Diocese Forbidden To Receive Christ On The Tongue

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Father Z isn’t the Church. And you speak of what you are “called to do.” By whom? Again, with respect, absent grave sin, do you imagine that the Lord would NOT call you to receive Him? Can God call apart from His Church?

And again, I’m talking about right now, in an emergency situation, not as a regular norm.
That is just it… I don’t think this is an emergeny situation and I think calling it that is sensationalistic. It could be one, I’ll give you that but it isn’t, If this is truely an emergency then how embarassing for the USCCB to not be timely, uniform, or clear on this.
 
I’m not sure that the Holy See wouldn’t support a bishop in THIS SPECIFIC situation, ie, an epidemic. I’d bet that they’d back him.
I don’t think the Holy See supports this. But I think the positive that comes out of this is that maybe there will be some clarity within the Church leadership on how to handle these things. Like i said in much worse conditions than these in the US the Church has NO impediment for Reception. I take this flu thinkg not so much as a joke, or an emergency but a nice way to refresh and tune up and keep sharp for a much bigger issue, and in this day and age it seems the much bigger issue is right around the corner.
 
I’m not sure that the Holy See wouldn’t support a bishop in THIS SPECIFIC situation, ie, an epidemic. I’d bet that they’d back him.
You really think (bet) Pope Benedict XVI would condone a bishop ordering the faithful entrusted to him to only receive Holy Communion in the hand, or forbid them from receiving on the tongue ( amounts to the same thing) :confused:
 
But would all those YOU infect be willing to suffer for poor souls? What if some were to die? Would you be considered a murderer?
I rather receive communion by mouth. I am not worthy to touch Jesus with my hands. By the way, there are a few saints, I can’t remember their names, who served the sickly and diseased and became sick with the same disease. They were not considered murderers. I am sure God’s presence did not allow them to infect others either.
 
You really think (bet) Pope Benedict XVI would condone a bishop ordering the faithful entrusted to him to only receive Holy Communion in the hand, or forbid them from receiving on the tongue ( amounts to the same thing) :confused:
I think Pope Benedict has condemned giving Communion to politicians in mortal sin and heresy, which is not something he has an option about condemning because it can’t be changed – no one in mortal sin and heresy may receive, and yet the bishops are defying him openly using twisted words to put a ‘good face’ on it.

And so far… nothing done about it. What can he do? It’s clear he’s told them what they have to do, and it’s clear they’re defying it with a blase coverup of words (the Church doesn’t really teach this, the Pope didn’t really mean this).

He obviously doesn’t want it to go to the next level of confrontation. For some reason or other he’s afraid or unwilling to escalate it.

I think people do not realize, despite everything how badly off our bishops are in these times. It’s not unusual for the Church to be full of bishops who are in a bad state, people of the times – but for some reason people prefer to think otherwise… it’s understandable but… an illusion that can only serve evil rather than God.

It’s NOT unusual for us to have a lot of bishops doing very badly. Not at all. Normal enough for the Church really. Just how the world is. The Church is still the Church. That’s how it works, despite men’s sins. 🙂
 
That is just it… I don’t think this is an emergeny situation and I think calling it that is sensationalistic. It could be one, I’ll give you that but it isn’t, If this is truely an emergency then how embarassing for the USCCB to not be timely, uniform, or clear on this.
I work in a hospital and believe me, it was full-scale EMERGENCY! We were swamped with specimens, and logged a lot of overtime trying to deal with the whole thing. This was actually worse than the anthrax scare of 2001.

The media did not tell you the half of it. The Public Health Departments, the State Health Departments, CDC, and WHO were working 24/7 to head this potential disaster off at the pass. I think that the reason why the swine flu did not get a stronghold in this nation and in the world is because of all the efforts of those who were treating it like an emergency BEFORE it actually became a tragedy.

I appreciate all those bishops who encouraged people to be cautious during Mass. I think all the seemingly small and insignificant efforts at containing the spread actually added up to a huge containment of the spread, and prevented much loss of life.

As for those of you who didn’t buy it, well…maybe you’re right and it was much ado about nothing. But it didn’t feel like nothing in our hospital over the last two weeks. It was awful.
 
I work in a hospital and believe me, it was full-scale EMERGENCY! We were swamped with specimens, and logged a lot of overtime trying to deal with the whole thing. This was actually worse than the anthrax scare of 2001.

The media did not tell you the half of it. The Public Health Departments, the State Health Departments, CDC, and WHO were working 24/7 to head this potential disaster off at the pass. I think that the reason why the swine flu did not get a stronghold in this nation and in the world is because of all the efforts of those who were treating it like an emergency BEFORE it actually became a tragedy.

I appreciate all those bishops who encouraged people to be cautious during Mass. I think all the seemingly small and insignificant efforts at containing the spread actually added up to a huge containment of the spread, and prevented much loss of life.

As for those of you who didn’t buy it, well…maybe you’re right and it was much ado about nothing. But it didn’t feel like nothing in our hospital over the last two weeks. It was awful.
I thnk the media got your points of round the clock hysteria down pat. Thank God for your Bishps, ours did nothing and we have a whole 3 cases.
Around these parts and in our hospitals it was business as usual. 3 confirmed in my state so far. there will be more, but it actually isn’t as “killer” as first thought, but that can change in the fall. No emergency was declared. poerhaps you misunderstood. was your hospital busy. probably… But thank God that we can overuse the term emergency because we haven’t really experienced one. Anyway, Glad to hear you are back at work.🙂
 
You really think (bet) Pope Benedict XVI would condone a bishop ordering the faithful entrusted to him to only receive Holy Communion in the hand, or forbid them from receiving on the tongue ( amounts to the same thing) :confused:
For this situation (if there is situation and I’m not sold on the idea that there is)? Yes, I believe that if the medical field rec. modifications for safety’s sake and bishops acted on those rec., the Holy See would leave it to the bishops. Now, if a bishop failed to permit it EVER, then no, I think the Holy See wouldn’t stand for it).
 
I wondering about the whole spin on these things. Is it good to be overly cautious, slightly alarmist, and thereby perhaps limit the spread of a serious epidemic? Is it overblown? I honestly don’t know. We’ve even been cautioned about the Sign of Peace.
 
You’ve just contradicted yourself. If we choose to receive on the tongue and they won’t accommodate, then what’s so un-Catholic about not receiving? It’s not a mortal sin not to receive so what’s so sad about it? I’m sorry you feel that one has to go against his conscience just to show you that he doesn’t hold any practice in contempt.

That said, if one were really concerned about the swine flu, he or she would avoid being in public altogether. Communion whether in the hand or tongue would be a moot point.
It’s un-Catholic to think that a discipline of the Church is wrong in the sense of being evil or sacreligious. The Church CANNOT propose to the faithful any practice or discipline that will lead the faithful into impiety. Therefore, reception in the hand is not, of itself, wrong. That’s negative infallibility (which you can look up). One doesn’t have to agree that the practice is prudentially wise or that is equally reverent, but one cannot say it is so wrong that they would never recieve that way, because Christ has left the authority to govern the discipline surrounding His Sacraments to His Church, the Same Christ Who said, “Except you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you have no life within you.” Should the Church, in Her prudential judgment, decree that for sanitary reasons, either for a time or permanently, the Most Sacred Body will be given in the hand, would you refuse to eat that Flesh? If you say yes, then how do you fufill the command of Christ? In my time as a Catholic, the bishop and/or my pastor has decided that for a time the Most Precious Blood in Its Seperate Species would be witheld. In that circumstance, it would be quite wrong to insist that It NOT be witheld. Should the Church in Her Wisdom decide to end the indult and require all Catholics to recieve on the tongue, it would be just as wrong to refuse to receive.

And no one has to show ME anything.
 
For this situation (if there is situation and I’m not sold on the idea that there is)? Yes, I believe that if the medical field rec. modifications for safety’s sake and bishops acted on those rec., the Holy See would leave it to the bishops. Now, if a bishop failed to permit it EVER, then no, I think the Holy See wouldn’t stand for it).
I think your premise is a Charitable one. But I don’t think the Bishops are recieving ANY sort of credible unified information. What I do see missing here is a sense of logic on the prt of the populace. No traditionalist communion but go ahead and use those self check touch screens at the supermarket. No sign of peace, but no one is wearing masks either. Can you imagine walking into a supermarket and the checker is wearing a mask? I mean it makes sense. You getThe flu, where do you go before the Doc? Thats right, the store to buy yourself some NyQuil. But you don’t see a social breakdown like in mexico. Why? well, it isn’t for lack of coverage, Between the internet and 24/7 News coverage and news papers and magazines, you can’t escape it. the only answer I see is that perhaps we are being given conflicting messages. Like I said before, How is this SO serious that a bishop in Calif or IL bans something that a Bishop in Idaho, or Texas does not. Bottom line, it is safe to spend your money in stores but not safe to recieve on the tounge. that sounds a little fishy to me. Let the cashier who has touched money from 100 people before you, scan your lettuce and go ahead and run it under some cold water (yeah like that kills th virus) Bottom line, virus goes from someone to you throgh your mouth. Gosh, that almost sounds like Communion.
 
When Bishops do official things, they do it in the form of an official letter. That letter is sent to Priests and published to the public.

Can anyone post a link to an official Bishop’s letter???
 
That’s a great question and it’s been suggested several times in the thread.

I did some digging guys.

Here’s an article mentioning Bishop Kevin Farrel of the Diocese of Dallas : catholicism.about.com/b/2009/04/30/reader-question-mass-communion-and-the-swine-flu.htm

To read his actual letter, either click on the “written a letter” link in the article, or click this link: cathdal.org/default.asp?contentid=137&newsid=73

Now for the bonus…I found a letter published by the USCCB on this very subject here: usccb.org/liturgy/swineflu.shtml

Have a good look at them, in light of all we’ve discussed. They aren’t exactly identical. I found it interesting that the USCCB doesn’t recommend reception of Holy Communion in the hand exclusively, and even Bishop Farrel, only requests it (“please”) if one is feeling ill…

My comments later.

Check it out, and God Bless
 
Great research!!!
My 1st 2 observations. 1 it wouldseem that the USCCB is not advocating the “banning of the tounge” It would also seem that the Bishop’s letter also does not go that far. Again, where is the uniformity or accuracy? talk about mixed signals.
2. While not banning the practice, the tone sure does indicate that they believe they can.
more later…
 
I think the point that is being missed here is not that the bishops are going to eliminate all possibility of Swine Flu, but are trying to minimize the spread of the virus, especially to the clergy and their faithful.

Most diseases are more likely to be spread through body fluids. It’s logical to minimize contact with the same. Therefore many dioceses have suspended communion in the hand, shaking hands at the sign of peace, shaking hands at the end of mass as you leave, and communion under both species.

We don’t need statistics of how many times the flu has been transmitted through the Eucharist. First, such study probably does not exist. And second, it’s not necessary. Common sense tells us that there are body fluids involved here and that this particular virus is a very strong virus.

By strong, we mean that it does not die quickly when exposed to the enviornment as does the HIV.

I minister at a school and you’d be surprised at how little common sense people have. We have had to call parents to pick up their children. Parents send their kids to school with cold and flu symptoms. The same happens at mass. People go to communion with cold and flu symptoms while a threat of a disease is over our heads. In our own county we have had seven confirmed cases of Swine Flu.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
I am totally flummoxed by this thread.

We’re talking about JESUS, the Lord and Savior. Jesus, the Second Person in the Holy Trinity. Jesus, Who died for us and rose again and ascended into heaven.

I can’t imagine passing Him by. Maybe it’s because I was Protestant for so many years, but when I first attended Mass, I recognized Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and I yearned for Him.

NONE of us is worthy to receive Him, but HE speaks the word and we are healed

I just can’t comprehend why anyone would walk away from Him for the sake of a reception method.

We are given the privilege of receiving our Lord in Holy Communion–I’m sorry, everyone, but I can’t even imagine turning away from Him.

I thought Holy Communion was about JESUS, not us. HE must increase, and we must decrease.
I too am “totally flummoxed by this thread”

It seems to me rather unkind to suggest that those who will not receive in the hand are turning away from Him or making Communion about us rather than Christ. It is this focus on and love for Christ that drives most of us to receive on the tongue, or to wear a veil, or whatever other “traditional” practices that seem to come into dispute.

It makes me very sad. I try to live my faith in a way that the Lord is guiding me. I have felt more close to Christ and more in awe of His presence, in a more traditional setting. I try to just keep quiet and not to be too outspoken about these things. I really don’t understand why that kind of behavior gets people so riled up. It is quiet and reverent.

Though I have not tried to change them or their ways, my family seems upset by my ways. I don’t have a friend or even an acquaintance who is a traditionalist sympathizer on my side of town. I feel like a traditionalist in a vacuum and all the negativity makes me want to just cry. I don’t even really consider myself a traditionalist, because its not about tradition for me, it is about a Christ-centered, reverent Mass.

I’m sorry for declaring my heartache, I should say something about swine flu again so I am not derailing the thread. As it is not that many people in their early 20’s even go to Mass in my area, so being a traditional Catholic here is especially lonely. Loneliness is fine, loneliness is easy, but getting so much contempt from family, from strangers, even some clergy is just so sorrowful a state. Would everyone please stop telling people they are despicable for refraining from taking communion in the hand?
 
I too am “totally flummoxed by this thread”

It seems to me rather unkind to suggest that those who will not receive in the hand are turning away from Him or making Communion about us rather than Christ. It is this focus on and love for Christ that drives most of us to receive on the tongue, or to wear a veil, or whatever other “traditional” practices that seem to come into dispute.

It makes me very sad. I try to live my faith in a way that the Lord is guiding me. I have felt more close to Christ and more in awe of His presence, in a more traditional setting. I try to just keep quiet and not to be too outspoken about these things. I really don’t understand why that kind of behavior gets people so riled up. It is quiet and reverent.

Though I have not tried to change them or their ways, my family seems upset by my ways. I don’t have a friend or even an acquaintance who is a traditionalist sympathizer on my side of town. I feel like a traditionalist in a vacuum and all the negativity makes me want to just cry. I don’t even really consider myself a traditionalist, because its not about tradition for me, it is about a Christ-centered, reverent Mass.

I’m sorry for declaring my heartache, I should say something about swine flu again so I am not derailing the thread. As it is not that many people in their early 20’s even go to Mass in my area, so being a traditional Catholic here is especially lonely. Loneliness is fine, loneliness is easy, but getting so much contempt from family, from strangers, even some clergy is just so sorrowful a state. Would everyone please stop telling people they are despicable for refraining from taking communion in the hand?
I don’t believe people are despicable for taking communion on the tongue. I take it on the tongue. But given the current health risk and my diocese’s restriction on this, I have no problem taking it in the hand. As you said, this is about Christ, not about me. The important thing here is to receive communion. No one is depriving me of that. They are simply trying to minimize the spread of a virus that has already claimed seven people in my county. I for one am comfortable with the bishop’s direction. It would be very unchristian to refrain from reducing the risk of infection, because I don’t like communion in the hand. Tradition, feelings and common sense must work together.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
Last week, when a deacon barked at me, “NO, in your hand!” I complied. I wish I had not. I wish I had done what some others in this thread did, which was not to receive. Unfortunately for me, this directive from the deacon was rather different from what the bishop posted on the website. I would have stayed in the pew rather than go up and make a fool of myself being snapped at like that.

I don’t expect everyone to receive on the tongue but I just don’t understand what is making people think we should just suck it up and do it in the hand. When I got back to the pew I cried. I cried because I became aware of how long it had been since I washed my very unordained hands and that they had not only touched the Holy Eucharist, but I could feel that I had particles of Him left on me. Do those particles gently fall to the ground when the air conditioner turns on to be trod upon by everyone who walks by? Are they smeared onto the steering wheel of my car? Are they on the door handle to a public bathroom?

It was mentioned that we are unworthy to receive Him at all, so both your tongue and your hands are unworthy. The difference to me, is that your tongue goes right back into your mouth. Your hands go touch all sorts of places. It would not be appropriate to place an entire consecrated host in any of the places I mentioned in the paragraph above. It is therefore quite inappropriate to me for particles of a consecrated host to be in those places.

I wish I were better at expressing my views in writing. I am not sure if I got the message out there or not. I don’t want to force anyone to do things my way, I just hope I can help people understand that it is because I love Christ present in the Eucharist that I don’t want Him to have to be walked upon, or wiped on door handles, and so on at least not by me.
 
i am shocked by how many people who claim to be catholic feel that taking Jesus Christ himself into your unconsecrated hands is all right in a tridentine mass!!! it would no more be acceptable to stand and receive Him. it is unthinkable.

i read one place in one of the forums we are consecrated in baptism. true enough, but we do NOT have the same consecration as a priest. the priests hands are consecrated and they are consecrated for a reason. our hands are not equal to a priests.

lacrimarum-valle.blogspot.com/2009/05/consecrated-hands.html

it is one thing to receive Christ in the Novus Ordo in the hands, because it is seen as acceptable and a common practice. however in a Tridentine Mass it would be viewed as disrespectful, a lack of humility for Jesus Christ Himself. i will not do that. i will be obedient to the bishop by not receiving Holy Communion and offer it up for the poor souls in purgatory and the conversion of sinners and pray that through this sacrifice God gives me graces.
 
QUOTE=weepixie71;5176448]i went to a tridentine mass!!! the priest said bishop jenky announced we are not to receive communion on the tongue until further notice. i see no reason why a priest would lie about it.
I apologize weepixie71. I didn’t mean to imply the priest would lie….But reporters, especially those with their own agenda. I’ve unwillingly ( after some poor unfair treatment by certain governmental bodies here) become finely tuned to language which is ambiguous and more seriously, prevaricative and equivocal. Often the latter is not so unintentional.

Here’s what I was hinting at: If the priest said, (1) “Bishop Jenky announced we are not to receive Communion on the tongue”, that’s one thing; and it is in that light that my responses are written. If, however the priest said, (2) “Bishop Jenky requests (or asks) us not to receive Communion on the tongue,” that’s different. A good example of prevarication would be someone using the second wording, but doing their best to make it sound like the first wording when they announce it. This stuff can be done so subtly sometimes that it goes right by us. Reporters periodically only give us part of the truth so they can paint their own picture.

This would be one opinion or idea I’d have of a crisis – People are being confused and have to refrain from receiving Holy Communion. That’s tragic.

In the big picture, one soul being eternally lost is a greater tragedy than all the wars throughout the history of mankind put together.

I think we need to understand (even if someone says their proud…etc… ) it’s a real emotional wound when that happens to you – reception of Holy Communion is a very personal thing. I remember, during the SARS outbreak, when our pastor first “asked” us from the pulpit not to receive on the tongue, it was like one big omelette inside of sad, angry and confused all mixed together. When it was finally time for reception of Holy Communion, I did comply…but it didn’t change the hurt. I just said to Our Lord in Holy Communion: “Okay Jesus, if this is what I have to do…so I can be with you – please, don’t let this last too long.”

Just to qualify for you: For more than 8 years of my 13+ years apostolate, I assist an elderly priest who is half paralyzed from a stroke, has advanced Parkinson’s and for all intents and purposes only has one hand/arm which functions in a limited manner. If I assist him, he is able to celebrate Mass privately, but he can’t do it alone. On those occasions (2-3 times a week) I receive Communion in the hand from him…out of necessity …he can barely get the Host in his own mouth , let alone mine. …Kind of boggles the mind - how I could be doing this, yet feel (during the SARS outbreak) the way I described in the preceding paragraph , doesn’t it? It’s because when I am not required to serve, my preference – my “free choice”, is to receive Holy Communion on the tongue.

Looks like we have to re-visit the question of authority. I believe I need to make a separate post since this one is a little lengthy.

actually the priest said the bishop is forbidding it
 
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