Danger of taking Communion in the hand

[Deacon_Ed_B]

I note the three references. The first refers to an indult. This is correct. If one is given, it is OK to receive Communion in the hands. This is due to the lack of priests and deacons in the United States. The Church is accommodating the existing circumstances. I just finished reading the Code of Canon Law and its commentary on the Holy Eucharist to see if it had anything to say about reception on the tongue or in the hand. I could not find anything. (Knowing me, I am not saying it’s not there, I am saying I could not find it) I understand that reception in the hand is an indult granted by the USCCB. I do not have that copy. The second reference you gave just outright calls it a sacrilege. With the indult, this is incorrect. I have assisted mass with our bishops and archbishops and this was allowed. I will follow their example is stating it is OK. I could not get anything on the 3rd reference you gave me. My internet provider for some reason has it blocked. I wish I could say more, but I am stalemated at this point. If anyone else has a specific reference on the indult, I would greatly appreciate it.
Deacon Ed B

 

[japhy]

What I am looking for (please don’t be offended) is a link to an “official” source (i.e. The Vatican). I searched and searched on The Holy See website and couldn’t find anything. I did find some information on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website that referenced GIRM.

Well, here’s what I can tell you.

In the early Church, it is certain there were occasions (or even customs) of people receiving the Host into their hands. There is literary evidence that women received it on a special cloth (for that purpose only). However, the practice of receiving in the hand has not been the tradition of the Western Church for at least 1000 years. In fact, it was outlawed by various councils in favor of reception on the tongue.

The various “churches” that sprung out of the Protestant Reformation stopped the practice of receiving on the tongue for two primary reasons: 1) to express a de facto equality between the laity and the clergy, and 2) because they do not in the Real Presence (at least, not in the manner which the Church does) and as such, the bread they share in their communion is simply bread.

When the practice was re-introduced into the Church in the 1960’s (or perhaps slightly earlier), it was done so illegally (illicitly). Rather than quell the abuse (or perhaps because Her efforts to quell the abuse were not succeeding), the Church, reconfirming its universal attachment to the tradition practice of receiving on the tongue, also allowed bishops of those conferences where the illegal practice was occurring to seek an indult to make it legal for them.

Pope Paul VI made it clear when this indult was being issued that there are certain dangers associated with the practice of Communion in the hand (Memoriale Domine). Pope John Paul II lamented the abuses associated with Communion in the Hand in his letter Dominicae Cenae (n. 11).

tldm.org/news2/cih.htm

That URL is from a questionable source: TLDM.org – “These Last Days Ministries” – has purported (and unverified) prophetic messages all throughout; the apparitions are not recognized by the Church, and have been in fact condemned as harmful to the faith.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Teelyn… I understand your concern. I hope that Communion in the hand will one day be forbidden, as it once was. And that we will return to the more reverent, more “watchful” method of Communion on the Tongue (with use of a paten; remember the little golden plate they would put under your chin?). I pray for the return of the Communion Rail, and the kneeling posture. And this is not only for the sake of the Communicants (us) but to protect the Blessed Sacrament from abuses. Take a look at this link… it is shocking.

fatima.org/news/newsviews/pr041505.asp

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Teelyn… I understand your concern. I hope that Communion in the hand will one day be forbidden, as it once was. And that we will return to the more reverent, more “watchful” method of Communion on the Tongue (with use of a paten; remember the little golden plate they would put under your chin?). I pray for the return of the Communion Rail, and the kneeling posture. And this is not only for the sake of the Communicants (us) but to protect the Blessed Sacrament from abuses. Take a look at this link… it is shocking.

fatima.org/news/newsviews/pr041505.asp

The ebay items could easily be frauds – let us not forget that.

And anyone determined to defame a concecrated host will find a way to make off with one – as they did before Vat II.

 

[Brother_John]

What inherent “DANGER” is there to receiving Communion in the hand?

 

[MarieVeronica]

The ebay items could easily be frauds – let us not forget that.

And anyone determined to defame a concecrated host will find a way to make off with one – as they did before Vat II.

This story was reported on Fox News (Neil Cavuto)… just after it happened. I saw it. That’s how I became aware of this. The Fatima Center and the Archdiocese certainly took it very seriously. As should we.

It would certainly make it LESS easy for someone to “make off with one” if we returned to Communion on the tongue, only.

 

[nsanders]

Many thanks to all who responded to my request.

 

[nsanders]

It would certainly make it LESS easy for someone to “make off with one” if we returned to Communion on the tongue, only.

Not necessarily. I recall a young girl in my church who simply spit it back into her hand after receiving.

 

[nsanders]

This is all that I have found:

usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.shtml

Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America

Approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
on June 14, 2001

**
Distribution of the Body and Blood of the Lord**
41. Holy Communion under the form of bread is offered to the communicant with the words “The Body of Christ.” The communicant may choose whether to receive the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. When receiving in the hand, the communicant should be guided by the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem: “When you approach, take care not to do so with your hand stretched out and your fingers open or apart, but rather place your left hand as a throne beneath your right, as befits one who is about to receive the King. Then receive him, taking care that nothing is lost.” (51)

 

[Eilish_Maura]

This story was reported on Fox News (Neil Cavuto)… just after it happened. I saw it. That’s how I became aware of this. The Fatima Center and the Archdiocese certainly took it very seriously. As should we.

It would certainly make it LESS easy for someone to “make off with one” if we returned to Communion on the tongue, only.

Fox News saw the man take it at the Vatican and carry it on to then be posted for sale at Ebay?

Without documented chain of custody from when the individual host was distributed to when it was put for sale it highly suspect as a FRAUD.

 

[GladCatholic]

I hope not too off-topic…

I find it a little bothersome that children being trained for first communion often times aren’t told that receiving on the tongue is even an option. A lot of them don’t know you may… Or have been told “we used to but don’t know”.

Sadly, my daughter attends Catholic school and when the school prepared them for Communion, they only taught them Communion in the hand. I receive on the tongue. I requested my daughter receive on the tongue and was informed in no instance during first Communion were they to receive on the tongue. They WERE NOT allowed to. I could’ve instructed her to anyway, but figured it was best to play it their way this once, and after that she’s always received in Mass on the tongue. But to make matters even worse, they ARE NOT allowed to receive on the tongue during the school’s monthly first Friday liturgy.

GladCatholic

 

[tee_eff_em]

What I am looking for (please don’t be offended) is a link to an “official” source (i.e. The Vatican). I searched and searched on The Holy See website and couldn’t find anything. I did find some information on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website that referenced GIRM. However, I am looking for more references to send.

Here is one from the Vatican:
"
Redemptionis Sacramentum
[/QUOTE]
"][92.] Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.

BTW, the GIRM is likewise from the Vatican, if you note the references in the quoted part of the document linked.

*161. Si Communio sub specie tantum panis fit, sacerdos hostiam parum elevatam unicuique ostendit dicens: Corpus Christi. Communicandus respondet: Amen, et Sacramentum recipit, ore

vel, ubi concessum sit, manu, pro libitu suo.

Communicandus statim ac sacram hostiam recipit, eam ex integro consumit.

Si vero Communio fit sub utraque specie, servetur ritus suo loco descriptus (cf. nn. 284-287).*

1. If Communion is given only under the species of bread, the priest raises the host slightly and shows it to each, saying, Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ). The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue

or, where this is allowed and if the communicant so chooses, in the hand.

As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes it entirely.

If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. 284-287 is followed.

tee

 

[tee_eff_em]

I understand that reception in the hand is an indult granted by the USCCB.

…In cooperation with the Apostolic See…

tee

 

[nsanders]

Thank you!

 

[Jerome42]

i too receive on the tongue(kneeling where possible) . in the old days a paten collected the fragments. (remember the sermon on the mount. fragments were diligently gathered.) now adays the hosts or particles just drop on the floor rescued 3 fragments of approximately 1/6 the size of the hosts on 3 separate occasions last year and this year another lady gathered on all roughly the same size. she told me of picking up whole Hosts as well some of those were probaly from people who received so as not to be thought to be sinners but who hid them under their seats when they got to their seats. the ones i saw were dropped at the place where Communion was being distributed. obviously the hosts were rather fragile that they should be breaking off like that.

I believe that the Eastern Church has the best method for the reception of Holy Communion, ie., the Host is dipped into the Wine and placed on the tongue of the Communicant. This way both Species are received and there is little chance of any abuse.

 

[seekerz]

I believe that the Eastern Church has the best method for the reception of Holy Communion, ie., the Host is dipped into the Wine and placed on the tongue of the Communicant. This way both Species are received and there is little chance of any abuse.

I’ve been told by a priest that dipping the Host in the Wine is not an approved practice…

 

[LilyM]

I’ve been told by a priest that dipping the Host in the Wine is not an approved practice…

Laity dipping their OWN Host into the Chalice (called self-intinction) isn’t approved. Intinction where the priest/deacon does it, a la the Eastern Churches methods, is fine. Obviously, since they do it regularly!

 

[japhy]

I’ve been told by a priest that dipping the Host in the Wine is not an approved practice…

The priest dipping the Host in wine is illegal, as is the priest dipping the Host in Coca-Cola or Guinness. The priest may dip the Host in the Precious Blood: this is called intinction, and it may only be done by the priest (or perhaps a deacon, but I’m not sure) – a lay person may not dip their Host in the Precious Blood.

Intinction is perfectly legal and a very practical way to receive both species in a reverent manner: the priest dips the Host in the Chalice and places it on the tongue of the communicant.

 

[Namesake]

This thread brings up a good point that others have pointed out…

Where are the patens in your church? That is the purpose of having patens to pay extra respect to our Lord and not allow fragments to be dropped.

Don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by those Priests or EMHC’s who don’t want to give communion on the tongue, because of bites, touching the tongue, strange modernistic ideals, etc…
Receive communion as you wish, it is allowed both ways and don’t worry about the negative but focus on the presence of Jesus.

Most in my parish are taught to receive in the hand, so they do not know why not or why they do it, other than that is the way they have been taught. This probably is the case in many parishes, don’t worry about it too much and focus on your own personal respect for Christ.

God Bless
Scylla

Did Christ place the bread on the apostles tongues?

 

[Namesake]

The priest dipping the Host in wine is illegal, as is the priest dipping the Host in Coca-Cola or Guinness. The priest may dip the Host in the Precious Blood: this is called intinction, and it may only be done by the priest (or perhaps a deacon, but I’m not sure) – a lay person may not dip their Host in the Precious Blood.

Intinction is perfectly legal and a very practical way to receive both species in a reverent manner: the priest dips the Host in the Chalice and places it on the tongue of the communicant.

Even after the priest consecrates the wine, it’s still wine.