7 rules for receiving communion in the hand

[8] John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians, Baptismal Instruction 12.1516, On the Incomprehensible Nature of God 6.36, and On the Priesthood 3.4. Holt Orders cannot sustain the Church, no matter how much traditionalists preach priests are of the utmost importance. These views are sometimes strongly held. 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. 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. Is the Catholic Church ever going to bring back communion wine? 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. PDF Instructions on Receiving Holy Communion with Proper Reverence We should weigh very well the matters in which we appeal to conscience. 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. divine life. Papua and New Guinea, 28 April 1976 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. The communicant may choose whether to receive the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist: 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. 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 . Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. 5. 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. But "the sign of communion is more complete when given under both kinds, since in that form the sign of the Eucharistic meal appears more clearly." This is the usual form of receiving communion in the Eastern rites. [27] John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instruction, 12.15-16, trans. Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. It was proved that belief in the Real Presence is abysmal. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer Amen. Catholics use birth control, get divorced and fornicate at the same rate as society in general, with the sin of using birth control rarely confessed. [19] This list is by no means exhaustive, and it would be tedious to cite all of these references as a catalog, but let us turn to a few of them to see what the Fathers have to say about the meaning of this practice. 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. 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. 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. 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. Reverence can be good if it opens us to God & neighbor and makes us more loving. Australia, 26 September 1975 Receiving Communion - Prayer & Spiritual Life - Greek Orthodox [11] Council of Constantinople in Trullo, canon 101. 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. Do we accept an experience of the Real Presence only when the externals and the lingo of 1950 are seen and heard? But is the impression they give generally correct? Maybe this is due to decades of poor or heterodox catechesis on the Sacraments. That said, there are dimensions to this discussion that I think are both valuable and havent been given much screen time overall. John Paul II and Mother Theresa on Communion in the Hand . 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. It is not solely the result of some weird medieval form of reverence. This article has been selected from the ZENIT Daily Dispatch Innovative Media, Inc. ZENIT International News Agency Via della Stazione di Ottavia, 95 00165 Rome, Italywww.zenit.org, To subscribe http://www.zenit.org/english/subscribe.html or email: english-request@zenit.org with SUBSCRIBE in the "subject" field, Provided Courtesy of: Eternal Word Television Network 5817 Old Leeds Road Irondale, AL 35210www.ewtn.com, HOME - EWTNews - FAITH - TELEVISION - RADIO - LIBRARY - MULTIMEDIAWHAT'S NEW - GENERAL - RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE - PILGRIMAGES - ESPAOL, EWTN | 5817 Old Leeds Rd. [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. 1. He said that he had checked with the then Apostolic Delegation and had been assured that the pope was giving the boy a rosary. The Proper Way to Receive Holy Communion - Shrub Oak, NY With regard to the first precept, Origen of Alexandria cautions, You who are accustomed to take part in divine mysteries know, when you receive the body of the Lord, how you protect it with all caution and veneration lest any small part fall from it, lest anything of the consecrated gift be lost. It is bad if it makes us prideful/judgmental and distracts from more important things. These guidelines replace the guidelines approved by the Administrative Committee of the NCCB in November 1986. Take this from someone who receives in the hand sometimes, I would never do it if I thought it was enabling Lucifer to corrupt my soul. Some of the online advocates of kneeling/tongue seem to focus only on adoration of the Real Presence and now a cardinal has said that those who receive standing in the hand most Catholics by far! 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. vehementer hortatur retention of current practice while invoking the common good of the Church. The Reception of Holy Communion at Mass | USCCB Zambia, 11 March 1974 In North Africa (including Egypt) the practice is mentioned by Tertullian,[1] Cyprian,[2] Augustine,[3] Cyril of Alexandria,[4] and John Climacus. When we receive Communion, we become members of Christ's Body, the Church. Q. All of us should receive with great reverence and respect. [21] Theodore of Mopsuestia, catech. When the bishops reassembled, Cardinal John Carberry of St. Louis, a determined opponent of Communion in the hand, was quick to get up to set things straight. 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. 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. When permitted, the choice as to the form of reception falls upon the communicant and not upon the priest. On the one hand, I think this evidence precludes describing communion in the hand as intrinsically irreverent. In the light of the above, we can come to the heart of the matter as to whether a priest may invoke the question of conscience in order to refuse to distribute Communion in the hand. What's at Stake in the Debates Swirling Around Eucharistic Coherence. Required fields are marked *. Communion in the hand is allowed in the United States by decision of the American Bishops. 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 . It is standard procedure so I wonder what the basis of this accusation is. 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. Just look at what making donating money an indulgence-eligible corporal work of mercy resulted in during the Renaissance. Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us How to Receive the Eucharist | Catholic Answers What some call discipleship, others evangelizationnew or whatever, or some speak of discernment and application of spiritual gifts. We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. [16] Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 4.24. On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. The legitimacy of Communion in the hand is not in question. 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. Have reverence for the honor which God has bestowed upon it, and do not lead it down to the vileness of sin.[27]. Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. But back in the West, where most of us at PT are from, the Church is struggling. 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. Mingle and flow into the palms of his disciples![22]. No wonder so many people there have given up on Christianity. 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. The life of Christ, the Holy Spirit, animates each of us individually, and all of us corporately and guides us together in our efforts to become one in Christ. Thanks for this, Dennis. 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. Uruguay,October 15 1969 A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all. 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. 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. We owe the Lord as much attention to detail. 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. [25] Origen of Alexandria, homily in Ex. 3. Now we feel our affluence threatened, and the Gospel gives no comfort on that front. Our worship ought to create common unity under Christ, not destroy it. The Controversy of Communion in the Hand Catholic Insight Many pathogens are transmitted through the hands. I think youre right that, without an explicitly limiting clause, there is no canonically binding restriction to those countries, and that the subsequent granting of dispensation ultimately belied such restriction. Pandemic will affect Communion rituals for U.S. Christians Whether to receive Communion in the hand or on the tongue are liturgical disciplines, not dogmas. Greg., Dial., I, III, c. iii). Copyright PrayTellBlog.com However, since it is a permission, it does not generate an absolute right, and the pastors can rescind the permission, either generally or in particular circumstances if objective motives exist for doing so. The Holy See has made it abundantly clear that both manners of reception of Communion on the tongue and in the hand are permitted, that Communion should be received reverently, and that the manner of reception should not become an occasion of division in the church. Paraguay, 27 September 1971 Hence, my theory is that the wide granting of the indult exceeded its initially intended scope as continued prompting from advisors and larger-than-anticipated requests from conferences overcame the popes reluctance. Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute. Look how military inspectors demand very high standards of care when inspecting barracks for cleanliness. 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. 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. For real reception of the Blessed Eucharist it is required that the sacred species be received into the stomach. The restorers of the rite probably had the beautiful simplicity and symbolism of the medieval rite in mind but did not take the changed circumstances sufficiently into account. 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. 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. Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church: Receiving Communion The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says the following: 160. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 4). If he is a religious priest, what actions can a legitimate superior take as regards the member who denies Communion in the hand? 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. The wind has left our sails and many of us are adrift on uncertain seas. As a scholar of the early Church, I was surprised to learn that the practice of communion in the hand is such a hotly debated topic; it came to my attention during the early days of the pandemic, when many dioceses required communicants to receive in this way. awr. More people have received Communion in the past century. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university. W.R., Goa, India. (Original Latin text here, see pp. 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. 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. 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. http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2014/03/truth-about-communion-in-hand-while.html#.Wpa2wdIUnGg. 7. On this point, I will leave you with a beautiful exhortation from the Golden Tongue: Think of what you receive in your hand and never lift it to strike another and never disgrace with the sin of assault the hand that has been honored with so great a gift. 160-161; English translation here) As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable.. I think proponents of tongue/kneeling will get a better hearing if they uphold all aspects of Communion. Scotland, 7 July 1977 47), and says of the Communion Chant that "its purpose [is] to express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the 'communitarian' character of the procession to receive the Eucharist" (no. In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. 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? The Church in Europe struggled mightilyand some might say in futilityagainst centuries of violence, sect on sect, nation vs nation. 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. Catechesis has been virtually non-existent or flat-out heretical for the last 50 years. All of us are only grasping a hint of it. 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! Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the Eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. Communion in the hand is legitimate only where permitted, and it remains in the realm of a permission. It should be noted that it is never permissible for a person to dip the host he or she has received into the chalice. 51 (Feb), pg 62). October 13, 2022. The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion. After receiving Communion our bodies become holy chalices. Biting, tearing, casting aspersions on the faith of other Catholics: this is a damnable situation in the Church. I am a daily witness at the Basilique du Sacr-Cur de Montmartre (Paris).. [23], The great and divine Apostle Paul with loud voice calls man created in the image of God, the body and temple of Christ. 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. Aaron, 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. 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. A priest who is not directly responsible for the care of souls should be even more respectful of local practice. 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. One said: When [the practice was] introduced in the U.S. Cyril of Jerusalem was quoted make your hands a throne for the King, take and eat.Is anyone denying the quote?, Concerning Communion in the hand, please consult the Mystical Catechesis of St. Cyril of Jerusalem for a description of the practice around A.D. 345. 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. Please remember that there is no "right" way to receive. 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.". 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. can. 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. Timothy O'Malley, Copyright 2023 Since Christ is really, substantially, sacramentally present but not physically, being OC over crumbs is not devotion. 1. The author seems to think that liturgical reforms should consist of only what an ecumenical council prescribed. Receiving the Host in the Hand | Franciscan Media The person distributing Communion says audibly to each person approaching, "The Body of Christ." 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. 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. 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. Is it okay to recieve Communion in the hand? - Catholic Online 160). Communion in the hand vs. Communion on the tongue | Crux [10] See John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, 4.13. 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. "You're talking to someone who has only owned a smartphone for a yearI resisted," he said. [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. As for decades of poor or heterodox catechesis on the Sacraments, it seems more likely that catechesis has never been better, more Scripture-based, and more soundly theological. 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. I think the Holy Spirit was nudging people closer to the problem, which was already in evidence decades before the Council. How should this evidence be brought to bear on the modern conversation? 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.. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. 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. These practices have wide evidence of use and in some ways never died out completely. Indonesia, 27 March 1971 I happen to accept the role of darkness within the Church, but it strikes me as being perpetrated all too often by those who style themselves the most faithful or loyal to God.