3. The author seems to think that liturgical reforms should consist of only what an ecumenical council prescribed. Reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament | The Fatima Center That said, there are dimensions to this discussion that I think are both valuable and havent been given much screen time overall. From these documents, we can deduce the following points. 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. So when received unworthily, it is not only useless, but it is harmful to oneself (a lifestyle of sin continues), our neighbors (increase of violence, arson, looting, murders), and society in general (take a look at the condition of our country), and is extremely offensive to God (hence the wide-spread suffering). Hard to believe that Catechesis has never been better if that fundamental is misunderstood. Click herefor a handout that can be placed in your bulletin for your parishioner. Consider that you not only receive this gift in your hand, but that you also bring it up to your mouth, and keep your tongue clean of all disgraceful and outrageous words, blasphemy, perjury and all other sins of this sort. Was changing the mode reception of Communion one of them? This would be done especially if it is very difficult or impossible to fulfill the necessary conditions as outlined in the documents above. The fire of mercy has become for us a living sacrifice Zambia, 11 March 1974 [8] John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians, Baptismal Instruction 12.1516, On the Incomprehensible Nature of God 6.36, and On the Priesthood 3.4. 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. 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. divine life. Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. 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. When we receive Communion, we become members of Christ's Body, 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 . So Indian Bishop conference have not got any Indult for communion in hand? http://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Handkommunion. . 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. 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. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. [21] Theodore of Mopsuestia, catech. You should thus draw near with great awe and love, according to the greatness of that which is given: with awe, because of the greatness of (its) honour; and with love, because of (its) grace. 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. St. 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. What is Communion? It's Meaning and Symbolism Explained - Bible Study Tools University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute for Church Life 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. The wind has left our sails and many of us are adrift on uncertain seas. With regard to the second, we have many early witnesses including Paul (see 1 Cor 11:27) and the Didache (seechapter 14). 51 (Feb), pg 62). 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. 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. They probably never foresaw its subsequent, and occasionally chaotic, development in some parts of the Church. 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. [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. The Council was a start, but we have allowed ourselves to get sidetracked in silly and divisive banter. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. Documentation: Approval of Communion in the Hand under - PrayTellBlog 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. The guidelines recommend against serving Communion until gatherings of more than 50 people are allowed. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. The Church in Europe struggled mightilyand some might say in futilityagainst centuries of violence, sect on sect, nation vs nation. What if we were passionate about all that? 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. The history of the liturgy, however, makes clear that rather early on a . The two ways of receiving communion can without question take place during the same liturgical service. 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. 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. "You're talking to someone who has only owned a smartphone for a yearI resisted," he said. Mingle and flow into the palms of his disciples![22]. 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. To commemorate the death of Christ: "This do in remembrance of me." 2. Its just BREAD!!. But whatever the case, it is the Pope who decides to authorize it for countries, and it is indisputable that he did so. 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. Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. It may well be the case that the sudden change in practice after Vatican II decreased devotion towards the Eucharist and belief in the true presence, and it may well be the case that there were bad actors who in fact desired this result. The Eucharist may not be received while a person has mortal sin in their soul. Receiving Holy Communion | EWTN Biting, tearing, casting aspersions on the faith of other Catholics: this is a damnable situation in the Church. Battered Gargoyles & The Human Future - Rod Dreher's Diary It is also difficult to ensure that the person who receives Communion effectively consumes the host. O Solomon, the thing which the Lord of your father Several readers pointed out that I made no mention of a text of St. Cyril when mentioning the historical foundations of the practice. These guidelines replace the guidelines approved by the Administrative Committee of the NCCB in November 1986. This practice has been requested by individual episcopal conferences and has received approval from the Apostolic See. Confess it and move on. Papua and New Guinea, 28 April 1976 The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? 2. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? Since Christ is really, substantially, sacramentally present but not physically, being OC over crumbs is not devotion. But to us our Lord has given both . It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. A quick example will be found . Reverence can be good if it opens us to God & neighbor and makes us more loving. Is it okay to recieve Communion in the hand? - Catholic Online More people have received Communion in the past century. Have reverence for the honor which God has bestowed upon it, and do not lead it down to the vileness of sin.[27]. 4. Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion. 1. I dont read any statement with canonical force saying that only those countries may apply for an indult. 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. 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. France, 6 June 1969 The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. If Your Hand/Hands are Impeded . The divine coal is a common image of the Eucharist in Syrian theology. 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. 160-161; English translation here) 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? 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). The legitimacy of Communion in the hand is not in question. 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. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. 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. 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. 96). A. 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. Yugoslavia, 1971 5.21, trans. Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the, The Abandoned: Toward a Christocentric Phenomenology of Prayer, The Conclusion of Karl Rahner's Dissertation on the Origin of the Church from the Side Wound of the Crucified Christ. [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. 6. Devotion and reverence toward the Eucharist in the case of communion in the hand. The causes are myriad and often interconnected. If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. 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. 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. 161. Has the Holy Eucharist any other effect? 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. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer 'Amen'. 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. His blood now flows through our veins. [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 2 October 1971 I think the Holy Spirit was nudging people closer to the problem, which was already in evidence decades before the Council. 160). He said that he had checked with the then Apostolic Delegation and had been assured that the pope was giving the boy a rosary. Catholics use birth control, get divorced and fornicate at the same rate as society in general, with the sin of using birth control rarely confessed. It is not solely the result of some weird medieval form of reverence. Other way round, it was in the hand and changed to the tongue circa 900 in the west. 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). 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. On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. 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. Required fields are marked *. [2] Cyprian, On the Good of Patience 14, On the Lapsed 16 and 26,and Letter 55.9. 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. Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by Satan to destroy the Church (ok, probably not that). 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. For the first few centuries of the Church, receiving Communion in the hand was a common practice. Djibouti, 6 March 1970 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. Canada, 12 February 1970 Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by . June 29, 2021 | All rights reserved. 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. St. 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. 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. Permission for administering Communion in the hand was granted by the Holy See to the United States on June 17, 1977 and has since become almost the universal norm in the Ordinary Form. Receiving communion in the hand was the common practice of the Church in both East and West for the first 800 years of Christianity, and it was certainly considered reverent by the Fathers. Has done A Pastoral Guide to Receiving Communion - Crisis Magazine 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. Japan, 27 June 1970 Communion in the hand is legitimate only where permitted, and it remains in the realm of a permission. North Africa,October 15 1969 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. Then he saw that it was futile. Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. [23] John Chrysostom, hom. [] It is not permitted for the faithful to take the consecrated Bread or the sacred chalice by themselves and, still less, to hand them on from one to another among themselves. 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. Particularly in regard to this way of receiving communion, experience suggests certain matters requiring careful attention. Many of us would treat your claims skeptically as unsupported rumor and gossip. Your email address will not be published. On the one hand, I think this evidence precludes describing communion in the hand as intrinsically irreverent.
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