7 rules for receiving communion in the hand

[5] In Jerusalem, we have the mystagogical catecheses of Cyril of Jerusalem (or perhaps of his successor, John). The question has been asked for a long time since the Church has often allowed both methods of reception. The two ways of receiving communion can without question take place during the same liturgical service. Not only was Communion in the hand started in disobedience, it was perpetuated by deceit. Im not aware of that limitation and would like to see proper documentation. 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. From this brief historical survey, however, we know that this need not be the case, and we can look to the Fathers for a pious example as we seek to foster reverence towards the Eucharist in the liturgy today. It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. They partake not of Him that is in them, they perceive Him not. This would be done especially if it is very difficult or impossible to fulfill the necessary conditions as outlined in the documents above. 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. W.R., Goa, India. But to us our Lord has given both . | Irondale, AL 35210 |. 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. One could have perfect adoration of Real Presence in humble posture and, at least in theory, miss the point of Communion. 1. Never receive Holy Communion by extending only one 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. It is standard procedure so I wonder what the basis of this accusation is. 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. Communion in the hand is allowed in the United States by decision of the American Bishops. The Netherlands, 18 September 1969 The Eucharist may not be received while a person has mortal sin in their soul. To signify, seal, and apply to believers all the benefits of the new covenant. Copyright PrayTellBlog.com [22] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10, trans. Instead of receiving in my hand, thinking "the other way is better," and quickly gobbling up the Eucharist, I took the "popular way," as a gift: I put my left hand on top of my right . It was designed: 1. A. 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. Ireland, 4 September 1976 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. The left hand is extended, with the right hand under the left in support (left handed persons may wish to . 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! The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. For this alone is the eating referred to by our Lord ( John 6:58 ). Paul W. Harkins ACW 31 (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1963). The liturgical assembly of the baptized that comes together for the celebration of the Eucharist is a witness to, a manifestation of, the pilgrim Church. The most ancient practice of distributing Holy Communion was, with all probability, to give Communion to the faithful in the palm of the hand. 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). Fire and Spirit, contrary to nature Ive updated the post. Henry Percival and ed. Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. 95% of parishes shrinking, seminaries empty, young people disengaged: it will happen in Africa and Asia too when the culture of the secular West overwhelms the Third World. 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. The fire of mercy has become for us a living sacrifice 895. Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the Eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. As seen above, the U.S. bishops were not among the first to permit Communion in the hand. France, 6 June 1969 A perception such as this is a dreadfully inaccurate and impoverished understanding of what is a significant religious action. 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. Basil the Great considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault. 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.. 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. And to demonstrate reverence and. The faithful receive Communion kneeling or standing, as established by the episcopal conference. [20] Cyril of Jerusalem, myst. Paul VI had a measure of it in 1974, and we hav emostly missed the wisdom of Evangelii Nuntiandi. OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF. 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. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation. We owe the Lord as much attention to detail. Fire consumed the offering This blog is not associated with Pray Tell: An open forum on faith in South Texas. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer Amen. 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.". . 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. Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion. 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. Fire came down and consumed the sacrifices of Elijah [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. Finally, ensuring the application of liturgical law is above all the responsibility of the bishop and only indirectly the religious superior. Uruguay,October 15 1969 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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. He said that he had checked with the then Apostolic Delegation and had been assured that the pope was giving the boy a rosary. Im skeptical of the claim that collecting absentee ballots for bishops conference votes is unlawful. 96). For pastoral reasons this manner of receiving communion has been legitimately established as the most common form in the Latin rite. 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. Some may choose to receive the Lord on the tongue while others choose to receive in the hand. 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. Sure, Ill go along with that. The rationale for Communion on the hands being an ancient practice is from St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Maybe this is due to decades of poor or heterodox catechesis on the Sacraments. 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. 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). Take a step or two to the side to make way for the next communicant, then receive our Lord. ), Pray Tell: An open forum on faith in South Texas. 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. [18] Moreover, an early illuminated gospel, the Rosanno Gospels, depicts the last supper as a communion line, where the disciples receive in cupped hands while bowed. 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. The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 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. Why? [3] Augustine, Answer to Petilian 2.23.53and Against Parmenian 2.7.13. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they may all be one" (Jn 17:21). Greg., Dial., I, III, c. iii). 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. 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. Communion on the tongue remains the usual and common form of administering Holy Communion. The communicant may choose whether to receive the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. 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. 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. 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. 6. "You're talking to someone who has only owned a smartphone for a yearI resisted," he said. Receiving the host in one's hand has been an option in the United States since the bishops authorized this in May 1977 and the Holy See confirmed it. Several readers pointed out that I made no mention of a text of St. Cyril when mentioning the historical foundations of the practice. 5.21, trans. 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. I mean WHAT SPECIFIC REASONS were given for requesting it in the first place? [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. This is the reason why you say after him: Amen.[21]. [16] Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 4.24. On the other hand, this mode of communion is not anywhere associated with lay involvement or accessibility, nor is it thought to de-emphasize the role of the priest. 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 . New Zealand, 24 April 1974 Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 2 October 1971 Luxembourg, October 15 1969 86). Come see, 13.3, trans. 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? 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 . In the early Church, the faithful stood when receiving into their hands the consecrated particle can hardly be questioned. St. Dionysius of Alexandria [d. 265], writing to one of the popes of his time, speaks emphatically of one who has stood by the table and has extended his hand to receive the Holy Food (Eusebius [263-339], Hist. The way you put it, it doesnt sound obsessive-compulsive but salutary. Phillip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889). 160). 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. 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 situation that, in the US certainly, was not necessarily governed by external uniformity (given the varieties of ethnic piety and cultural practices). I dont think reception in the hand is destroying the Church like what some prominent leaders in the Church have implied, but this practice has still had wide ranging [and not entirely positive] ramifications in the Church over the last half century, far beyond the obvious choice of the individual communicant. Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal takes this hymn very seriously, mandating that it should begin at the Communion of the priest and extend until the last person has received Communion. To commemorate the death of Christ: "This do in remembrance of me." 2. For example, Augustine writes, Someone might say that the Eucharist should not be received daily. But we doyes, verily. Communion in the hand was officially permitted in the United States in 1977, following an indult that is, special permission given by the Congregation for Divine Sacraments in 1969. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. South Africa, 1971 Indeed, it can be dangerous for contagion. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? St. 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. 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. are on the side of Lucifer. 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. 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. And some who do have lost their strength or nerve. 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. cites vote tallies to defend a claim that a large majority (longe plurimos) of bishops not only oppose introducing Communion in the hand but consider it tum sensui tum spirituali cultui [] offensioni 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. Many of us would treat your claims skeptically as unsupported rumor and gossip. By this symbolic action, their denial would be clear to all. If, for some reason, the communicant is not able or willing to drink from the cup then that person should receive only under the form of bread. The custom of placing the Sacred Particle in the mouth, rather than in the hand of the communicant, dates in Rome from the sixth, and in Gaul from the ninth century (Van der Stappen, IV, 227; cf. 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. Phillip Schaff and Henry Wace in NPNF Second Series, 14 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1900). 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. Another will say the opposite; he says, On the contrary, if the wound of sin and the attack of the disease is in fact so great that such medicines need to be postponed, one ought to be removed from the altar by the authority of the bishop in order to do penance, and one ought to be reconciled by the same authority. 3. So it is not just tiresome traditionalists who worry about particles. Q. What some call discipleship, others evangelizationnew or whatever, or some speak of discernment and application of spiritual gifts. If Your Hand/Hands are Impeded . Has done SACRED CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP, Letter En reponse a la demande, to presidents of those conferences of bishops petitioning the indult for communion in the hand, 29 May 1969: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 61 (1969) 546-547; Notitiae 5 (1969) 351-353. 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 []. The divine coal is a common image of the Eucharist in Syrian theology. awr. 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.. 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. This reply aged like Milk (currently January 2022). The Church understands the Communion Procession, in fact every procession in liturgy, as a sign of the pilgrim Church, the body of those who believe in Christ, on their way to the Heavenly Jerusalem. Interestingly, during the Middle Ages, the reception of Holy Communion was restricted to "on the tongue" because of abuses. With regard to the second, we have many early witnesses including Paul (see 1 Cor 11:27) and the Didache (seechapter 14). We should rejoice in that. 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. From the historical point of view, we can say that there is strong evidence that the practice existed in early centuries in some areas of the Church. I think proponents of tongue/kneeling will get a better hearing if they uphold all aspects of Communion. In an even more elevated tone, Ephrem the Syrian, in a stunning passage, invites the Christian communicant to feel awe at what is placed in his or her hand, since even the Seraph did not take the divine coal with his hand, nor did the prophet Isaiah eat it (see: Isa 6:6). What a Priest Might Do If He Wants to Avoid It. Jeffrey T. Wickes FotC 130 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2015). Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling. 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 must also increase their faith in the sublime reality of the Lords body and blood, which they touch with their hand. [2] Cyprian, On the Good of Patience 14, On the Lapsed 16 and 26,and Letter 55.9. 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. I wholeheartedly agree with your comment on another thread that this ongoing discussion is frivolous and is only causing needless division. From the point of view of liturgical law, the relevant documents are the following. [12] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10 and Hymns on Virginity 33.7. http://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Handkommunion. 1. Under the moral aspect will be considered, in reference to Holy Communion: necessity; subject; dispositions. The legitimacy of Communion in the hand is not in question. For Catholics: As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. Christ himself at the Last Supper pleaded with his Father: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us" (John 17:11, 21).Baptism has joined us to Christ and to one another as the vine and its branches. Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university. 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. Per The Baltimore Catechism: 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 why so? Upper Volta and Niger, 20 February 1970 Indonesia, 27 March 1971 A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all. 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. To lessen our evil inclinations. Some advocates of communion on the tongue, at least online, seem guilty of thinking that (however much more virtuous than I they probably are in their lives). 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. Required fields are marked *. The congregation returned to this issue in the instructionImmensae Caritatis,January 29, 1973: AAS 65 (1973) 264-271; Notitiae 9 (1973) 157-164: Part 4. This action by Christ's body, the Church assembled for the Eucharist, is manifested and supported by the Communion Chant, a hymn in praise of Christ sung by the united voices of those who believe in him and share his life. Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA. We are the Body of Christ, moving forward to receive the Christ who makes us one with himself and with one another. 1396: In Baptism we have been called to form but one body. St. Japan, 27 June 1970 The cultural backing. vehementer hortatur retention of current practice while invoking the common good of the Church. If you are the body and members of Christ, then it is your sacrament that is placed on the table of the Lord; it is your sacrament that you receive. Or is there more context that is missing? Catechesis has been virtually non-existent or flat-out heretical for the last 50 years. 91). 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. We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. It is now August 2020 and I can say that you have been proven wrong. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. The faithful should consume the host before returning to their place; the ministers part will be brought out by use of the usual formulary, The body of Christ, to which the communicant replies: Amen. (Catholic Encyclopedia: Genuflexion) Just look at what making donating money an indulgence-eligible corporal work of mercy resulted in during the Renaissance. Djibouti, 6 March 1970 Nowhere in this article did I see what the CHURCH says about Holy Communion, only the writers opinion. The new manner of giving communion must not be imposed in a way that would exclude the traditional practice. Think of what you receive in your hand and keep it clean of all greed and theft. James Shapiro, a literature prof at Columbia, says the situation is catastrophic: One reason was the way of the world. 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. I dont read any statement with canonical force saying that only those countries may apply for an indult. In the context of the reception of Communion, this means a cognizance of both Church history and contemporary cultural nuances. [4] Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John 6.1 and 12.1. Middle Africa, 3 February 1970 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. Can you direct me to where you obtained this list? It is adoration of Christ, meal of fellowship, union with other communicants (hence the Church wants us to sing during reception), sharing in Christs self-sacrifice, mystical union with angels & saints, sharing even now in the heavenly banquet, having the life of the Risen Christ in oneself, a call to charity and works of justice and making real on earth the peace foreshadowed in Communion, etc. [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.

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