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Cat
Guest
Icarus210, I’ve been looking, but I can’t find your statements about the sanctification of the Priest’s hands by the Host in the Catechism. Could you please let me know the paragraph(s). Thanks.
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laudamus_te
Guest
And God should not be in the palm of man, but the other way around. Receiving the Holy Eucharist on the tongue reminds us that we are weak creatures who rely on God to feed us, like little children.
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VociMike
Guest
I have to say (as one who usually receives kneeling, on the tongue), that I just don’t have a problem with receiving in the hand. I too find the symbolism and the reality of God deigning to place himself in our hands, for the sake of our salvation, to be powerful. I do, OTOH, have a problem with standing to receive Communion. I also think that distributing under both species as is done now is seriously problematic (though I think intinction would solve those problems).
As an aside, I know I have committed many more, and worse, sins with my tongue than I ever did with my hands.
As an aside, I know I have committed many more, and worse, sins with my tongue than I ever did with my hands.
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Flopfoot
Guest
Hmm, I am sorta interested now to try recieving on the tongue more often now I hear some of the reasoning behind it, and also to try bringing traditional Catholicism to myself, in a sense. I would like to know how exactly it is done? I have recieved on the tongue a couple of times before when I was at a Maronite church that wasn’t used to people recieving in the hand, but I have a feeling I did it wrong. So we say “Amen” first and then open our mouths, right? Is there any special way to hold our body? Do we stick our tongue right out or is the host placed on our tongue while our tongue is still in our mouth? Quite tricky when I’m not used to it, ay.
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VociMike
Guest
Yes, say “Amen” and then stick your tongue out flat, and open your mouth fairly wide - that’s important. And, from personal experience, be careful when you cross yourself. I once did it too soon and bumped the paten being held by the server (who happened to be my son). That could have really been bad if the paten had then bumped the priest’s arm.
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laudamus_te
Guest
Unless, of course, you are receiving at a TLM, in which case you say nothing. The priest says “Amen” for you.
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VociMike
Guest
Ahh, didn’t know that, or, more accurately, I must have forgotten it from my youth.
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maryjk
Guest
So when we are on the Traditional Catholicism, we are always talking about the TLM, not the NO?At the Tridentine Mass the server pours water over the priest’s thumb and forefinger while the priest recites the *Corpus tuum, Domine *prayer. It’s in the Missal.
The reason I ask this, is because we were talking about possibly receiving in the hand and that the priest washes his hands, before and after. But if you are receiving in the hand, you are not receiving at a TLM, and if the priest washes before and after, you are at a TLM.
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Lady_Cygnus
Guest
I have never once thought “Woo Hoo, I have God in the palm of my hand - now I can control him…” It doesn’t happen! If anything it’s “My Lord chose to come down and put himself in the hands of sinners…sinners like me…out of love. Lord help me to love you in return!”
Whenever I’ve had communion on on the tongue my thoughts were “is my tongue out far enough? I hope Jesus doesn’t drop on the floor.”
If the rules are changed and communion on the tongue is made mandatory, then fine, but as long as it’s allowed in the hand it keeps me reverent, it keeps me focused, and it keeps me from thinking I’m somehow more pious than everyone else. This is the same reason why I don’t cover my head, wear skirts too often and like to go to adoration alone. As soon as I start doing something that might be seen as more pious than the norm I get prideful. So communion in the hand, until it is made the norm, is a near occasion of sin.
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Walking_Home
Guest
You don’t have to even once think it—but the fact remains—you the creature have God in the palm of your hand.
By the way----God did not choose to be in your hand. It was a standing abuse —that was finally ok’d by the Church.
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Cat
Guest
God made my hands. And as God, if He didn’t want to be in my hand, He wouldn’t be there.
Jesus is in my hands everytime I pick up a child, help my schizophrenic friend, hug someone who is grieving, embrace my husband…He is the One I’m helping, embracing, loving.
This whole discussion is silly. The Vatican has OKed it in the U.S. It doesn’t matter what the history was. It’s OK now. Complaints? Talk to the Vatican. Tell them that THEY are promoting abuse of the Lord here in the U.S. Tell them about all the millions of Catholics who are being irreverent in the U.S.
Our bodies are created GOOD by God. When He forgives us our sins, He cleanses us soul and body. When we receive Him, we are dead to our sins and alive to Him. We have offered ourselves to be nailed to the cross with Him.
Jesus is in my hands everytime I pick up a child, help my schizophrenic friend, hug someone who is grieving, embrace my husband…He is the One I’m helping, embracing, loving.
This whole discussion is silly. The Vatican has OKed it in the U.S. It doesn’t matter what the history was. It’s OK now. Complaints? Talk to the Vatican. Tell them that THEY are promoting abuse of the Lord here in the U.S. Tell them about all the millions of Catholics who are being irreverent in the U.S.
Our bodies are created GOOD by God. When He forgives us our sins, He cleanses us soul and body. When we receive Him, we are dead to our sins and alive to Him. We have offered ourselves to be nailed to the cross with Him.
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Lady_Cygnus
Guest
Whether or not it started out as an abuse, it’s “OK” now. Since the Church has declared it acceptable, then we accept that it is such. If you feel that it is a bad decision, then pray for its change. Don’t make people who are weaker in their faith feel less holy because they follow a practice the Church has allowed.
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ryankeith77
Guest
I attend a Charismatic Catholic church that is EXTREMELY reverent towards Jesus in the Eucharist; kneel to receive the Eucharist as well as Perpetual Adoration…and eight of the thirty seminarians in the diocese are from this parish…and I’m up and coming next year: I’m just saying.
K
Klydewannab
Guest
As I read this discussion I think of how awesome God is to create all of us, with our different sensitivities. This is what makes us the catholic church. What I hear is something that gladdens my heart–real reverance for Christ in the Eucharist. That is what really counts.
My first communion I received on the tongue. I remember serving at mass, when we had the paten to put beneath people’s chins. I don’t remember when I switched to the hand, but I did. Now I’ve switched back because of something Suzanne Fowler, founder of Light Weigh, said (this is a paraphrase)–Receiving on the tongue allows someone to serve you. How can you serve others if you don’t first allow yourself to be served?
I also changed because several times I found small particles of the Eucharist on my hand. I became concerned that there may be particles left on my hand that I don’t see.
I think the most important thing is to receive discerning the true presence of Christ, in the hand, on the tongue, kneeling or standing. What is most important is our inner disposition.
My first communion I received on the tongue. I remember serving at mass, when we had the paten to put beneath people’s chins. I don’t remember when I switched to the hand, but I did. Now I’ve switched back because of something Suzanne Fowler, founder of Light Weigh, said (this is a paraphrase)–Receiving on the tongue allows someone to serve you. How can you serve others if you don’t first allow yourself to be served?
I also changed because several times I found small particles of the Eucharist on my hand. I became concerned that there may be particles left on my hand that I don’t see.
I think the most important thing is to receive discerning the true presence of Christ, in the hand, on the tongue, kneeling or standing. What is most important is our inner disposition.
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Walking_Home
Guest
The Church accepting this practice----does not change the fact—that for those moments—God is in the palm of the creature. I am sorry if this troubles you—but it is the truth.
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BobP123
Guest
Are you sure about that? I thought the nails went through His wrists. Are you sure you’re not dreaming up all these comments so as to rationalize your taking in the hands? If it’s that important to you, the bishop allows you to do it, so go for it. Don’t need to torture those that don’t share your spiritual experiences.
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BobP123
Guest
I don’t know what “we” do but I do.
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Cat
Guest
BobP123,
You’re right, Christ’s wrists were probably pierced.
But most of the crucifixes show that his hands were pierced. So I’m not the only one “dreaming” things up.
I don’t understand your comment about torturing others. I meant no harm to anyone by my comment about crucifixion.
And no, I’m not justifying receiving in the hand. I don’t have to. It’s OK in the U.S. per dictum of the Vatican. I don’t have to justify something that the Vatican has declared “acceptable.”
To me, those who say it ISN’T acceptable have to justify why they are criticizing the ruling of the Vatican.
BTW, I did some googling last night, and discovered that our Bishop was one of the first in the U.S. to not only encourage Latin Masses (at the Oratory), but fight for them. Here is one of the links:
institute-christ-king.org/rockford/about.html
There are lots of others. Please pray for our Bishop, as he was diagnosed with lung cancer a few months ago. He had surgery and is back at work (just ordained seven new priests a few weeks ago). I really love him and hope that he can continue to serve as our Bishop for a long time.
So please don’t get the idea that I am stuck in one of those “liberalized” dioceses. I love my Bishop–ten years ago while I was still happily Protestant, I used to listen to him because to me, he sounded like Jesus.
You’re right, Christ’s wrists were probably pierced.
But most of the crucifixes show that his hands were pierced. So I’m not the only one “dreaming” things up.
I don’t understand your comment about torturing others. I meant no harm to anyone by my comment about crucifixion.
And no, I’m not justifying receiving in the hand. I don’t have to. It’s OK in the U.S. per dictum of the Vatican. I don’t have to justify something that the Vatican has declared “acceptable.”
To me, those who say it ISN’T acceptable have to justify why they are criticizing the ruling of the Vatican.
BTW, I did some googling last night, and discovered that our Bishop was one of the first in the U.S. to not only encourage Latin Masses (at the Oratory), but fight for them. Here is one of the links:
institute-christ-king.org/rockford/about.html
There are lots of others. Please pray for our Bishop, as he was diagnosed with lung cancer a few months ago. He had surgery and is back at work (just ordained seven new priests a few weeks ago). I really love him and hope that he can continue to serve as our Bishop for a long time.
So please don’t get the idea that I am stuck in one of those “liberalized” dioceses. I love my Bishop–ten years ago while I was still happily Protestant, I used to listen to him because to me, he sounded like Jesus.
W
Walking_Home
Guest
You want justification----how about our late Pope’s own words. Our late Pope knew what is happening----yet the focus has been skewed from Christ to the creature. The creature has become dominant. Knowing what he did----the late Pope could have stopped it—but he didn’t. Why----there are those who receive “reverently”.
So every time someone receives in the hand----in essence they are participating in an act that brings “a deplorable lack of respect”.
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_24021980_dominicae-cenae_en.html
In some countries the practice of receiving Communion in the hand has been introduced. This practice has been requested by individual episcopal conferences and has received approval from the Apostolic See. However, cases of a deplorable lack of respect towards the eucharistic species have been reported, cases which are imputable not only to the individuals guilty of such behavior but also to the pastors of the church who have not been vigilant enough regarding the attitude of the faithful towards the Eucharist. It also happens, on occasion, that the free choice of those who prefer to continue the practice of receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is not taken into account in those places where the distribution of Communion in the hand has been authorized. It is therefore difficult in the context of this present letter not to mention the sad phenomena previously referred to. This is in no way meant to refer to those who, receiving the Lord Jesus in the hand, do so with profound reverence and devotion, in those countries where this practice has been authorized.
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laudamus_te
Guest
I do pray that Communion in the hand will cease. I also try to do my part to convince those who do not see a problem with it to change the practice. And it is not a matter of considering others to be “weaker in their faith” or “less holy.” Not at all. Because this has been mandated as “OK” by the Church does not mean it’s right, especially considering the manner in which it came about. Let me ask you, if the Pope tomorrow forbade the practice on Communion in the hand (which will never happen, because the liberal Bishops will not allow it), and for the very reasons that have been presented here, would you then agree with it? Would you not feel even a little remorse for those many times of receiving in the hand?
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