Coronavirus Mass Changes - Communion in Hand?

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Thom18, with all do respect, you need not read the threads, I’d they annoy you. Peace, Brother! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
 
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I wouldn’t worry about something before it happens. And if you have a good relationship with your priest, you could always ask him. Perhaps if this were to happen such that you could not receive on the tongue for the Easter season he could either excuse you or make arrangements for you to receive from him privately. But again, don’t worry until it happens. It may never even be an issue.
 
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Thanks stpurl for your kind words of understanding. I will follow your advice.
I know there are some here on CAF who are annoyed with my angst over this matter, but I want to do the right thing.
We are here to give praise and glory to God in all that we say and do. And to love and serve one another as brothers and sisters.
Again, thank you!
 
JoeShlabotnik said:
Thom18, with all do respect, you need not read the threads, I’d they annoy you. Peace, Brother! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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All that’s annoying is that people are making new threads when we’ve already given the answers.

I’m glad the mods merged them. Now let’s try not to make yet another.
 
About 25% of the time, when I receive on the tongue, the priest touches my tongue.
 
Yeah, sorry. Should’ve know it was going to turn into a flame war lol.

My intent on asking this was to answer the question about obedience to the bishop, and if he even had such authority to make such a decision about COTT. And to see what the right perspective a Catholic should have on this would be.

I had no intent on discussing what form of Eucharistic reception was better.
 
I am no one to tell them what they should do, but I will offer on consideration for those struggling with this. It is not what is in one’s hand or on one’s tongue that offends Jesus with sacrilege, but it is what is in one’s heart. I cannot imagine that those that really are being so careful in this regard would be committing this deeper sacrilege.
 
JoeShlabotnik said:
My feeling
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JoeShlabotnik, you sound like an Evangelical Protestant of the Pentecostal persuasion–it’s all about my FEELINGS!

But as the late, great Dr. Bill Bright taught, do NOT rely on your feelings for doctrine/dogma. You can be misled!

Get on the Fact, Faith, Feelings train! In the Campus Crusade booklet the slogan appears as a train: the locomotive is “fact.” The coal car is “faith.” The caboose is “feeling.” The explanation reads: “The train will run with or without the caboose. However, it would be futile to attempt to pull the train by the caboose.”

The FACT is–that the Catholic Church has declared that Holy Communion can be received in the hand if the bishop in your diocese approves. Your feelings of ambiguity and distrust do not negate or invalidate the teachings of the Catholic Church.

I would suggest that you do the things the Church teaches even if they don’t “feel right” to you, because this will help you to become obedient to the Church and to Jesus Christ in all aspects of your life. And I will admit that I need to do the same–obey and trust!
 
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Peeps said:
JoeShlabotnik, you sound like an Evangelical Protestant of the Pentecostal persuasion–it’s all about my FEELINGS!
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Protestants believe in Scripture alone. That is the difference. Both Protestants and Catholics, being people, have feelings, which is why insulting or belittling others is not something either should do. If you read above, it is not an emotional struggle, but a problem of conscience, or at least, that would be the most charitable way to interpret it, you know, that Catechism thing we are supposed to do because of rash judgement.

As the issue is one of discipline, and what action one should take among options the Church gives, trying to shame people into doing what their conscience tells them might be wrong is not something we should engage in. This change will hit a few in ways the rest of the lay people cannot relate to.
 
I have received on the tongue and in the hand. I will do what my Bishop says. You don’t have to go to Communion every week and this outbreak won’t last forever. Be at peace knowing the Bishop is doing what he feels is best for his flock.
 
pnewton said:
As the issue is one of discipline, and what action one should take among options the Church gives, trying to shame people into doing what their conscience tells them might be wrong is not something we should engage in. This change will hit a few in ways the rest of the lay people cannot relate to.
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I am NOT trying to shame anyone into doing anything. I am trying to communicate the danger of relying on “feelings” when choosing a course of action.

A LOT of Catholics have quit the Church, or have stopped following the precepts of the Church because they rely on their FEELINGS instead of the FACTS.

JoeShlabotnik specifically said, “My feeling…” I quoted that in my post.

I sympathize with JoeShlabotnik–there are many things about Catholicism and Christianity in general that I have a very hard time accepting. One example is contraception–I honestly don’t think I could have accepted this teaching as a young woman who found having a baby absolutely exhausting (I was actually sick to my stomach many times during the early months of my daughters’ lives because I get nauseous when I am overtired).

My husband and I practiced a lot of abstinence not because of TTA, but because of total exhaustion and sickness on my part! But when we DID have the opportunity to make love, we took it, and it was a vital part of our marriage (we’ve been married 40 years now).

I just think I would have been totally closed to the Catholic Church teachings on contraception because of my “feelings.” Would it have been OK for me to rely on those feelings about contraception and the Act of Marriage if I had converted to Catholicism back then? Of course not! My feelings are NOT legitimate for interpreting Church teachings.

I’m not saying it’s easy-peasy. Of course not! I’m sure JoeShlabotnik and many others struggle with various issues in the Church. I struggle with issues! I sympathize.

But I believe that obedience is a virtue that we must cultivate, or we will continue to see the Church draining members who are convinced that their feelings about various issues are a more reliable guide for their lives than the One Holy Catholic Church.
 
The bishops have researched this. They have consulted with experts. This is not some jab at COTT but the care of a father for his children.
 
Mi_Rose said:
You don’t have to go to Communion every week and this outbreak won’t last forever.
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Good point.

Let me interject one more option for those who see themselves with no good option. It has been suggested that a spiritual communion could be practiced in place of receiving on the hand. This is an accepted practice in the Catholic Church. One must attend Mass, but receiving communion is not a Sunday obligation. Perhaps that could be tried first. Pray that God will lead you to know what is right. Then, if you decided that you need more, receive in the hand in good conscience.
 
You know no bishop is saying people have to recieve in the hand. Not recieving if one can not recieve on the tongue is not disobidient, because the bishops are not saying you can not do that.
 
As on outsider who observes catholic communion when I go with my wife. I have wonder what information your church is getting if the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention says don’t touch your own face. What they would think of this?
 
If the advice is the same as that issued by the British Government, it is don’t touch your face with unwashed hands. The simple precaution can be taken of a priest/EMHC washing their hands before Mass.
 
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