7 rules for receiving communion in the hand

843 1; cf. I am a daily witness at the Basilique du Sacr-Cur de Montmartre (Paris).. Malaysia and Singapore, 3 October 1977, * * * * *. Objecting to Communion in the Hand | EWTN [13] In the far-flung regions of the empireGaul (modern-day France and Spain) we have the witness of Caesarius of Arles[14] and the council of Auxerre,[15] and in England, we have the Venerable Bede. I suspect that Christ can cope with particles that get dropped but the care we show, or the lack of care, is what counts. How to Receive the Eucharist | Catholic Answers The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? Alternatively, it is permissible to adopt a simpler procedure, namely, allowing the faithful themselves to take the host from the ciborium or paten. Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church: Receiving Communion Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute. Devotion and reverence toward the Eucharist in the case of communion in the hand. A parish priest, or the rector of a sanctuary, might have objective reasons for not applying the permission if there is any danger of profanation or lack of respect. United States, 17 June 1977 Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 2 October 1971 And why so? Click herefor a handout that can be placed in your bulletin for your parishioner. Communion on Tongue vs. Hand? The Most Important Thing to Know: Hold (Original Latin text here, see pp. We should weigh very well the matters in which we appeal to conscience. I have celebrated Mass in places where there is no Communion in the hand and yet have observed some people approach the Eucharist in a slovenly and distracted manner with nary a trace of reverence in sight. The problem of lack of reverence stems not from the manner of receiving Communion but from the lack of faith, awe, and gratitude before this great mystery. The Holy See has made it abundantly clear that both manners of reception of Communion - on the tongue and in the hand - are permitted, that Communion should be received reverently, and that the manner of reception should not become an occasion of division in the church. At the same time he has taken into account the reasons given to support your request and the outcome of the vote taken on this matter. A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist: If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. Australia, 26 September 1975 [20] Cyril of Jerusalem, myst. As for decades of poor or heterodox catechesis on the Sacraments, it seems more likely that catechesis has never been better, more Scripture-based, and more soundly theological. 3. Fire came down and consumed the sacrifices of Elijah At Christ's invitation, extended by the priest acting in Christ's person: "Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb," the members of the community move forward to share in the sacred meal, to receive the Body and Blood of Christ which is the sign and the source of their unity. It is still the practice of millions of committed Latin-rite Catholics all over the world and of many Eastern Churches who administer the Eucharist under both species on the tongue. The restorers of the rite probably had the beautiful simplicity and symbolism of the medieval rite in mind but did not take the changed circumstances sufficiently into account. Aaron, this describes what the countries are to do where Communion in the hand was being practiced. Permission for administering Communion in the hand was granted by the Holy See to the following countries and regions under Pope Paul VI:[UPDATED 3-2-18], Belgium, 31 May 1969 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. Luxembourg, October 15 1969 If Your Hand/Hands are Impeded . Others claim that in the context of the discourse St. Cyril was referring to the clergy and not to the faithful. There is so much to Communion. Timothy O'Malley, Copyright 2023 How should this evidence be brought to bear on the modern conversation? Jesus wants to use our hands, which have now become His hands, to help those in need. All the rites which use leavened bread are reverent but not obsessive. It is also difficult to ensure that the person who receives Communion effectively consumes the host. awr. The General Instruction asks each country's Conference of Bishops to determine the posture to be used for the reception of Communion and the act of reverence to be made by each person as he or she receives Communion. I happen to accept the role of darkness within the Church, but it strikes me as being perpetrated all too often by those who style themselves the most faithful or loyal to God. On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. Not only was Communion in the hand started in disobedience, it was perpetuated by deceit. Fast forward to 2004, when The Congregation for Divine Worship in its new Instruction named Redemptionis Sacramentum, stated: "Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand the sacred host is to be administered . [8] John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians, Baptismal Instruction 12.1516, On the Incomprehensible Nature of God 6.36, and On the Priesthood 3.4. Jamaica, 12 March 1970 Communion should not be received on the run, as you're walking back to your place; it should be consumed before you leave the area below the altar. For this reason, since the question of Communion in the hand is not a question of faith as such, and it has been approved by the legitimate authority, I do not believe that a priest can invoke conscience as a motive for refusing to apply a legitimate law. Obviously, for better or worse, the NLM has an agenda. Papua and New Guinea, 28 April 1976 They should be grave and objective questions related to good and evil. Timothy O'Malley on the meaning of Eucharistic coherence in the life of the Church. It was proved that belief in the Real Presence is abysmal. Paul VI had a measure of it in 1974, and we hav emostly missed the wisdom of Evangelii Nuntiandi. Some advocates of communion on the tongue, at least online, seem guilty of thinking that (however much more virtuous than I they probably are in their lives). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all. The recent survey asking Catholics about Holy Communion indicates that 70% DO NOT BELIEVE that Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus. The Reception of Holy Communion at Mass | USCCB The communicant may choose whether to receive the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? - AOD Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. Canada, 12 February 1970 In the early Church, the faithful stood when receiving into their hands the consecrated particle can hardly be questioned. St. Dionysius of Alexandria [d. 265], writing to one of the popes of his time, speaks emphatically of one who has stood by the table and has extended his hand to receive the Holy Food (Eusebius [263-339], Hist. Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. The author seems to think that liturgical reforms should consist of only what an ecumenical council prescribed. So they reintroduced the practice of Communion in the hand (it had been originally introduced as a widespread practice by the Arian heretics of the Fourth Century to deny that Jesus is God). 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Hence, my theory is that the wide granting of the indult exceeded its initially intended scope as continued prompting from advisors and larger-than-anticipated requests from conferences overcame the popes reluctance. Communion in the hand is no more hygienic than Communion in the mouth. St. Basil the Great, 330-379 stated, "The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in times of persecution." This statement may very well have been made in response to St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 348. So Indian Bishop conference have not got any Indult for communion in hand? We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. ODonaghues post, I note with interest that the countries in which Communion in the hand is alleged to have been most prevalent either did not apply for or at any rate receive an indult in these first 8 years of results. Do we have faith in the efficacy of the sacraments or not? Their attitude of reverence must measure up to what they are doing. Catholics use birth control, get divorced and fornicate at the same rate as society in general, with the sin of using birth control rarely confessed. Care must also be taken that the communicants have clean hands and that their comportment is becoming and in keeping with the practices of the different peoples. It seems appropriate to conclude this reflection on the Communion Procession and the reception of Communion with a quotation from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. It should be noted that it is never permissible for a person to dip the host he or she has received into the chalice. 284-287 is to be followed.. Zambia, 11 March 1974 In this ordinance Christ ratifies his promises to his people, and they on their part solemnly consecrate themselves to him and to his entire service. "You're talking to someone who has only owned a smartphone for a yearI resisted," he said. . 6. 47), and says of the Communion Chant that "its purpose [is] to express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the 'communitarian' character of the procession to receive the Eucharist" (no. On reverence for the Eucharist and belief in the Real Presence among Catholic laity has greatly declined I dont think this has ever been proven. Maybe this is due to decades of poor or heterodox catechesis on the Sacraments. Bishops who have been permitted to introduce the new rite of communion are asked to send a report to the congregation, six months hence, on the outcome. There is also evidence that this was a contested subject (i.e., about what sins prevent someone from receiving), as it would continue to be throughout the history of the Church. It is not solely the result of some weird medieval form of reverence. If Communion is given only under the species of bread, the Priest raises the host slightly and shows it to each, saying, The Body of Christ. ADOM :: Communion: in the hand or the tongue The way we communicate the Gospel message is almost as important as the Gospel itself. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. Ireland, 4 September 1976 The traditional and preferred method is the reception of the Host on the tongue: Step forward and kneel at the Communion rail or station (if you stand, make a sign of reverencesuch as a bow or genuflection or Sign of the Crossbefore receiving the Host and take care not to disrupt the Communion line). Ruff, I think we both agree that internal reverence is the most important aspect of this discussion (and therefore the ways each manner serves that) and I know many reverent people who do both. If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. (I dont direct this at you, I mean it to everyone on all sides.). In the case of communion under both kinds by way of intinction, it is never permitted to place on the hand of the communicant the host that has been dipped in the Lords blood. A Pastoral Guide to Receiving Communion - Crisis Magazine Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS) TOP Some may choose to receive the Lord on the tongue while others choose to receive in the hand. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. [18] Moreover, an early illuminated gospel, the Rosanno Gospels, depicts the last supper as a communion line, where the disciples receive in cupped hands while bowed. The custom of placing the Sacred Particle in the mouth, rather than in the hand of the communicant, dates in Rome from the sixth, and in Gaul from the ninth century (Van der Stappen, IV, 227; cf. 6. I did an internet search about the history of communion in the hand in the U.S. and the only thing I found was an article by the NLM. The Communion Procession is an action of the Body of Christ. My overarching point in all this (as someone who receives comfortably in both manners) is that I dont think common concerns with reception in the hand have been treated with adequate seriousness by many its defenders. The faithful receive Communion kneeling or standing, as established by the episcopal conference. When permitted, the choice as to the form of reception falls upon the communicant and not upon the priest. He can freely share with the faithful his reasons for preferring to adhere to the traditional practice and encourage the faithful to continue doing so. Never receive Holy Communion in the hand when your hands are impeded; e.g., carrying a cane or some other walking-assistance device, carrying a child in your arms, carrying a purse, have a tissue or handkerchief in your hand, have a cast on your hand, etc. Eccl., VII, ix). The author claims that Communion in the hand could only be authorized in countries where it was an established practice but doesnt give a citation. The condition is the complete avoidance of any cause for the faithful to be shocked and any danger of irreverence toward the Eucharist. The person distributing Communion says audibly to each person approaching, "The Body of Christ." The wind has left our sails and many of us are adrift on uncertain seas. In 1980 St. John Paul II wrote in the apostolic letterDominicae Cenae: In some countries, the practice of receiving Communion in the hand has been introduced. What a Priest Might Do If He Wants to Avoid It. In defending his push to give Communion to grave sinners, McElroy reiterated his belief that conscience has the "privileged place" over doctrine in decision-making and suggested that it can . The people administering the sacrament are asked to use hand sanitizer immediately before. 915). For the first few centuries of the Church, receiving Communion in the hand was a common practice. Does anyone have an explanation for why France, Germany, and the Low Countries were not quickly regularized once the opportunity was available? Reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament | The Fatima Center When permitted, the choice as to the form of reception falls upon the communicant and not upon the priest. Our bishops have argued that Communion in the hand is the proper way for the faithful to respond to our Lord's invitation: "All of you, take and eat this." What the bishops overlook is the fact . How to Take Communion in the Catholic Church: 10 Steps - wikiHow From these documents, we can deduce the following points. I think youre right that, without an explicitly limiting clause, there is no canonically binding restriction to those countries, and that the subsequent granting of dispensation ultimately belied such restriction. Those who receive Communion may receive either in the hand or on the tongue, and the decision should be that of the individual receiving, not of the person distributing Communion. For pastoral reasons this manner of receiving communion has been legitimately established as the most common form in the Latin rite. But such as, instead of their hands, make vessels of gold or other materials for the reception of the divine gift, and by these receive the immaculate communion, we by no means allow to come, as preferring inanimate and inferior matter to the image of God.[24]. 48 (Sept/Oct), pg 361. So when received unworthily, it is not only useless, but it is harmful to oneself (a lifestyle of sin continues), our neighbors (increase of violence, arson, looting, murders), and society in general (take a look at the condition of our country), and is extremely offensive to God (hence the wide-spread suffering). are on the side of Lucifer. Mingle and flow into the palms of his disciples![22]. For some, however, the experience of the Communion Procession is far more prosaic, analogous perhaps to standing in line in the supermarket or at the motor vehicle bureau. Another will say the opposite; he says, On the contrary, if the wound of sin and the attack of the disease is in fact so great that such medicines need to be postponed, one ought to be removed from the altar by the authority of the bishop in order to do penance, and one ought to be reconciled by the same authority. One could have perfect adoration of Real Presence in humble posture and, at least in theory, miss the point of Communion. It also happens, on occasion, that the free choice of those who prefer to continue the practice of receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is not taken into account in those places where the distribution of Communion in the hand has been authorized. [23], The great and divine Apostle Paul with loud voice calls man created in the image of God, the body and temple of Christ. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? PDF Instructions on Receiving Holy Communion with Proper Reverence Take this from someone who receives in the hand sometimes, I would never do it if I thought it was enabling Lucifer to corrupt my soul. My three hypotheses were less well researched opinions on my part, theyre not (that last one was a joke on Cdl Sarahs comments, sorry if that wasnt clear), but simply launchpoints in an honest discussion on the impact of Pope Pauls Indult, and the circumstances surrounding it, whether or not they hold any real merit. I have come to realize in the last few weeks how many of my Roman Rite brethren are actually understanding the Eucharist in a heretical way. Djibouti, 6 March 1970 [19] This list is by no means exhaustive, and it would be tedious to cite all of these references as a catalog, but let us turn to a few of them to see what the Fathers have to say about the meaning of this practice. Paul W. Harkins ACW 31 (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1963). In the United States, the body of Bishops has determined that "[t]he norm is that Holy Communion is to be received standing, unless an individual member of the faithful wishes to receive Communion while kneeling"and that a bow is the act of reverence made by those receiving (no. The Controversy of Communion in the Hand Catholic Insight 51 (Feb), pg 62). They partake not of Him that is in them, they perceive Him not. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. This catechesis must succeed in excluding any suggestion that in the mind of the Church there is a lessening of faith in the Eucharistic presence and in excluding as well as any danger or hint of danger of profaning the Eucharist. Alphonse Mingana (Gorgias Press: Piscataway, NJ, 2009 [1933]). The large numbers of faithful and the general hustle and bustle at the moment of communion make it quite easy for a host to fall to the ground. Bolivia, October 15 1969 The option must not turn out to be the occasion for regarding it as ordinary bread or as just another religious article., I feel this is a underrated point in recent discussions on the reception of Holy Communion, both here on PT and elsewhere. When the priest gives it he says: The body of Christ. He teaches you by this word not to look at that which is visible, but to picture in your mind the nature of this oblation, which, by the coming of the Holy Spirit, is the body of Christ. To lessen our evil inclinations. enough bread and wine are made ready for the communication of the faithful at each Mass.45 As a general rule, Holy Communion is given from hosts . Documentation: Approval of Communion in the Hand under - PrayTellBlog To that which you are you respond Amen (yes, it is true!) and by responding to it you assent to it. 2. St. Bishops Cannot Mandate Communion on the Hand or Forbid Communion on the OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF. When the bishops reassembled, Cardinal John Carberry of St. Louis, a determined opponent of Communion in the hand, was quick to get up to set things straight. To be a pledge of everlasting life. As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. But is the impression they give generally correct? 7. Per The Baltimore Catechism: When receiving Communion in the hand can be sinful - LifeSite The sad fact that in recent years hosts consecrated by a Pope have been offered for sale on the Internet further motivates this precautionary measure. At the same time, it is not justified to claim that Communion in the hand is necessarily less reverent or inevitably leads to abuses. Their decisions should be sent to Rome to receive the necessary confirmation, []. The document does not have numbered paragraphs to cite, but youll find it a few paragraphs after the tabulation of votes collected from bishops. These views are sometimes strongly held. Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. South Africa, 1971 Wherefore, if any one wishes to be a participator of the immaculate Body in the time of the Synaxis, and to offer himself for the communion, let him draw near, arranging his hands in the form of a cross, and so let him receive the communion of grace. We should rejoice in that. In this way, the practice of Communion in the hand is different from other liturgical elements restored after centuries of disuse, such as the prayer of the faithful and the exchange of peace. Q. As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable.. The symptoms are myriadI certainly would assent to much of what you cite. The faithful must be taught that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and that therefore the worship of latria or adoration belonging to God is owed to Christ present in this sacrament. [2] Cyprian, On the Good of Patience 14, On the Lapsed 16 and 26,and Letter 55.9. Then he saw that it was futile. Library : Holy Communion in the Hand? | Catholic Culture Roland Teske (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2001). Is the Catholic Church ever going to bring back communion wine? Has done Of note for the modern debate, both John Chrysostom and the Council of Constantinople in Trullo argue that human beings, made in the image of God and capable of communing with him, are more worthy to touch the Eucharist than vessels of gold and silver. Nowhere in this article did I see what the CHURCH says about Holy Communion, only the writers opinion. What's at Stake in the Debates Swirling Around Eucharistic Coherence. The infamous coffee cup masses Dorothy Day describes in her book may have had good intentions behind them, but the way they appeared to trivialize the Holy Sacrifice of the mass lent no dignity to the then new Pauline mass. Indonesia, 27 March 1971 This is the quote that is always used: " make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. As to the way to carry out the new rite: one possible model is the traditional usage, which expresses the ministerial functions, by having the priest or deacon place the host in the hand of the communicant . On this point, I will leave you with a beautiful exhortation from the Golden Tongue: Think of what you receive in your hand and never lift it to strike another and never disgrace with the sin of assault the hand that has been honored with so great a gift. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal takes this hymn very seriously, mandating that it should begin at the Communion of the priest and extend until the last person has received Communion. The guidelines recommend against serving Communion until gatherings of more than 50 people are allowed. Finally, the fact that the Communion Procession is a profoundly religious action tells us something about the way in which we should participate in this procession. Upper Volta and Niger, 20 February 1970 June 29, 2021 | Henry Percival and ed. The Netherlands, 18 September 1969 Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. Other way round, it was in the hand and changed to the tongue circa 900 in the west. In comparing the indult list provided in this post with the brief history of Fr. Yugoslavia, 1971 The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. Cdl. McElroy doubles down on heresy, pushes Communion for 'sexually If one is left-handed this is reversed. Featured Image: Rossano Gospels, Last Supper, 6th c.; Source: Wikimedia Commons, PD-Old-100. It may well be the case that the sudden change in practice after Vatican II decreased devotion towards the Eucharist and belief in the true presence, and it may well be the case that there were bad actors who in fact desired this result. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. I honestly get sick of it too. Abuse. Blasphemy. Communion in the hand? Catholic Insight Since practices vary from one church to another, we hope these guidelines help you feel more at home.

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