Difficult situation for receiving Communion

  • Thread starter Thread starter littlewhiterose
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

littlewhiterose

Guest
For the past few weeks, in light of the flu having reached epidemic levels in my state, my parish has had precautions in place to prevent its spread. One of them is that they are asking people to receive Communion only in the hand, not on the tongue. This really upsets me. I do not wish to judge or criticize those who receive that way, but for myself I truly do not want to. I have never received in the hand since I was a child, and the idea of doing so upsets me so much that I have refrained from receiving Communion instead. I would have loved to add more frequent daily Mass to my Lenten practices, but for this reason I have not. So, I’m wondering if others have ever experienced similar situations. Normally, my pastor is very orthodox, and I’m sure he had no intention of discouraging anybody from receiving Communion, but that’s what he’s done to me. Surely the risk of spreading the flu is not so great as to be worth this! Do you think he actually has any right to do this? Should I receive on the tongue anyway (they won’t refuse me if I do) or would I guilty of disobedience if I did?
 
littlewhiterose said:
For the past few weeks, in light of the flu having reached epidemic levels in my state, my parish has had precautions in place to prevent its spread. One of them is that they are asking people to receive Communion only in the hand, not on the tongue. This really upsets me. I do not wish to judge or criticize those who receive that way, but for myself I truly do not want to. I have never received in the hand since I was a child, and the idea of doing so upsets me so much that I have refrained from receiving Communion instead. I would have loved to add more frequent daily Mass to my Lenten practices, but for this reason I have not. So, I’m wondering if others have ever experienced similar situations. Normally, my pastor is very orthodox, and I’m sure he had no intention of discouraging anybody from receiving Communion, but that’s what he’s done to me. Surely the risk of spreading the flu is not so great as to be worth this! Do you think he actually has any right to do this? Should I receive on the tongue anyway (they won’t refuse me if I do) or would I guilty of disobedience if I did?
Click to expand...
This is not about disobedience, the pastor has every right to ask and you have the right to disagree with him. Just make sure that pride and false piety do not trump the true agape, you also can refrain from receiving communion until the flu season is over.
 
Cristiano said:
This is not about disobedience, the pastor has every right to ask and you have the right to disagree with him. Just make sure that pride and false piety do not trump the true agape, you also can refrain from receiving communion until the flu season is over.
Click to expand...
Contrary to popular belief, even by some bishops, Catholics ALWAYS have the right to receive communion on the tongue, even under epidemics where communion reception to the faithful is still in practice. Rome has clarified this numerous times since the H1N1 over reaction. Unfortunately, many bishops and priest err in this, thus won’t budge unless Rome gets involved specifically. Meanwhile, you’re free to go to any of the Eastern Rite parishes and receive communion via intinction.
 
Personally, I think it’s an eminently sensible reaction to a raging epidemic.

To receive on the tongue means two things: 1 - that you risk getting spittle on the fingers of the priest and passing on any latent infection you might have and 2 - that you expectorate onto the hands of the priest as you breath out. In very close proximity this will risk the transfer of enough pathogen to run the risk of it being passed on to the next recipient of Communion.

Considering that some people have sufficiently weak immune systems that contracting flu or other illnesses could kill them, would you really insist on the priest communicating you on the tongue when you could, if you were unaware you were infections, cause someone else’s death by so doing?
 
Once before, in a thread similar to this, I have made a suggestion that I hope will help. There is a legitimate reason to ask people to use their hands for communion suing the flu season, but even that is not fool proof. If you want to receive on the tongue I am suggesting that you go to communion at the end of the line. That way the potential for passing germs to others will be reduced and the lay ministr or priest can use sanitizer right after they finish distributing for their own protection. In our Church the numbers receiving on the tongue are few enough that this seems like a way to keep everyone happy.
 
mountee said:
Once before, in a thread similar to this, I have made a suggestion that I hope will help. There is a legitimate reason to ask people to use their hands for communion suing the flu season, but even that is not fool proof. If you want to receive on the tongue I am suggesting that you go to communion at the end of the line. That way the potential for passing germs to others will be reduced and the lay ministr or priest can use sanitizer right after they finish distributing for their own protection. In our Church the numbers receiving on the tongue are few enough that this seems like a way to keep everyone happy.
Click to expand...
👍
 
First, we do not have to receive communion each time we attend Mass. It is perfectly possible to attend Mass every day and still only receive on Sundays, once a month, or just once a year.

However, frequent communion is something the Church encourages for those who are properly disposed, but it is not required and sometimes not possible.

As for passing the flu around, those who are sick should not be coming to Church if there is an epidemic. However, folks who don’t realize they are sick, or who think they are recovered but are still contagious do show up and can pass on the disease.

My son was out sick for a full week with the flu and took at least another two weeks to feel fully recovered - and he is a healthy, strong teen. Imagine what the flu can do to the elderly or those who have another health condition.

To the OP, speak to your priest about receiving on the tongue. Maybe if you present yuorself at the end of the communion procession, or possible he would commune you after Mass. If he is not cmfortable with those options, consider again if you would be willing to receive on the hand, or perhaps wait until the instructions are lifted to receive.

I will be praying for you, it is very difficult to go without communion for weeks at a time!
 
DexUK said:
Personally, I think it’s an eminently sensible reaction to a raging epidemic.

To receive on the tongue means two things: 1 - that you risk getting spittle on the fingers of the priest and passing on any latent infection you might have and 2 - that you expectorate onto the hands of the priest as you breath out. In very close proximity this will risk the transfer of enough pathogen to run the risk of it being passed on to the next recipient of Communion.

Considering that some people have sufficiently weak immune systems that contracting flu or other illnesses could kill them, would you really insist on the priest communicating you on the tongue when you could, if you were unaware you were infections, cause someone else’s death by so doing?
Click to expand...
Personally, I think forbidding Communion on the tongue is a stupid overreaction that has not been shown to prevent anything – and I say this as someone who normally receives in the hand and who has also trained as a nurse.

Your hands have been on the pews, on the hymnals, by your mouth, etc. The priest & EMHCs always manage to touch the hands when they distribute Communion. The only way to protect yourself & others is to avoid Communion.

How on earth did we ever manage to survive before Communion in the hand was allowed? How do they manage to survive in the dioceses where the Bishop has mandated “Communion on the tongue only”?
 
littlewhiterose said:
For the past few weeks, in light of the flu having reached epidemic levels in my state, my parish has had precautions in place to prevent its spread. One of them is that they are asking people to receive Communion only in the hand, not on the tongue. This really upsets me. I do not wish to judge or criticize those who receive that way, but for myself I truly do not want to. ***I have never received in the hand since I was a child, and the idea of doing so upsets me so much that I have refrained from receiving Communion instead. *** I would have loved to add more frequent daily Mass to my Lenten practices, but for this reason I have not. So, I’m wondering if others have ever experienced similar situations. Normally, my pastor is very orthodox, and I’m sure he had no intention of discouraging anybody from receiving Communion, but that’s what he’s done to me. Surely the risk of spreading the flu is not so great as to be worth this! Do you think he actually has any right to do this? Should I receive on the tongue anyway (they won’t refuse me if I do) or would I guilty of disobedience if I did?
Click to expand...
I’m with you littlewhiterose, I’ve never received Communion in the hand in my life! So I sympathize with you.

Peace, Mark
 
Phemie said:
Your hands have been on the pews, on the hymnals, by your mouth, etc.
Click to expand...
Good point. I’ve always managed to come down with something Sunday nights and Monday mornings whether I’ve gone to communion or not.
 
ProVobis said:
Good point. I’ve always managed to come down with something Sunday nights and Monday mornings whether I’ve gone to communion or not.
Click to expand...
Always happens to me too, PV!
I think is has more to do with not wanting to go to work on Monday morning, than what I touched the night before!! 😉

As far as suspending COTT, this should not be happening!! 😦
I receive CITH, as it is more spiritually beneficial for me, but I have no problem with COTT, and as an EMHC, if I was asked to follow this “directive”, I would have to ask to be relieved of my duties.
 
Personally, I think refusing to take Communion in the Hand if that is the only option is an over-reaction. As a convert, I’m so dang grateful that I’d be willing to pick the Host up out of the mud and consume it if there was no other choice. Receiving Jesus body, soul and divinity is that big a deal to me. None of us is worthy and my tongue is no more worthy than my hands to touch His sacred body.

But if you truly believe Jesus would prefer you skip communion then take him in your hands, go for it.

As to the illness factor - my best friend (healthy and only 53 years old) died of H1N1 virus, and my son has immune issues due to his disability, so my main beef is with over-scrupulous parishioners who show up for Mass when they are clearly contagious.
 
littlewhiterose said:
For the past few weeks, in light of the flu having reached epidemic levels in my state, my parish has had precautions in place to prevent its spread. One of them is that they are asking people to receive Communion only in the hand, not on the tongue. This really upsets me. I do not wish to judge or criticize those who receive that way, but for myself I truly do not want to. I have never received in the hand since I was a child, and the idea of doing so upsets me so much that I have refrained from receiving Communion instead. I would have loved to add more frequent daily Mass to my Lenten practices, but for this reason I have not. So, I’m wondering if others have ever experienced similar situations. Normally, my pastor is very orthodox, and I’m sure he had no intention of discouraging anybody from receiving Communion, but that’s what he’s done to me. Surely the risk of spreading the flu is not so great as to be worth this! Do you think he actually has any right to do this? Should I receive on the tongue anyway (they won’t refuse me if I do) or would I guilty of disobedience if I did?
Click to expand...
If you live close to another parish where the priest has not told the congregation this, you might feel more comfortable going there a few times during flu season to receive. I understand that you might not wish to receive on the hand and I understand that you could generate social controversy by receiving on the tongue at your regular parish and that you probably want to avoid that. Going somewhere else would be an easy fix, since it is temporary. There is no way in my parish that a person could go to the end of the line to fix the problem. Every eighth person receives on the tongue, approximately. There are simply too many of us.

People must be putting pressure on priests over this topic, since my priest stopped offering the precious blood during this time and he said it was due to the many emails and conversations parishioners had with him.
 
sojo said:
Personally, I think refusing to take Communion in the Hand if that is the only option is an over-reaction. As a convert, I’m so dang grateful that I’d be willing to pick the Host up out of the mud and consume it if there was no other choice. Receiving Jesus body, soul and divinity is that big a deal to me. None of us is worthy and my tongue is no more worthy than my hands to touch His sacred body.

But if you truly believe Jesus would prefer you skip communion then take him in your hands, go for it.

As to the illness factor - my best friend (healthy and only 53 years old) died of H1N1 virus, and my son has immune issues due to his disability, so my main beef is with over-scrupulous parishioners who show up for Mass when they are clearly contagious.
Click to expand...
I too would consume the Blessed Sacrament out of the mud if I had to, but I still wouldn’t use my hands. It is because of my love for Jesus most truly present in the Blessed Sacrament that I wouldn’t use my hands to receive Him. If you believe that Jesus in King of Heaven and Earth and is most truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, how could you receive him in your hands? Even if I becomes a consecrated virgin, and as such, am set aside as a “sacred person” in the Church as His Spouse, I still couldn’t bring myself to receive him in my hands.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top