This article will help you understand the most reverent way to receive our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. First, the head should be bent back slightly, and the head should be held erect, but kind of tilted back. We comehow should I put it?with great reverence and respect. Even priests can become slovenly in the way they say Mass. Though modern liturgical theorists, designers and consultants tout the newer practice, which opposes the Communion rail and its conduciveness to receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, there has been no ecclesiastical document that has come out against the Communion rail or one that sanctions its removal from churches. It endeavours to foster the culture of life by reporting truthfully, critically, contextually, and comparatively with a view to history and guided by a cultural vision inspired by Catholic doctrine and the classical liberal arts. I am of the firm opinion that Christ would find Himself rather uncomfortable in an environment with people more concerned about bowing and genuflecting but unwilling to reciprocate and reach out and touch Him. The Controversy of Communion in the Hand Catholic Insight this helps us promote a safe and accountable online community, and allows us to update you when other commenters reply to your posts. That's what the "Amen" means: "I honestly believe that when I receive, it is Christ. Mr. Paul Kokoski holds a B.A. When you talk about what Im going to talk about, people say, Oh, my goodness, Father has me directly in mind. Why do you imply that He now says When you touch Me you are in league with Satan? "20 Father John Hardon, S.J. Receiving Communion in the Hand : r/Catholicism - Reddit With respect to the former, the Church speaks only in a cautionary tone because of the many abuses that often accompany this practice. Pope Saint Paul VI issued an indult soon after the Council that Communion could be received on the hand, so, pace the thoughts of some, such a practice is not an intrinsic evil (after all, one could pick up the Eucharist cast upon the ground, say, and consume the species, as saints have done, in emergency situations). Reception on the tongue was mandated by a local council, at Rouen, in 878, and St. Thomas Aquinas explains that only the consecrated fingers of a priest should touch the host (Summa Theologiae IIIa, Q82, a3). I dont have any doubt about his deep and sincere faith. Shop: Roman Catholic "RC" Brand Original White Logo Collection Pillow | Multiple colors and sizes available! Its not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.Matthew 15:10-11. Thanks, I would have said the same, although not as kindly. 2 days of "and the lord heard me - i have my answers" || nsppd || 6th july 2023 For those not familiar with the Communion or altar rail, it is an architectural feature, usually made of marble or some other precious material, that separates the sanctuary from the body of the church. Sometimes communicants come up with their hands out and their mouths open, and the priest doesnt know which way to give the Host. Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, "Internal Communication Directive" (March 23, 1970), hereafter cited CCCB. For this reason, we cannot suggest that Communion in the hand is somehow expressly forbidden. 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. And God will provide. Objecting to Communion in the Hand | EWTN - EWTN Global Catholic There are plenty of photos of the Cardinal looking pleasant and happy, but you will not find them where the Jesuits are trying to denigrate the Cardinal's stance. A Pastoral Guide to Receiving Communion - Crisis Magazine also proclaimed, "Behind Communion in the hand I wish to repeat and make as plain as I can is a weakening, a conscious, deliberate weakening of faith in the Real Presence . It must be explained that reception of Communion on the hand is not sinful, nor is it forbidden. Truth About Communion in the Hand While Standing However, since 1969, the Holy See has granted permission to bishops . We ask readers to log in so that we can recognize you as a registered user and give you unrestricted access to our website. I think it was one of the French revolutionaries who said, If I truly believed what the Church wants me to believe, that Christ truly becomes present on the altar at the moment of consecration, I would not walk to the communion railI would crawl on my belly. How appropriate is Jesus' discussion in Matthew 15:1-20. There already is polarization on this issue as there are many old people who believe as he does, and he and they will die soon. No bishop on earth has the authority to countermand a law or specific directive of the Vatican, that is intended to the Universal Church. Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address. (The option applies only in countries whose national bishops conferences have applied for and been granted permission to authorize Communion in the hand, of course.) "12 If, however, this was one of our bishops' primary motivations behind their quest for legitimate renewal, one has to wonder why the most solemn act of kneeling at the moment of Holy Communion was considered expendable when for centuries it was employed because of its immeasurable benefit of predisposing one to holiness. That's all Christ talked about - how to take communion. TikTok video from John Catholic (@johniscatholic): "Receiving Holy Communion on the tongue #catholic #catholicism #catholictiktok #catholictok #eucharist #communion #foryou #jesus #mary #rosary #prayer #saints #christian #catholicfaith #traditionalcatholic". The superior being is the one to assimilate the inferior. If you were to ask me what two dispositions are absolutely necessary to approach the table of the Lord, I would say without hesitation that the first isfaitha deep belief in our Lord who is truly present, body and soul, humanity and divinity, who becomes present at the words of consecration and who comes into our lives, into our very beings, assimilates us into himself, through the reception of the Eucharist. The practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand first began to spread in Catholic circles during the early 1960s, primarily in Holland. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? - AOD But thats more inourdisposition than in anything else. It is that Eucharist with which Christ reaches out to touch us. The primary driver of concern is COVID. His last article in HPR appeared in June 2008. It is the hands that either do the work of Christ in this world or do evil. In more recent times, Church leaders have been clear on one point: Communion on the tongue is not only acceptable, but preferable, and the Church should never deny this method of reception to the faithful. People with such disabilities know how to sit forward to pray with reverence -- they just need the furniture to include an accommodation for their situation and for others to understand that there are Parishioners with "invisible" disabilities. As a brief postscript, a most unfortunate development has been attempts by priests and even some bishops to enforce uniformity in the manner of receiving Holy Communion by refusing it to those who wish to receive on the tongue, or by remonstrating with them afterward. . The debate over Communion in the hand or on the tongue has nonetheless occurred throughout Church history. Not exactlybut in certain instances I discern a loss of what the Cardinal is citing: The Real Presence of The Eucharist and the Reality of The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He commented: "If I offer you something to eat, and you accept it in your hand, as is normal, then it is I who am giving and you who receive. 6000 Thoughts A Day: What to Do with Them All? Honoring St Benedict and the Role of Monks in the Church, Doctors Opposing Abortion Face 'Brutal Discrimination' in Spain, Daily Readings for Thursday, July 13, 2023, St. Henry: Saint of the Day for Thursday, July 13, 2023, Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, July 13, 2023. Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, November 2008, Father Regis Scanlon, who is spiritual director for Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, has said that "the doctrine of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is one of those wonderful truths by which Christianity shines forth as a religion of mysteries far exceeding the capacity of the human mind. "7, Permission for Communion in the hand was eventually granted to the Canadian bishops on several strict conditions, including that "the new manner of giving Communion must not be imposed in a way that would exclude the traditional practice. In the Eucharist our dear Lord Jesus shows how closely He wishes to be united with us - the very molecules and atoms of His Body become enmeshed in our cells - and at what price He accomplishes this - the unspeakable terror and anguish of crucifixion. There is no picking up the host with the fingersnor is there the curious practice, as Cyril notes, of the communicant touching his eyes with the host. Communion on the tongue certainly dates back to the earliest centuries of Church history, and possibly back to the time of the Apostles. It is the individual who decides how he is going to receive. The pre-Vatican II practice, which was clearly in use for a much longer period of time than either the practice described by St. Cyril or the modern practice (or both put together), retains value as a way of emphasizing the special status and value of the eucharistic presence of our Lord. That community of good people ,is not the essence of our faith; you don't have to believe in God or in Jesus Christ as the lover/savior of humanity to have good communities.Our belief in the reality of God, the goodness of God , so good that he becomes one of us in suffering and death and transforms our broken mortal condition to become inheritors of His divine life, is the essence of our faith. Is it best to receive Holy Communion in the hand or on the tongue The abusive and hurried manner in which the practice of Communion in the hand was imposed after Vatican II lead to a widespread lack of reverence for the Eucharist and caused great pain for many in the Church. On May 28, 1969 the Congregation for Divine Worship issued Memoriale Domini, which concluded: "From the responses received, it is thus clear that by far the greater number of bishops feel that the present discipline [i.e., Holy Communion on the tongue] should not be changed at all, indeed that if it were changed, this would be offensive to the sensibility and spiritual appreciation of these bishops and of most of the faithful. I dont think there should be any genuflectionsafterreceiving Holy Eucharist. Dear Cardinal Sarah, Thank you for all the good service you have given to the Church whom we are. I know, it's perhaps a false dichotomy, but it seems to me that the way to best preserve the teachings of Christ is through a religion that focuses on Christ being God. A clean white cloth of fine linen, which was usually fastened on the sanctuary side of the rail, would be extended over the length of the rail before those who receive Holy Communion to act as a sort of corporal to receive any particles that may by chance fall from the hands of the priest. 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). Your source for jobs, books, retreats, and much more. Why Communion on the Tongue is More Suitable Than in the Hand Further, as Communion on the tongue helps to foster a proper sense of reverence and piety, I believe it is high time this practice be returned to its former place of prominence not only for the greater glory of God but for the salvation of souls. As you prepare to receive our Lord, you're then asked to do three things. Sometimes the priest or extraordinary minister doesnt see it. It is awkward to sit next to kids who, at a transition point, want to rapidly put the kneeler up; people with disabilities need a little time to carefully move their leg out of the way when the kneeler goes up, after they've been sitting forward while praying. We really don't need Cardinal Sarah stirring up trouble. The communicant and only the communicant. Wondering why we ask for your email, or having trouble registering. A perennial source of debate, and occasionally of conflict, is the way we receive Holy Communion. Double standards: the EU, seals, and abortion. Mine has no angels at all, no hell, satan, or lucifer either. Firing him would be over the top too. Dr Andrzej Caruk, BSc (Hon, Microbiology and Human Sciences) DC (Hon), DACO, FACO, (neuromusculoskeletal specialist -orthopedics) is a chiropractic orthopedist living and working in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. However, I also recall the up-tightness and lack of a sense of the "Familia Dei" so prevalent in pre-Vat.II worship.Worship should be connected with both God's Transcendence and God's Immanence; for our part, awe and reverence for God's Transcendence and comfort and childlikeness, i.e. I think thats what many people complain about in our modern liturgy, the fact that the sense of reverence, of dignity, of awe, has disappeared. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. Today, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops makes it clear that Communion may be received in the hand or on the tongue, a decision that is to be made by the individual receiving. Cardinal Sarah questions why Catholics standrather than kneeland receive Communion in the hand. Now there are two ways in which Communion is received in the Latin Church: We receive either on the tongue or in the hand. But when speaking to the Church be more prudent. 1, Father Regis Scanlon, O.F.M., Cap., "Eucharistic Piety: A Strong Recommendation". 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. Truth About Communion in the Hand While Standing This is surely a matter in which everyone should be able to tolerate those who hold to the more longstanding practice, as an effective sign of the Faith we all share. The host on the tongue like the Ash Wednesday ashes, can a tune one to open ones heart and mind to God.It should humble us Catholics, we're not a clique. St. Thomas Aquinas, Dec. praec.6). It is theLordthat we are worshiping. (CCC 1759). The tongue should come out over the bottom teeth, equal with the bottom lip, so that the priest has someplace to put the Host. Then we receive. Jesus knows the cardinal's heart. In the East, leavened bread is consecrated, and soaked in the Precious Blood, and Holy Communion is distributed directly into the mouth with a spoon. They had done so for many centuries. Memoriale Domini forbids pressure on the faithful to confirm to the novel practice, as does a later instruction, Redemptionis Sacramentum: It is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christs faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing, and each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice (91, 92). It really is pronounced Ahmeen, and it means, So be it. I agree. I believe. It, the Body of Christ. Thats what the Amen means: I honestly believe that when I receive, it is Christ. In this exclusive interview, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich speaks about the synod of bishops on synodality that will open in the Vatican on Oct. 4, at which for the first time women will participate as full members with the right to vote. Its an act of worship, and so we do it. . This is in contrast to what His Excellency Bishop Crosby has ordered in his June 10, 2020 letter to the faithful in the Diocese of Hamilton, where he stated: Communion can be received only in the hand, In 1969, The Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, issued the Instruction Memoriale Domini (AAS61 (1969):541-547), saying: Thus the custom was established of the minister placing a particle of consecrated bread on the tongue of the communicant. [7] 2. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. This gives the impression that receiving communion in the hand was unheard of prior to the 1960s; but this is false. 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. First, the head should be bent back slightly, and the head should be held erect, but kind of tilted back. Sometimes the priest or extraordinary minister doesnt see it. If youre going to receive in the hand, be clear about where the Host should be placed so that it doesnt accidentally fall. Advocating for Host on the tongue does not make you less likely to be a friend of Jesus then advocating for Host in the hand makes you more likely to be a friend of Jesus. But over the centuries, liturgical practice evolved to distributing Communion to the faithful on the tongue. What the hell is wrong with this man? Take away the Eucharist, and were like everyone else. Sarah decries. These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.Isaiah 29:13, Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. 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. Dorothy Day synthesized seemingly contradictory values with insight and nuance. So too genuflecting and the priest praying facing the alter can have the same effect. You can also manage your account details and your print subscription after logging in. This demonstrates how easily the practice of Communion in the hand can and in fact does open the door to all sorts of accidental and even intentional abuses. In the new mass, this has been changed, Catholics no longer kneel down and take communion in tongue. Now at 78 yrs age, of course I remember pre-Vatican ll Liturgy and do I pine away for the 'good old days'? Certainly, respectful behaviors and attentive attitudes during worship are important. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer 'Amen'. The world is full of communities of people who are bounded by love and good will and good deeds. Catholics who receive in the hand should ensure, above all, that their hands are clean as they prepare to literally touch the presence of Christ. It is not essential to knowing and loving Jesus how one takes the Host or where the priest faces, whether one stands of kneels but neither is it invalid to prefer one over the other. Communion in the Hand | Catholic Answers His articles have been published in several Catholic journals, including Catholic Insight and Challenge Magazine. As parish churches reopen and Communion becomes available, many bishops prefer, for the safety of parishioners and clergy alike, that the faithful accept Communion in the hand. Calling the reforms "diabolical" is rather over the top, but how old is the cardinal? One can hold, and many do, that the current situation is not such an emergency, and such is the argument of Dr. Andrew Caruk. How to Receive Holy Communion - Catholic Exchange Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. It is always helpful to review instructions for receiving Communion. The Reception of Holy Communion at Mass | USCCB So far as can be determined, no one of these variations was practiced with insufficient reverence from Gods point of view. An no, it's not done to draw attention to one self, but to give God His due. Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Vaticans most senior liturgy official who has in the past been reprimanded by Pope Francis for his views on liturgy, is raising eyebrows again after expressing his opposition to the widely accepted practice of receiving Communion in the hand. It is theLordwho is giving us in the Eucharist a special way to participate in divine life. "4 After he had considered the observation and the counsel of the bishops, the Supreme Pontiff judged that the long-received manner of ministering Holy Communion to the faithful should not be changed. As everyone knows no one is always 100% right, including you, of course, as clearly you are incorrect about Communion in the hand being diabolic. But most clergy and Eucharistic ministers will certainly comply with their bishop's request. In his book "The Devastated Vineyard" Dietrich von Hilderbrand asserts that one of CS Lewis's devils would have definitely been proud to foster communion in the hand and reception standing up. Can We Be Required to Receive Communion in the Hand, Because of the I know hes directing what hes saying at. Catholics should worship in accordance with what they believe. If nevertheless we are made to feel guilty for not wanting to possibly spread the contagion, we should think of what St Thomas Aquinas said about the end never being justified by the means, namely: An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention (cf. (CNS photo/Paul Haring), Were sorry registration isn't working smoothly for you. Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD - LIVE NOW: HOLY MASS 9:30AM - Facebook A History of communion on the Hand - ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY CATHOLIC We celebrate what Jesus enacted at the Last Supper and on Calvary. Why would you say that their hands are unworthy to touch the Body of our dear Lord Jesus, and indeed that He is saying When you touch Me you are in league with Satan ? For those not receiving Holy Communion. How to receive Holy Communion in one's hand - The Compass But you. If youre going to kneel for Communionand its all right to kneelremember that, when you rise, you have people behind you. The "kitchen" example does, however, raise a new concern. The history of the liturgy, however, makes clear that rather early on a process took place to change this practice. A person who uses a cane to steady his walk may come close to being knocked over by someone rising up. But over the centuries, liturgical practice evolved to distributing Communion to the faithful on the tongue. What is necessary is to receive with reverence and dignity. No doubt this has been due to the toning down, and in some cases the deletion, of these and many other symbols and signs of adoration. How to Properly Receive Communion on the Hands - catholiclegion He seems to always be a very unhappy looking man. Come straight forward, face the priest, and dont be too far away, because its awfully difficult at times to reach. Receiving Communion in the Hand I just recently got into a discussion with my closest Catholic friend regarding the reception of communion on the hand, versus orally. But there are the most gravely serious kinds of arguments against it. In this article I would like to examine one of the sources often cited in this debate and place the issue into some historical context. Logging in will also give you access to commenting features on our website. The Council of Saragossa, 380, excommunicated anyone who dared continue to receive Holy Communion in the hand. We ask our visitors to confirm their email to keep your account secure and make sure you're able to receive email from us. Please visit ourmembership pageto learn how you can invest in our work by subscribing to the magazine or making a donation. Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions. He seems to want to bring back the forms of the pre-Vatican II church, but what we really need to do is move forward. Who decides how one is to receive Holy Communion? The custom does not detract in any way from the personal dignity of those who approach this great sacrament: it is part of that preparation that is needed for the most fruitful reception of the body of the Lord. This unfortunately has happened in these days of revived Satanism. The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers us a number of images from our tradition to refer to this most sacred reality: Eucharistic assembly (synaxis), action of thanksgiving, breaking of the bread, memorial, holy sacrifice, Lord's Supper, holy and divine Liturgy, Holy Communion, and Holy Mass.7 The eucharistic species of bread and wine . This document foresaw two particular dangers with the novel practice: that it would suggest that there was some wavering on the part of the Church in its faith in the eucharistic presence and a danger or even suggestion of profanation. Surveys inform us that belief in the Real Presence has declined. [The traditional] method of distributing Holy Communion must be retained, taking the present situation of the Church in the entire world into account, not merely because it has many centuries of tradition behind it, but especially because it expresses the faithfuls reverence for the Eucharist. Please pray for me. But his faith completely fails to prevent him from proclaiming something that is so obviously wrong receiving the Communion in the hand is a "diabolic" act! Once the faithful were effectively forced to stand for Holy Communion11" and the practice of receiving in the hand became the norm, lay people were then invited to come up to the altar and distribute Holy Communion. Listen, he said, and try to understand. Free eBook: Liturgical Year 2022-2023, Vol. if you are trying to comment, you must log in or set up a new account. I have never seen a photo of Crd Sarah where he is not scowling like this. n 91). I wish I could remember Pope Francis' writing in the last year or so on the point that there is no going back. But Cyrils description differs from the way Holy Communion is received in the hand today. Pope Pius XII spoke in very clear and unmistakable terms against the idea of re-introducing customs from the time of the catacombs. Doing so however gets press. Her hands - how many caresses have they bestowed, fevered brows soothed, skinned knees and elbows cleaned and dressed, tears wiped away, meals lovingly prepared, floors scrubbed. Out of that faith there has to come a devotion. A hundred years ago, it might be reasonably considered as very correct. Nicaraguans overwhelmingly disapprove of the conviction and imprisonment of Bishop Rolando lvarez of Matagalpa, according to a survey in the increasingly repressing Central American country, where the Sandinista regime continues cracking down on the Catholic Church. 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. "According to the Vaticans own website, the most ancient practice of distributing Holy Communion was, with all probability, to give Communion to the faithful in the palm of the hand.". Tim Staples discusses the practice of receiving Communion in the hand with a caller on Catholic Answers Live. The practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand first began to spread in Catholic circles during the early 1960s, primarily in Holland. We comehow should I put it?with great reverence and respect. Once we have received him in the Eucharist, he is present in our very persons, in our bodies. May 11, 2020 Pat McCloskey, OFM Ask a Franciscan Q: When and why did the Catholic Church begin the practice of receiving the host in the hand during Holy Communion? Communion on Tongue vs. Hand? The Most Important Thing to Know - Medium Dietrich von Hildebrand, "Communion in the hand should be rejected," November 8, 1973.