Communion in the Hand

[Spiller]

We used to have public confession as well. So since the church once had us confessing our sins in front of the entire community, should we go back to doing that as well? Using what the church “used to do” to support your argument doesn’t always hold up well.

WE still do that in my diocese at least twice a year. Of course one must still go to the sacrament of confession to receive absolution.

 

[Spiller]

It is truly amazing how many crumbs fall from certain types of hosts. We use a fairly common type. When they touch so many hands, they are bound to spread crumbs.

This non-requirement of ablution, is this an American thing or a Rome thing? Does anyone know? With so many things with the USCCB not lining up with Rome, I am beginning to wonder if we are the American Catholic Church or the Roman Cahtolic Church.

That’s just me spouting some frustrations. Too many committees and councils. To little universality.

Luke

I have never noted that at the parishes where I have received communion.

Show me the requirement for ablution in a valid and standing Church document.

 

[Famule]

What I meant was, I wonder if ablution is required by Rome, but the US has an exception. That is the case on many things here. You don’t see female altar servers at the Vatican. Is ablution not being a requirement only something in the US?

Luke

 

[Ignatius]

I am told that Communion in the Hand is under review. I am thrilled by this! I think that this has greatly affected people’s belief in the Real Presence. Crumbs are surely dropping all over the floor. It is so contradictory, that Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are to prurify their fingers while everyone else that touches the Blessed Sacrament simply walks away, brushing crumbs (most not realizing I’m sure) to the floor. Shouldn’t there be ablution cups at each end of the sactuary for the purifying of hands, palms and fingers? Or the better option, stop Communion in the hand. Lets all pray for this.

Luke

The Early Church had communion in the hand. One of the Early Church Fathers said “Make a throne for the Eucharist with your hands.”

 

[PatrickJT914]

Communion using a communion rail is actually faster than a standing line, and each person gets time to prepare instead of worrying about traffiic.

Luke

How is it faster? Who benefits Father or the communicant? Poor Father has to go back and forth. What if, he is an older priest? Can he freely move as when he was younger?

You mean people don’t have time to prepare? So, after the " Lord I’m not worthy" to standing in line to the reception of the Eucharist is not enough time to prepare. Maybe for the first few rows of benches or seats. But how about the middle and the back benches. They have plenty of time, unless they are daydreaming or paying attention to something else. Anyway that’s another thread. What traffic? When the Ushers do their job properly there shouldn’t be any traffic. But an orderly line of communicants waiting to get to the Communion stations. Oh, the people also has to be patient and wait their turn.

 

[Famule]

Please provide the source. I am interested in reading into that more. Was he specifically talking about receiving Communion? How early was that quote from?

Luke

 

[Famule]

When a person receives Jesus Christ body, blood, soul, and divinity, I would think that they would like to not even think about walking, but be able to concentrate completely on what is about to happen. I think recieving kneeling is more reverent. The concern is not about the convenience of priest or people, but about God. My only point was that speed of Communion is not an advantage of standing Communion.

Luke

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

Please provide the source. I am interested in reading into that more. Was he specifically talking about receiving Communion? How early was that quote from?

Luke

Cardinal Joseph Ratziner wrote;

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.

May the peace of the Lord be with you,
Prodigal Son1

 

[Famule]

Please provide the source. I would be interested in reading it and am curious as to the context. For my own assurance.
Thanks!

 

[PatrickJT914]

Our parish only receives on the tongue, on our knees. ONLY priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion, and our Church is often very full and seats thousands. They are certainly able to keep Mass at a reasonable time. It is actually faster to distribute Holy Communion this way - everyone is queued up waiting and the priest just walks up and down the rail - it is much faster than waiting for people to waddle up the aisles and decide what they are going to do with hands in pockets, purses on shoulders, children in arms, etc.

~Liza

So, your church refuses to accept a lawful and reverent optional form of receiving communion? What if it was the other way around? Only receiving in the hand and refusing communion to those who kneel and stick out their tongue? The EF people would scream to high heaven. It’s not lawful, irreverent, not respectful as well as other complaints. We who follow a more traditional form of receiving, have just as much right to the Eucharist. So, please don’t make us feel any less Catholic.

People don’t know what to with their hands? Oh, please. If people are being catechized either in home and/or by the parish. That wouldn’t be an issue. Granted I have seen people not sure of what to do with their hands (sometimes mea culpa) However, I’ve seen plenty of people with their hands folded in prayer. Either hanging down in front of their bodies or at their chest. Yes, I do that as well. Father has instructed that when people get to the station, they should bow before receiving. Do the people listen? Very few.

 

[Famule]

No one has a right to the Eucharist. We are not worthy. It is a gift from God.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I would love to see us return to the railing and kneel while we receive Communion. Of coures most new Churches aren’t equipped for that. And it would make Church a lot longer and heaven help us if Church were over an hour.

Actually I remember communion taking less time. The priest moved down the line very speedily.

 

[Brenda_V]

You know as an engineer I’ve done a lot o work with queuing theory and I seriously doubt using a communion rail is faster than standing in line. A communicant takes one step forward simultaneous to the person in front of them existing right or left, all simultaneous to the priest/EMHC preparing the next host to be distributed. It’s quite fast – possibly too fast for a sake of reverence.

Along the altar rail the priest must move to his left. He normally bends at the waist for each communicant and there is a hesitation in his movement while his fingers grasp a host.

No, at least around here, standing in line is faster.

It may be faster but I would venture to guess that it is not measurably faster. I am barely old enough to remember Communion Rails and as far as I can remember Mass was hardly ever more than 1 hr. unless it was High Mass and that one was about 1.5 hrs. max. with the exception of Mid-night Mass which went on for about 2 hrs.

Brenda V.

 

[PatrickJT914]

No one has a right to the Eucharist. We are not worthy. It is a gift from God.

So, when Jesus says in scripture that his body and blood are life to the world. Or at the Last Supper, " Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, " Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:26b-28.

Then his death has no meaning. He forgave our sins and made us worthy and restored us. This sounds very close to Protestant theology that says we are such terrible people without any good.

The way to make your self unworthy, is not go to confession and confess your sins (especially the mortal kinds), have a true desire not to sin, to express sorrow, do an act of contrition, and do penance.

 

[Spiller]

So, your church refuses to accept a lawful and reverent optional form of receiving communion? What if it was the other way around? Only receiving in the hand and refusing communion to those who kneel and stick out their tongue? The EF people would scream to high heaven. It’s not lawful, irreverent, not respectful as well as other complaints. We who follow a more traditional form of receiving, have just as much right to the Eucharist. So, please don’t make us feel any less Catholic.

People don’t know what to with their hands? Oh, please. If people are being catechized either in home and/or by the parish. That wouldn’t be an issue. Granted I have seen people not sure of what to do with their hands (sometimes mea culpa) However, I’ve seen plenty of people with their hands folded in prayer. Either hanging down in front of their bodies or at their chest. Yes, I do that as well. Father has instructed that when people get to the station, they should bow before receiving. Do the people listen? Very few.

:yup:

 

[Spiller]

It may be faster but I would venture to guess that it is not measurably faster. I am barely old enough to remember Communion Rails and as far as I can remember Mass was hardly ever more than 1 hr. unless it was High Mass and that one was about 1.5 hrs. max. with the exception of Mid-night Mass which went on for about 2 hrs.

Brenda V.

FAR fewer people receive communion today then they did in the past.

I go to the same parish I did as a tiny child. While I was never old enough to receive at the rail, I was old enough to toddle up to the rail and stand next to my dad while he received on his knees.

While more people attended each Mass I would guess that 1/2 as many (at absolute most) go up for communion. This was confirmed by our former pastor who led the parish during this period.

 

[Pax_et_Caritas]

No one has a right to the Eucharist. We are not worthy. It is a gift from God.

Actually, it is not correct to say we do not have a right to receive communion. Our rights proceeds from, and are linked to, our duties. Since we have a duty to receive communion once per year, we have the corresponidng right to receive it.

 

[Spiller]

So, when Jesus says in scripture that his body and blood are life to the world. Or at the Last Supper, " Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, " Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:26b-28.

Then his death has no meaning. He forgave our sins and made us worthy and restored us. This sounds very close to Protestant theology that says we are such terrible people without any good.

The way to make your self unworthy, is not go to confession and confess your sins (especially the mortal kinds), have a true desire not to sin, to express sorrow, do an act of contrition, and do penance.

Powerful motivation to receive in hand.

 

[Famule]

“Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” You also have to look to the past. Just because the future is different from the past does not make the past incorrect. For most of its 2008 years, the Church has been better than any other religion in making the point that Jesus Christ is God. Communion on the tongue does this so much more than Cummunion in the hand. Receiving Cummunion in the hand mentally brings God down to our level so as to say that we are equal to Him. This is not good. It is just like the bringing down of the altars to the peoples’ level. We seem to be trying to ignore God’s divinity and focus completely on His humanity. We should feel the love of His humanity, but honor His divinity. The altar is not just a table. This is not just a meal… The Mass is a holy sacrifice. Sacrafices happen on altars. Altars were elevated because it is the Sacrifice of Calvary. It is the Sacrifice of Calvary and the Breaking of the Bread. That is the Mass. What ever happened to the Sacrifice of Calvary? We don’t hear about it anymore.

If Jesus Christ were to come right before us and reveal all of His glory to us, would we be standing and preapring to shake His hand? No, we would be on our knees in tears. No out of fear (maybe out of fear also) but out of love. His love would overwhelm us.

All of that glory is contained in every little crumb of that host.

Should we care?

 

[PrayforMallory]

I don’t think you realized what you just said. I feel confident Christ knew exactly what he was teaching the apostles.

Mat 16:18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I believe all Catholics will do however the Church decrees.

There are so many of these threads now, I know that horse is dead.

May the peace of the Lord be with you,
Prodigal Son1

I didn’t convey my argument very well. I didn’t mean to infer that Christ was wrong, but rather that archaeologism is wrong, and that the desire to justify practices solely due to their presence in the early Church does not produce a viable argument.

Obviously, Christ knew what he was doing, just as he knew what he was doing when he guided the Church fathers into banning communion in the hand.

It has to do with Newman’s perspective of organic development. The apostles didn’t know the full extent of the development of the Eucharist, just as we don’t know it. The Church’s conception of the Eucharist evolves over time, developing into a deeper understanding and appreciation.

What I was trying to state, was that if we reject organic development, or a “hermeneutic of continuity,” we by default accede to one of the major arguments of the Orthodox Churches, who largely deny the legitimacy of this concept.

The practice of kneeling and communion on the tongue only evolved over time, like the growth of a tree, not something artificially imposed.

Whether or not communion in the hand is appropriate or not, I can’t say. I don’t really have a stake (since I only go to an EF). I was mainly trying to point out that the argument that the ancient Church did it doesn’t necessarily justify something in and of itself. Otherwise, we’d have to readopt the ancient Church’s concept of penance, which I don’t think any of us want to do ( I certainly don’t). The bottom line of my post is that the argument can’t be simply settled by what happened at the Last Supper. Otherwise, the Church was wrong for however many centuries communion only on the tongue was allowed.

I hope that clears up my original post, which was done in a hurry.

That said, I don’t have strong feelings either way, about the practices at the OF.