The Truth About Communion in the Hand | The Fatima Center [26] Augustine, Letter 54.3.4, trans. 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. 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. 3. 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. 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. Jeffrey T. Wickes FotC 130 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2015). 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. 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 author seems to think that liturgical reforms should consist of only what an ecumenical council prescribed. 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. It is bad if it makes us prideful/judgmental and distracts from more important things. 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. 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. I am just wondering what the reason or reasons were for allowing reception of Communion in the hand to begin with? Jamaica, 12 March 1970 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. 160). http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2014/03/truth-about-communion-in-hand-while.html#.Wpa2wdIUnGg. 91). [5] John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent 28. Since Christ is really, substantially, sacramentally present but not physically, being OC over crumbs is not devotion. 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. University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute for Church Life Greg., Dial., I, III, c. iii). I beg to differ. 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! Even if we presume the authenticity of the text we still do not know how long the practice lasted, whether leavened or unleavened bread was used and whether the practice was exclusive to the Church of Jerusalem. 1. Your fire, O, Our Lord we have eaten in your offering 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. 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. 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. 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. The most ancient practice of distributing Holy Communion was, with all probability, to give Communion to the faithful in the palm of the hand. 161. Documentation: Approval of Communion in the Hand under - PrayTellBlog For one who eats unworthily eats and drinks to his own condemnation (1 Cor 11:29). Think of what you receive in your hand and keep it clean of all greed and theft. Luxembourg, October 15 1969 The showing of tooth and claw by some traditional-leaning Catholics is a scandal that discourages neighbors, and puts a very ugly face on the Body for others to view. By this symbolic action, their denial would be clear to all. Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling - Vatican.va John Paul II and Mother Theresa on Communion in the Hand 7. (or: Which Heresy Will You Give Up for Lent? 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. Communion on Tongue vs. Hand? The Most Important Thing to Know: Hold in Eph 3, trans. October 13, 2022. 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.. St. How to Properly Receive Communion on the Hands - catholiclegion A quick example will be found . IMHO no, contrary to what some real traddies may say. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. Q: When the bishop in a diocese allows the faithful to receive Communion in the hand or on the tongue, can a priest, who objects on the grounds of conscience, refuse to give the faithful holy Communion in the hand? 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. It was designed: 1. 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. The Proper Way to Receive Holy Communion - Shrub Oak, NY The causes are myriad and often interconnected. It is always helpful to review instructions for receiving Communion. 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. What if we were passionate about all that? However, he should not refuse to administer Communion to those faithful desirous of availing themselves of a legitimate authorization. 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 . 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. Some scholars claim that this part of the Mystical Catechesis is not originally from St. Cyril but a later interpolation into the text. Catechesis has been virtually non-existent or flat-out heretical for the last 50 years. [18] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6.43.18. I suspect that Christ can cope with particles that get dropped but the care we show, or the lack of care, is what counts. At the same time, it is not justified to claim that Communion in the hand is necessarily less reverent or inevitably leads to abuses. Pope Paul Vl approved this Instruction, confirmed it with his authority, and ordered its publication, setting the day of publication as its effective date. But we doyes, verily. All of us are only grasping a hint of it. 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 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. It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. Paul VI had a measure of it in 1974, and we hav emostly missed the wisdom of Evangelii Nuntiandi. Not only was Communion in the hand started in disobedience, it was perpetuated by deceit. We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. This helps explain why this line of thought isnt gaining much traction except on the right fringe. The Eucharist may not be received while a person has mortal sin in their soul. The bishop, however, might sometimes deal with the religious priest through his superior in these matters. Paraguay, 27 September 1971 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. 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.". 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. Their attitude of reverence must measure up to what they are doing. [10] See John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, 4.13. If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul. Djibouti, 6 March 1970 Yugoslavia, 1971 In the context of the reception of Communion, this means a cognizance of both Church history and contemporary cultural nuances. 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. 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. 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. Can We Be Required to Receive Communion in the Hand, Because of the Im not aware of that limitation and would like to see proper documentation. Per The Baltimore Catechism: 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. 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 . United States, 17 June 1977 Their attitude of reverence must measure up to what they are doing. For this reason, since the question of Communion in the hand is not a question of faith as such, and it has been approved by the legitimate authority, I do not believe that a priest can invoke conscience as a motive for refusing to apply a legitimate law. What if our way of calling our fellow Christians to a higher way were based on loving example and not polemics? [16] Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 4.24. 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. Reverence can be good if it opens us to God & neighbor and makes us more loving. A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist: 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. [17] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 7.9.4. [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 light of some genuinely moving testimonies on the merits of reception in the hand, we cannot ignore that reverence for the Eucharist and belief in the Real Presence among Catholic laity has greatly declined since around the time in which this practice reenterred the Roman Rite after a millennium of absence. Nor did the Vatican interpret it that way, near as I can tell. However, this is likely to lead to many embarrassing instances for the faithful who approach communion unaware of the situation. can. A letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship to presidents of bishops conferences on May 29, 1969: AAS 61 (1969) 546-547; Notitiae 5 (1969) 351-353: In reply to the request of your conference of bishops regarding permission to give communion by placing the host on the hand of the faithful, I wish to communicate the following. 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. After stipulating the historical practice of Communion in the hand, Memoriale Domini: defends the development of discipline that led to Communion on the tongue Q. There are particles, and there are particles. Instruction on the Manner of Distributing Holy Communion Receiving the Host in the Hand | Franciscan Media 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. It is not solely the result of some weird medieval form of reverence. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. Hard to believe that Catechesis has never been better if that fundamental is misunderstood. 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! The people administering the sacrament are asked to use hand sanitizer immediately before. Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. 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). Archbishop Anthony Fisher, OP, of Sydney published an excellent paper on the topic of conscience and authority which can be found at:https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=7833or, in a slightly briefer form athttps://zenit.org/articles/bishop-fisher-on-conscience-and-authority/. 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. The guidelines, which are to be included in missalettes and other participation aids published in the United States, seek to remind all those who may attend Catholic liturgies of the present discipline of the Church with regard to the sharing of Eucharistic Communion. The Council of Saragossa, 380, excommunicated anyone who dared continue to receive Holy Communion in the hand. Cdl. McElroy doubles down on heresy, pushes Communion for 'sexually What Everyone Should Know About How To Receive Holy Communion For example, Augustine writes, Someone might say that the Eucharist should not be received daily. [27] John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instruction, 12.15-16, trans. 51 (Feb), pg 62). The oldest reference to the Eucharist in the New Testament occurs in chapters 11 and 12 of the First Letter to the Corinthians, which has no reference to receiving Holy Communion on the tongue. We owe the Lord as much attention to detail. [6] Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catecheses 5.13. 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. 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. This was the law of the Church for almost 14 centuries, and is still the general norm today. 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). This is in no way meant to refer to those who, receiving the Lord Jesus in the hand, do so with profound reverence and devotion, in those countries where this practice has been authorized.. I would like to remind people to indicate clearly how they wish to receive. 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. Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 2 October 1971 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. More people have received Communion in the past century. Monaco, 31 October 1969 Receiving Communion The Sacrament of Holy Communion (also known as The Lord's Supper or Eucharist) has been precious and life-giving to Christians for 2,000 years. 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. Is it okay to recieve Communion in the hand? - Catholic Online The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 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. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. For example, there is ample evidence that the exchange of peace between the people was practiced well into the Middle Ages in several European countries. It is simply reading too much into this practice, and it is not correct to support something one favors by denigrating another practice. If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. When we receive Communion, we become members of Christ's Body, the Church. Early Christian Communion in the Hand | Church Life Journal Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS) TOP Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us Scandinavia,October 15 1969 Australia, 26 September 1975 But back in the West, where most of us at PT are from, the Church is struggling. I dont mean how did it come about. 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. 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. 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. W.R., Goa, India. I think proponents of tongue/kneeling will get a better hearing if they uphold all aspects of Communion. The rationale for Communion on the hands being an ancient practice is from St. Cyril of Jerusalem. awr. R. E. Heine FotC 21 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1982). 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. The faithful receive Communion kneeling or standing, as established by the episcopal conference. 895. The Communion Procession is an action of the Body of Christ. [11] Council of Constantinople in Trullo, canon 101. Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute. 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. Part I - Holy Communion: The Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus - USCCB Japan, 27 June 1970 We should rejoice in that. Indeed, it can be dangerous for contagion. My simple point is that the individual ways our Church evolves over history have a significant impact on its life thereafter, often in ways we dont expect. Or is there more context that is missing? 21. [11] In East Syria (what we would now call the Middle East) we have evidence from Ephrem the Syrian[12] and Narsai. It is advisable, therefore, that the rite be introduced gradually and in the beginning within small, better-prepared groups and in favorable settings. To that which you are you respond Amen (yes, it is true!) and by responding to it you assent to it. 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. Here in India Communion is distributed both on tongue and in hand. 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. These views are sometimes strongly held. Nowhere in this article did I see what the CHURCH says about Holy Communion, only the writers opinion. 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. Shapiro picked up an abused-looking iPhone from his desk. But one should not by his own judgment abstain from or return to communion, as he pleases. 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. 896. I do make the point that reverence, while important, is not the only or most important aspect of Communion. The legitimacy of Communion in the hand is not in question. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? I quite deliberately eschewed entering the historical argument as it would have digressed from the main point of that article. Because those vessels are made so for our sakes. 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. Communion in the hand is legitimate only where permitted, and it remains in the realm of a permission. 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. As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes the whole of it. The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? 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. [23] John Chrysostom, hom. For this alone is the eating referred to by our Lord ( John 6:58 ). Under the moral aspect will be considered, in reference to Holy Communion: necessity; subject; dispositions. Communion in the hand is legitimate only where permitted, and it remains in the realm of a permission. The left hand is extended, with the right hand under the left in support (left handed persons may wish to . 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. It is also difficult to ensure that the person who receives Communion effectively consumes the host. [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. 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. Still, while not the direction eventually taken, I believe restriction to be the more natural reading of the Vaticans intent at that moment in time. Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion - Catholic News Agency The Holy Eucharist remits venial sins by disposing us to perform acts of love and contrition. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Holy Communion - New Advent 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. Some may choose to receive the Lord on the tongue while others choose to receive in the hand. And some who do have lost their strength or nerve. Then he saw that it was futile. It must also increase their faith in the sublime reality of the Lords body and blood, which they touch with their hand. 6. Confess it and move on. (I dont direct this at you, I mean it to everyone on all sides.). 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.

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