[3] For a detailed account of the adoption of the practice see Annibale Bugnini, The Reform of the Liturgy 1948 1975. Similarly Mass has been prepared in these churches with care and forethought. This is Catholic teaching as we all know. Game, set, match . . Rebecca Kirby:Please, there are more important things for Christians to be doing than to argue over whether its better to receive communion in the hand or on the tongue. Anyone who wishes to receive Communion in the hand may do so. This is a practice which I first learnt in the Church of England and have continued since becoming a Catholic as it seems to me eminently reverent. Im. This irenic and well-sourced piece is a fine contribution. So then, Saint Basil says that Communion in the hand is allowed: 1) under times of persecution where no priest is present. The U.S. GIRM also gives the posture for reception in the U.S. as standing. No, one would eat the meal and reserve her judgment. I think everyone understands that reception in either form should be respectful of the real presence. Is this really not evident to all? The photograph can be found in the beautifully illustrated portrait of Mother Theresaby photojournalist Linda Schaefer. Reception on the tongue I personally feel more uncomfortable with this practice also because my congregation the people do not do this. The two points of dissent are (i) Communion in the hand or on the tongue, and (ii) Communion received standing or kneeling. We touch our Lord in Holy Communion any way you look at it. The essence is that we receive Him, with the right spirit and interior disposition (minus mortal sin), rather than the particular manner in which we do it. Father Gabriele Amorth was the official exorcist of the Holy See for decades, until his death in September 2016.Fr.Amorth said in the year 2013 that he would have held some 160,000 exorcisms.. And some of his exorcisms became known through the book "Confessions of Hell to the exorcist Fr. This Is How We Do Things Here wasnt nearly as free from small rules as was imagined; rather, it could often be even more mired in them. And for the interesting comments. Just because there are no kneelers doesnt mean they wont kneel. Thomas Aquinas, the father of transubstantiation, explained that we cannot see the Body of Christ with our eyes at Mass the way the apostles saw Jesus. Perhaps the irreverence everyone seems to see is because they dont recognize how differently humility can appear?. I am a Bayside/Veronica Lueken believer.. very interesting stuff. Is there revelation by Jesus or by Mary approved by the church that says communion in the hand is Satanic? I wasnt trying to weaken your argument per se, but meant to add clarification since, as Im sure you know, distinctions are important in theological/moral/historical/scientific matters. Let no one misunderstand my intent . It is allowed, but not an order, as M.C.s, we have chosen to receive Holy Communion on the tongue. Lord or by Mary. That is what is forbidden, not receiving Communion in the hand.. So, that person got their personal experience somewhat at the expense of the other communicants experience. LIVE: Daily Mass - July 07, 2023 (7:30am) | Manila - Facebook People who insist on having communion on the tongue during this Covid 19 crisis are SELFISH. Though it is clear communion in the hand is not wrong because the Popes who act on behalf of Christ with the keys of St.Peter have permitted the faithful to act this way. This sure sounds like being proud of ones humility and judging others who are not as humble. All that has been elaborated on permits us to realize that the history of the reintroduction of Communion in the hand is nothing other than the triumph of an act of disobedience. Today, that number has plummeted to a mere 34%. by John Vennari August 31, 2003 22 minute read No comments 13 Shares "Out of reverence for this Sacrament, nothing touches It but what is Consecrated" - Saint Thomas Aquinas In his 1931 essay on The New Paganism, the great Catholic historian Hilaire Belloc warned of the post-Christian Paganism that was to come. Peter wrote: that switching back to a [purportedly] more ancient practice has a [totally] different context and meaning than that original practice had.. Book review: Light to Those in Darkness: 'Total pain' and the communion It is not permitted that the faithful should themselves pick up the consecrated bread and the sacred chalice, still less that they should hand them from one to another. I would hope that most pastors of souls could agree that it is more important that individuals receive with devotion and in a prayerful manner than whether they receive on the tongue or the hand. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing. Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling - Vatican LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Catholics want to know if it is allowed for their bishops and priests to require Communion be received only on in the hand instead of on the tongue. Surely the fact that St.John Paul 11 gave communion in the hand and is revered in the church as a saintly man of God and the church declaring him as such , this must end this discussion as being mortal sin and satanic ? We instinctively stand out of respect when the President or the Queen enters the room, or when the priest enters at the beginning of Mass, or when we listen to the words of Jesus in the Gospel. The love and humility of Jesus still scandalizes many people. Certainly if you observe communion in many parishes there are people receiving in the hand who do not appear to be aware of the importance but I have no clue as to what they are really thinking in their hearts and I choose not to judge. When people were suddenly instructed/invited to walk up, stand, stick out their hands, and receive the wafer, it sent a message as thunderous as Luthers or Calvins. But in the West, for a millennium, laymen knelt and received on the tongue. We have known each other a long time. I feel this topic is extremely harmful, people saying Catholics who receive communion in the hand are committing mortal sin, my wife just watched a video about this and now she has been wondering if we both have been committing mortal sin all our lives ? The difference between receiving on the tongue today whether standing or kneeling from when I was an altar server is that I had a paten under the chin of every person and if there was a slip usually at least one per Mass there was little to no chance of the host hitting the floor; it had been planned for ahead of time. A questionI thought the Church back then only allowed receiving on the tongue? I have to confess this continuing discussion, while likely necessary in some quarters, is deeply tiring and a distraction from the real issues of liturgy and the Churchs mission. This is not despite the Real Presence but because of it.). Thank you, Neil, for helping us to see the example of Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II in context. In these churches I receive in the hand. It is obvious that any danger of disrespect towards the Blessed Sacrament must be avoided. Such is the love and faith in God that . I am always amazed that Peter will make a comment and challenge things, which of course is fine as we always need to be challenged for our own good, but when he is challenged will never respond, especially to you. Though standing as a sign of respect for people of authority has much historical and cultural precedent, even in the Church, God isnt like any other person of authority, which is why this special decorum exists for Him. What the Church requires us to foster is devotion, which is possible in either manner of receiving (just as it is possible to receive unworthily and with no devotion on either the tongue or the hand). My position is that the key is ones heart and interior disposition. Qty. Eastern churches generally dont have kneelers and people dont kneel for the Eucharistic Prayer or reception. I am most definitely a he. Moses and numerous other Old Testament examples), and it was only during the Middle Ages that people started to be afraid of God, obsessing about their own uinworthiness, and tried to make themselves small by kneeling to pray hence the Churchs prohibition, quoted by Anthony Ruff, on kneeling in church on Sundays (mini-Easters) and especially during the entire Easter season. I just had not heard anyone articulate what standing means. Communion in the hand was practiced in the early Church for 6-9 centuries, depending on location, as I have documented. Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD - LIVE NOW: HOLY MASS 9:30AM - Facebook Secondly, it is communion in the sacraments, which bring about union with God. Its a question of humility. Catholic doctrine The communion of saints is the spiritual solidarity which binds together the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory, and the saints in heaven in the organic unity of the same mystical body under Christ its head, and in a constant interchange of supernatural offices. But as Christ consecrated His body at the supper, so also He gave it to others to be partaken of by them. A more productive question might: where and how are they different? The . Of course, Dave, Im sure you know that in those regional areas where Communion in the hand was practiced (which doesnt mean it was universal), they did not receive the Sacred Host in one open hand then take it out of the receiving hand by the fingersof the other hand to place it in their mouths like today. King Charles III: Protestant or Byzantine Emperor-Priest? A Crisis of Conscience: Communion in the Hand - Catholic Insight The eye can only see, and the HAND can only TOUCH, the white substance of the bread, and the taste can only taste the savor of the bread, so that the grosser bodily sentiments are deceived; but the soul cannot be deceived in her sentiments unless she wish to bethat is, unless she let the light of the most holy faith be taken away from her by infidelity. In number 11 he reflects on the subject of touching the Blessed Sacrament in the context of priestly spirituality, lay Eucharistic ministers and Communion in the hand. In response to Emily Bodwick, I agree with you and I would kneel as well. (If it is a really from St. Cyril). I took this to mean reception of communion for me the Lord is asking of me is the way I first received communion on the tongue . Thus the liturgical renewal was clearly inspired by the Council and the renewed liturgy is in clear continuity with Vatican II, in much the same way as the Tridentine liturgy was not prepared at the Council of Trent itself, but was renewed afterwards. Putting aside the equivalence/false equivalence dimension of this, in my many years in the groves of progressive communities, I came to realize how much rubrical itchiness was just another form of rubricism (but harder to see because it was Well Intentioned and I dont mean that in a cynical way, as I do think much of it was sincerely well-intentioned, though sometimes, especially with Lone Ranger celebrants or liturgists, it was thinly masked (if masked at all) clericalism or its lay cognates). The Eucharist is a mystery beyond all our comprehension. The moment of Communion is meant to be a moment of conversion to being one with Christ, to becoming the Body of Christ. Thank you for your work and for this clarification. And with what eye, dearest daughter, should you and others look at this mystery, and how should you TOUCH it? The Communion of Saints | EWTN A few weeks ago at Mass, I saw a lady receive Communion, then turn her back from the priest and break it and give part of it to her young child. But if the more reasonable claim is that the context and meaning are different of course. Keep walking, you are on the right path! Im not arguing here for superiority of hand reception, but rather, against intrinsic irreverence and/or inferiority of hand reception. The essence is that we receive Him. If people wish to receive Communion on the tongue they are allowed to. I felt it needed to be added to the discussion, especially since Cardinal Sarah had introduced a military meaning by talking about Michael at war with Satan. (New York: Benziger, 1951), 2:361-362. So no studies show that communion on the tongue is bad? However in the case of an individual, I think that more or less everyone can agree that today the Church is leaving it up to that individual how to receive. However, the current practice of most who receive Communion in the hand ought not to be portrayed as Satanic but as being in continuity with the beautiful description of St. Cyril of Jerusalem who recommended to the newly baptized Christians in fourth century Jerusalem that they approach the altar making a throne with your left hand for the right, as intending to receive the King, and having made a hollow in your hand, receive the body of Christ.[5]. I am concerned that the Catholic Church and some priests and members are reverting back to the attitude of the Middle Ages when the Bible and Mass could only be in Latin, knowing most people could not read or speak Latin HORRORS that a lay person could actually read the Bible and think for themselves. December 13, 2020 - Urgent call of Jesus the High and Eternal Priest to the Shepherds of His Flock. Making the palm hollow, receive the Body of Christ, adding Amen. With regard to (ii), was it not Justin Martyr who talked about the three liturgical postures? $14.95. The corporal palate tastes only the savor of the bread; but the palate of the soul, which is holy desire, tastes God and Man. Communion on the hand may seem less reverent than communion on the tongue, especially to the more traditionally minded Catholics; it is not a sacrilege. This loss of the communal dimension simply doesnt make sense to me. He says that that Communion in the hand under any other circumstance is "grave immoderation.". Im just trying to figure out what is going on. Rather, it is talking about self-service Communion, where each communicant picks up their own piece of consecrated bread from the paten, ciborium or bread bowl, or helps themselves to a chalice left for them on the altar. I think our body would do it naturally, without thought or planning. Its no reason for concern or anxiety. 'thanksgiving'), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. Cmon! Blog Staff and Editorial Advisory Committee, cites the example of St. John Paul II and Mother Theresa of Calcutta, Mother Theresa receiving Communion on her tongue, Lecture on The Use of the Latin Language in the Latin rites, Together in Christ: Remembering Bishop Patrick McGrath, Pray Tells Teresa Berger interviews two colleagues about the upcoming Coronation. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In that way, you did indeed make a value judgment (or else you can clarify otherwise, if you disagree). However as someone who has served as a eucharistic minister I know full well the bigger range of difficulties caused by someone trying to steal the Eucharist or something like that with it on the hand. I just thought that your line about unconsecrated fingers was trying to assert something perhaps you didnt intend to assert. Unfortunately I found Taylor Marshall, Tim Gordon, the Church Militant, Fr. Her treatise in my opinion seems to be in third person as if she was listening to Jesus telling her what it was like to touch the Eucharist but Im not sure if she actually did. Not just newly ordained, but a 54 yr old, divorced, convert who presented himself as knowing everything. . awr. Your email address will not be published. The effect of moving to the virtual space has challenged the Church to embrace a new type of gathering online. He has studied at Seton Hall University, the University of Notre Dame, and St Vladimirs Orthodox Theological Seminary. I followed suite and received communion in the hand which never lessened my love for Jesus in the sacrament. Unsurprisingly he emphasizes the importance of guarding against any abuses concerned with the reception of Communion in the hand (along with other possible abuses), but he also recognizes it as a valid option and that many of those who receive the Lord Jesus in the hand, do so with profound reverence and devotion.. Communion isnt about me and Jesus but we and Jesus ! I liked both, and if I were at a church where they had a communion rail, I would use it. What I have not been able to continue however and very much miss is kneeling alongside others at the altar rail. The Reception of Holy Communion at Mass | USCCB Did you mean to imply that my argument is somehow weakened, if only palms and not fingers touched the consecrated host? Truth About Communion in the Hand While Standing Why do not we kneel down to receive Holy Communion after the example of the saints? Standing was the universal posture for prayer (cf. Just a sampling of reliable historical evidence is enough to demonstrate the consistent position of the Church regarding Communion in the hand: Pope St. Sixtus I ( 115-125): "it is prohibited for the faithful to even touch the sacred vessels, or receive in the hand"; Origen (185-232 A.D.): "You who are wont to assist at the divine Mysteries . Then. The Eucharist (/ ju k r s t /; from Koin Greek: , romanized: evcharista, lit. Apostolic Tradition: Communion on The Tongue Im just a truck driver. Special Report: The Truth about Communion in the Hand Her treatise in my opinion seems to be in third person as if she was listening to Jesus telling her what it was like to touch the Eucharist but Im not sure if she actually did. Help yourselves!. If questioned about [it], do not enter into discussion let every spirit praise the Lord but let us pray that all be done for the greater glory of God and the good of the Church., The Center also note that Mother Teresa never said, Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand., http://www.motherteresa.org/08_info/receivingc.html. First, because, as was said above (Article 1), he consecrates as in the person of Christ. Until his last days, he wanted to offer us a great witness of reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. In the following year, Jesus began to speak interiorly to her especially after receiving Holy Communion. My dream however makes me feel the Lord personally wants me to receive communion on the tongue even though this is not my will but his. . Recently Ive been leaning more and more towards the old practice even though Ive walys been taught to receive communion in the hand ( a practice I have done all my life#NCWAY). The whole idea that only priests can touch the Eucharist smacks to me of elitism (like the Pharisees that the Lord so despised) and people who insist on receiving on the tongue as virtue signalers (Look at me, at how holy I am, so much more than those hand takers). Communion in the Hand: Documents and History - Angelus Press The communion of saints is the spiritual solidarity which binds together the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory, and the saints in heaven in the organic unity of the same mystical body under Christ its head, and in a constant interchange of supernatural offices. But ultimately it is up to the communicant themselves. Then 5 yrs ago, a newly ordained priest became our pastor. JULY 9 WAGNER ALL-STAR GAME WATCH Bobby Wagner is soaking in his return back to Seattle, and the legendary Seahawks linebacker is being welcomed back with open arms and then some.. It belies a focus not on reverence, but a policing of what others do. Instead, she adored him and contemplated him silently, she remained at length on her knees and prostrated herself before Jesus in the Eucharist. St. Catherine of Siena Received Communion in the Hand Communion on the Tongue is an Apostolic Tradition, and Should Be the I also know that the Eucharist was first received in the hand in the earliest days of the Church, I am not sure when that first changed, but obviously it must be a small t tradition or it would never have changed in the first place. Articles Early Christian Communion in the Hand by Elizabeth Klein October 13, 2022 A s a scholar of the early Church, I was surprised to learn that the practice of communion in the hand is such a hotly debated topic; it came to my attention during the early days of the pandemic, when many dioceses required communicants to receive in this way. . May I point out that St Cyrils words, which I agree are beautiful, do not describe the current majority practice, but rather reception into the palm of the right hand, and by implication bowing the head to take the Sacrament directly from there into the mouth. () Despite being exhausted and without strength () he always knelt before the Blessed Sacrament. The simple rationale for saying You must not kneel in church was that since kneeling was a sign of self-abasement it contradicted the entire meaning of the season when we celebrate the risen Christ. Not even close. Early Christian Communion in the Hand | Church Life Journal CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Communion of Saints - NEW ADVENT 23. That isnt true in most churches in the US these days. Well, the ordaineds fingers are consecrated with a rite for a purpose. Rather, the open receiving hand went directly to the mouth (sort of like a cupping motion), hence the unconsecrated fingers of the lay faithful did not touch the Sacred Species. Hold fast these traditions undefiled and, keep yourselves free from offense. Communion of saints - Wikipedia So now you want to quibble about the palm vs. the fingers, as if fingers are inherently more profane than a palm? you saw and tasted the Abyss of the Trinity, whole God and whole man concealed and veiled in that whiteness that you saw in the bread; and you perceived that the seeing of the Light and the presence of the Word, which you saw intellectually in the whiteness of the bread, did not prevent you seeing at the same time the actual whiteness of the bread, the one vision did not prevent the other vision, that is to say, the sight of the God-Man revealed in the bread did not prevent the sight of the bread, for neither its whiteness, nor its TOUCH, nor its savor were taken away. Is it okay to recieve Communion in the hand? - Catholic Online I have not been to Mass for over a year.. If we follow this logic, then the Catholic Church does not really exist and is replaced by different opinions and contradictory personal revelations. But when I teach Eucharist in the classroom, I try to explain the Churchs understanding that Holy Communion has many, many layers of meaning, and we are invited to open ourselves to all these layers.
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