Altar Rails Return Bringing New Faith

Six Reasons Why Altar Rails Are Returning and Firing Up Eucharistic Devotion

Pastors are installing altar rails in churches across the country. Some parishes are restoring rails to old churches that were torn down decades ago, and others are adding them to new churches that never had them.

The altar rail is making a comeback by popular demand. It is transforming the way people perceive the Holy Eucharist. Best of all, this trend is extremely popular and is generating enthusiasm among the faithful.

After the Second Vatican Council, many churches removed their altar rails, claiming that they divided “the people of God” from the priest in the sanctuary. The idea was to turn the Mass into “a shared, communal worship experience.” However, it also removed the sense of the sacred that once dominated the church, and Eucharistic devotion waned.

A Catechism in Stone

The ripping out of the altar rails proved what everyone knew about church architecture and design. The church is not a neutral space. Every aspect of the church is full of meaning and symbolism. The church is a catechism in stone that teaches people to know, love and serve God better.

When the Blessed Sacrament is no longer regarded as sacred and is not kept in a prominent place, people cease to believe in the Real Presence—a finding reflected in surveys.

Transforming Parishes

In an excellent article in the National Catholic Register, writer Joseph Pronechen reports how the proliferation of altar rails has changed everything. The return of the rails is transforming parishes and is being enthusiastically received by Catholics of all ages, including young people who have never experienced them.

Catholics in the pews cite many reasons for their attraction to these simple dividers. Parish priests are also amazed at how quickly this straightforward change has rekindled Eucharistic devotion.

There are six reasons why Catholics welcome the return of the altar rail.

A More Reverent Reception of the Eucharist

First, it enhances the reception of the Eucharist to be more reverent. People appreciate the extra time at the rail to reflect upon Whom they are receiving. It fosters an atmosphere of reverence in which those receiving do not feel rushed. The reception becomes a brief yet intimate moment between Christ and the communicant.

When given a choice, about 90 percent of the faithful will kneel at the rail. Many who kneel at the rail also feel compelled to receive on the tongue.

A Sense of Definition and Awe

Second, the altar rail provides a sense of definition and awe. Marian Father Matthew Tomeny, rector of the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, recalled that the altar rail is “seen as the extension of the altar, sometimes called ‘the people’s altar.’ It’s that threshold between heaven and earth, heaven being the sanctuary and earth being the nave where the people are gathered.”

Third, the act of kneeling to receive Our Lord is the greatest physical expression of humility, reverence and adoration. Expressing oneself in such a striking and unique way cannot help but influence how people understand the Eucharist. In union with the soul, the body expresses awe and wonder before such a great mystery.

Other Considerations

A fourth reason is that pastors report the rail itself is a point of beauty and symbolism that attracts people to the parish. People sense the increased devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and come to the parish. Particularly younger families who feel drawn to the sacred and wish to join parishes where the reception of Communion is more reverent. One pastor reported that the return of altar rails resulted in significant spiritual growth and understanding of the meaning of the Real Presence.

Yet another reason is more practical. Some pastors report that the use of the altar rail has made it easier and quicker to distribute Holy Communion, even to the point of eliminating the need for extraordinary ministers. Altar servers claim that with the sanctuary area enclosed, there are fewer distractions.

Finally, the rails serve as a place for devotion outside of Communion and Mass. The faithful find it convenient to kneel at the rail and pray before the Blessed Sacrament. The absence of the rail created a barrier that prevented people from approaching the altar to pray. The new rails invite them to come closer for a more intimate devotion.

A Winning Proposition Rejected

The return of the altar rail should serve as a national model for increasing Eucharistic devotion. The success stories of parishes that have reintroduced them should inspire others to follow suit.

However, not everyone is on board with such changes, even in these “synodal” times when our clergy are encouraged to listen to parishioners.

The ripping out of the altar rails was a deliberate move by progressive Catholics bent on “wreckovating” churches after the Council of Vatican II. Those who still subscribe to the progressive ideology do not hide their reasons for removing the rails, nor do they regret their decisions. They claim the move creates a more welcoming and inclusive space for everyone, regardless of background or beliefs. Their purpose was to promote a more egalitarian and theologically incorrect notion of God and the Church, and removing the Communion rail was consistent with that goal.

The tragic result was a far more effective gutting of Eucharistic devotion than an openly atheistic persecution of the Faith.

Faith must have a physical and visual expression. The return of the altar rail is a refreshing and sublime response to a distorted vision of the Church. It reintroduces the Church’s traditional teachings with awe and wonder, delighting the worshiper and reviving fervor for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.