Communion in the hand

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Deacon_Ed said:
But according to the GIRM in the adaptations for the United States, communion under both species may be offered at any Mass. Thus, there is never a time “when it is not supposed” to be given.

Deacon Ed
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Understood, Deacon. But with all of the reports and instances of abuse since the opportunity to receive under both species has been granted, it wouldn’t seem that the both species issue is really the problem, but rather that the laity has not been properly catechized on the proper and respectful and pious way that it should be accomplished. And respectfully, although it MAY be offered at any Mass, does not mean that it SHOULD be offered at any Mass.

Just my $0.12 worth (inflation)😉
 
Lee_M said:
Funny you mention this:

Did the Holy Father just give communion in the hand? :frighten:
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These last two posts show the limitation of pictures, even though people love to us them as evidence. They lack context. If one wants to know what the Holy Father thinks, then we have a lot of his writings and homilies to draw on. He could change the way of reception is he desires. He is the Pope after all.
 
Neither of those last two pictures is clear whether he gave them CITH. The first one looks more likely, but it’s not proof as he could have been taking something from the boy’s hand or could have been giving him something else… Again, unlikely b/c of Communion cup in his other hand, but either way, I don’t trust pictures on the internet anyway. It’s too easy to photoshop whatever you want.
 
Deacon_Ed said:
But according to the GIRM in the adaptations for the United States, communion under both species may be offered at any Mass. Thus, there is never a time “when it is not supposed” to be given.

Deacon Ed
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Actually it’s up to the bishop, who can forbid CITH in his diocese at will. Unfortunately, because of all the politics involved now-a-days, not enough bishops are doing that, even though I suspect many of them realize it’s a serious problem.
 
una_fides said:
Actually it’s up to the bishop, who can forbid CITH in his diocese at will. Unfortunately, because of all the politics involved now-a-days, not enough bishops are doing that, even though I suspect many of them realize it’s a serious problem.
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Offering the the Eucharist under both species is not unfortunate. This is just your opinion. It is not a fact.
 
una_fides said:
Neither of those last two pictures is clear whether he gave them CITH. The first one looks more likely, but it’s not proof as he could have been taking something from the boy’s hand or could have been giving him something else… Again, unlikely b/c of Communion cup in his other hand, but either way, I don’t trust pictures on the internet anyway. It’s too easy to photoshop whatever you want.
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Are you serious? The first picture is clear. The young boy has his hand cupped like those who receive communion in the hand. You are so hung up on your opinon that you would deny what is in front of your face.
 
Lee_M said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by una fides View Post
Actually it’s up to the bishop, who can forbid CITH in his diocese at will. Unfortunately, because of all the politics involved now-a-days, not enough bishops are doing that, even though I suspect many of them realize it’s a serious problem.
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Whoa. Way to put words into my mouth. Did you even read my post that you quoted??? I said that COMMUNION IN THE HAND can be forbidden and that it’s unfortunate that bishops are not forbidding it, which is within the scope of their authority to do. I never said anything about offering the Cup. But just to make you feel better, for the reasons outlined above, IMHO there is no significant reason to have the Cup available to the laity that justifies the problems it creates, the same problems which no one on this thread has been able to solve, answer, or justify. Yes, it is an opinion based on facts that have not been refuted. How about yours? Do you really think that CITH or the offering of the Chalice to the laity has produced some great increase in devotion to our Lord’s Real Presence and a better understanding thereof, or has the opposite occurred along with abuses and unfortunate accidents being made more easily available?
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una_fides said:
Whoa. Way to put words into my mouth. Did you even read my post that you quoted??? I said that COMMUNION IN THE HAND can be forbidden and that it’s unfortunate that bishops are not forbidding it, which is within the scope of their authority to do. I never said anything about offering the Cup. But just to make you feel better, for the reasons outlined above, IMHO there is no significant reason to have the Cup available to the laity that justifies the problems it creates, the same problems which no one on this thread has been able to solve, answer, or justify. Yes, it is an opinion based on facts that have not been refuted. How about yours? Do you really think that CITH or the offering of the Chalice to the laity has produced some great increase in devotion to our Lord’s Real Presence and a better understanding thereof, or has the opposite occurred along with abuses and unfortunate accidents being made more easily available?
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Agreed, uf. The debate becomes moot once the abuses occur regularly and polls that show less than a significant percentage of Catholics believe in the Real Presence anymore. What would be wrong with a bishop educating the laity and sending a letter to all parishes to be read throughout a particular month at the Sunday Masses that makes clear what he would like? He could also suspent the practice for a time while having the letters read, impressing upon the laity the respect and humility with which the Eucharist and Precious Blood should be treated. Why do we continue to see bishops allow the abuses occur and do nothing about it? I could be much more on board with CITH if I saw that others were treating it with the reverence that it is due.🙂
 
Member said:
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.
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In short, the bishops refused to submit to the Pope and he, God rest his soul, gave in. As to standing for reception of the Holy Eucharist, it’s faster that way. Why we’re to genuflect when passing the Tabernacle and stand to receive is beyond me.:rolleyes:
 
una_fides said:
Whoa. Way to put words into my mouth. Did you even read my post that you quoted??? I said that COMMUNION IN THE HAND can be forbidden and that it’s unfortunate that bishops are not forbidding it, which is within the scope of their authority to do. I never said anything about offering the Cup. But just to make you feel better, for the reasons outlined above, IMHO there is no significant reason to have the Cup available to the laity that justifies the problems it creates, the same problems which no one on this thread has been able to solve, answer, or justify. Yes, it is an opinion based on facts that have not been refuted. How about yours? Do you really think that CITH or the offering of the Chalice to the laity has produced some great increase in devotion to our Lord’s Real Presence and a better understanding thereof, or has the opposite occurred along with abuses and unfortunate accidents being made more easily available?
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I’m sorry. I misread your post. I don’t believe that CITH and the lack of belief of the Real Presence correlate with one another. That’s why its not been refuted. Is CITH also the blame why there are less and less people coming to Mass every week? Is CITH also explain why the Divorce rate keeps edging higher? Is CITH also to blame why attendance in Catholic schools is in decline? There are alot of things happening. Our society is in moral decay. Less and less children are being catechised about the Real Presence. It doesn’t have anything to do with whether you receive via the tongue or on the hand. The traditionalist on these boards want to blame everything on silly things such as CITH for people not believing in Real Presence to blaming altar girls for the decline in the priesthood. Focus on the real problems and then you may have a change.
 
latinmasslover said:
In short, the bishops refused to submit to the Pope and he, God rest his soul, gave in. As to standing for reception of the Holy Eucharist, it’s faster that way. Why we’re to genuflect when passing the Tabernacle and stand to receive is beyond me.:rolleyes:
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Standing is also a sign of respect. Why do we stand when the gospel is read? When someone of importance enters a room, everyone stands. Standing is not offensive.
 
Lee_M said:
The traditionalist on these boards want to blame everything on silly things such as CITH for people not believing in Real Presence
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The Protestant “reformers” didn’t think it was very silly; in fact, they knew that Communion in the hand was the way to slam the belief in the True Presence. It worked well now just as it did then.
 
Lee_M said:
Standing is also a sign of respect. Why do we stand when the gospel is read? When someone of importance enters a room, everyone stands. Standing is not offensive.
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The words of Jesus being read versus Jesus Christ Himself…? Let’s think about this a minute… … … How many people do you know that genuflect to the Bible? Everyone knows that a bow/genuflection is more reverent than standing with a head nod.
 
Lee_M said:
Standing is also a sign of respect. Why do we stand when the gospel is read? When someone of importance enters a room, everyone stands. Standing is not offensive.
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Depends on the situation. How did all the angels and saints react in Scripture to the Presence of God? How did Christ and the apostles pray? Were they “standing out of respect” or kneeling and prostrating out of a godly fear in awe and adoration?
 
The_Smiter said:
He could also suspent the practice for a time while having the letters read, impressing upon the laity the respect and humility with which the Eucharist and Precious Blood should be treated.
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Now this is one of the interesting and unique ideas I have read. A one year suspension soley for the purpose of educating people on the need to respect the Holy Eucharist would have a profound impact on both catechesis and the authority of the Church to change such matters of discipline.
 
latinmasslover said:
The words of Jesus being read versus Jesus Christ Himself…? Let’s think about this a minute… … … How many people do you know that genuflect to the Bible? Everyone knows that a bow/genuflection is more reverent than standing with a head nod.
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AMEN!

Why would we genuflect to the Bible anyway? It is not God! Some people today confuse the spiritual, figurative, intellectual presence of Christ in God’s Word with the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The two are absolutely and entirely different! Christ is present in the Eucharist Body Blood Soul and Divinity. He is present in his Word by reflection and through his truth that transforms our minds and inundates us with faith. One is mental; the other a physical reality. We certainly revere God’s Word, but we worship and adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Big difference.
 
una_fides said:
Depends on the situation. How did all the angels and saints react in Scripture to the Presence of God? How did Christ and the apostles pray?
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Do angels have knees? The apostles did not always kneel in the presence of God. Sometimes they even sat and reclined.
 
Again, I am always amazed at how the traditionalists on these boards are always worried about what someone else is doing. How do you know that you kneeling and receiving on the tongue is any more reverent than me with a profound bow of the head and receiving in the hand. Who made you the judge. Our Lord is going to judge us for what is in hearts and our actions on how we followed His laws. Again, we should be looking at the real issues. Why is Church attendance down? Why are babies born out of wedlock increasing? Why are there many Catholic children not being catechised today? These issues of CITH or holding hands during the Lords Prayer, or too much handshaking during the Kiss of Peace are silly issues.

Our Lord dined with sinners. We do owe Him reverence. But just because it isn’t your way, doesn’t mean it’s bad.
 
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