7 rules for receiving communion in the handwhat happened to mark reilly strong island
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 . Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist? Their attitude of reverence must measure up to what they are doing. 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. Later that year approval was given to Luxembourg, Scandinavia (Scandia), North Africa, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Monaco (see Notitiae v. 7 (1970), no. 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.". Blog Staff and Editorial Advisory Committee, http://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Handkommunion, http://www.cultodivino.va/content/cultodivino/it/rivista-notitiae/indici-annate.html, From the Wires: U.S. Catholic Priests Are Increasingly Conservative as Faithful Grow More Liberal, Yale Organ Week: Now Accepting Applications, The North American Academy of Liturgy, 2023, New Open-Access, Ecumenical Journal Powered by the University of Vienna, Is the Eucharistic Revival a Liturgical Revival (Part 2), What Did Jesus Know? Devotion and reverence toward the Eucharist in the case of communion in the hand. 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]. I similarly think Cardinal Sarahs frankly ridiculous comments about Lucifer are draining credibility from his cause (one that I admittedly align with sometimes), even if some of his proposals are good ones. 7. 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.. 284-287 is to be followed.. 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. awr. What a Priest Might Do If He Wants to Avoid It. 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. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. 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. 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. In 1980 St. John Paul II wrote in the apostolic letterDominicae Cenae: In some countries, the practice of receiving Communion in the hand has been introduced. Madagascar 2 March 1970 Monaco, 31 October 1969 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. In light of some genuinely moving testimonies on the merits of reception in the hand, we cannot ignore that reverence for the Eucharist and belief in the Real Presence among Catholic laity has greatly declined since around the time in which this practice reenterred the Roman Rite after a millennium of absence. 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. Can you direct me to where you obtained this list? [18] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6.43.18. 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. Therefore I stand by what I wrote in the original: 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.. From a hygienic point of view, the hand carries a huge amount of bacteria. 160-161; English translation here) vehementer hortatur retention of current practice while invoking the common good of the Church. 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. 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. Devotion and reverence toward the Eucharist in the case of communion in the hand. 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. [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. What if we were passionate about all that? ), Pray Tell: An open forum on faith in South Texas. 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. I dont read any statement with canonical force saying that only those countries may apply for an indult. For this reason, since the question of Communion in the hand is not a question of faith as such, and it has been approved by the legitimate authority, I do not believe that a priest can invoke conscience as a motive for refusing to apply a legitimate law. A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all. In the early Church, the faithful stood when receiving into their hands the consecrated particle can hardly be questioned. St. Dionysius of Alexandria [d. 265], writing to one of the popes of his time, speaks emphatically of one who has stood by the table and has extended his hand to receive the Holy Food (Eusebius [263-339], Hist. Eccl., VII, ix). As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable.. 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.. You should thus draw near with great awe and love, according to the greatness of that which is given: with awe, because of the greatness of (its) honour; and with love, because of (its) grace. 915). [13] In the far-flung regions of the empireGaul (modern-day France and Spain) we have the witness of Caesarius of Arles[14] and the council of Auxerre,[15] and in England, we have the Venerable Bede. [12] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10 and Hymns on Virginity 33.7. 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. Pope Benedict was asked why he chose to distribute Communion only to those kneeling and on the tongue and he responded, because it highlights "the truth of the real presence [of Christ] in the Eucharist, helps the devotion . OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF. They should be grave and objective questions related to good and evil. So they reintroduced the practice of Communion in the hand (it had been originally introduced as a widespread practice by the Arian heretics of the Fourth Century to deny that Jesus is God). If one is left-handed this is reversed. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal takes this hymn very seriously, mandating that it should begin at the Communion of the priest and extend until the last person has received Communion. Bishop Athanasius Schneider argued along the same lines at the end of February. For the first few centuries of the Church, receiving Communion in the hand was a common practice. [4] Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John 6.1 and 12.1. Nowhere in this article did I see what the CHURCH says about Holy Communion, only the writers opinion. Care must also be taken that the communicants have clean hands and that their comportment is becoming and in keeping with the practices of the different peoples. The Holy Eucharist remits venial sins by disposing us to perform acts of love and contrition. Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university. Have reverence for the honor which God has bestowed upon it, and do not lead it down to the vileness of sin.[27]. When the communion is distributed under both kinds, it is never permitted to place in the hands of the communicants hosts which have first been placed in the Blood of the Lord. Luxembourg, October 15 1969 [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. Today, both manners of receiving Communion are worthy and licit. Just look at what making donating money an indulgence-eligible corporal work of mercy resulted in during the Renaissance. We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. The [Seraph] did not hold it, and [Isaiah] did not eat it It is standard procedure so I wonder what the basis of this accusation is. These need to be taken seriously if one wants to effectively engage in these discussions with the likes of Cardinal Sarah and others. Think of what you receive in your hand and keep it clean of all greed and theft. The causes are myriad and often interconnected. Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. Our souls ought to be purer than they, more holy, more brilliant. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. 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. The following norms must, therefore, be respected. We should weigh very well the matters in which we appeal to conscience. 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. I think proponents of tongue/kneeling will get a better hearing if they uphold all aspects of Communion. Per The Baltimore Catechism: It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. Please remember that there is no "right" way to receive. Why? There is so much to Communion. [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). 48 (Sept/Oct), pg 361. They probably never foresaw its subsequent, and occasionally chaotic, development in some parts of the Church. Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. Some may choose to receive the Lord on the tongue while others choose to receive in the hand. The bishop, however, might sometimes deal with the religious priest through his superior in these matters. Fr. [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. 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. 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. When receiving in the hand, the communicant should be guided by the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem . This formula should not be altered, as it is a proclamation which calls for a response of faith on the part of the one who receives. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. Communion in the hand is legitimate only where permitted, and it remains in the realm of a permission. So whats missing? Henry Percival and ed. And some who do have lost their strength or nerve. 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. 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. 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. 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. Alternatively, it is permissible to adopt a simpler procedure, namely, allowing the faithful themselves to take the host from the ciborium or paten. Do we have faith in the efficacy of the sacraments or not? Im not aware of that limitation and would like to see proper documentation. Biting, tearing, casting aspersions on the faith of other Catholics: this is a damnable situation in the Church. These practices have wide evidence of use and in some ways never died out completely. The person distributing Communion says audibly to each person approaching, "The Body of Christ." Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS) TOP
