As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. Follow-up: Objecting to Communion in the Hand (10-16-2018), Pursuant to my reflections on Communion in the hand (October 2), a reader from France claimed that It is totally justified to claim that Communion in the hand is necessarily less reverent or inevitably leads to abuses. Yugoslavia, 1971 To be honest, I dont really belong to either camp on this, and like you, I think the polarization on this issue is doing more harm than good. Ruff, I think we both agree that internal reverence is the most important aspect of this discussion (and therefore the ways each manner serves that) and I know many reverent people who do both. The wind has left our sails and many of us are adrift on uncertain seas. 1. If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us Several readers pointed out that I made no mention of a text of St. Cyril when mentioning the historical foundations of the practice. Theres no simple solution to this issue. What's at Stake in the Debates Swirling Around Eucharistic Coherence. When receiving in the hand, the communicant should be guided by the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem . 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. I mean WHAT SPECIFIC REASONS were given for requesting it in the first place? [27] John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instruction, 12.15-16, trans. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says the following: 160. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. 21. Im skeptical of the claim that collecting absentee ballots for bishops conference votes is unlawful. 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). We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. The True Story of Communion in the Hand Revealed - OnePeterFive It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. 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. 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. We have no nets to cast deeply. There is so much to Communion. [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. My overarching point in all this (as someone who receives comfortably in both manners) is that I dont think common concerns with reception in the hand have been treated with adequate seriousness by many its defenders. 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. Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by . 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. How should this evidence be brought to bear on the modern conversation? That rhetorical flow and its further implicit objections (i.e., take care lest XYZ) *could* be a setup for a generous grant of indults, but given the overall negative tone I dont think it accidental or inconsequential that the prospect of permission is only mentioned in these cases where contrary practice already prevails. 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. 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. This is more a question of moral theology than of liturgy. It is clear that this mode of reception was considered reverent and was to be carried out in a reverent manner. [4] Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John 6.1 and 12.1. [24] Trans. However, when they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that the faithful make appropriate reverence, according to the norms established, before receiving the Sacrament. University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute for Church Life Finally, ensuring the application of liturgical law is above all the responsibility of the bishop and only indirectly the religious superior. [18] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6.43.18. Take a step or two to the side to make way for the next communicant, then receive our Lord. awr. 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. It was proved that belief in the Real Presence is abysmal. Australia, 26 September 1975 A. To unite us to Himself and to nourish our soul with His Receiving Communion - Prayer & Spiritual Life - Greek Orthodox Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the Eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. The causes are myriad and often interconnected. 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. 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. divine life. More people have received Communion in the past century. The Pope grants that throughout the territory of your conference, each bishop may, according to his prudent judgment and conscience, authorize in his diocese the introduction of the new rite for giving communion. And why so? Uruguay,October 15 1969 After receiving Communion our bodies become holy chalices. 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. Indonesia, 27 March 1971 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. As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes the whole of it. At Christ's invitation, extended by the priest acting in Christ's person: "Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb," the members of the community move forward to share in the sacred meal, to receive the Body and Blood of Christ which is the sign and the source of their unity. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of Communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 3). To lessen our evil inclinations. [11] Council of Constantinople in Trullo, canon 101. 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. 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. 5.21, trans. It should be noted that it is never permissible for a person to dip the host he or she has received into the chalice. New Zealand, 24 April 1974 It was designed: 1. 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. South Africa, 1971 But such as, instead of their hands, make vessels of gold or other materials for the reception of the divine gift, and by these receive the immaculate communion, we by no means allow to come, as preferring inanimate and inferior matter to the image of God.[24]. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. 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. 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. When the communion is distributed under both kinds, it is never permitted to place in the hands of the communicants hosts which have first been placed in the Blood of the Lord. For example, Augustine writes, Someone might say that the Eucharist should not be received daily. Communion on the tongue remains the usual and common form of administering Holy Communion. Is the Catholic Church ever going to bring back communion wine? But we doyes, verily. All rights reserved. Q. 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. Cyril of Jerusalem and Theodore of Mopsuestia liken the practice to that of receiving a king, and both of them note the method of reception was in joined hands (also described in other sources as hands in the form of a cross). If one is left-handed this is reversed. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. Upper Volta and Niger, 20 February 1970 Can We Be Required to Receive Communion in the Hand, Because of the Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. Cardinals Thorne (Peru) and Caffarra (Bologna) have banned Communion in the hand, citing reasons of abuse and disrespect. It is advisable, therefore, that the rite be introduced gradually and in the beginning within small, better prepared groups and in favorable settings. 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. 6, trans. 86). For pastoral reasons this manner of receiving communion has been legitimately established as the most common form in the Latin rite. 13.3, trans. [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. Monaco, 31 October 1969 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). The Church in Europe struggled mightilyand some might say in futilityagainst centuries of violence, sect on sect, nation vs nation. Nor did the Vatican interpret it that way, near as I can tell. (Catholic Encyclopedia: Genuflexion) 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. Do we have faith in the efficacy of the sacraments or not? 160). The most ancient practice of distributing Holy Communion was, with all probability, to give Communion to the faithful in the palm of the hand. It must be presumed that a priest has sufficient formation in moral principles so as to exclude an erroneous conscience in such matters. Jeffrey T. Wickes FotC 130 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2015). Jesus wants to use our hands, which have now become His hands, to help those in need. Please remember that there is no "right" way to receive. It is advisable, therefore, that the rite be introduced gradually and in the beginning within small, better-prepared groups and in favorable settings. Q. [5] In Jerusalem, we have the mystagogical catecheses of Cyril of Jerusalem (or perhaps of his successor, John). 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. Have reverence for the honor which God has bestowed upon it, and do not lead it down to the vileness of sin.[27]. This is precisely why there are occasions when pastoral prudence can lead to suspend the permission. 6. Communion on the Tongue is an Apostolic Tradition, and - Catholic365 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. 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. [23] John Chrysostom, hom. 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. 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. The two ways of receiving communion can without question take place during the same liturgical service. Ive updated the post. As seen above, the U.S. bishops were not among the first to permit Communion in the hand. 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. 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. For this alone is the eating referred to by our Lord ( John 6:58 ). The Proper Way to Receive Holy Communion - Shrub Oak, NY But there is more to the story. Im not aware of that limitation and would like to see proper documentation. Communion in the hand vs. Communion on the tongue | Crux The bishop, however, might sometimes deal with the religious priest through his superior in these matters. What is Communion? It's Meaning and Symbolism Explained - Bible Study Tools 96). 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. 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. They probably never foresaw its subsequent, and occasionally chaotic, development in some parts of the Church. A Pastoral Guide to Receiving Communion - Crisis Magazine Your fire, O, Our Lord we have eaten in your offering It is standard procedure so I wonder what the basis of this accusation is. At the same time, it is not justified to claim that Communion in the hand is necessarily less reverent or inevitably leads to abuses. The Pope grants that throughout the territory of your conference, each bishop may, according to his prudent judgment and conscience, authorize in his diocese the introduction of the new rite for giving communion. It is bad if it makes us prideful/judgmental and distracts from more important things. 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. Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. Fire consumed the offering 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]. As I read above article, I didnt found name of my country India in the list of countries which have Indult for communion in hand. The person distributing Communion says audibly to each person approaching, "The Body of Christ." Catechesis has been virtually non-existent or flat-out heretical for the last 50 years. awr. PDF Instructions on Receiving Holy Communion with Proper Reverence The problem is a lack of intentionality across the board, starting with the laity. 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. [10] See John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, 4.13. Councils establish principles (and rarely go into specific points) and then leave it to a commission to carry out the detailed work after the Council. 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. The infamous coffee cup masses Dorothy Day describes in her book may have had good intentions behind them, but the way they appeared to trivialize the Holy Sacrifice of the mass lent no dignity to the then new Pauline mass. However, while this text is undoubtedly ancient evidence of the existence of Communion in the hand, it is, like many patristic texts, fraught with interpretative conundrums. 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! Holt Orders cannot sustain the Church, no matter how much traditionalists preach priests are of the utmost importance. A Journal of the McGrath Institute for Church Life, by Elizabeth Klein 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). Scotland, 7 July 1977 [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. If he is a religious priest, what actions can a legitimate superior take as regards the member who denies Communion in the hand? 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. Hard to believe that Catechesis has never been better if that fundamental is misunderstood. [6] Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catecheses 5.13. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Catholics want to know if it is allowed for their bishops and priests to require Communion be received only on in the hand instead of on the tongue. 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 On reverence for the Eucharist and belief in the Real Presence among Catholic laity has greatly declined I dont think this has ever been proven. 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. Scandinavia,October 15 1969 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. 1396: In Baptism we have been called to form but one body. Look how military inspectors demand very high standards of care when inspecting barracks for cleanliness. 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. 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. 6. 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. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? - AOD The Council was a start, but we have allowed ourselves to get sidetracked in silly and divisive banter. I think proponents of tongue/kneeling will get a better hearing if they uphold all aspects of Communion. [25] Origen of Alexandria, homily in Ex. We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. The liturgical renewal of St. Pius X which promoted the frequent reception of Communion were still quite young. John Paul II and Mother Theresa on Communion in the Hand [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. Middle Africa, 3 February 1970 The way you put it, it doesnt sound obsessive-compulsive but salutary. Debunking the myth that today's Communion in the hand - LifeSite Personally, I think that when a priest with the care of souls holds the view that Communion on the tongue is preferable to the alternative practice, then the best thing he can do is inform the faithful of the bishops permission. 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.". Early Christian Communion in the Hand | Church Life Journal They partake not of Him that is in them, they perceive Him not. A passage from St. Cyril of Jerusalem is used to persuade Catholics that Communion in the hand is an ancient practice legitimately restored after Vatican II. There is a twofold purpose here: that none will find in the new rite anything disturbing to personal devotion toward the Eucharist; that this sacrament, the source and cause of unity by its very nature, will not become an occasion of discord between members of the faithful. 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. 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. Excelling, therefore, every sensible creature, he who by the saving Passion has attained to the celestial dignity, eating and drinking Christ, is fitted in all respects for eternal life, sanctifying his soul and body by the participation of divine grace. 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. Alphonse Mingana (Gorgias Press: Piscataway, NJ, 2009 [1933]). [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.