First time Communion in the Hand - I was shaking

[Cathryn]

Originally Posted by VeronicaAnne
Um. I do hope you mean that your bishop is having you forgo TOUCHING EACH OTHER AS the Sign of Peace?

and not avoiding sharing a Sign of Peace, at all?

You could catch each other in the eye… nod and say “Peace of Christ be with you”… and not ever have to touch each other.

At my parish the pastor, because of the swine flu, is forgoing the people doing the Sign of Peace with each other. Father says “May the peace of Christ be with you”, we say “And also with you.” He immediately starts “Agnus Dei” and goes to the tabernacle. He explained that if he says to give each other a sign of peace, that many will forget and shake hands, and contribute to spreading the flu. Some people are reaching for your hand anyway.

 

[MusicMan]

Three things:

1.) Encouraging the reception of Holy Commuion in the Hand is not the same as discouraging on the Tongue or even forbidding it. If you have concerns, please speak with your pastor about them. And address your concerns with him. Don’t be afraid to explain your reasons for the way you receive!

2.) The faithful sharing a sign of peace is not required, although it’s pretty startling to have the celebrant go from the peace to the tabernacle with no direction for us to share a sign of peace, especially in parishes where the tabernacle is a walk from the altar.

3.) Only the priest must consume both species. The diocesesan bishop has the authority to limit the reception of Holy Communion to just the host. He also has the authority to determine that the faithful shall receive on the tongue and not in the hand.

Lastly, please take these directions as your bishop intending what’s best for the health of the sheep of his flock. Please don’t view these precautions as a denial of the real presence or an attempt to take away Communion in the Hand. This should not be viewed as teh_librulz and their crazy agenda.

 

[Silverburg]

Last Sunday I was an EMHC. Our bishop has directed only communion-in-hand. It was announced at the beginning of Mass and just before communion.

Those that typically receive on the tongue who I distributed communion to ignored the announcement and stuck out their tongues. I gave them communion on the tongue (I wasn’t about to create a scene) but I was a little sorry for them that they could not follow their bishop’s direction through their pastor.

I know better than the Church. Just another form of cafeteria catholicism.

 

[Eucharisted]

Could you elaborate? My parish does not offer the Precious Blood and I’ve always wondered why.

I think it’s illegal to not consecrate the wine, but I could be wrong.

 

[NPC]

Last Sunday I was an EMHC. Our bishop has directed only communion-in-hand. It was announced at the beginning of Mass and just before communion.

Those that typically receive on the tongue who I distributed communion to ignored the announcement and stuck out their tongues. I gave them communion on the tongue (I wasn’t about to create a scene) but I was a little sorry for them that they could not follow their bishop’s direction through their pastor.

I know better than the Church. Just another form of cafeteria catholicism.

With respect, Silverburg, it’s not a case of “I know better than the Church” if a person decides to continue receiving on the tongue. Receiving on the tongue is the ordinary way of receiving Communion and all who are properly disposed to receive Holy Communion in the first place have a right to receive on the tongue. The possibility of receiving into the hand is something which is decided by individual bishops conferences. Thus a bishops conference can direct that all are to receive on the tongue, but cannot direct that all must receive in the hand. It may be recommended that the Faithful receive in the hand, but it is merely that- a recommendation. One who continues to receive on the tongue is not being in the least bit disobedient.

Besides all of that, the directives of some bishops on the issue of H1N1 and Holy Communion, are not theological issues, but health issues. I’m not saying that the bishops recommendations don’t carry any weight - indeed all should bring them into consideration. I have made my views known earlier on the issue. At the end of the day, H1N1 is another strain of the many flu viruses which come around each year - I’m all for halting the spread of the virus, and dioceses should implement their usual flu-season guidelines, but all must be kept in perspective.