7 rules for receiving communion in the hand

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. 6. A priest who is not directly responsible for the care of souls should be even more respectful of local practice. 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. So Indian Bishop conference have not got any Indult for communion in hand? Leo P. McCauley FotC 64 (Catholic University of America Press: Washington, DC, 2000 [1970]). It must also increase their faith in the sublime reality of the Lords body and blood, which they touch with their hand. [26] Augustine, Letter 54.3.4, trans. Aaron, this describes what the countries are to do where Communion in the hand was being practiced. On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of 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. These views are sometimes strongly held. It is not solely the result of some weird medieval form of reverence. Jeffrey T. Wickes FotC 130 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2015). But is the impression they give generally correct? 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 . 843 1; cf. Confess it and move on. 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? I do make the point that reverence, while important, is not the only or most important aspect of 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. France, 6 June 1969 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. Malaysia and Singapore, 3 October 1977, * * * * *. Bolivia, October 15 1969 When the priest gives it he says: The body of Christ. He teaches you by this word not to look at that which is visible, but to picture in your mind the nature of this oblation, which, by the coming of the Holy Spirit, is the body of Christ. Do we have faith in the efficacy of the sacraments or not? Click herefor a handout that can be placed in your bulletin for your parishioner. Our worship ought to create common unity under Christ, not destroy it. However, cases of a deplorable lack of respect towards the Eucharistic species have been reported, cases which are imputable not only to the individuals guilty of such behavior but also to the pastors of the church who have not been vigilant enough regarding the attitude of the faithful towards the Eucharist. When we move in procession, particularly the procession to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Communion, we are a sign, a symbol of that pilgrim Church "on the way.". For some, however, the singing of this hymn is perceived as an intrusion on their own prayer, their private thanksgiving after Communion. 7. FYI, the announcement that approval for Communion in the Hand was given (in 1969) to Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, and Chad appeared in Notitiae in v. 6 (1969), no. Q. 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. Come see, The wind has left our sails and many of us are adrift on uncertain seas. Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by . 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. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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. 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/. However, this is likely to lead to many embarrassing instances for the faithful who approach communion unaware of the situation. 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 therefore difficult in the context of this present letter not to mention the sad phenomena previously referred to. 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. Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? 1996, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. [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. 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. The fire of mercy has become for us a living sacrifice 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. OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist? Jamaica, 12 March 1970 Take this from someone who receives in the hand sometimes, I would never do it if I thought it was enabling Lucifer to corrupt my soul. 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. [10] See John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, 4.13. enough bread and wine are made ready for the communication of the faithful at each Mass.45 As a general rule, Holy Communion is given from hosts . Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us 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. Not only was Communion in the hand started in disobedience, it was perpetuated by deceit. This means that Jesus has no eyes but our eyes, no feet . [21] Theodore of Mopsuestia, catech. But we doyes, verily. 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. 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. But one should not by his own judgment abstain from or return to communion, as he pleases. "You're talking to someone who has only owned a smartphone for a yearI resisted," he said. 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. By this symbolic action, their denial would be clear to all. Indonesia, 27 March 1971 [2] Cyprian, On the Good of Patience 14, On the Lapsed 16 and 26,and Letter 55.9. Space doesn't allow all the details, but the propaganda in the 1970s that was used to sell Communion in the hand to a trusting, vulnerable people was a campaign of calculated half-truths that didn't tell the whole story. Henry Percival and ed. But as time passed it became the practice to receive Communion directly on the tongue in order to assure that the Host was received reverently. Never receive Holy Communion by extending only one hand. 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. The Council of Saragossa (380): Excommunicated anyone who dared continue . 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 as any danger or hint of danger of profaning the Eucharist. O Solomon, the thing which the Lord of your father Here in India Communion is distributed both on tongue and in hand. Basil the Great considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault. 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. awr. Bishops allowing introduction of the new way of receiving communion are requested to send to this Congregation after six months a report on the result of its concession.. 161. 1. 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. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family. Middle Africa, 3 February 1970 5. Alphonse Mingana (Gorgias Press: Piscataway, NJ, 2009 [1933]). It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. I guess my point is that regardless of our internal reverence (or lack thereof), the way we verbally and literally communicate our faith to others, especially our children, is still very important. 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. I dont mean how did it come about. I dont read any statement with canonical force saying that only those countries may apply for an indult. 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. At the same time, it is not justified to claim that Communion in the hand is necessarily less reverent or inevitably leads to abuses. IMHO no, contrary to what some real traddies may say. 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 am just wondering what the reason or reasons were for allowing reception of Communion in the hand to begin with? The following norms must therefore be respected. I wholeheartedly agree with your comment on another thread that this ongoing discussion is frivolous and is only causing needless division. 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.

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