Coming to the Lord's Table - #6

Processing together to the table

The Eucharistic liturgy includes a number of processions. First, people proceed from the parking lot to the gathering space, and then process into the church building. This is done when the baptized process at funerals, at weddings, on Passion Sunday, at the Easter Vigil, and on the Lord's Day. Those seeking admission into the catechumenate knock at the door and ask the assembly to process with them into the church.

Second, other processions take place during the liturgy of the word. Children are dismissed after the opening prayer and process the place where they will hear the children's liturgy of the word. Later they process back into the church when the gifts are presented. The deacon, incense bearer, and candle bearing servers process with the Gospel book, This procession, accompanied by the singing of the Alleluia, can go throughout the church or may proceed directly to the ambo, the reading stand where the Scriptures are proclaimed. Catechumens, their sponsors, and catechists are dismissed at the end of the liturgy of the word. They process to the place where they will meet to break the bread of the word of God.

Third, people from the assembly process with the gifts of bread and wine, with the gifts of money, food, and gifts for the poor. These processions are practical and prayerful ritual movements. So also is the procession to the table of the Lord.

"At least from the time of Saint Augustine (d. 430) it was common to sing a psalm during the procession to the Lord's table for communion. One favorite text was from Psalm 34: "Taste and see how good the Lord is.' As its name implies, the communion song begins with the communion of the priest and continues for as long as the people receive Christ's body and blood. The function of the communion song 'is to express outwardly the communicants' union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to give evidence of joy of heart, and to make the procession to receive Christ's body more fully an act of community (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #56i).

The communion song should foster a sense of unity. It should be simple and not demand great effort. It gives expression to the joy of unity in the body of Christ and the fullness of the mystery being celebrated (Music in Catholic Worship, #62 / Service at the Table of the Lord, p. 7-8).

We are still learning how to do the communion procession well. In fact, it is really a simple ritual action. Communicants process to the ministers of communion. As they move forward to the table of the Lord, they sing a simple song, refrain, or tune. The ritual movement leads the whole assembly to a moment that is simultaneously profoundly personal and communal. All receive the Eucharist. All come to the table of the Lord. All commune with the Lord. All Commune with each other by acting as a community in rhythmic movement and in beautiful song. These are the actions of a community, not just a batch of individuals who happen to be thrown together in a group. What is the result of the communion procession and song? We experience union with God, unity with one another, and joy of heart.