“The hour has come .... abandon the practice of Communion standing and in the hand”

[joeybaggz]

I don’t understand the devotion communion in the hand. If it was not allowed, would it really change anything?

Why is there such a problem with doing away with communion in the hand? It’s not like communion on the tongue is complicated or anything.

Personally because I don’t like saliva, germs, etc of the hundred people who have received before me, spread all over the host.

There ought to be at least one communion line reserved for those who wish to receive on the tongue. In fact those who wish to receive on the tongue should be made to use that line only.

And I have nothing but respect for those who do not like communion in the hand. It is just that there are those of us who are humbled that the Saviour of mankind loves us so much that he is willing to be put in our hands. “I no longer regard you as slaves, but as friends”, I think (no I know) He said. I like holding my friend in my hand. Closest thing I’ll get to shaking his hand and saying thanks for all he has done for me in my lifetime.

To say that communion in the hand is disrespectful is an arrogant judgment upon those who receive in this manner with the utmost respect for the sacrifice of our Lord. Get over yourselves and stop trying to impose your superficial pious mentality on those of us who approach our Lord’s presence with outstretched hands and open hearts.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Let’s just say that when Rome speaks, I will be among the first to do whatever the Magisterium dictates. Until then, argument or discussion on our part who are not among the Magisterium will change nothing. As one poster said on another thread, and it is so true, we are not management, we are in sales. Lets sell what Rome says, not what we think it should say.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[joeybaggz]

Oh, and to this kneeling vs. standing debate. In European churches, especially the ones in Rome, from what I have heard, they don’t have kneelers. In fact, I’m not sure some of the churches have pews. Everyone stands. Standing in reverence is considered reverent in many parts of the world. In my diocese here, we stand after the great Amen to the reception of communion.

“And as He went out from the upper room, having just given the twelve his Body and Blood, he came upon a leper who had heard of His great consecration. The leper asked for this Body and Blood, but wearing rags, and being unable to either stand or kneel, Jesus upbraided him saying, you come to me, yet you do not assume the proper posture. You worthless wretch. Therefore I say to you, depart from me you accursed one, and approach me not until you learn to conform to the wishes of those who have taken it upon themselves to decide what is proper and what is not in coming to my table.”
(From a hidden Gnostic gospel beloved by self righteous believers of the 2nd century)
Please…

 

[PrayforMallory]

Personally because I don’t like saliva, germs, etc of the hundred people who have received before me, spread all over the host.

There ought to be at least one communion line reserved for those who wish to receive on the tongue. In fact those who wish to receive on the tongue should be made to use that line only.

And I have nothing but respect for those who do not like communion in the hand. It is just that there are those of us who are humbled that the Saviour of mankind loves us so much that he is willing to be put in our hands. “I no longer regard you as slaves, but as friends”, I think (no I know) He said. I like holding my friend in my hand. Closest thing I’ll get to shaking his hand and saying thanks for all he has done for me in my lifetime.

To say that communion in the hand is disrespectful is an arrogant judgment upon those who receive in this manner with the utmost respect for the sacrifice of our Lord. Get over yourselves and stop trying to impose your superficial pious mentality on those of us who approach our Lord’s presence with outstretched hands and open hearts.

Germs on the host? What do you do about the wine then? I don’t think communion on the tongue poses a real medical problem. Secondly, there are as many germs on your hand as on the tongue. You are being too anal about that.

Forgive me, but it seems like you are the one being hostile/arrogant, given the last couple of sentences of your post. “Superficial pious mentality.” You are arguing that somebody can receive in the hand reverently. Can’t somebody support only communion on the tongue out of a genuine desire for reverence?

 

[ethelzguy]

Can’t somebody support only communion on the tongue out of a genuine desire for reverence?

But what of those who receive in the hand with genuine desire for reverence?

You presume that those who receive by hand LACK “genuine desire for reverence” ???

 

[PrayforMallory]

You presume that those who receive by hand LACK “genuine desire for reverence” ???

No way. This isn’t an issue that is really important to me. I’ve taken communion in the hand before. I transitioned to taking it on the tongue without any real difficulty, and I don’t really get the explicit desire to have it in the hand. It’s fine with me, though.

I became a “traditionalist” even if I can be labeled as that, because I was distracted by a lot of the banal stuff. Obsessions with particular rubrics aren’t really my thing.

 

[Flopfoot]

I received on the tongue for a while, but I wasn’t much good at it (and also I guess the ministers weren’t used to it)… it always seemed quite difficult for them to get the host into my mouth, and one time it dropped on the floor. Rather than risk this happening again I decided just to receive in the hand from then on.

 

[Cara_Serrano]

I don’t understand the devotion communion in the hand. If it was not allowed, would it really change anything?

Why is there such a problem with doing away with communion in the hand? It’s not like communion on the tongue is complicated or anything.

My understanding is that if you really want to get back to the original way of receiving Communion, you will receive in the hand as the Apostles received from Christ himself at the Last Supper.

 

[ethelzguy]

My understanding is that if you really want to get back to the original way of receiving Communion, you will receive in the hand as the Apostles received from Christ himself at the Last Supper.

But isn’t the objective to return to the pre-Vatican II methods, regardless of previous history?

 

[JReducation]

Communion has been given on the tongue for many centuries and still is in many dioceses around the world. However, there is no real guarrantee that the individual communicant is more reverent than the communicant who receives it in the hand.

The reason why the Congreation of Liturgy and Sacraments wants to review this practice is to ensure objective reverence, not subjective reverence. There is no way that they can guarrantee subjective reverence with either practice.

Many posts here are focussing on subjective reverence, the attitude of the individual. The practice of hand or tongue is not a guarrantee of that personal reverence. Nor is the Church so uneducated to believe that it will.

The Congregation’s desire is more for the sake of the Eucharist than the sake of the individual and their desire is to review it, not to ban it. That may or may not come after the review, if the review ever gets underway.

JR

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Why is there such a problem with doing away with communion in the hand? It’s not like communion on the tongue is complicated or anything.

Lets look at it the other way around. What is the Problem with keeping it? You can still receive on the tongue if you desire. No one is stopping you. So long as the Church allows, what is your problem with receiving in the hand? Even Pope Benedict gave communion in the hand while here in the U.S. Do you know more than him?

Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[Eric_Olsen]

Lets look at it the other way around. What is the Problem with keeping it? You can still receive on the tongue if you desire. No one is stopping you. So long as the Church allows, what is your problem with receiving in the hand? Even Pope Benedict gave communion in the hand while here in the U.S. Do you know more than him?

Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

who did the pope give communion in the hand too?
Also - I have been scoffed at for recieving on the toungue by a priest and a so called “eucharistic minister”.

 

[mitch2007]

I have decided to start receiving in the hand. I haven’t done so for over 10, 11 years, due to my (now recanted) Lefebvrism. It is a necessary step for me, in throwing off the shackles of my Lefebvrist past, to embrace this beautiful practice. I do not want to be mean and judgmental in criticising those who receive on the tongue - it is, after all, still permitted by HMC - but I think it is wonderful to be able to have this privilege and people who receive on the tongue, in my view, are often so mean and judgmental and holier-than-thou.
God bless
Mitch

 

[Eric_Olsen]

I have decided to start receiving in the hand. I haven’t done so for over 10, 11 years, due to my (now recanted) Lefebvrism. It is a necessary step for me, in throwing off the shackles of my Lefebvrist past, to embrace this beautiful practice. I do not want to be mean and judgmental in criticising those who receive on the tongue - it is, after all, still permitted by HMC - but I think it is wonderful to be able to have this privilege and people who receive on the tongue, in my view, are often so mean and judgmental and holier-than-thou.
God bless
Mitch

there is nothing mean and judgemental of recieving on the toungue. Recieving on the hand was started as an abuse and in my opinion is still an abuse. The only judgemental attitude I have seen has come from those people that scoffed at me because I recieve on the toungue.

 

[Eric_Olsen]

The problem is that it started out as an abuse. Pope Paul IV declared it an abuse but the bishops scoffed at him anyway. And soon enought it became “the norm”. Funny thing is that recieving in the hand is really an “indult” in this country and can be taken away at anytime. I wish it would because I have seen more abuse by recieving in the hand than on the toungue.

Lets look at it the other way around. What is the Problem with keeping it? You can still receive on the tongue if you desire. No one is stopping you. So long as the Church allows, what is your problem with receiving in the hand? Even Pope Benedict gave communion in the hand while here in the U.S. Do you know more than him?

Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

Let’s just say that when Rome speaks, I will be among the first to do whatever the Magisterium dictates. Until then, argument or discussion on our part who are not among the Magisterium will change nothing. As one poster said on another thread, and it is so true, we are not management, we are in sales. Lets sell what Rome says, not what we think it should say.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

Speak for yourself.

I’m not even minimum wage…I’m just a volunteer.

Sorry, I just felt this thread needed just a wee bit of humor.

May the peace of the Lord be with you all.

Prodigal Son1

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

who did the pope give communion in the hand too?
Also - I have been scoffed at for recieving on the toungue by a priest and a so called “eucharistic minister”.

Hello Eric,

I am sorry you were scoffed at for your preference of receiving communion. It seems many people miss the complete meaning of judge not lest ye be judged.

I watch the Pope celebrate Mass in New York. The majority of recipients received in the hand and the majority of recipients were clergy (nuns and priests).

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is quoted below;

Anyone who reflects on this will recognize that on this point it is quite wrong to argue about this or that form of behavior. We should be concerned only to argue in favor of what the Church’s efforts were directed toward, both before and after the ninth century, that is a reverence in the heart, an inner submission before the mystery of God that puts himself into our hands. Thus we should not forget that not only our hands are impure but also our tongue and also our heart and that we often sin more with the tongue than with the hands. God takes an enormous risk–and at the same time this is an expression of his merciful goodness–in allowing not only our hand and our tongue but even our heart to come into contact with him.

On this subject, at this time, the Pope can change his mind. Currently either way is acceptable. Should the Magisterium decree one way over the other, as others have stated, I will comply to however they decide.

Lord I am unworthy to receive you, only say the word and I shall be healed.

This debate made me think of this parable and I could not help but think, somehow it applies.

Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

May the peace of the Lord be with you all.

Prodigal Son1

 

[Eric_Olsen]

Well personally I wish they would change it back because it started as an abuse and only became the “norm” because Rome gave in after they repeated that it was an abuse.

Hello Eric,

I am sorry you were scoffed at for your preference of receiving communion. It seems many people miss the complete meaning of judge not lest ye be judged.

I watch the Pope celebrate Mass in New York. The majority of recipients received in the hand and the majority of recipients were clergy (nuns and priests).

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is quoted below;

On this subject, at this time, the Pope can change his mind. Currently either way is acceptable. Should the Magisterium decree one way over the other, as others have stated, I will comply to however they decide.

Lord I am unworthy to receive you, only say the word and I shall be healed.

This debate made me think of this parable and I could not help but think, somehow it applies.

Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

May the peace of the Lord be with you all.

Prodigal Son1

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

Well personally I wish they would change it back because it started as an abuse and only became the “norm” because Rome gave in after they repeated that it was an abuse.

By change it back, do you mean the way our Lord gave the last supper or pre-Vatican II?

Peace,

Prodigal Son1

 

[Eric_Olsen]

pre vatican II. the practive of recieving on the toungue evolved from recieving on the hand. I believe the church started the pratice of on the toungue because of the abuses that we are seeing today.

By change it back, do you mean the way our Lord gave the last supper or pre-Vatican II?

Peace,

Prodigal Son1