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. 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. Catechesis has been virtually non-existent or flat-out heretical for the last 50 years. Scandinavia,October 15 1969 Roland Teske (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2001). Their attitude of reverence must measure up to what they are doing. Look how military inspectors demand very high standards of care when inspecting barracks for cleanliness. Zambia, 11 March 1974 Not only was Communion in the hand started in disobedience, it was perpetuated by deceit. vehementer hortatur retention of current practice while invoking the common good of the Church. 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. [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer Amen. It is a matter of particular seriousness that in places where the new practice is lawfully permitted every one of the faithful have the option of receiving communion on the tongue and even when other persons are receiving communion in the hand. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? These views are sometimes strongly held. Bishop Athanasius Schneider argued along the same lines at the end of February. Communion in the hand is no more hygienic than Communion in the mouth. This reply aged like Milk (currently January 2022). It must also increase their faith in the sublime reality of the Lords body and blood, which they touch with their hand. 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.". Back issue of Notitiae are accessible via the new website of the Congregation for Divine Worship at: http://www.cultodivino.va/content/cultodivino/it/rivista-notitiae/indici-annate.html. 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. Who holds the wind in the palm of his hand? 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. In order to be properly disposed to . While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family. 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. The [Seraph] did not hold it, and [Isaiah] did not eat it [16] Liturgical evidence from Rome is always sparser than one would like, but Eusebius preserves a mention of communion in the hand in a letter written from Dionysius of Alexandria to Sixtus I, bishop of Rome,[17] and in a letter of Cornelius, bishop of Rome. They should be grave and objective questions related to good and evil. As I read above article, I didnt found name of my country India in the list of countries which have Indult for communion in hand. Per The Baltimore Catechism: It is bad if it makes us prideful/judgmental and distracts from more important things. . Please remember that there is no "right" way to receive. can. 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. Particularly in regard to this way of receiving communion, experience suggests certain matters requiring careful attention. We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. 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. Hard to believe that Catechesis has never been better if that fundamental is misunderstood. 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. 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. Do we accept an experience of the Real Presence only when the externals and the lingo of 1950 are seen and heard? Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. The missal of 1570 eliminated almost all sequences and moved the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar to the beginning of the Order of Mass though the Council of Trent never said a word about either. 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. Todd, yes, the Church as a whole is growing thanks to the great efforts of missionaries in Africa and Asia (many are now coming back here), and yes, more people are receiving the Sacraments now than ever. No wonder so many people there have given up on Christianity. I make no judgment about who is guilty of this- I dont know most of the people by far and am in no position to judge. 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 284-287 is to be followed.. 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. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. Ever since the InstructionMemoriale Dominithree years ago, some of the conferences of bishops have been requesting the Apostolic See for the faculty to allow ministers distributing communion to place the eucharistic bread in the hand of the faithful. The author seems to think that liturgical reforms should consist of only what an ecumenical council prescribed. June 29, 2021 | "You're talking to someone who has only owned a smartphone for a yearI resisted," he said. As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. 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. 843 1; cf. [6] In Syria (what we now call Turkey and surrounding regions) it is witnessed by Basil the Great,[7] John Chrysostom,[8] Theodore of Mopsuestia,[9] John Damascene[10] and the Council of Constantinople in Trullo (also called the Quinisext council). Cyril of Jerusalem [c. 313-386], Catechetical Lectures, 23:21-22) Several more but no room here. divine life. The people administering the sacrament are asked to use hand sanitizer immediately before. More people have received Communion in the past century. Paraguay, 27 September 1971 Jesus wants to use our hands, which have now become His hands, to help those in need. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). I quite deliberately eschewed entering the historical argument as it would have digressed from the main point of that article. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. The communicant may choose whether to receive the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. The rationale for Communion on the hands being an ancient practice is from St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Some may choose to receive the Lord on the tongue while others choose to receive in the hand. What if our way of calling our fellow Christians to a higher way were based on loving example and not polemics? [2] Cyprian, On the Good of Patience 14, On the Lapsed 16 and 26,and Letter 55.9. My country is not on this list but holy communion is the norm. That rhetorical flow and its further implicit objections (i.e., take care lest XYZ) *could* be a setup for a generous grant of indults, but given the overall negative tone I dont think it accidental or inconsequential that the prospect of permission is only mentioned in these cases where contrary practice already prevails. 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. The oldest reference to the Eucharist in the New Testament occurs in chapters 11 and 12 of the First Letter to the Corinthians, which has no reference to receiving Holy Communion on the tongue. It is advisable, therefore, that the rite be introduced gradually and in the beginning within small, better prepared groups and in favorable settings. 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. The Holy Eucharist remits venial sins by disposing us to perform acts of love and contrition. Alternatively, it is permissible to adopt a simpler procedure, namely, allowing the faithful themselves to take the host from the ciborium or paten. It is simply reading too much into this practice, and it is not correct to support something one favors by denigrating another practice. 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. I think proponents of tongue/kneeling will get a better hearing if they uphold all aspects of Communion. Other way round, it was in the hand and changed to the tongue circa 900 in the west. Im not aware of that limitation and would like to see proper documentation. The way you put it, it doesnt sound obsessive-compulsive but salutary. 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. 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. 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. 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. But there is more to the story. United States, 17 June 1977 Indonesia, 27 March 1971 Canada, 12 February 1970 . 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. It is advisable, therefore, that the rite be introduced gradually and in the beginning within small, better-prepared groups and in favorable settings. [8] John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians, Baptismal Instruction 12.1516, On the Incomprehensible Nature of God 6.36, and On the Priesthood 3.4. I used the wordnecessarilyas an equivalent to in and of itself. There is no inherent reason why Communion in the hand is less reverent. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. Monaco, 31 October 1969 Archbishop Anthony Fisher, OP, of Sydney published an excellent paper on the topic of conscience and authority which can be found at:https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=7833or, in a slightly briefer form athttps://zenit.org/articles/bishop-fisher-on-conscience-and-authority/. This norm is supported by an Instruction by the Holy See regarding the Eucharist: "In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that 'sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them'(Code of Canon Law, can. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation. The showing of tooth and claw by some traditional-leaning Catholics is a scandal that discourages neighbors, and puts a very ugly face on the Body for others to view. 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. Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by . And of course Pope Paul VI was adamant that all the reforms carried out under him were faithful to the Second Vatican Council. Was changing the mode reception of Communion one of them? One could have perfect adoration of Real Presence in humble posture and, at least in theory, miss the point of Communion. For example, there is ample evidence that the exchange of peace between the people was practiced well into the Middle Ages in several European countries. It should be noted that it is never permissible for a person to dip the host he or she has received into the chalice. Thanks for this, Dennis. [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. And to demonstrate reverence and. The Pope grants that throughout the territory of your conference, each bishop may, according to his prudent judgment and conscience, authorize in his diocese the introduction of the new rite for giving communion. This blog is not associated with Pray Tell: An open forum on faith in South Texas. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. Dear Patrick, 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. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. [27] John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instruction, 12.15-16, trans. 5. Several readers pointed out that I made no mention of a text of St. Cyril when mentioning the historical foundations of the practice. In North Africa (including Egypt) the practice is mentioned by Tertullian,[1] Cyprian,[2] Augustine,[3] Cyril of Alexandria,[4] and John Climacus. I am a daily witness at the Basilique du Sacr-Cur de Montmartre (Paris).. 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. 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. Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us Or is there more context that is missing? 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 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. [5] In Jerusalem, we have the mystagogical catecheses of Cyril of Jerusalem (or perhaps of his successor, John). [16] Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 4.24. Finally, ensuring the application of liturgical law is above all the responsibility of the bishop and only indirectly the religious superior. [10] See John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, 4.13. A quick example will be found . I think that settles it. For you hear the words, the Body of Christ and respond Amen. Be then a member of the Body of Christ that your Amen may be true (St. Augustine, Sermon 272: PL 38, 1247). Paul VI had a measure of it in 1974, and we hav emostly missed the wisdom of Evangelii Nuntiandi. To that which you are you respond Amen (yes, it is true!) and by responding to it you assent to it. It is clear that this mode of reception was considered reverent and was to be carried out in a reverent manner. Come see, http://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Handkommunion. 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 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. 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. 161. Our souls ought to be purer than they, more holy, more brilliant. Many of us would treat your claims skeptically as unsupported rumor and gossip. By this symbolic action, their denial would be clear to all. What if our reception made us all more loving of one another, whatever our views on how to receive? 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. 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 . Since Christ is really, substantially, sacramentally present but not physically, being OC over crumbs is not devotion. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. 1396: In Baptism we have been called to form but one body. 915). Christ himself at the Last Supper pleaded with his Father: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us" (John 17:11, 21).Baptism has joined us to Christ and to one another as the vine and its branches. 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. New Zealand, 24 April 1974 If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. I suspect that Christ can cope with particles that get dropped but the care we show, or the lack of care, is what counts. The Communion Procession is an action of the Body of Christ. It describes one of the purposes of the opening song of the Mass as to "foster the unity of those who have been gathered" (no. Pakistan, 29 October 1976 Pope Paul Vl approved this Instruction, confirmed it with his authority, and ordered its publication, setting the day of publication as its effective date. On the one hand, I think this evidence precludes describing communion in the hand as intrinsically irreverent. 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. Fire consumed the offering 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. To be honest, I dont really belong to either camp on this, and like you, I think the polarization on this issue is doing more harm than good. Your fire, O, Our Lord we have eaten in your offering Fire came down and consumed the sacrifices of Elijah Mingle and flow into the palms of his disciples![22]. Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. The causes are myriad and often interconnected. Required fields are marked *. What some call discipleship, others evangelizationnew or whatever, or some speak of discernment and application of spiritual gifts. The usage of communion in the hand must be accompanied by relevant instruction or catechesis on Catholic teaching regarding Christs real and permanent presence under the eucharistic elements and the proper reverence toward this sacrament. 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. 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. The person distributing Communion says audibly to each person approaching, "The Body of Christ." But we doyes, verily. 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.. 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. This would be done especially if it is very difficult or impossible to fulfill the necessary conditions as outlined in the documents above. Under the moral aspect will be considered, in reference to Holy Communion: necessity; subject; dispositions. [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. [24] Trans. For you believe, and correctly, that you are answerable if anything falls from there by neglect.[25]. 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. Now we feel our affluence threatened, and the Gospel gives no comfort on that front. After receiving Communion our bodies become holy chalices. 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. 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. When receiving in the hand, the communicant should be guided by the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem . 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. It is difficult for some of us to embrace this emphasis on Mass as the action of a community rather than an individual act of my own faith and piety, but it is important that we make every effort to do so. Theres no simple solution to this issue. 4. St. All rights reserved. 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. For pastoral reasons this manner of receiving communion has been legitimately established as the most common form in the Latin rite. 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 . The guidelines, which are to be included in missalettes and other participation aids published in the United States, seek to remind all those who may attend Catholic liturgies of the present discipline of the Church with regard to the sharing of Eucharistic Communion. awr. The legitimacy of Communion in the hand is not in question. It is now August 2020 and I can say that you have been proven wrong. 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. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. Middle Africa, 3 February 1970 Receiving communion in the hand was the common practice of the Church in both East and West for the first 800 years of Christianity, and it was certainly considered reverent by the Fathers. 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. So Indian Bishop conference have not got any Indult for communion in hand? With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer 'Amen'. Obviously, for better or worse, the NLM has an agenda. It is adoration of Christ, meal of fellowship, union with other communicants (hence the Church wants us to sing during reception), sharing in Christs self-sacrifice, mystical union with angels & saints, sharing even now in the heavenly banquet, having the life of the Risen Christ in oneself, a call to charity and works of justice and making real on earth the peace foreshadowed in Communion, etc. Particularly in regard to this way of receiving communion, experience suggests certain matters requiring careful attention. After stipulating the historical practice of Communion in the hand, Memoriale Domini: defends the development of discipline that led to Communion on the tongue Church Life Journal Since practices vary from one church to another, we hope these guidelines help you feel more at home.
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