7 rules for receiving communion in the hand

It must also increase their faith in the sublime reality of the Lords body and blood, which they touch with their hand. Jeffrey T. Wickes FotC 130 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2015). 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. His blood now flows through our veins. St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 348 gave this instruction to his congregation:When you approach Holy Communion, make the left hand into a throne for the right, which will receive the King. Your email address will not be published. [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. (I dont direct this at you, I mean it to everyone on all sides.). 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. All of us should receive with great reverence and respect. So when received unworthily, it is not only useless, but it is harmful to oneself (a lifestyle of sin continues), our neighbors (increase of violence, arson, looting, murders), and society in general (take a look at the condition of our country), and is extremely offensive to God (hence the wide-spread suffering). 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. Is the Catholic Church ever going to bring back communion wine? This catechesis must succeed in excluding any suggestion that in the mind of the Church there is a lessening of faith in the eucharistic presence and in excluding as well any danger or hint of danger of profaning the Eucharist. When permitted, the choice as to the form of reception falls upon the communicant and not upon the priest. Chad, 18 September 1969 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. (Original Latin text here, see pp. 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. 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. Scandinavia,October 15 1969 ADOM :: Communion: in the hand or the tongue Does anyone have an explanation for why France, Germany, and the Low Countries were not quickly regularized once the opportunity was available? 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. 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. The bishop, however, might sometimes deal with the religious priest through his superior in these matters. The Netherlands, 18 September 1969 It was designed: 1. 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. South Africa, 1971 And why so? 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. Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. 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. 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. Thanks for this, Dennis. Mingle and flow into the palms of his disciples![22]. Phillip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889). What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? 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. On reverence for the Eucharist and belief in the Real Presence among Catholic laity has greatly declined I dont think this has ever been proven. When we receive Communion, we become members of Christ's Body, the Church. This helps explain why this line of thought isnt gaining much traction except on the right fringe. 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 []. That said, there are dimensions to this discussion that I think are both valuable and havent been given much screen time overall. Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. For example, although Communion in the hand is generally permitted at the Vatican, in recent years ministers administrating Communion at large at papal Masses have been enjoined to distribute Communion only on the tongue. Finally, to the end that their coming to this heavenly table may be completely worthy and fruitful, the faithful should be instructed on its benefits and effects, for both the individual and society, so that their familial relationship to the Father who gives us our daily bread, may reflect the highest reverence for him, nurture love, and lead to a living bond with Christ, in whose flesh and blood we share.. What some call discipleship, others evangelizationnew or whatever, or some speak of discernment and application of spiritual gifts. 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! 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. The following norms must therefore be respected. Your email address will not be published. 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. Over and over again the prayers of the liturgy and the norms of the General Instruction emphasize this fundamental concept of the unity of the baptized, stressing that when we come together to participate in the Eucharistic celebration we come, not as individuals, but as united members of Christ's Body. It is now August 2020 and I can say that you have been proven wrong. The Controversy of Communion in the Hand Catholic Insight 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. 21. 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. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. But we doyes, verily. A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist: Paraguay, 27 September 1971 A perception such as this is a dreadfully inaccurate and impoverished understanding of what is a significant religious action. As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes the whole of it. This practice has been requested by individual episcopal conferences and has received approval from the Apostolic See. 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. For example, Augustine writes, Someone might say that the Eucharist should not be received daily. Q. Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university. [22] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10, trans. These guidelines replace the guidelines approved by the Administrative Committee of the NCCB in November 1986. 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. Ive updated the post. The problem is a lack of intentionality across the board, starting with the laity. This is the quote that is always used: " make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS) TOP A situation that, in the US certainly, was not necessarily governed by external uniformity (given the varieties of ethnic piety and cultural practices). According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of Communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 3). 2. Communion should not be received on the run, as you're walking back to your place; it should be consumed before you leave the area below the altar. O Solomon, the thing which the Lord of your father On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation. Dear Patrick, The condition is the complete avoidance of any cause for the faithful to be shocked and any danger of irreverence toward the Eucharist. 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. For one who eats unworthily eats and drinks to his own condemnation (1 Cor 11:29). Our bishops have argued that Communion in the hand is the proper way for the faithful to respond to our Lord's invitation: "All of you, take and eat this." What the bishops overlook is the fact . All rights reserved. These considerations can perhaps help balance our perspective (whether in favor or against the practice of communion in the hand), and alert us to the fact that reverence is a complex phenomenon that, of course, does involve postures of the body, but most importantly, the attitude of the heart. 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. In each of the Eucharistic Prayers, though the petition is worded in slightly different ways, God is asked to send his Holy Spirit to make us one body, one spirit in Christ; the General Instruction admonishes the faithful that "they are to form one body, whether in hearing the Word of God, or in taking part in the prayers and in the singing" (no. And of course Pope Paul VI was adamant that all the reforms carried out under him were faithful to the Second Vatican Council. It also rules out arguing for an intrinsic link between a rejection of the true presence and communion in the handthe Fathers, on the whole, speak of Christs presence in the Eucharist in highly realistic terms and also received on the hand. To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul. Communion on Tongue vs. Hand? The Most Important Thing to Know: Hold Battered Gargoyles & The Human Future - Rod Dreher's Diary Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us awr. To that which you are you respond Amen (yes, it is true!) and by responding to it you assent to it. But to us our Lord has given both . Basil the Great, 330-379 stated, "The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in times of persecution." This statement may very well have been made in response to St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 348. 6. 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. God has come to live in us. 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. Paul W. Harkins ACW 31 (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1963). 91). It is also difficult to ensure that the person who receives Communion effectively consumes the host. With regard to the second, we have many early witnesses including Paul (see 1 Cor 11:27) and the Didache (seechapter 14). If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. Sure, Ill go along with that. In fact, each time we move forward together to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord, we join the countless ranks of all the baptized who have gone before us, our loved ones, the canonized and uncanonized saints down through the ages, who at their time in history formed a part of this mighty stream of believers. 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.. I mean WHAT SPECIFIC REASONS were given for requesting it in the first place? 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. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? - AOD Since practices vary from one church to another, we hope these guidelines help you feel more at home. Eccl., VII, ix). 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. He can freely share with the faithful his reasons for preferring to adhere to the traditional practice and encourage the faithful to continue doing so. 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. These need to be taken seriously if one wants to effectively engage in these discussions with the likes of Cardinal Sarah and others. [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. To be a pledge of everlasting life. Timothy O'Malley on the meaning of Eucharistic coherence in the life of the Church. The elements were placed in the hands (not in the mouth) of each communicant by the clergy who were present, or, according to Justin, by the deacons alone, amid singing of psalms by the congregation (Psalm 34), with the words: The body of Christ; The blood of Christ, the cup of life; to each of which the recipient responded Amen. (eminent Church historian Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church: Ante-Nicene Christianity: A.D. 100-325 [Vol. The Truth About Communion in the Hand | The Fatima Center 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 . Whether to receive Communion in the hand or on the tongue are liturgical disciplines, not dogmas. Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute.

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