7 rules for receiving communion in the hand7 rules for receiving communion in the hand

(Original Latin text here, see pp. 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 faithful should consume the host before returning to their place; the ministers part will be brought out by use of the usual formulary, The body of Christ, to which the communicant replies: Amen. If he is a religious priest, what actions can a legitimate superior take as regards the member who denies Communion in the hand? [4] Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John 6.1 and 12.1. Upper Volta and Niger, 20 February 1970 All of us are only grasping a hint of it. 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. On the other hand, if the sins are not so great that a person should be judged to deserve excommunication, he ought not to withdraw from the daily medicine of the Lords body.[26]. 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 . 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. ADOM :: Communion: in the hand or the tongue Who holds the wind in the palm of his hand? Particularly in regard to this way of receiving communion, experience suggests certain matters requiring careful attention. They probably never foresaw its subsequent, and occasionally chaotic, development in some parts of the Church. Copyright 2023 Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. Irondale, Alabama. 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. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church (330-379): "The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in times of persecution.". 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] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6.43.18. 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]. 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 . Australia, 26 September 1975 Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion - Catholic News Agency We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. Space doesn't allow all the details, but the propaganda in the 1970s that was used to sell Communion in the hand to a trusting, vulnerable people was a campaign of calculated half-truths that didn't tell the whole story. 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 is reported that a bishop shouted out, On the tongue or in the hand?. My country is not on this list but holy communion is the norm. The US might have been little-touched by the scorched earth of world war, and perhaps our feel-good stance astride the planet delayed the decay somewhat. 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. Most often when speaking of reverence, however, the Fathers emphasize two main things: 1) that every precaution should be taken lest the Eucharist fall to the ground and 2) that communicants should be from serious sin and quarrels with other Christians. 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. 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. 13.3, trans. 21. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer Amen. 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. To unite us to Himself and to nourish our soul with His 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. Jamaica, 12 March 1970 [17] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 7.9.4. 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. I think that settles it. The most ancient practice of distributing Holy Communion was, with all probability, to give Communion to the faithful in the palm of the hand. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all. Nor did the Vatican interpret it that way, near as I can tell. 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. A perception such as this is a dreadfully inaccurate and impoverished understanding of what is a significant religious action. Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church: Receiving Communion Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the, The Abandoned: Toward a Christocentric Phenomenology of Prayer, The Conclusion of Karl Rahner's Dissertation on the Origin of the Church from the Side Wound of the Crucified Christ. So the authors claim that he is exactly Vatican II is doubtful. Councils establish principles (and rarely go into specific points) and then leave it to a commission to carry out the detailed work after the Council. 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. [20] Cyril of Jerusalem, myst. The left hand is extended, with the right hand under the left in support (left handed persons may wish to . A priest who is not directly responsible for the care of souls should be even more respectful of local practice. All of us should receive with great reverence and respect. Sure, Ill go along with that. Featured Image: Rossano Gospels, Last Supper, 6th c.; Source: Wikimedia Commons, PD-Old-100. The symptoms are myriadI certainly would assent to much of what you cite. [1] This RCIA Process is the way in which you are prepared to be formally received by the Church; this is necessary before you can take Communion. Since Christ is really, substantially, sacramentally present but not physically, being OC over crumbs is not devotion. 6. [21] Theodore of Mopsuestia, catech. However, he should not refuse to administer Communion to those faithful desirous of availing themselves of a legitimate authorization. Zambia, 11 March 1974 The causes are myriad and often interconnected. 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. Bishops allowing introduction of the new way of receiving communion are requested to send to this Congregation after six months a report on the result of its concession.. Their attitude of reverence must measure up to what they are doing. I think proponents of tongue/kneeling will get a better hearing if they uphold all aspects of Communion. A: The answer to this question is somewhat complex. 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. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? 86). My simple point is that the individual ways our Church evolves over history have a significant impact on its life thereafter, often in ways we dont expect. 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. 5.21, trans. When receiving Communion in the hand can be sinful - LifeSite 6, trans. 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. Among Catholics, there is a sincere difference of opinion with respect to the opportunity of this practice, as to its possible spiritual benefits or detriments. 51 (Feb), pg 62). Many of us would treat your claims skeptically as unsupported rumor and gossip. We should rejoice in that. [11] In East Syria (what we would now call the Middle East) we have evidence from Ephrem the Syrian[12] and Narsai. [24] Trans. Library : Holy Communion in the Hand? | Catholic Culture For whatever reason, reception on the hand does not appear to convey the same level of reverence in the public consciousness as reception on the tongue. It was proved that belief in the Real Presence is abysmal. Even if we presume the authenticity of the text we still do not know how long the practice lasted, whether leavened or unleavened bread was used and whether the practice was exclusive to the Church of Jerusalem. 96). Some scholars claim that this part of the Mystical Catechesis is not originally from St. Cyril but a later interpolation into the text. 95% of parishes shrinking, seminaries empty, young people disengaged: it will happen in Africa and Asia too when the culture of the secular West overwhelms the Third World. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation. R. E. Heine FotC 21 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1982). 7. 1. 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.". The Council was a start, but we have allowed ourselves to get sidetracked in silly and divisive banter. Personally, I think that when a priest with the care of souls holds the view that Communion on the tongue is preferable to the alternative practice, then the best thing he can do is inform the faithful of the bishops permission. In reply to the request of your conference of bishops regarding permission to give communion by placing the host on the hand of the faithful, I wish to communicate the following. From these documents, we can deduce the following points. Gross Alexander NPNF 13, ed. 4. COVID-19 Additional Questions for Catholic Schools, COVID-19 Finance FAQ for Catholic Schools, COVID-19 Personnel FAQ for Catholic Schools, COVID-19 Remote Learning FAQ for Catholic Schools, COVID-19 International Students FAQ for Catholic Schools, Forming a New Prayer and Intercessory Team at Your Parish, Resources for Existing Intercessory Prayer Teams, Mooney Real Estate Holding Company and Parish Incorporations, Stewards for Tomorrow/Archdiocese of Detroit Endowment Foundation. The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? Canada, 12 February 1970 The person distributing Communion says audibly to each person approaching, "The Body of Christ." These practices have wide evidence of use and in some ways never died out completely. Phillip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889). The cultural backing. Churches are closing, priests are dying off, masses young people are dropping their faith, and the Church is slowly slipping into obscurity in its own homeland. Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS) TOP Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. This action by Christ's body, the Church assembled for the Eucharist, is manifested and supported by the Communion Chant, a hymn in praise of Christ sung by the united voices of those who believe in him and share his life. PDF Instructions on Receiving Holy Communion with Proper Reverence St. This is more a question of moral theology than of liturgy. 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. Abuse. Blasphemy. Communion in the hand? Catholic Insight In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. How should this evidence be brought to bear on the modern conversation? Scandinavia,October 15 1969 If one is receiving in the hand the following is normative: upon approaching the minister of the Host extend the hands in the middle of the chest. The faithful receive Communion kneeling or standing, as established by the episcopal conference. The problem is a lack of intentionality across the board, starting with the laity. 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. It is a matter of particular seriousness that in places where the new practice is lawfully permitted every one of the faithful has the option of receiving communion on the tongue and even when other persons are receiving communion in the hand. The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed, in the hand, the choice lying with the communicant. Still, while not the direction eventually taken, I believe restriction to be the more natural reading of the Vaticans intent at that moment in time. [6] Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catecheses 5.13. [T]hose who restrict communicants to receive Holy Communion only in the hands are acting against the norms, as are those who refuse to Christ's faithful [the right] to receive Communion in the hand in dioceses that enjoy this indult. Chad, 18 September 1969 divine life. Battered Gargoyles & The Human Future - Rod Dreher's Diary What Everyone Should Know About How To Receive Holy Communion Father, as to the limitation on what regions might request this indult, Memoriale Domini stipulated that Where a contrary usage, that of placing holy communion on the hand, prevails, the Holy See [] lays on those conferences the task of weighing carefully whatever special circumstances may exist there []. Our procession should move with dignity; our bearing should be that of those who know they have been redeemed by Christ and are coming to receive their God! The communicant should audibly respond, "Amen," indicating by that response his or her belief that this small wafer of bread, the wine in this chalice are in reality the body and blood of Christ the Lord. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. The congregation returned to this issue in the instructionImmensae Caritatis,January 29, 1973: AAS 65 (1973) 264-271; Notitiae 9 (1973) 157-164: Part 4. I am a daily witness at the Basilique du Sacr-Cur de Montmartre (Paris).. 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. Maybe this is due to its similarity to practices in most Protestant churches, many of which (Anglicans and Lutherans notwithstanding) fundamentally dont believe in a sacramental Communion substance. O Solomon, the thing which the Lord of your father We are the Body of Christ, moving forward to receive the Christ who makes us one with himself and with one another. 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. 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. It is simply reading too much into this practice, and it is not correct to support something one favors by denigrating another practice. 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? It is now August 2020 and I can say that you have been proven wrong. Aaron, The following norms must therefore be respected. Paraguay, 27 September 1971 As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable. Basil the Great considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault. That the conference had voted twice but failed to approve the practice and then only won the third vote by gathering absentee votes which is the article claims was unlawful? Has the Holy Eucharist any other effect? Receiving Communion The Sacrament of Holy Communion (also known as The Lord's Supper or Eucharist) has been precious and life-giving to Christians for 2,000 years. If, for some reason, the communicant is not able or willing to drink from the cup then that person should receive only under the form of bread. I dont think reception in the hand is destroying the Church like what some prominent leaders in the Church have implied, but this practice has still had wide ranging [and not entirely positive] ramifications in the Church over the last half century, far beyond the obvious choice of the individual communicant. Ireland, 4 September 1976 "You're talking to someone who has only owned a smartphone for a yearI resisted," he said. Germany, 6 June 1969 I guess my point is that regardless of our internal reverence (or lack thereof), the way we verbally and literally communicate our faith to others, especially our children, is still very important. For example, to say that Communion in the hand is a sign of spiritual maturity, or that Communion on the tongue reduces the lay faithful to infancy, is belied by centuries of lay saints who received in this manner. Scotland, 7 July 1977 But as time passed it became the practice to receive Communion directly on the tongue in order to assure that the Host was received reverently. 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. Fire came down and consumed the sacrifices of Elijah 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: To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul. The same Instruction contained a reminder that the laws of the Church and the writings of the Fathers give ample witness of a supreme reverence and utmost caution toward the Eucharist and that this must continue. Above all it is necessary to have the introduction of the rite preceded by an effective catechesis, so that the people will clearly understand the meaning of receiving in the hand and will practice it with the reverence owed to the sacrament. We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by . During the debate by the conference in the 1970s, a bishop said that he had seen a recent photo of Paul VI giving Communion in the hand to a little boy. The Council of Saragossa (380): Excommunicated anyone who dared continue . The history of the liturgy, however, makes clear that rather early on a . What if we were passionate about all that? Indeed, it can be dangerous for contagion. These need to be taken seriously if one wants to effectively engage in these discussions with the likes of Cardinal Sarah and others. Timothy O'Malley on the meaning of Eucharistic coherence in the life of the Church. Paul VI had a measure of it in 1974, and we hav emostly missed the wisdom of Evangelii Nuntiandi. But one should not by his own judgment abstain from or return to communion, as he pleases. It must also increase their faith in the sublime reality of the Lords body and blood, which they touch with their hand. Ive updated the post. [26] Augustine, Letter 54.3.4, trans. If our reader had said that he believed that Communion in the hand was more prone to dangers of accidents and profanation, I would accept the argument. Has done First, Cyril: Coming up to receive, therefore, do not approach with your wrists extended or your fingers splayed, but making your left hand a throne for the right (for it is about to receive a King) and cupping your palm, so receive the Body of Christ; and answer: Amen.[20], To receive the Sacrament which is given, a person stretches out his right hand, and under it he places the left hand. Roland Teske (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2001). To lessen our evil inclinations. The guidelines recommend against serving Communion until gatherings of more than 50 people are allowed. While we have the option of receiving holy Communion either on the tongue or on the hand, we must always be mindful of receiving our Lord respectfully. And some who do have lost their strength or nerve. Do we have faith in the efficacy of the sacraments or not? All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. Because, he says, one should choose the days on which one lives with more purity and self-control in order to approach so great a sacrament worthily. Our souls ought to be purer than they, more holy, more brilliant. Finally, ensuring the application of liturgical law is above all the responsibility of the bishop and only indirectly the religious superior. The two ways of receiving communion can without question take place during the same liturgical service. The divine coal is a common image of the Eucharist in Syrian theology. But back in the West, where most of us at PT are from, the Church is struggling. The condition is the complete avoidance of any cause for the faithful to be shocked and any danger of irreverence toward the Eucharist. 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. 6. 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.. Pray Tell here documents two statements of the Congregation for Divine Worship issued under Pope Paul VI. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they may all be one" (Jn 17:21). If a priest has great personal difficulty due to deeply and sincerely held views regarding this practice, he can always petition the bishop for a personal exemption or a permission to not apply this permission to his parish. They would find many more areas we all need to work on than just their main focus. Others claim that in the context of the discourse St. Cyril was referring to the clergy and not to the faithful. 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. To that which you are you respond Amen (yes, it is true!) and by responding to it you assent to it. 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. 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. First, Chrysostom in one of his Homilies on Ephesians: What, do you not see the holy vessels so thoroughly cleansed all over, so resplendent? 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. This means that Jesus has no eyes but our eyes, no feet . Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. 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. From this brief historical survey, however, we know that this need not be the case, and we can look to the Fathers for a pious example as we seek to foster reverence towards the Eucharist in the liturgy today. Permission for administering Communion in the hand was granted by the Holy See to the United States on June 17, 1977 and has since become almost the universal norm in the Ordinary Form. The two ways of receiving communion can without question take place during the same liturgical service. 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. Receiving Communion - Prayer & Spiritual Life - Greek Orthodox One could have perfect adoration of Real Presence in humble posture and, at least in theory, miss the point of Communion. Please take responsibility for the lies, the bile, and the sinful stuff. The way you put it, it doesnt sound obsessive-compulsive but salutary. 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.