Communion in the Hand

[Famule]

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

 

[NDfan]

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

And Jesus placed the bread in the Apostles mouth?? Don’t think so. Did Jesus give instructions on cleaning up the crumbs that dropped so his body wouldn’t be on the floor? Don’t think so.

 

[PrayforMallory]

And Jesus placed the bread in the Apostles mouth?? Don’t think so. Did Jesus give instructions on cleaning up the crumbs that dropped so his body wouldn’t be on the floor? Don’t think so.

They didn’t fully understand what was going on at the time.

If we have the attitude that we need to just emulate the earliest events in Christian history only, well, we can throw out Catholicism.

Better to just go be Orthodox, in that case.

The Church banned communion in the hand for a reason, a long time ago. The issue is that whether or not that particular reason still holds up or not, not whether or not it was done at the Last Supper, when the Church had not developed as much.

 

[Gara3987]

And Jesus placed the bread in the Apostles mouth?? Don’t think so. Did Jesus give instructions on cleaning up the crumbs that dropped so his body wouldn’t be on the floor? Don’t think so.

So I assume that you are perfectly fine with the knowledge that pieces of Our Lord are dropping onto the floor and getting stepped on, shame on you. Plus we are unworthy to touch Our Lord,

’Out of reverence towards this Sacrament, nothing touches it but what is consecrated.'

–St. Thomas Aquinas

The results of Communion in the hand and the Novus Ordo have caused a major crisis in the Catholic Church. *The New York Times *reported that when Catholics were asked, in a *Times-CBS *news poll, what best describes their belief about what happens to the bread and wine at Mass, most chose the answer that the bread and wine are “symbolic reminders of Christ” over the answer that they are “changed into the Body and Blood of Christ”. The official Church teaching, which we must believe in order to be saved, is this: “*The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharist species subsist. Christ is present whole and entire in each of the species and the whole and entire in each of their parts, in such a way that the breaking of the bread does not divide Christ.”
​

 

[turtle18]

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.

 

[lizaanne]

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.

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

 

[estesbob]

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

Do you have a link to where it is said it is under review? I have not heard this.

I hope it is not true as the highlight of my day is being able to briefly hold our Lord and Savior in the palm of my hand before I consume his body,

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

They didn’t fully understand what was going on at the time.

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

If we have the attitude that we need to just emulate the earliest events in Christian history only, well, we can throw out Catholicism.

Better to just go be Orthodox, in that case.

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.

The Church banned communion in the hand for a reason, a long time ago. The issue is that whether or not that particular reason still holds up or not, not whether or not it was done at the Last Supper, when the Church had not developed as much.

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

 

[Famule]

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

 

[ruslan]

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

I found these links. Do you have a different source?

Communion

more

:harp: :heaven:

 

[Spiller]

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

I seriously doubt CIH will be abolished in the USA. If it is, I truly wonder how closely the removal of the indult would be followed?

Maybe in your world but crumbs of the Blessed Sacrament are not “dropping all over the floor” where I worship. It’s also probably not happening where you worship as well.

While I think it’s a great idea neither priests, deacons or EMsHC are required to use ablution cups.

 

[PatrickJT914]

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

You say crumbs are “surely dropping all over the floor.” Where have you seen this rare event? In your church, if so for how long? How soon did report to Father after you noticed? What were they using for the bread? Was it regular bread or the Host? If it was a Host there is hardly any crumbs.Did the communicant mangle it before putting it into their mouth? They would have to do that, in order to get crumbs. I’m a EMHC at my parish and I have never recalled crumbs in either the ciborium, on the floor. The times I’ve served I’ve never seen any crumb fall from the communicant’s mouth or hand. Even when taking out the unconsecrated Hosts from the package to put into the main ciboria, there isn’t any crumbs.
When I’m not serving I still don’t see any crumbs. And I sit in the 1st or 2nd pew. When I receive I don’t see any crumbs in my hands. So, I don’t know of what you speak about.

At my parish we don’t purify our fingers. That’s Father’s part of the Mass. We sanitize our hands with alcohol based hand cleaners. Regarding the ablution cups and hand cleaning. There is a specific thread on using hand sanitizers at Mass. Please look at that. Thank you.

 

[Spiller]

And Jesus placed the bread in the Apostles mouth?? Don’t think so. Did Jesus give instructions on cleaning up the crumbs that dropped so his body wouldn’t be on the floor? Don’t think so.

I don’t think much of an argument can be made that communion-on-tongue is a Last Supper/Early Church practice.

I would hope NO crumbs of the Blessed Sacrament are falling on the floor! Someone on another thread said they started using communion patens and that it was catching all kinds of crumbs. I found that to be a disingenuous comment.

 

[Spiller]

They didn’t fully understand what was going on at the time.

If we have the attitude that we need to just emulate the earliest events in Christian history only, well, we can throw out Catholicism.

Better to just go be Orthodox, in that case.

The Church banned communion in the hand for a reason, a long time ago. The issue is that whether or not that particular reason still holds up or not, not whether or not it was done at the Last Supper, when the Church had not developed as much.

You’re wrong. Terribly wrong.

The practices of the Orthodox state churches are in no way older than those of the Catholic Church. That’s just plain ridiculous.

What you say? The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is hundreds of years older than the Tridentine Mass? No problem – not only does the Catholic Church have the DL, the Orthodox got it from the Catholic Church before they went into schism…

 

[joeybaggz]

*The New York Times *reported that when Catholics were asked, in a *Times-CBS *news poll

I’d take anything these two “news” sources have to say about the Catholic Church with a very large grain of salt. These two are for everything the Catholic Church stands against in the culture of death as JPII called it. They will jump at the chance to print anything that reflects negatively on the Church.

You might as well go to Osama Bin Laden’s folks for a essay on the glory of American Democracy. You’ll get just about the same level of fair and balanced reporting.

 

[Spiller]

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

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.

 

[Famule]

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

 

[Famule]

With the issue of communion rail being faster, I experience both every week. I see it. It is true. Do you use a communion rail often?

Luke

 

[Lee_M]

The Church banned communion in the hand for a reason, a long time ago. The issue is that whether or not that particular reason still holds up or not, not whether or not it was done at the Last Supper, when the Church had not developed as much.

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.

 

[Spiller]

…I’m a EMHC at my parish and I have never recalled crumbs in either the ciborium, on the floor. The times I’ve served I’ve never seen any crumb fall from the communicant’s mouth or hand. Even when taking out the unconsecrated Hosts from the package to put into the main ciboria, there isn’t any crumbs.
When I’m not serving I still don’t see any crumbs. And I sit in the 1st or 2nd pew. When I receive I don’t see any crumbs in my hands. So, I don’t know of what you speak about…

I totally agree…

We got slammed yesterday at early morning Mass with tons of new college grads and their families at Mass. I was one person distributing communion and I snapped at least 50 hosts in half using my thumb/forefinger and the interior wall of the ciborium (I was left with 1/2 a host at the end!) After snapping at least 50 hosts in half, there was a minuscule amount of crumbs – one really had to look at the right angle to see them.

I don’t buy the notion that CIH causes crumbs to end-up on the floor. Further, I doubt the efficacy of communion patens (except for intinction and possible drips) although I think their sign value is very important.