It is my understanding that the church was in error at that time and it was a sin to receive communion in the hand.For the first 3 centuries Communion in the Hand was the norm of the Church, so it is obviously not a sin.
That would be a mistaken notion. The Church cannot be in error and lead people into sin. The norm was to receive in the hand. That changed as the number of people increased. The method of receiving communion is, of course, a discipline that the Church can change as she wishes. Today the norm is to receive on the tongue. Some countries, including the United States, have what’s called an “indult” (exception to the law) that permits the communicant to choose to receive in the hand while showing reverence for the Blessed Sacrament.It is my understanding that the church was in error at that time and it was a sin to receive communion in the hand.
Since I am having trouble believing this, I’m wondering if you are an ordained deacon.That would be a mistaken notion. The Church cannot be in error and lead people into sin. The norm was to receive in the hand. That changed as the number of people increased. The method of receiving communion is, of course, a discipline that the Church can change as she wishes. Today the norm is to receive on the tongue. Some countries, including the United States, have what’s called an “indult” (exception to the law) that permits the communicant to choose to receive in the hand while showing reverence for the Blessed Sacrament.
Standing is the normative position in all Eastern Catholic Churches (in fact, the First Council of Nicaea outlawed kneeling on Sunday because that was the day the Lord Rose from the dead! The Latin Church decided that kneeling was an important posture for the West because it was associated with adoration. In the East standing holds that position so the East has always stood for communion. This, too, is a discipline.
Deacon Ed
I am in the process of becoming Catholic and am wondering about the finger and thumb of the priest being consecrated. What about the other Eucharistic ministers who are not priests? Also I heard a Eucharistic minister in our church complain that she hates it when she has to give the Host on someones tongue. That makes me wonder whether I should be politically correct for my church and take it in my hand or take the Host on my tongue as I would rather.I consider receiving communion in the hand as sacrilegious and I can’t understand why the Catholic church allows this. I was taught in the catholic school that the priest’s index fingers and thumbs were consecrated and he was the only one allowed to touch the host. Also, why is it OK to stand to receive holy communion but out of respect for the holy eucharist, we genuflect before entering the pew and we kneel at the consecration. It doesn’t make sense to me.
What the deacon said is true, communion in the hand was at one time practiced in the Early Church.Since I am having trouble believing this, I’m wondering if you are an ordained deacon.
A lay-woman distributing Communion has ZERO right to deny you communion on the tongue. It is the ordinary way of distributing communion, and in many countries it is illicit to distribute in the hand.I am in the process of becoming Catholic and am wondering about the finger and thumb of the priest being consecrated. What about the other Eucharistic ministers who are not priests? Also I heard a Eucharistic minister in our church complain that she hates it when she has to give the Host on someones tongue. That makes me wonder whether I should be politically correct for my church and take it in my hand or take the Host on my tongue as I would rather.
Pardon?Since I am having trouble believing this, I’m wondering if you are an ordained deacon.
Not only is it valid it is the norm.Doesn’t matter if he is an ordained Deacon or not when he is right.
It doesn’t matter what the next posters E.minister thinks either, Communion on the Tongue is a valid method for receiving the Eucharist. If you were Eastern Catholic the priest would put it in your mouth with a spoon.
Please don’t confuse Dogma - the truths of the faith, with Doctrine - our method of explaining it, with Discipline - the various methods and practices of the faith.
Yes, I am an ordained deacon serving both a Latin Rite parish and an Eastern Rite parish. Been ordained for quite a while now (nearly 14 years). I don’t know why you are having trouble believing what I posted – a few minutes with the old Catholic Encyclopedia will verify most of what I posted. A visit to any site that has the writings of the early Church Fathers will have documents from the early councils as well (try the NewAdvent web site). It’s all there… I’m a big fan of not putting forth my opinion but, rather, what it historically accurate.Since I am having trouble believing this, I’m wondering if you are an ordained deacon.
I agree. It has lead to a disbelief in the Real Presence of Christ and to many many abuses and sacrilegious acts. I kneel when I receive Communion no matter where I’m at. I don’t see how any one can consider it a norm to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ into our bodies standing, as if it were no big deal and when we know all the angels and saints are KNEELING before His Presence. We kneel at the consecration, and we kneel to receive. We are not Protestants, and it’s about time we stop acting like it. (“we” meaning everyone today who claims to be Catholic)I consider receiving communion in the hand as sacrilegious and I can’t understand why the Catholic church allows this. I was taught in the catholic school that the priest’s index fingers and thumbs were consecrated and he was the only one allowed to touch the host. Also, why is it OK to stand to receive holy communion but out of respect for the holy eucharist, we genuflect before entering the pew and we kneel at the consecration. It doesn’t make sense to me.
It’s the norm because the Church says it’s the norm. In the Latin Rite Rome has also said that even if one kneels they are not to be denied communion. In the Eastern Rites you would be asked to stand by most priests since the norm has always been to stand for communion in the Eastern tradition. You would also receive communion by intinction. In the Slavic churches (Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian) and most of the other Byzantine churches, you would receive communion on a spoon that contains the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ. In the Melkite tradition the Body of Christ would be dipped into the chalice and the intincted species would be placed in your open mouth. And you would be standing.I agree. It has lead to a disbelief in the Real Presence of Christ and to many many abuses and sacrilegious acts. I kneel when I receive Communion no matter where I’m at. I don’t see how any one can consider it a norm to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ into our bodies standing, as if it were no big deal and when we know all the angels and saints are KNEELING before His Presence. We kneel at the consecration, and we kneel to receive. We are not Protestants, and it’s about time we stop acting like it. (“we” meaning everyone today who claims to be Catholic)
please offer evidence to support this claim apart from ONE church father, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, that explained to receive Communion in the hand being particularly attentive in case any particles should remain. He did NOT say or attest anywhere that this was a universal practice of the Church, so you cannot possibly conclude that the early Church practiced this other than possibly in this one area. It’s also possible that the letter was not written by St. Cyril but by an imposter or that it could have been interpolated. We have no records that state that a pope in the early Church ever gave approval of such practice to my knowledge. Can you please supply documented evidence supporting your claim; otherwise please retract.For the first 3 centuries Communion in the Hand was the norm of the Church, so it is obviously not a sin.
Who ever administers the host is obligated to distribute communion on the tongue if that’s what the communicant desires. I always take communion on the tongue and I try to go to a priest if at all possible. We should not have Eucharistic ministers. I went to a catholic grade school and high school and I was taught that the priest’s index fingers and thumbs are consecrated and since our faith tell us the host is the body of Christ the priest is the only one allowed to touch the host. This is what I believe to be true. God bless you for turning toward catholicism.I am in the process of becoming Catholic and am wondering about the finger and thumb of the priest being consecrated. What about the other Eucharistic ministers who are not priests? Also I heard a Eucharistic minister in our church complain that she hates it when she has to give the Host on someones tongue. That makes me wonder whether I should be politically correct for my church and take it in my hand or take the Host on my tongue as I would rather.
thanks for the info. i realize there’s a growing interest in eastern practices, but personally they do not at all appeal to me. the eastern orthodox churches have been infected with poison of schism for quite some time. i wish people would take a harsher view on them than on SSPX, whose members at least recognize the pope as having superior authority. archbishop lefebvre was excommunicated for disobedience not for saying that the pope was equal to him as the eastern orthodox leaders still do to this day. btw, did you know the pope just lifted the excommunication on the four bishops appointed by lefebvre? you can tell i’m a little bitter as to the harsh stance taken against sspx but the light stance taken on the orthodox. but i digress…In the Eastern Rites you would be asked to stand by most priests since the norm has always been to stand for communion in the Eastern tradition. You would also receive communion by intinction. In the Slavic churches (Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian) and most of the other Byzantine churches, you would receive communion on a spoon that contains the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ. In the Melkite tradition the Body of Christ would be dipped into the chalice and the intincted species would be placed in your open mouth. And you would be standing.