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REVISED POLICY FOR
HONOR GUARDS
IN THE
PROVINCE
OF NEW ORLEANS
INTRODUCTION
The use of honor guards (such as the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of
Peter Claver) for special liturgical ceremonies is a time-honored,
welt-established and laudable practice inside and beyond the Province of New
Orleans. This revised policy seeks to underscore the value of the practice,
and those who so serve, to show particular reverence and respect to the
living presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
Especially since Vatican Council II, the Church has evaluated, and in some
cases revised,
certain practices, to simplify
and standardize
them. For example, the maniple is
no longer used by the priest at Mass nor is salt administered on the tongue
of the baptized.
CONTINUING TRADITION
The tradition of an honor guard is reaffirmed. It is acceptable for the
guard to be dressed in their customary uniform, including chapeau and
scabbard with sword. It continues to be permitted for members to process in
and recess out of Church and form an honor guard at these times alongside
the pews, utilizing one Knight per pew.
REVISED POLICY
(ELIMINATION OF
DRAWING SWORDS AND LEAVING PEWS FOR CONSECRATION)
The first
change
has to do with the practice of "drawing
the swords" at the times of the procession and/or recession, and at
the Consecration at Mass. This practice conflicts
with Jesus' words to Peter: "Put back
your sword into its sheath, for all who live by the
sword will perish by the sword." (Mt.
26:52) (Cf. also John 18:11-12.) Such a procedure seems overly
militaristic, triumphal and anachronistic, as the former practice of the
bishop slapping
the face
of
the newly confirmed.
Accordingly,
we are asking that this practice
of "drawing the swords" no longer be continued.
A
second change
concerns the time of the Eucharistic
prayer. No longer
will a standing guard be formed at
this time. Rather, at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer, honor
guard
members
will
remain in their pews, slightly elevating
their scabbards with their left hand (to avoid clanging them on the
church floor), and lowering the kneeler with their right hand before
kneeling. The guard will observe the posture of kneeling, alongside the
congregation.
EFFECTIVE DATE FOR REVISED POLICY (ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005)
This policy was
unanimously adopted
on September 28, 2004
by
the
arch/bishops
in the Province
of
New Orleans (all arch/dioceses in Louisiana), and is to be implemented
beginning February 9. 2005, (Ash Wednesday). Thank you in
advance for your cooperation.
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