7 rules for receiving communion in the hand

The bishop, however, might sometimes deal with the religious priest through his superior in these matters. Pandemic will affect Communion rituals for U.S. Christians 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. Because those vessels are made so for our sakes. Copyright 2023 Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. Irondale, Alabama. 1396: In Baptism we have been called to form but one body. 4. I do make the point that reverence, while important, is not the only or most important aspect of Communion. [22] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10, trans. Communion on Tongue vs. Hand? The Most Important Thing to Know: Hold At the same time he has taken into account the reasons given to support your request and the outcome of the vote taken on this matter. The debate was interrupted by lunch. A Journal of the McGrath Institute for Church Life, by Elizabeth Klein University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute for Church Life In this he shows a great fear, and since the hand that is stretched out holds a higher rank, it is the one that is extended for receiving the body of the King, and the other hand bears and brings its sister hand, while not thinking that it is playing the role of a servant, as it is equal with it in honour, on account of the bread of the King, which is also borne by it. Ive updated the post. Take a step or two to the side to make way for the next communicant, then receive our Lord. The legitimacy of Communion in the hand is not in question. Some scholars claim that this part of the Mystical Catechesis is not originally from St. Cyril but a later interpolation into the text. PDF Instructions on Receiving Holy Communion with Proper Reverence In North Africa (including Egypt) the practice is mentioned by Tertullian,[1] Cyprian,[2] Augustine,[3] Cyril of Alexandria,[4] and John Climacus. 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. He said that he had checked with the then Apostolic Delegation and had been assured that the pope was giving the boy a rosary. 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. Henry Percival and ed. 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. II], [23], The great and divine Apostle Paul with loud voice calls man created in the image of God, the body and temple of Christ. Timothy O'Malley, Copyright 2023 Japan, 27 June 1970 Australia, 26 September 1975 It is bad if it makes us prideful/judgmental and distracts from more important things. Communion on the Tongue is an Apostolic Tradition, and - Catholic365 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. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? - AOD The new manner of giving communion must not be imposed in a way that would exclude the traditional practice. This blog is not associated with Pray Tell: An open forum on faith in South Texas. 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. 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. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer Amen. In such cases, episcopal conferences should examine matters carefully and should make whatever decisions, by a secret vote and with a two-thirds majority, are needed to regulate matters. 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. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. 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. The condition is the complete avoidance of any cause for the faithful to be shocked and any danger of irreverence toward the Eucharist. . For some, however, the experience of the Communion Procession is far more prosaic, analogous perhaps to standing in line in the supermarket or at the motor vehicle bureau. 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. How to Receive the Eucharist | Catholic Answers Communion on the tongue remains the usual and common form of administering Holy Communion. Objecting to Communion in the Hand | EWTN As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. St. 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. A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all. I think that settles it. 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. Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university. The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed, in the hand, the choice lying with the communicant. And why so? To be a pledge of everlasting life. All rights reserved. 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. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? 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. All our lives we who believe in Christ are moving in time toward that moment when we will be taken by death from this world and enter into the joy of the Lord in the eternal Kingdom he has prepared for us. This means that Jesus has no eyes but our eyes, no feet . 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] Here is what Theodore says: 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. [10] See John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, 4.13. It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. 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. We are the Body of Christ, moving forward to receive the Christ who makes us one with himself and with one another. 896. From these documents, we can deduce the following points. However, cases of a deplorable lack of respect towards the Eucharistic species have been reported, cases which are imputable not only to the individuals guilty of such behavior but also to the pastors of the church who have not been vigilant enough regarding the attitude of the faithful towards the Eucharist. The wind has left our sails and many of us are adrift on uncertain seas. 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. Uruguay,October 15 1969 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. If we follow the example of the Fathers, we will prioritize practices that prevent the dropping of the Eucharist and catechizing communicants not to receive in a state of mortal sin. On the one hand, I think this evidence precludes describing communion in the hand as intrinsically irreverent. 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 with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable.. 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. 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. 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. 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.. Instead this option must increase in them a consciousness of the dignity of the members of Christs Mystical Body, into which they are incorporated by baptism and by the grace of the Eucharist. To continue the sacrifice of the Cross in His Church. St. Bishop Athanasius Schneider argued along the same lines at the end of February. To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul. For this is what it is to receive unworthily: if one receives at that time when he ought to be doing penance. Alphonse Mingana (Gorgias Press: Piscataway, NJ, 2009 [1933]). Dear Patrick, A priest who is not directly responsible for the care of souls should be even more respectful of local practice. 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 . 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. 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. The faithful must be taught that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and that therefore the worship of latria or adoration belonging to God is owed to Christ present in this sacrament. From the point of view of liturgical law, the relevant documents are the following. 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. Was changing the mode reception of Communion one of them? Theres no simple solution to this issue. (or: Which Heresy Will You Give Up for Lent? W.R., Goa, India. Maybe this is due to its similarity to practices in most Protestant churches, many of which (Anglicans and Lutherans notwithstanding) fundamentally dont believe in a sacramental Communion substance. The Eucharist may not be received while a person has mortal sin in their soul. What's at Stake in the Debates Swirling Around Eucharistic Coherence. 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. 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. It is always helpful to review instructions for receiving Communion. But whatever the case, it is the Pope who decides to authorize it for countries, and it is indisputable that he did so. They partake not of Him that is in them, they perceive Him not. [5] John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent 28. For you believe, and correctly, that you are answerable if anything falls from there by neglect.[25]. 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. 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. 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. There are particles, and there are particles. Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the, The Abandoned: Toward a Christocentric Phenomenology of Prayer, The Conclusion of Karl Rahner's Dissertation on the Origin of the Church from the Side Wound of the Crucified Christ. http://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Handkommunion. awr. Monaco, 31 October 1969 In comparing the indult list provided in this post with the brief history of Fr. vehementer hortatur retention of current practice while invoking the common good of the Church. Their attitude of reverence must measure up to what they are doing. Obviously, for better or worse, the NLM has an agenda. France, 6 June 1969 The Reception of Holy Communion at Mass | USCCB England and Wales, 6 March 1976 Cardinals Thorne (Peru) and Caffarra (Bologna) have banned Communion in the hand, citing reasons of abuse and disrespect. We owe the Lord as much attention to detail. Never receive Holy Communion by extending only one hand. The liturgical renewal of St. Pius X which promoted the frequent reception of Communion were still quite young. Please take responsibility for the lies, the bile, and the sinful stuff. Indonesia, 27 March 1971 I am just wondering what the reason or reasons were for allowing reception of Communion in the hand to begin with? 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. But there is more to the story. By this symbolic action, their denial would be clear to all. [27] John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instruction, 12.15-16, trans. 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.. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. 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. Per The Baltimore Catechism: One could have perfect adoration of Real Presence in humble posture and, at least in theory, miss the point of Communion. Come see, Interestingly, during the Middle Ages, the reception of Holy Communion was restricted to "on the tongue" because of abuses. When we move in procession, particularly the procession to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Communion, we are a sign, a symbol of that pilgrim Church "on the way.". 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. [] It is not permitted for the faithful to take the consecrated Bread or the sacred chalice by themselves and, still less, to hand them on from one to another among themselves. Or is there more context that is missing? When the priest gives it he says: The body of Christ. He teaches you by this word not to look at that which is visible, but to picture in your mind the nature of this oblation, which, by the coming of the Holy Spirit, is the body of Christ. Eccl., VII, ix). 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). 2. 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. Think of what you receive in your hand and keep it clean of all greed and theft. [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. 5. Ireland, 4 September 1976 Many pathogens are transmitted through the hands. 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. [12] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10 and Hymns on Virginity 33.7. 6. Phillip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889). [2] Cyprian, On the Good of Patience 14, On the Lapsed 16 and 26,and Letter 55.9. Surveys from CARA and Pew reflect this, though I admittedly doubted them until I attended mass with a fellow Catholic at church that predominantly received on the tongue and my friend jeering remarked, why dont they receive in the hand like normal people?

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