[10] See John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, 4.13. So whats missing? 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. 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 . Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling. Your email address will not be published. For you hear the words, the Body of Christ and respond Amen. Be then a member of the Body of Christ that your Amen may be true (St. Augustine, Sermon 272: PL 38, 1247). 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]. 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. Greg., Dial., I, III, c. iii). 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. Yugoslavia, 1971 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 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. Look how military inspectors demand very high standards of care when inspecting barracks for cleanliness. The following norms must, therefore, be respected. For Catholics: As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. 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. However, it was a brief exchange with ones immediate neighbors and at a time when men and women occupied separate aisles in the church. North Africa,October 15 1969 The cultural backing. Phillip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889). They would find many more areas we all need to work on than just their main focus. I am just wondering what the reason or reasons were for allowing reception of Communion in the hand to begin with? 895. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist? But we doyes, verily. 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. 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). Communion in the hand vs. Communion on the tongue | Crux So it is not just tiresome traditionalists who worry about particles. 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. As seen above, the U.S. bishops were not among the first to permit Communion in the hand. For some, however, the singing of this hymn is perceived as an intrusion on their own prayer, their private thanksgiving after Communion. The Netherlands, 18 September 1969 The left hand is extended, with the right hand under the left in support (left handed persons may wish to . Permission for administering Communion in the hand was granted by the Holy See to the following countries and regions under Pope Paul VI:[UPDATED 3-2-18], Belgium, 31 May 1969 Pope Paul Vl approved this Instruction, confirmed it with his authority, and ordered its publication, setting the day of publication as its effective date. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? - AOD July 2, 2020 ( LifeSiteNews) Many bishops around the world are attempting to compel Catholics, who are in the right dispositions to approach the Holy Eucharist, to receive Our Lord in the. The way you put it, it doesnt sound obsessive-compulsive but salutary. 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. This was the law of the Church for almost 14 centuries, and is still the general norm today. | Irondale, AL 35210 |. Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion. Featured Image: Rossano Gospels, Last Supper, 6th c.; Source: Wikimedia Commons, PD-Old-100. 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. ), Pray Tell: An open forum on faith in South Texas. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling - Vatican.va [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. Pray Tell here documents two statements of the Congregation for Divine Worship issued under Pope Paul VI. ODonaghues post, I note with interest that the countries in which Communion in the hand is alleged to have been most prevalent either did not apply for or at any rate receive an indult in these first 8 years of results. Our souls ought to be purer than they, more holy, more brilliant. 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: 3. awr. 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. It is not solely the result of some weird medieval form of reverence. Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion - Catholic News Agency W.R., Goa, India. One could have perfect adoration of Real Presence in humble posture and, at least in theory, miss the point of Communion. A priest who is not directly responsible for the care of souls should be even more respectful of local practice. 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. First, Chrysostom in one of his Homilies on Ephesians: What, do you not see the holy vessels so thoroughly cleansed all over, so resplendent? If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. 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 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. 160). It must be presumed that a priest has sufficient formation in moral principles so as to exclude an erroneous conscience in such matters. Malaysia and Singapore, 3 October 1977, * * * * *. Have reverence for the honor which God has bestowed upon it, and do not lead it down to the vileness of sin.[27]. II], My country is not on this list but holy communion is the norm. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. But whatever the case, it is the Pope who decides to authorize it for countries, and it is indisputable that he did so. Cardinals Thorne (Peru) and Caffarra (Bologna) have banned Communion in the hand, citing reasons of abuse and disrespect. Mingle and flow into the palms of his disciples![22]. What some call discipleship, others evangelizationnew or whatever, or some speak of discernment and application of spiritual gifts. "You're talking to someone who has only owned a smartphone for a yearI resisted," he said. [12] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10 and Hymns on Virginity 33.7. 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. 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. As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. [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). Interestingly, during the Middle Ages, the reception of Holy Communion was restricted to "on the tongue" because of abuses. Your fire, O, Our Lord we have eaten in your offering 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. 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. As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes the whole of it. 896. This reply aged like Milk (currently January 2022). It is also difficult to ensure that the person who receives Communion effectively consumes the host. Several readers pointed out that I made no mention of a text of St. Cyril when mentioning the historical foundations of the practice. 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. If Communion is given only under the species of bread, the Priest raises the host slightly and shows it to each, saying, The Body of Christ. 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. 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. Sure, Ill go along with that. 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. 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. To continue the sacrifice of the Cross in His Church. We should rejoice in that. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. The bishop, however, might sometimes deal with the religious priest through his superior in these matters. 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. There are many devout Catholics who find this practice helpful. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? 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. 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. Others claim that in the context of the discourse St. Cyril was referring to the clergy and not to the faithful. 4. 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. 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. 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. O Solomon, the thing which the Lord of your father awr. Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from youSt. 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. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing. However, he should not refuse to administer Communion to those faithful desirous of availing themselves of a legitimate authorization. The fire of mercy has become for us a living sacrifice 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). A situation that, in the US certainly, was not necessarily governed by external uniformity (given the varieties of ethnic piety and cultural practices). 6. It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. 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. (or: Which Heresy Will You Give Up for Lent? France, 6 June 1969 Theres no simple solution to this issue. 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. 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. We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. [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. Paul W. Harkins ACW 31 (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1963). United States, 17 June 1977 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. 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. Our worship ought to create common unity under Christ, not destroy it. 6, trans. 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. 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. 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. 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. Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 2 October 1971 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. But one should not by his own judgment abstain from or return to communion, as he pleases. During the debate by the conference in the 1970s, a bishop said that he had seen a recent photo of Paul VI giving Communion in the hand to a little boy. New Zealand, 24 April 1974 160-161; English translation here) 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. If Your Hand/Hands are Impeded . These practices have wide evidence of use and in some ways never died out completely. 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. Click herefor a handout that can be placed in your bulletin for your parishioner. 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. The True Story of Communion in the Hand Revealed - OnePeterFive 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. Uruguay,October 15 1969 Jeffrey T. Wickes FotC 130 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2015). All of us are only grasping a hint of it. The US might have been little-touched by the scorched earth of world war, and perhaps our feel-good stance astride the planet delayed the decay somewhat. A Journal of the McGrath Institute for Church Life, by Elizabeth Klein 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. Nor did the Vatican interpret it that way, near as I can tell. 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. When permitted, the choice as to the form of reception falls upon the communicant and not upon the priest. Alternatively, it is permissible to adopt a simpler procedure, namely, allowing the faithful themselves to take the host from the ciborium or paten. I suspect that Christ can cope with particles that get dropped but the care we show, or the lack of care, is what counts. Because those vessels are made so for our sakes. After receiving Communion our bodies become holy chalices. [25] Origen of Alexandria, homily in Ex. 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. What is Communion? It's Meaning and Symbolism Explained - Bible Study Tools Please take responsibility for the lies, the bile, and the sinful stuff. 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]. Henry Percival and ed. Its just BREAD!!. 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 be a pledge of everlasting life. From these documents, we can deduce the following points. Devotion and reverence toward the Eucharist in the case of communion in the hand. Particularly in regard to this way of receiving communion, experience suggests certain matters requiring careful attention. [3] Augustine, Answer to Petilian 2.23.53and Against Parmenian 2.7.13. Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute. October 13, 2022. 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. Rather maddeningly, it is the Anglicans who in the West have retained the practice as described by St. Cyril, while contemporary Latin-rite Catholics tend to consume the Host as if it were a potato chip., 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. 1. 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. What if we were passionate about all that? 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. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. 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. [11] In East Syria (what we would now call the Middle East) we have evidence from Ephrem the Syrian[12] and Narsai. 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. From the point of view of liturgical law, the relevant documents are the following. Germany, 6 June 1969 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. awr. Japan, 27 June 1970 The sad fact that in recent years hosts consecrated by a Pope have been offered for sale on the Internet further motivates this precautionary measure. If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. St. [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. 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. Todd, yes, the Church as a whole is growing thanks to the great efforts of missionaries in Africa and Asia (many are now coming back here), and yes, more people are receiving the Sacraments now than ever. 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. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. 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? 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. Who holds the wind in the palm of his hand? 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. 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. This would be done especially if it is very difficult or impossible to fulfill the necessary conditions as outlined in the documents above. 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. 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. PDF Instructions on Receiving Holy Communion with Proper Reverence A: The answer to this question is somewhat complex. 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. Shapiro picked up an abused-looking iPhone from his desk. 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. Their attitude of reverence must measure up to what they are doing. Over the years I have read a multitude of opinions for and against, and occasionally perceived false arguments. I think the Holy Spirit was nudging people closer to the problem, which was already in evidence decades before the Council. Leo P. McCauley FotC 64 (Catholic University of America Press: Washington, DC, 2000 [1970]). 2. The Proper Way to Receive Holy Communion - Shrub Oak, NY The new manner of giving communion must not be imposed in a way that would exclude the traditional practice. Never receive Holy Communion by extending only one hand. The Council of Saragossa (380): Excommunicated anyone who dared continue . Q. Pandemic will affect Communion rituals for U.S. Christians