How do you receive the Body of Christ?

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What was the purpose of CITH? Why did some in the Church feel this would be a good discipline? I’m trying to understand what the objective was in making this acceptable.
 
jam070406 said:
What was the purpose of CITH? Why did some in the Church feel this would be a good discipline? I’m trying to understand what the objective was in making this acceptable.
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Here is something I have some across, but there is a Church document I will post if I can find it. It’s on a disc from my old computer and I can’t remember the name of it right now.
1-February-2008 – Catholic World News Brief
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Vatican Official Suggests Reconsidering Communion in the Hand
Vatican, Feb. 1, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship has called for reconsideration of the practice of Communion in the hand.
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In the preface to a new Italian-language book on the Eucharist, written by a bishop from Kazakhstan and released in January by the Vatican’s official publishing house, Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don suggests that the reception of Communion in the hand has contributed to a general sense of “carelessness” about the Eucharist, as well as some flagrant abuses. The archbishop makes his remarks in the preface to Dominus Est, by Bishop Athanasisus Schneider.
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The practice of receiving Communion in the hand was not mandated by Vatican II, nor was it introduced in response to calls from the laity, Archbishop Ranjith writes. Instead, he argues, an established practice of piety-- receiving the Eucharist kneeling, on the tongue-- was changed “improperly and hurriedly,” and became widespread even before it was formally approved by the Vatican.
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In light of a widespread lack of reverence for the Eucharist, the archbishop suggests that it is “high time to review” the policy. While he does not condemn the practice of Communion in the hand, the Vatican official praises Bishop Schneider for arguing in favor of the older practice, saying that it helps to foster a proper sense of reverence and piety.
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paramedicgirl said:
Here is something I have some across, but there is a Church document I will post if I can find it. It’s on a disc from my old computer and I can’t remember the name of it right now.
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Yes. I’m trying to understand why people, even on these boards, defend it. Other then, “I prefer it” or “The Church says it’s ok”

What good comes of it?
It seems, IMHO, to be about pleasing man rather then giving the greatest glory possible to Almighty God.
 
Here is the article I was looking for.

This was published on May 19, 1969 by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and still bears the status of being the most recent official document on the subject.

It seems clear the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship was not in favour of the faithful receiving Communion in the hand, and that the Holy Father only caved to pressure from the bishops where the practice was already prevalent
“Indeed, in certain communities and in certain places this practice has been introduced without prior approval having been requested of the Holy See, and, at times, without any attempt to prepare the faithful adequately.”
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Indeed, the Holy Father petitioned the bishops to decide if the traditional rite of receiving on the tongue should be changed to Communion in the hand, and the result was a resounding no:
From the returns it is clear that the vast majority of bishops believe that the present discipline should not be changed, and that if it were, the change would be offensive to the sentiments and the spiritual culture of these bishops and of many of the faithful.
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Therefore, taking into account the remarks and the advice of those whom “the Holy Spirit has placed to rule over” the Churches,(11) in view of the gravity of the matter and the force of the arguments put forward, the Holy Father has decided not to change the existing way of administering holy communion to the faithful.
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The Apostolic See therefore emphatically urges bishops, priests and laity to obey carefully the law which is still valid and which has again been confirmed. It urges them to take account of the judgment given by the majority of Catholic bishops, of the rite now in use in the liturgy, of the common good of the Church.
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Communion in the hand is referred to as “contrary usage” in Memoriale Domini and regulations were laid down for “hierarchies who ask for and are granted permission to introduce the practice of holy communion on the hand.”

Even with this permission, it’s sad to know that the practice was “forced” on us by a minority, even though the vast majority of bishops did not desire the faithful to return to the ancient practice of receiving Communion in the hand. As stated so clearly in Memoriale Domini,
“It carries certain dangers with it which may arise from the new manner of administering holy communion: the danger of a loss of reverence for the august sacrament of the altar, of profanation, of adulterating the true doctrine.”
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jam070406 said:
Yes. I’m trying to understand why people, even on these boards, defend it. Other then, “I prefer it” or “The Church says it’s ok”

What good comes of it?
It seems, IMHO, to be about pleasing man rather then giving the greatest glory possible to Almighty God.
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Did you read the original post that started this thread? :confused:

I am the OP and I believe that laid out my reasoning for CITH pretty clearly.
 
jam070406 said:
What was the purpose of CITH? Why did some in the Church feel this would be a good discipline? I’m trying to understand what the objective was in making this acceptable.
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Various theories, one of them being open defiance of everything traditional.
 
jam, my question about you reading the OP was because of this question.
jam070406 said:
Yes. I’m trying to understand why people, even on these boards, defend it. Other then, “I prefer it” or “The Church says it’s ok”

What good comes of it?
It seems, IMHO, to be about pleasing man rather then giving the greatest glory possible to Almighty God.
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jam070406 said:
Ok. :confused:
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Yes, your opinion is fine, because it is your opinion, but it is just that, an opinion.
My issue is with the bolded statement, which is why I asked my question.
For me, receiving in the hand has NOTHING to do with me not wanting to give the greatest glory possible to God, if anything, I find receiving in my hand MORE reverent (again, if you read my OP, I think I lay my reasons out pretty well.

You asked a question, I answered, I thought that was the point of the forum?:confused:
 
ProVobis said:
Making Mass an option.
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Isn’t is always?

I have a choice, I can go to Mass or I can not.
And I have to accept the consequesces of that choice.
Forcing, requiring or whatever word you want to put to it
is not going to make me any more holy-
that will only come from within, and only if I want it

I know many people who "fulfill" their "obligation" each week,
but have no idea how to live out a life of Christian virtue.

IMHO, I have more respect for someone who does not attend Mass on a regular basis,
but tries to live a Christ-centered life, than I do for a Catholic who attends Mass each week, only out of obligation, forgetting all that was taught during that hour on Sunday, or thinking that it somehow does not apply to them.
 
Oneofthewomen said:
I know many people who "fulfill" their "obligation" each week,
but have no idea how to live out a life of Christian virtue.

IMHO, I have more respect for someone who does not attend Mass on a regular basis,
but tries to live a Christ-centered life, than I do for a Catholic who attends Mass each week, only out of obligation, forgetting all that was taught during that hour on Sunday, or thinking that it somehow does not apply to them.
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Sorry, but a Catholic is required to attend Mass once a week; he or she isn’t required to receive communion at that Mass nor pay attention to what’s going on. That he should live a Christ-centered life goes without saying.
 
paramedicgirl said:
Here is the article I was looking for.

This was published on May 19, 1969 by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and still bears the status of being the most recent official document on the subject.

It seems clear the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship was not in favour of the faithful receiving Communion in the hand, and that the Holy Father only caved to pressure from the bishops where the practice was already prevalent Indeed, the Holy Father petitioned the bishops to decide if the traditional rite of receiving on the tongue should be changed to Communion in the hand, and the result was a resounding no:

Communion in the hand is referred to as “contrary usage” in Memoriale Domini and regulations were laid down for “hierarchies who ask for and are granted permission to introduce the practice of holy communion on the hand.”

Even with this permission, it’s sad to know that the practice was “forced” on us by a minority, even though the vast majority of bishops did not desire the faithful to return to the ancient practice of receiving Communion in the hand. As stated so clearly in Memoriale Domini,
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why is the practice forced when communicants have the choice between CITH and COTT? if you don’t want to receive CITH, then don’t.
 
If you do not have an understanding that there is a hierarchy to law (that some laws exist to promote and support higher, unchangeable laws of God), you will have priests and laity alike telling you that Communion in the hand is permitted and that’s the end of the story. But this is naïve and intellectually dishonest, because within the indult itself there are provisions to protect from sacrilege, scandal and loss of faith, which represents the higher law. If any of these provisions are broken, you do not have permission to give Communion in the hand. This is the truth, and if anyone will not submit to these provisions, it is they who are disobedient. The indult must serve to promote the higher law and if it does not, or a particular spin is put on the indult that makes it in practice opposing the higher law, then it is no longer a law, but a usurpation of a higher law. The indult for Communion in the hand is an ecclesiastical law that can be revoked, and was revoked in the past when it was determined to be failing to promote the higher law of reverence. Any true and correct interpretation of the indult must conform to and promote this higher law. Natural law will never change (reverence belongs to this category); ecclesiastical law can change, and the indult for Communion in the hand belongs to this category. A soul-searching question for many priests would be: If it was objectively determined that there was loss of sacred Particles, scandal, or loss of faith, what would the priest be obliged to do?
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tldm.org/news2/cih.htm
 
Ockham said:
The Church disagrees with you. Who would you rather follow, your own preference or the Church?
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I believe I am following the Church because she,
in her infinite wisdom, for better or worse, no matter how it happened,
has made CITH an indult that is accepted in my Diocese. 🎉

If my new Bishop (coming in 2012)
rescinds the indult in my community,
so be it. I will obey.

But until then, so long as I have the option to receive this way,
and I do so with the proper reverence, disposition and respect,
who are you, or anyone else who is not my Bishop or the Pope, to tell me how I should receive?:tsktsk:
 
Oneofthewomen said:
who are you, or anyone else who is not my Bishop or the Pope, to tell me how I should receive?:tsktsk:
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You said you believe CITH is MORE reverant than COTT. The Church disagrees with you and that is a fact. Look it up please. Knowledge is bliss.
 
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