Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute. Uruguay,October 15 1969 Cardinals Thorne (Peru) and Caffarra (Bologna) have banned Communion in the hand, citing reasons of abuse and disrespect. University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute for Church Life All our lives we who believe in Christ are moving in time toward that moment when we will be taken by death from this world and enter into the joy of the Lord in the eternal Kingdom he has prepared for us. Scandinavia,October 15 1969 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. Germany, 6 June 1969 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). A situation that, in the US certainly, was not necessarily governed by external uniformity (given the varieties of ethnic piety and cultural practices). Jeffrey T. Wickes FotC 130 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2015). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. We would also do well to teach, as the Fathers do, that reverence is not only about proper reception of the Eucharist, but also about living the kind of life to which the Eucharist commits us. 21. As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes the whole of it. 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. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Holy Communion - New Advent England and Wales, 6 March 1976 A: The answer to this question is somewhat complex. 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. Instead of receiving in my hand, thinking "the other way is better," and quickly gobbling up the Eucharist, I took the "popular way," as a gift: I put my left hand on top of my right . When receiving in the hand, the communicant should be guided by the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem . Cyril of Jerusalem [c. 313-386], Catechetical Lectures, 23:21-22) Several more but no room here. I used the wordnecessarilyas an equivalent to in and of itself. There is no inherent reason why Communion in the hand is less reverent. 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. Reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament | The Fatima Center 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). St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 348 gave this instruction to his congregation:When you approach Holy Communion, make the left hand into a throne for the right, which will receive the King. Communion on the tongue is recommended and considered the most consonant way to receive the Eucharist, while Communion on the hand is permitted, provided that certain precautions are observed, such as checking to see if any fragments of the Host remain on the palm of the hand. Luxembourg, October 15 1969 As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable. [10] See John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, 4.13. Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us [5] John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent 28. Instruction on the Manner of Distributing Holy Communion The symptoms are myriadI certainly would assent to much of what you cite. From the historical point of view, we can say that there is strong evidence that the practice existed in early centuries in some areas of the Church. 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. | Irondale, AL 35210 |. The Proper Way to Receive Holy Communion - Shrub Oak, NY Come see, [21] Theodore of Mopsuestia, catech. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation. However, when they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that the faithful make appropriate reverence, according to the norms established, before receiving the Sacrament. [5] In Jerusalem, we have the mystagogical catecheses of Cyril of Jerusalem (or perhaps of his successor, John). On the part of both the minister and the recipient, whenever the host is placed in the hand of a communicant there must be careful concern and caution, especially about particles that might fall from the hosts. On the one hand, I think this evidence precludes describing communion in the hand as intrinsically irreverent. St. There is a twofold purpose here: that none will find in the new rite anything disturbing to personal devotion toward the Eucharist; that this sacrament, the source, and cause of unity by its very nature, will not become an occasion of discord between members of the faithful. Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion - Catholic News Agency For you believe, and correctly, that you are answerable if anything falls from there by neglect.[25]. The manner of receiving holy Communion - Catholic News Agency I honestly get sick of it too. As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable.. The list obviously is not complete, for this article says that Germany and France both received permission from the Holy See on the same day in 1969: Instead this option must increase in them a consciousness of the dignity of the members of Christs Mystical Body, into which they are incorporated by baptism and by the grace of the Eucharist. 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. Phillip Schaff and Henry Wace in NPNF Second Series, 14 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1900). 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. James Shapiro, a literature prof at Columbia, says the situation is catastrophic: One reason was the way of the world. 161. It is standard procedure so I wonder what the basis of this accusation is. Communion on the tongue remains the usual and common form of administering Holy Communion. [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. The Council of Saragossa, 380, excommunicated anyone who dared continue to receive Holy Communion in the hand. Some of the online advocates of kneeling/tongue seem to focus only on adoration of the Real Presence and now a cardinal has said that those who receive standing in the hand most Catholics by far! 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. To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul. Communion in the hand is legitimate only where permitted, and it remains in the realm of a permission. It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. SACRED CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP, Letter En reponse a la demande, to presidents of those conferences of bishops petitioning the indult for communion in the hand, 29 May 1969: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 61 (1969) 546-547; Notitiae 5 (1969) 351-353. 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. To fit our bodies for a glorious resurrection. But whatever the case, it is the Pope who decides to authorize it for countries, and it is indisputable that he did so. They would find many more areas we all need to work on than just their main focus. [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. cites vote tallies to defend a claim that a large majority (longe plurimos) of bishops not only oppose introducing Communion in the hand but consider it tum sensui tum spirituali cultui [] offensioni 6, trans. Receiving the host in one's hand has been an option in the United States since the bishops authorized this in May 1977 and the Holy See confirmed it. This was the law of the Church for almost 14 centuries, and is still the general norm today. 51 (Feb), pg 62). Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling. One said: When [the practice was] introduced in the U.S. Cyril of Jerusalem was quoted make your hands a throne for the King, take and eat.Is anyone denying the quote?, Concerning Communion in the hand, please consult the Mystical Catechesis of St. Cyril of Jerusalem for a description of the practice around A.D. 345. When we move in procession, particularly the procession to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Communion, we are a sign, a symbol of that pilgrim Church "on the way.". How should this evidence be brought to bear on the modern conversation? North Africa,October 15 1969 Chad, 18 September 1969 The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says the following: 160. Confess it and move on. W.R., Goa, India. 96). From these documents, we can deduce the following points. Q: When the bishop in a diocese allows the faithful to receive Communion in the hand or on the tongue, can a priest, who objects on the grounds of conscience, refuse to give the faithful holy Communion in the hand? This is more a question of moral theology than of liturgy. Surveys from CARA and Pew reflect this, though I admittedly doubted them until I attended mass with a fellow Catholic at church that predominantly received on the tongue and my friend jeering remarked, why dont they receive in the hand like normal people? vehementer hortatur retention of current practice while invoking the common good of the Church. Theres no simple solution to this issue. Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by Satan to destroy the Church (ok, probably not that). By this symbolic action, their denial would be clear to all. [] It is not permitted for the faithful to take the consecrated Bread or the sacred chalice by themselves and, still less, to hand them on from one to another among themselves. 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. 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 any danger or hint of danger of profaning the Eucharist. Has done What Everyone Should Know About How To Receive Holy Communion Fire consumed the offering There are particles, and there are particles. [4] Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John 6.1 and 12.1. 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. Alternatively, it is permissible to adopt a simpler procedure, namely, allowing the faithful themselves to take the host from the ciborium or paten. http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2014/03/truth-about-communion-in-hand-while.html#.Wpa2wdIUnGg. Rather maddeningly, it is the Anglicans who in the West have retained the practice as described by St. Cyril, while contemporary Latin-rite Catholics tend to consume the Host as if it were a potato chip., From the historical point of view, we can say that there is strong evidence that the practice existed in early centuries in some areas of the Church. They are also to be instructed not to omit after communion the sincere and appropriate thanksgiving that is in keeping with their individual capacities, state, and occupation. July 2, 2020 ( LifeSiteNews) Many bishops around the world are attempting to compel Catholics, who are in the right dispositions to approach the Holy Eucharist, to receive Our Lord in the. SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS, InstructionImmensae caritatis, on facilitating reception of Communion in certain circumstances, 29 January 1973: AAS 65 (1973) 264-271; Not 9 (1973) 157-164. Whatever one thinks about the practice today and its reemergence after Vatican II, it is important that our conversation be grounded in an accurate picture of the history of this practice. 6. II], Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling - Vatican.va This is precisely why there are occasions when pastoral prudence can lead to suspend the permission. The Controversy of Communion in the Hand Catholic Insight 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. So Indian Bishop conference have not got any Indult for communion in hand? In North Africa (including Egypt) the practice is mentioned by Tertullian,[1] Cyprian,[2] Augustine,[3] Cyril of Alexandria,[4] and John Climacus. 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. Follow-up: Objecting to Communion in the Hand (10-16-2018), Pursuant to my reflections on Communion in the hand (October 2), a reader from France claimed that It is totally justified to claim that Communion in the hand is necessarily less reverent or inevitably leads to abuses. In this context, I think it is fair to say that the present practice of Communion in the hand is not a simple restoration of a historical custom but rather introduced a new practice in new circumstances which, while it has some historical justification, is essentially motivated by current pastoral concerns in some parts of the world. Some may choose to receive the Lord on the tongue while others choose to receive in the hand. The cultural backing. The option offered to the faithful of receiving the Eucharistic bread in their hand and putting it into their own mouth must not turn out to be the occasion for regarding it as ordinary bread or as just another religious article. What some call discipleship, others evangelizationnew or whatever, or some speak of discernment and application of spiritual gifts. 2. The Church understands the Communion Procession, in fact every procession in liturgy, as a sign of the pilgrim Church, the body of those who believe in Christ, on their way to the Heavenly Jerusalem. If you are the body and members of Christ, then it is your sacrament that is placed on the table of the Lord; it is your sacrament that you receive. Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the Eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. http://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Handkommunion.
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