Hand Communion

[ladyml]

Has anyone read the book: Get Us out of Here.By Nicky Eltz.
About Maria Simma and the Poor Souls in Purgatory?
It had a totally profound effect on me. However, I am so very worried about what she says about receiving Holy Communion in your hand. and . I am 53 .
My parish does not allow kneeling when receiving. It is also difficult to get in the line for the Priest instead of the Eucharistic Minister. This is disturbing me greatly.
Madeline

 

[mrS4ntA]

ladyml:

Has anyone read the book: Get Us out of Here.By Nicky Eltz.
About Maria Simma and the Poor Souls in Purgatory?
It had a totally profound effect on me. However, I am so very worried about what she says about receiving Holy Communion in your hand. and . I am 53 .
My parish does not allow kneeling when receiving. It is also difficult to get in the line for the Priest instead of the Eucharistic Minister. This is disturbing me greatly.
Madeline

Does not allow? Kneeling and receiving on the tounge is **the norm ** of receiving the Blessed Sacrament! Receiving on the hand and standing is the indult-ed practice. You have the right to receive kneeling and on the tounge. But one only has **the permission ** for not doing so.

 

[OAB]

Kneeling is optional and not a right, its a devotion. HOWEVER recieving on the toung is your right and can NEVER be taken away.

 

[Joan_M]

OAB:

Kneeling is optional and not a right, its a devotion. HOWEVER recieving on the toung is your right and can NEVER be taken away.

I may be mistaken, but it is my understanding that kneeling is a right. Certainly it is the prefererd method of receiving, since it is in a couple of Vatican Documents (Inaestimable Donum is one of them) that if we do not kneel to receive, it is recommended that we make some sign of reverence. That, to me, indicates that kneeling is the preferred method of receiving, and, therefore, a right.

 

[motorman]

ladyml:

Has anyone read the book: Get Us out of Here.By Nicky Eltz.
About Maria Simma and the Poor Souls in Purgatory?
It had a totally profound effect on me. However, I am so very worried about what she says about receiving Holy Communion in your hand. and . I am 53 .
My parish does not allow kneeling when receiving. It is also difficult to get in the line for the Priest instead of the Eucharistic Minister. This is disturbing me greatly.
Madeline

Hi MAdeline, I have read this book and also had a profound effect on me. I sometimes wish I had not read it.

I tend to now get into the preist recieving line also. The line is ususally longer but it does allow me more time to contemplate Christ! So don’t worry so much about the line and how long it takes five minutes more out of your day is very little.

 

[OAB]

Joan M:

I may be mistaken, but it is my understanding that kneeling is a right. Certainly it is the prefererd method of receiving, since it is in a couple of Vatican Documents (Inaestimable Donum is one of them) that if we do not kneel to receive, it is recommended that we make some sign of reverence. That, to me, indicates that kneeling is the preferred method of receiving, and, therefore, a right.

Jimmy Akin on Catholic Answers Live has addressed this before. Kneeling is not a right. Recieving on the toung is. A priest cannot rightly refuse you from recieving on the toung. He can refuse for you to recieve it kneeling.

 

[chrisg93]

I believe that receiving on the tongue is wrong. The Bible says “He boke the bread and gave it to them”. The normal understanding is that he handed it to them. Receiving on the tongue is not Biblical or Apostolic. I hope they do away with it completely.

 

[otm]

This thread seems to be a fairly wide collection of personal opinions. Perhaps a look or two at the GIRM might help. It is not a long book, nor particularly expensive.

I have not read the book in question (Get us Out of Here), but I would suggest that it be tested against what the Church actually teaches about the reception of Communion. I suspect that it is a personal opinion that is contra the Church’s teaching.

It is possible to be pious.

It is also possible to be pietistic; the two are not the same.

 

[JNB]

Actually you can find the documents on this web site.
catholic.com/library/liturgy/kneeling_1.asp

Its very clear that no one is to be refused for kneeling for communion.

OAB:

Jimmy Akin on Catholic Answers Live has addressed this before. Kneeling is not a right. Recieving on the toung is. A priest cannot rightly refuse you from recieving on the toung. He can refuse for you to recieve it kneeling.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Let me clarify: kneeling is not a right, but no one who chooses to kneel is to be denied communion. Standing is the normative posture for receiving communion in the United States. It is not a “permission” – it is “particular law.” Because the tradition of kneeling is of greater age, it is permitted but is, in fact, a personally chosen indult which is discouraged (because it does not conform to the law of the land and because it separates one from the Body of Christ who is following a set posture).

Receiving communion on the tongue is the normative method of receiving communion in the Catholic Church. Receiving in the hand is permitted by indult in those countries which have petitioned for it (Mexico, for example, has not and so one may not receive in the hand there).

Deacon Ed

 

[Agomemnon]

Deacon Ed:

Let me clarify: kneeling is not a right, but no one who chooses to kneel is to be denied communion. Standing is the normative posture for receiving communion in the United States. It is not a “permission” – it is “particular law.” Because the tradition of kneeling is of greater age, it is permitted but is, in fact, a personally chosen indult which is discouraged (because it does not conform to the law of the land and because it separates one from the Body of Christ who is following a set posture).

Receiving communion on the tongue is the normative method of receiving communion in the Catholic Church. Receiving in the hand is permitted by indult in those countries which have petitioned for it (Mexico, for example, has not and so one may not receive in the hand there).

Deacon Ed

I think you could explain that the ‘right’ is the act of devotion prior to or during reception of the Holy Eucharist. Since the Eucharist is the Sum and Summit of the Faith (being Body, Blood,Soul, and Divininity of Jesus Christ) the most profound act of reverence (Kneeling) is always permitted. An intentional act that would lead to a loss of faith toward the Eucharist would be sinful. Such an intentional act would be by denying reception of the Eucharist for showing proper reverence by kneeling.

If only such respect toward our Lord (and fear of his Judgment) would be kept my most of our Bishops who have allowed persistant heretics and evil men and women (I’m talking about pro-abort baby killers here) to cause scandal. Such as these should be denied Communion…for the sake or their souls and the faithful.

 

[Crusader]

Joan M:

I may be mistaken, but it is my understanding that kneeling is a right. Certainly it is the prefererd method of receiving, since it is in a couple of Vatican Documents (Inaestimable Donum is one of them) that if we do not kneel to receive, it is recommended that we make some sign of reverence. That, to me, indicates that kneeling is the preferred method of receiving, and, therefore, a right.

That’s simply not true. The normative way to receive communion is by standing – at least in the USA

 

[puzzleannie]

plenty of posters, especially Deacon, have given proper teaching on reception of Communion. What is more disturbing is that someone would read a book about a private revelation or locution, without any effort to find out if the individual’s revelation has been approved by the local bishop or the universal church, and then use its content to make spiritual decisions. Even worse, that you would allow what is said in such a book to distress you and cause you to consider disobeying your own pastor and bishop.

If your choice of reading is causing spiritual distress you must bring it to the attention of your confessor or spiritual director and get guidance. Under no account should you be reading anything about visions, revelations, predictions etc. which are not approved by the Church. Don’t even waste your time. We have a 2000 year old tradition of valid spiritual writings from the Saints, and the Word of God in scripture and magesterial teaching to be our guide. That is where you should be spending your reading and study time.

 

[deogratias]

mrS4ntA:

Does not allow? Kneeling and receiving on the tounge is **the norm **of receiving the Blessed Sacrament! Receiving on the hand and standing is the indult-ed practice. You have the right to receive kneeling and on the tounge. But one only has **the permission **for not doing so.

This is not quite correct.

At a Trudentine Mass the Norm and only way to receive is kneeling and on the tongue.

At a NOM the norm is now to receive "standing" and one can receive on the tongue or in the hand as granted by Indult.

The Indult has nothing to do with the kneeling or standing issue. The new GIRM says we are to stand to receive but not be refused if we kneel. It does say we are to be advised of the reason for this by our pastor.

 

[deogratias]

chrisg93:

I believe that receiving on the tongue is wrong. The Bible says “He boke the bread and gave it to them”. The normal understanding is that he handed it to them. Receiving on the tongue is not Biblical or Apostolic. I hope they do away with it completely.

Receiving on the tongue is the norm for the Catholic Church - it is not wrong. You do have a choice to receive in the hand but I’d think twice about telling the Church they are wrong if you are a Catholic.

 

[JNB]

Further instruction from the Vatican in 3 letters to the Bishops have stated clearly, in the link I posted that Catholics that do kneel for communion are not to be imposed upon nor are they to be considerd disobidient.

deogratias:

This is not quite correct.

At a Trudentine Mass the Norm and only way to receive is kneeling and on the tongue.

At a NOM the norm is now to receive "standing" and one can receive on the tongue or in the hand as granted by Indult.

The Indult has nothing to do with the kneeling or standing issue. The new GIRM says we are to stand to receive but not be refused if we kneel. It does say we are to be advised of the reason for this by our pastor.

 

[JNB]

chrisg93:

I believe that receiving on the tongue is wrong. The Bible says “He boke the bread and gave it to them”. The normal understanding is that he handed it to them. Receiving on the tongue is not Biblical or Apostolic. I hope they do away with it completely.

Sounding a bit Protestnt, are we not? Also, the “them” he was giving the bread to were the Apostoles, teh first Bishops of the church, concecrated hands.

 

[deogratias]

JNB:

Further instruction from the Vatican in 3 letters to the Bishops have stated clearly, in the link I posted that Catholics that do kneel for communion are not to be imposed upon nor are they to be considerd disobidient.

The letter states: "…while this Congregation gave the recognitio to the norm desired by the Bishops’ Conference of your country that people stand for Holy Communion, this was done on the condition that communicants who choose to kneel are not to be denied Holy Communion on these grounds. Indeed,** the faithful should not be imposed upon nor accused of disobedience and of acting illicitly when they kneel to receive Holy Communion**February 26, 2003

I had not seen this before…so the statement in the US GIRM that

160… The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel.** Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm**. "June 03, 2003

Is contrary to this instruction in this letter which was published 4 months before the US version of the GIRM -

Looks like a case of the left hand not talking to the right hand -

So I will revise my post only to say that in the U.S. standing is the norm and no one should be refused communion when they kneel without any reprimand or council should they choose to do so.

One of the many things I prefer with the Mass using the 1962 Missal is the consistency - there is one way and that way is the same in all countries and Dioceses. All these variations and exceptions just seem to confuse the faithful and even those who wish to be obedient (which I think most do) are never sure what is and what is not obedient or the right thing to do at an NOM.

 

[chrisg93]

Hey,

I pray at the abortion mill every Saturday in conformance to Catholic teaching of "clear and grave obligation to oppose [abortion]. I am a faithful Catholic.

Receiving on the tongue is not Sacred Tradition and therefore not protected by The Holy Spirit from error. Receiving on the tongue is not in the Bible, it is not Apostolic Tradition, it is not endorsed by the Church Fathers and it is not infallable doctrine. In fact, it is most probably unBiblical since Jesus “broke the bread and gave it to his disciples”. Consecrated hands or not, this passage is the model for all of us to follow.

ROT is a liturgical law that can and should be easily changed immediately, in my most humble, meek opinion, of course.

Thank You, Thank You

 

[JohnCarroll]

This is one of those subjects that consumes so much time and gets us no where. These various postures allowed during Mass are meant to be a reflection of the interior disposition. Is the Lord offended If His child comes to Him in ANY posture with an adoring heart? Not likely. Uniformity at Mass should only be a way to keep undue attention from those accentric things some might do. It should not be a test for devotion.