, my opinion is it’s not a direct function of the measurable seconds actually spent. I can see,again my opinion, that Fr X , say , in St Ys on a given Sunday seemingly intrudes himself on his job, so to speak, , but how aware of details of what they are doing or not at consecration I have never understood from Priests’ replies when I have asked, which they don’t like – perhaps humility and obedience have something to do with it?
    BTW – I was always told that it was a priest’s greatest wish to die say ing mass, preferably at the consecration , this is true ? [I would say to die a mors provisa… a provided death… Rabbit Hole Closed.]

  21. For me, a question of more pressing concern would be: during the elevation, should the priest ever hold the Host in such a way as to make it invisible (e.g., leave It lying on the paten, or in the palm of his hand)?

  22. Trinitarian Dad says:

    From the description of the situation, I believe I know the priest you have written about. He recently left our parish and is fondly missed. One time, our pastor shared with us why this priest’s Elevation lasts so “long.” The priest in question is praying for all those with whom he has come into contact who are in need, those who are ill, who are in need of Jesus’ mercy . (Especially those he met and counseled that week in his visits to the county juvenile detention facility.) No doubt he is praying for all of those present at that Holy Mass. Knowing this, you may wish to offer your intentions at this point as well. And really, is it really that long to contemplate, to speak to our Lord during the Mass? Children getting antsy? Perhaps this could be explained to them and they could learn to offer their prayers and adoration as well.

  23. Uxixu says:

    FSSP LA does everything a bit slower and more deliberate compared to most Masses in either Form by my anecdotal experience.

    3 rings for each elevation and one for each genuflection. Father usually waits until the third ring has stopped before he begins his descent. Server raises and lowers the chasuble at the same speed of the elevation and descent.

    That’s both High and Low Mass. The Thurifer does his thing at High Mass, of course but the bells are usually the metric. The goal from our senior MC is one loud stark ring, but there are different bells at the different host parishes. One of them is more suited to that style than the others.

  24. Akita says:

    Father, I wish the categories didn’t overlap. Five seconds is perfect, but 3 are too short and 7 too long, but I would err on the side of being too long. Three seconds just seems so Novus Ordo and for those with short attention spans.

  25. leon says:

    Since this is a new thing with new priests, I suspect it is being taught in the seminaries. It seems to be grandstanding to me. Like, look at me, aren’t I reverent and holy. More of a distraction than anything else. Especially in the NO.

  26. Aquinas Gal says:

    I regularly attend Mass where one priest does elevate the Host and the chalice for an extra-long time; at least 30 seconds, and sometimes longer, maybe even a minute. Though I am devoted to Eucharistic adoration, it strikes me as too long for the reasons mentioned by Fr. Z. It is possible to be reverent without being overly slow.

  27. OneTrueChurch says:

    I am fairly certain I know this priest. He was probably my favorite confessor and has helped me to grow in faith. The extended elevation certainly draws attention. However, personally, I really appreciated the long elevation, as it helped me to focus my attentiob on the sacrifice and centering my full attention on Christ’s presence.

    Father Z, I have no doubt that father is sincere in his devotion. That said, I can certainly understand your concern that the length can be so long as to draw attention away from Jesus. This is valid and something he should gauge in his new congregation. However, keep in mind that St. Padre Pio would sometimes elevate the Blessed Sacrament for 10 minutes or longer.

  28. Papabile says:

    I have noticed several younger Priests in the lat few years raise the Host and Chalice for up to around 30 seconds. They are also significantly more attuned to the rubrics – in general – orthodoxyand orthopraxis than th older generation of good Priests from the 80’s/90’s others. Though, this prolonged elevation does strike me as unusual.

  29. Lucchesi says:

    I may be wrong, but I think that our adoration, our seeing the Blessed Sacrament is only secondary.

    What I mean is that the priest is actually presenting the Host to God the Father in our behalf; it’s not really about the congregation seeing (though that’s a nice side-effect, since they can offer themselves with the Host), but about the Father seeing and receiving this Offering.

    (this point is more evident with ad orientem Mass)

  30. Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick says:

    I voted 3-5 seconds.

    The behavior described by the questioner is not “reverent.” It is self-indulgent and neurotic. Any priest who is going to carry on like that at Mass had better be bleeding from his hands, feet, and side.

  31. It all depends on the bells.

    However, technically, in the Dominican Rite we aren’t supposed to keep the host elevated (as has been explained to me) for the sake of adoration. In the old days, most of the friars would have been prostrate on the forms at that point so using the major elevations as a moment of adoration is not really foreseen in our Rite.

    However, when I celebrate a public Mass with the people (not just the friars) I think the norm is about 3-5.

  32. gramma10 says:

    All I can think of is Padre Pio. He took hours to say a mass.
    I suspect if the priest really becomes one with Jesus at the Consecration then he loves do much that he attaches to Christ like Velcro. Probably not common.
    But that would come naturally from loving Jesus so much that the priest becomes one with Him.

    To discuss timing intellectually kinda defeats the purpose. If God enters a heart I do not think one is counting minutes.
    I say become so deeply in love with Jesus that your only love prevails, not a calculated amount of time.
    Just my idealistic belief.

  33. Pax--tecum says:

    For the Roman rite, I would say that the elevations of Host and Chalice should be fairly short: 3 seconds.

    The Ritus Servandus of the old Missal gives the following instruction for the elevation of the Host:
    Tunc se erigens, quantum commode potest, elevat in altum Hostiam, et intentis in eam oculis (quod et in elevatione Calicis facit) populo reverenter ostendit adorandam: et mox sola manu dextera ipsam reverenter reponit super Corporale in eodem loco unde eam levavit, et deinceps pollices et indices non disjungit, nisi quando Hostiam consecratam tangere vel tractare debet, usque ad ablutionem digitorum post Communionem.

    And for the elevation of the Chalice:
    Tum se erigit, et accipiens Calicem discoopertum cum Sanguine ambabus manibus, ut prius, elevat eum, et erectum quantum commode potest, ostendit populo adorandum: mox ipsum reverenter reponit super Corporale in locum pristinum, et manu dextera Palla cooperit, ac genuflexus Sacramentum veneratur.

    Now mox means: immediately. So the priest elevates the consecrated elements and immediately places them back on the altar. It should, therefore, be some sort of continuous motion: first upwards, then immediately downwards again. That severity is part of the spirit of the Roman liturgy, as Fr. Z already pointed out. And as part of the hermeneutic of continuity, this should also be adhered to in the celebration of the new Mass.

  34. Bea says:

    I voted 7-10.
    I figure long enough for adoration and a time for intercession for those we promised to pray for.

  35. JabbaPapa says:

    I do my own Eucharistic Adoration during the continuing distribution of the Species after I have taken Communion myself.

  36. Grumpy Beggar says:

    I voted for 7-10 seconds.

    About a decade ago, I was attending Masses frequently celebrated by a very pious priest who would prolong the elevation(s) to somewhere in the vicinity mentioned by Aquinas Gal. I can’t say I ever timed Father, but it felt as if both elevations took roughly an equal amount of time.

    Yet on a personal level, the distraction factor (when present) never seemed to be equal for me regarding both extended elevations. It was always the protracted first elevation which could distract me more – most of all because it left me waiting for the second elevation (and some personal prayers which I like to address to the Precious Blood) . No extended amount of time seemed to distract me very much regarding the second elevation- because at that point , the consecration of both species is complete and a protracted period of silence would leave me free to just rest in Him.

  37. Imrahil says:

    Dear Pax-tecum,

    according to my Latin lessons, “mox” means soon. “Immediately” would be “statim”.

  38. Allan S. says:

    Perhaps for the priest in the OP, something is happening with his experience of time. I very often lose time in adoration, finding I’m late for everything when I leave. Perhaps simply ask him “Father, for how long do you elevate Our Lord after consecration?” If he says “a few seconds”, well, there you go.

  39. Scott W. says:

    Longer than perfunctory, shorter than milking it.

    How’s that for precision? :)

  40. CCS says:

    I’m for a 7-10 second elevation, which is long-ish on the scale provided. It takes me that much time to make sure both toddlers look to the altar, get the baby to stop crying for a moment, and still have an instant to humbly adore.

  41. Maybe this priest, God bless him, has going on what St. Pio had going on. ;) We don’t know.

    “So intense was Padre Pio during Mass that many claimed his face transfigured into that of Christ’s, especially during the Consecration. At times, St. Pio held the Host up for more than ten minutes, seeing a reality others could no see, feeling One with Jesus, realizing the Real Presence. So prolonged were such moments that his Mass typically lasted more than two hours (without a homily, which he rarely gave).”

  42. MrsMacD says:

    Wow. Everybody has an opinion on this. Me too, I like to have enough time to tell all my little ones to look (because I feel like I have a duty to do that, to stress the importance of the occasion) then enough time for my own personal uplifting of the heart to God. I pray, “I love Thee Jesus my Love above all things, never permit me to be separated from Thee again, grant that I may love Thee always and then do with me what Thou wilt.” I staged it right now to a stopwatch, it took just over 15 seconds. I endure whatever happens but I’m grateful to have enough time for that.

    At the end of the day, does it really matter? I mean God is here. That’s awesome. He loves us. That’s awesome. He died for us. In that lies our glory.

    We are tempted to over-analyze our good priests. It’s the devil’s work, “Divide and conquer.” Pray for our priests. If you see them fail, fall, or lose the Faith. Pray for them. Pray rosaries and offer Masses for our priests! Pray for more priests, good and holy priests.

  43. Father P says:

    I tend to use a slow and prayerful interior “My Lord and My God”.

    As to St. Pio’s Mass and the Masses of other mystics. These were “private Masses” that the faithful attended and in cloistered communities. What doesn’t seem to get mentioned except between the lines is that the superior always seems to have made the prudent decision to not schedule these priests as the celebrant for the conventual Masses. :)

  44. GAK says:

    I have been reflecting on this.

    Sometimes devout Catholics (and devout priests) make the mistake of universalizing their private devotions.

    If a priest is drawn privately to make the sign of the cross 3 times in a row, intently, to honor the Holy Trinity, as long as he has purity of intention (not neurosis, though even that can be sanctified) it is a beautiful thing.

    However, in celebrating the mass with his congregation, he should not be absorbed in private devotions. He may have any number of reasons why he wants to do certain things.

    BUT, he should remember the mass is NOT about himself or his own private devotions.

    If he has become absorbed in his own preferences and peculiarities of doing things, that is a warning sign. At that point, I think he ought to make a sacrifice of his personal preferences and offer not indulging them up as a sacrifice, instead of following his own preferences. He could win as many, if not more, graces by not indulging himself as he could by following what he thought were his own “better” ways of doing things.

  45. departing contestant says:

    I apologize in advance but at our church I refer to it as “hang time” Father painfully holds our dear Lord up for a Long long time. I agonize for the server ringing the bells his arm must be weary yet he valeintly rings for the duration. Mea culpa

  46. NoraLee9 says:

    About 17 years ago, I attended a Sunday Mass said by an independent priest in a chapel in a barn. This was during the bad-old-days before SP. The priest elevated both species for close to 10 minutes each. I was so glad the baby slept through Mass. No one batted an eye. Obviously the regulars were acquainted with his practice. At the time I thought he was just another weird Independent priest (there were a few back in the day). Now that I look back however, I wonder if this priest had found extraordinary holiness through his suffering you don’t just become an independent priest, saying Mass in a large family’s barn-chapel because everything worked out hunky-dory with the Newark Archdiocese…. Here’s hoping we all grow in holiness.

  47. rakowskidp says:

    I believe this is the former associate pastor of my former parish. I appreciate Father’s deep devotion to the Eucharist, but even when our pastor explained his reasons (as written by Trinitarian Dad above), it always felt like he was grandstanding a bit.

  48. I’m not sure why we don’t all fall down dead when the priest’s Word becomes God’s Flesh Incarnate.

    I get what everybody is saying here. Yes, I get irritated by distracting drama-queen priests. I also admit to impatience at overly-long points at Mass especially when I have my feeble, sick mother with me or I have somewhere to be. A 20-minute matter-of-fact Mass has its appeal.

    I do like to have enough time to say words of adoration and frantic requests at the elevation. At the Elevation of the Blood, we can offer reparation and it is said, requests made to God at that time are answered more readily.

    But are we really, seriously talking about this? I am ashamed that we don’t all desire lengthy adoration at the confection of the Eucharist. God is here! Its the whole Trinity! Saints and Angels adore. The heavens open up. God comes down like upon Sion in the big cloud and STAYS with us, trapped as Bread and Wine – loving us and desiring our love in return. He remains with us, trapped by His own laws of Nature in the hopes that we will notice Him, love Him back. We are so puny and utterly dependent on this merciful Creator! I should re-think my own impatience.

  49. q7swallows says:

    Personally, I love a lengthy elevation.

    I was inclined to agree with FL_Catholic about the lack of exposure of most people to adoration. But that is remediable with catechesis & introducing it immediately following Mass on important feast days (to start). I am also sympathetic to the others who have mentioned the struggle with small children. Been there, done that! So practically-speaking, I would vote for at least 5 seconds, but be happy for the occasional more. Reasons: Five for each precious Wound, Seven for the number of perfection.

    Rushing is what our society does best. This IS the King of Kings, not a fast food drive-thru. It’s *supposed* to be different. And yet, the Mass is not adoration either. It seems to me to violate the function of the priest to suddenly be a living monstrance for minutes on end during a Mass that otherwise is geared to flow. Of course if he is fleetingly so, it fits with the motif of sudden glimpses through the latticework. But the priest is not a pharisaical automaton either, a heartless counter of seconds.

    I hear the generous measure of wisdom in GAK’s comment. And we should remember that climaxes of *all* types are notoriously fleeting. But again, this IS the Creator of all. Why can He not reign over it all sometimes in a paused and commanding splendor? When a lengthy elevation is not ‘the norm,’ the occasional one is exceedingly powerful. It seems commensurate with Jesus’ habit in the gospels that even though He mostly confined Himself to hiddenness, sometimes He allowed His glory to burst out. A trail of golden breadcrumbs here and there! Those who are watching will not miss them. His life was not pure dust; He allowed them to see the gold sometimes. It seems fitting that the Lord be allowed to reign over Nature and occasionally outshine the sun — to be truly above its purely natural habit of rising to its zenith and immediately beginning its descent.

    Think of how the folks in Seattle treat straight sunshine: they drop what they’re doing to go outside and bask in its few fleeting minutes. Now think of the murkiness of our moral times (especially after these recent foul weeks of governmental disasters) and ask yourselves: do we place a premium on His Light? Do we drop everything to bask in the light of Supreme Love, Order, and Sanity Himself? If not, why not? I think it’s because we’ve become comfortable with the dark. Remedy?

    It is not for me to decide rubrical guidelines but I have been provoked to think about it–mostly because my complaint is usually the opposite of the original post. I think that He is held aloft too briefly too often. But alas, lay opinions & feedback are a dime a dozen.

    So, if I could, I would vote for a certain range of fluidity in pastoral discretion. By this I mean the priest would have the option of deciding the length of the elevation ranging from a minimum number of seconds to an amount of time appropriate for a more lengthy elevation in keeping the Mass flowing in elegance. But he should be free to decide in his self-less pastoral judgment the appropriate amount of time for his flock at this or that Mass. FWIW. Maybe that’s too much freedom — I don’t know.

    Because the question surrounds the heart of the Mass, has doubtlessly been raised in the past. Perhaps if it has not been specified in the rubrics, it could be understood that the priest already has some latitude.

    William Blake (with a little liberty) sums up the issue:
    He who binds to himself a joy
    Does the winged life destroy;
    But he who kisses the Joy as It flies
    Lives in eternity’s Son-rise.

  50. Imrahil says:

    I’m not sure why we don’t all fall down dead when the priest’s Word becomes God’s Flesh Incarnate.

    Because we’ve become used to it.

    And, I say it with reverence, all in all our Lord seems not to dislike our becoming used to it. An occasional reminder about the greatness of the fact is okay; but what worth would it be to Him if we’d all drop down near dead? He knows His own greatness, after all.

    No, the good custom of Catholics to receive him with longing, loving, and a bit of matter-of-factness in a respectful posture (which mostly means kneeling to the Latiners) is alright.

    Of course: If by indult Mass is under free air, I love the 21-gun-salute offered by traditional (mountain, etc.) shooter companies. (It’s not really 21 shoots, I think, but it might be.)

  51. WYMiriam says:

    I voted for 7-10 seconds because I like to pray (privately, and without being rushed) a triple “Dominus meus et Deus meus” during the elevation of the Sacred Host, and a triple “Lord, have mercy” during the elevation of the Precious Blood. I would prefer a longer time, though, for the following reason:

    I’ve been to Holy Mass said by a young priest (not FSSP, but in my estimation he was certainly of FSSP quality) who told the congregation at the EF that if we weren’t used to the EF, to spend the time in “quiet adoration.” I find it difficult to adore throughout the OF, since it’s . . . well . . . so noisy? . . . and the all-too-brief time we have to adore in the OF at the elevations doesn’t seem to be anywhere near enough time to engage in adoration — which is, after all, one of the four ends of Holy Mass.

    (Maybe more adoration would happen if the priest’s genuflection directly after the Consecrations were to be restored???)

    Thanks, all, for sharing! There are some good things here that I can use to deepen that time and make it more fruitful — because of Him, not because of me.

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