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. On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. Jesus wants to use our hands, which have now become His hands, to help those in need. 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). As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable. 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 . 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. We are the Body of Christ, moving forward to receive the Christ who makes us one with himself and with one another. 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. It is a matter of particular seriousness that in places where the new practice is lawfully permitted every one of the faithful has the option of receiving communion on the tongue and even when other persons are receiving communion in the hand. It is simply reading too much into this practice, and it is not correct to support something one favors by denigrating another practice. 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 people administering the sacrament are asked to use hand sanitizer immediately before. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? 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. awr. What's at Stake in the Debates Swirling Around Eucharistic Coherence. 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. As further documentation,Pray Tell provides this excerpt from the 2002General Instruction of the Roman Missal in Latin and English on the reception of Communion. It also happens, on occasion, that the free choice of those who prefer to continue the practice of receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is not taken into account in those places where the distribution of Communion in the hand has been authorized. It must be presumed that a priest has sufficient formation in moral principles so as to exclude an erroneous conscience in such matters. On the other hand, if the sins are not so great that a person should be judged to deserve excommunication, he ought not to withdraw from the daily medicine of the Lords body.[26]. Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ's faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing" (Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul. 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. The Holy Eucharist remits venial sins by disposing us to perform acts of love and contrition. Basil the Great considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault. Since Christ is really, substantially, sacramentally present but not physically, being OC over crumbs is not devotion. 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. [26] Augustine, Letter 54.3.4, trans. For example, to say that Communion in the hand is a sign of spiritual maturity, or that Communion on the tongue reduces the lay faithful to infancy, is belied by centuries of lay saints who received in this manner. Australia, 26 September 1975 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. Yugoslavia, 1971 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. I beg to differ. So the authors claim that he is exactly Vatican II is doubtful. 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.. 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. Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread (1 Cor 10:16-17). 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. In order to be properly disposed to . The divine coal is a common image of the Eucharist in Syrian theology. Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 2 October 1971 However, he should not refuse to administer Communion to those faithful desirous of availing themselves of a legitimate authorization. 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 . 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. 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. My country is not on this list but holy communion is the norm. For one who eats unworthily eats and drinks to his own condemnation (1 Cor 11:29). Who holds the wind in the palm of his hand? The very idea of people regularly receiving Communion (and even receiving Communion as part of the liturgy to the Eucharist itself) were relatively new ideas at the time of the Council. 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. Bishop Athanasius Schneider argued along the same lines at the end of February. Zambia, 11 March 1974 Now we feel our affluence threatened, and the Gospel gives no comfort on that front. It is advisable, therefore, that the rite be introduced gradually and in the beginning within small, better-prepared groups and in favorable settings. By this symbolic action, their denial would be clear to all. 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. The practice of communion on the tongue with the use of patens in the West, and in both kinds on a spoon with a drop cloth in the East, moreover, are natural developments from the concern of the Early Church to prevent Eucharistic mishaps. 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. There are particles, and there are particles. This is more a question of moral theology than of liturgy. Middle Africa, 3 February 1970 Churches are closing, priests are dying off, masses young people are dropping their faith, and the Church is slowly slipping into obscurity in its own homeland. What if our reception made us all more loving of one another, whatever our views on how to receive? 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.". Alternatively, it is permissible to adopt a simpler procedure, namely, allowing the faithful themselves to take the host from the ciborium or paten. Fast forward to 2004, when The Congregation for Divine Worship in its new Instruction named Redemptionis Sacramentum, stated: "Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand the sacred host is to be administered . 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. | Irondale, AL 35210 |. [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). Today, both manners of receiving Communion are worthy and licit. A priest who is not directly responsible for the care of souls should be even more respectful of local practice. 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. Later that year approval was given to Luxembourg, Scandinavia (Scandia), North Africa, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Monaco (see Notitiae v. 7 (1970), no. The causes are myriad and often interconnected. Im skeptical of the claim that collecting absentee ballots for bishops conference votes is unlawful. For whatever reason, reception on the hand does not appear to convey the same level of reverence in the public consciousness as reception on the tongue. 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. A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist: The rationale for Communion on the hands being an ancient practice is from St. Cyril of Jerusalem. A situation that, in the US certainly, was not necessarily governed by external uniformity (given the varieties of ethnic piety and cultural practices). 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. 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. The problem is a lack of intentionality across the board, starting with the laity. 2. June 29, 2021 | There are many devout Catholics who find this practice helpful. Upper Volta and Niger, 20 February 1970 (Catholic Encyclopedia: Genuflexion) North Africa,October 15 1969 For the first few centuries of the Church, receiving Communion in the hand was a common practice. 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. Its just BREAD!!. Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS) TOP Bishops who have been permitted to introduce the new rite of communion are asked to send a report to the congregation, six months hence, on the outcome. 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. These guidelines replace the guidelines approved by the Administrative Committee of the NCCB in November 1986. 1. 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. Come see, A: The answer to this question is somewhat complex. 915). Pope Paul Vl approved this Instruction, confirmed it with his authority, and ordered its publication, setting the day of publication as its effective date. 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. With regard to the second, we have many early witnesses including Paul (see 1 Cor 11:27) and the Didache (seechapter 14). 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. [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. 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). It was proved that belief in the Real Presence is abysmal. Thanks for this, Dennis. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. For real reception of the Blessed Eucharist it is required that the sacred species be received into the stomach. 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. Catechesis has been virtually non-existent or flat-out heretical for the last 50 years. 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. 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. The wind has left our sails and many of us are adrift on uncertain seas. Nowhere in this article did I see what the CHURCH says about Holy Communion, only the writers opinion. Other way round, it was in the hand and changed to the tongue circa 900 in the west. 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). 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. [17] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 7.9.4. Think of what you receive in your hand and keep it clean of all greed and theft. This practice has been requested by individual episcopal conferences and has received approval from the Apostolic See. 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. 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] Here is what Theodore says: This would be done especially if it is very difficult or impossible to fulfill the necessary conditions as outlined in the documents above. 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. 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.. 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. University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute for Church Life All of us are only grasping a hint of it. 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. For pastoral reasons this manner of receiving communion has been legitimately established as the most common form in the Latin rite. And some who do have lost their strength or nerve. God has come to live in us. Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA. Bolivia, October 15 1969 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 . Devotion and reverence toward the Eucharist in the case of communion in the hand. [25] Origen of Alexandria, homily in Ex. The author claims that Communion in the hand could only be authorized in countries where it was an established practice but doesnt give a citation. For Catholics: As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. Of note for the modern debate, both John Chrysostom and the Council of Constantinople in Trullo argue that human beings, made in the image of God and capable of communing with him, are more worthy to touch the Eucharist than vessels of gold and silver. 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. 5. Has done 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. 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. [11] Council of Constantinople in Trullo, canon 101. If one is receiving in the hand the following is normative: upon approaching the minister of the Host extend the hands in the middle of the chest. If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. We should weigh very well the matters in which we appeal to conscience. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer Amen. W.R., Goa, India. After receiving Communion our bodies become holy chalices. Particularly in regard to this way of receiving communion, experience suggests certain matters requiring careful attention. Or is there more context that is missing? Was changing the mode reception of Communion one of them? can. Ive updated the post. A quick example will be found . [24] Trans. The Church in Europe struggled mightilyand some might say in futilityagainst centuries of violence, sect on sect, nation vs nation. The new manner of giving communion must not be imposed in a way that would exclude the traditional practice. I dont mean how did it come about. 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. 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. Pray Tell here documents two statements of the Congregation for Divine Worship issued under Pope Paul VI. [11] In East Syria (what we would now call the Middle East) we have evidence from Ephrem the Syrian[12] and Narsai. I am just wondering what the reason or reasons were for allowing reception of Communion in the hand to begin with? 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.. More people have received Communion in the past century. 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. OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF. 284-287 is to be followed.. Obviously, for better or worse, the NLM has an agenda. [5] In Jerusalem, we have the mystagogical catecheses of Cyril of Jerusalem (or perhaps of his successor, John). The following norms must therefore be respected. Fire consumed the offering Hard to believe that Catechesis has never been better if that fundamental is misunderstood. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing. in Eph 3, trans. 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. It may well be the case that the sudden change in practice after Vatican II decreased devotion towards the Eucharist and belief in the true presence, and it may well be the case that there were bad actors who in fact desired this result. (Original Latin text here, see pp. Canada, 12 February 1970 For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. Reverence can be good if it opens us to God & neighbor and makes us more loving. It is clear that this mode of reception was considered reverent and was to be carried out in a reverent manner. 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.

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