Kneeling to receive Communion

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

If it’s done right, there should be no touching of the tongue.

I agree totally, I have always received on the toung, I just feels ackward to receive in the hand. in 30 + years do not recall anyone touching my toung.

 

[jilly4ski]

Hehehe, I love the germ comments, as I have a young child spending all Mass trying to eat my hands. Whenever I receive on the hands the person distributing the Eucharist always touches the hand. Well my hands have caught baby spit up, drool, among touching the hymnal, pew, car and picked up germs everywhere since leaving home, I am sure the next communicant wants all my and my babies germs after the priest has touched my hands. So since I had a baby I don’t receive in the hands, it is too awkward anyways, so having a baby in my arms is a good excuse to receive on the tongue. I have only had one priest touch my tongue and it was more like he no longer remembered how to do it.

As far as the kneeling, I think it should be more prevalent. That said I have seen someone trip over a person who knelt to receive and the ended up bumping into the priest. Luckily the priest didn’t drop anything. But if it was encouraged then that sort of thing wouldn’t happen because people would expect it. (On a side note I have also seen that same priest catch a fainting teen boy while distributing the Eucharist, it was pretty amazing ).

 

[choy]

Are you assuming that minister used Purell after he or she shook a few hands right that?

i can safely say ours do
when the EMHCs go up to the side of the altar before communion, one of the altar boys would bring out one of the big bottles of sanitizers we have and pump out for them

 

[Montalo]

im curious

does a priest have the authority to not allow communion on the hand in his parish?

i would think he does not, but I am not sure

 

[choy]

im curious

does a priest have the authority to not allow communion on the hand in his parish?

i would think he does not, but I am not sure

i think he can set some practical conditions but not totally forbid it if the diocese allows it
like our former pastor who said he would not let those who carry little children to receive CITH because he’s afraid the kids might snatch the host. other than that he doesn’t prevent anyone from receiving CITH

 

[benedictgal]

im curious

does a priest have the authority to not allow communion on the hand in his parish?

i would think he does not, but I am not sure

Actually, he does. RS has this provision if there is a risk of profaning the Sacred Host:

[92.] Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice,178 if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to thefaithful.179

Remember, CITH is an indult and such can be rescinded at any time.

 

[Canto]

Out of intrest…

Redemptionis Sacramentum #93 The Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful should be retained, so as to avoid the danger of the sacred host or some fragment of it falling.[180]

[180]Cf. Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 118.

 

[boatbearer]

I attended the OF Mass at a very small Latin Rite parish on July 4th. I think everyone in the church received COT except for me. I received CIH. The looks of pure hatred from several of the laity were amusing and rather sad – I felt sorry for them. I wasn’t entirely sure the celebrant was going to give me CIH but I think he quickly realized that I wasn’t about to receive COT or step out of the line without receiving so he did the right thing and gave me communion in the manner I am allowed in the USA.

Just goes to show that there is misplaced discrimination from all angles.

 

[boatbearer]

The danger we are talking about is not from germs on your own hand, but because the Minister (Ordinary or Extraordinary) could possibly have touched the tongue of the person before you, and so will transfer that person’s germs straight into your mouth.

Believe me, it does happen, and is not always due to poor technique on the part of the Minister. Most of us who are EMHCs can tell you of people who close their mouths too suddenly, or hump up their tongues, or don’t open wide enough. I have several times had to secretly wipe my fingers on my jacket, or even start using my wrong hand… I try not to show my disgust by my expression, but it is very difficult sometimes

A priest friend confided to me once how delighted priests he knew were when CITH was introduced

I am amazed at the person who claims to have received COT for 30 years without ever having had his tongue touched. That’s remarkable.

I have distributed communion to thousands of people including a great many on the tongue. I am in my early 40’s, have outstanding hand/eye coordination, have excellent “technique” yet I still end-up touching peoples’ lips or tongue from time to time.

It’s not due to my hand either. It’s due to a jerked head at an inopportune time or someone who wants to receive COT yet they will not open up their mouths and stick out their tongues. They end-up trying to use the very tips of their tongues to bring the host into their mouths and it can get messy.

 

[boatbearer]

…Receivng on the tongue is the universal norm east and west. At any moment the indult for COTHand could be given the boot…

No way. You may be right in theory but the indult isn’t going anywhere. If anything CIH will be given the same status as COT.

Some guy at church was lamenting CIH. I said something like “just relax. Both COT and CIH are approved for the OT here in the USA. Choose the way you want to receive and don’t worry about other people.”

Of course he came back with “oh, but it’s an INDULT!”

To which I said “the Church doesn’t even so much as hint that CIH is inferior to COT because it’s allowed via indult and you shouldn’t either. Just accept what the Church actually directs. Don’t try to make yourself the arbiter”

"He replied “but COT was slide in at the very last minute!”

To wit I said "We have a name for people that take it upon themselves to choose or reject what the Church has approved. We call them cafeteria catholics. You’re nothing more than a cafeteria catholic on this matter and it’s embarrassing to hear you talk about this stuff at the entrance to our parish.

At that point he got angry and I walked away.

 

[boatbearer]

In the Byzantine Catholic Liturgy the priest calls you by name and Intinction is always used. In some cases a spoon is used, mostly the priest places it into the mouth like a momma bird feeding her young. We are never told not to kneel to receive. Many of us do so. It is just the way things are.

I attend weekly Divine Liturgy at a Byzantine Ruthenian parish.

You would be gently refused communion if you tried to kneel. Actually I don’t think you would be able to kneel – the ushers and altar boys would ensure you remained standing. Kneeling to receive is unacceptable in the Ruthenian church. If you were a visitor it would dealt with in a very gentle manner. If you were a self-described “traddie” who demanded to receive while kneeling you would likely be ignored altogether. This is true throughout the eparchy.

It would be the epitome of ignorance and arrogance to kneel in the Ruthenian church and some other Eastern Catholic churches. An analogy would be to attend an EF Mass and demand to receive CIH while standing. It would simply be wrong per the Church.

This used to be a big problem with our former pastor. Even after weeks of cathechesis some ignored him. We are also not to kneel after receiving communion – it’s simply not our ancient tradition. Yet some would still do it in the front row. He put a stop to that as well. Today all that drama is behind us thank goodness.

Both our priest and deacon distribute communion. We are even allowed EMsHC (males only) for every additional 75 communicants per Ruthenian Particular Law.

 

[boatbearer]

The priest calls you by name? So what happens if someone is visiting the parish or is new. Does he just guess?

You say your first name as you open your mouth…

 

[boatbearer]

It’s really the preffered method for offering both species.

On the practical front, it requires fewer ministers.

On the theological front, it is the fullest sign of the Risen Christ, with Body and Blood united. Substantially, they are certainly united, never more to be seperated. They are consecrated seperately, as it is a represntation of the Death of our Lord on Calvary. The Christ we recieve in the Eucharist is the Risen Christ, and the fullest sign of that is the Intincted Eucharist.

The Catholic Church makes no such distinction to my knowledge.

 

[Sirach2]

Boatbearer:

I am amazed at the person who claims to have received COT for 30 years without ever having had his tongue touched. That’s remarkable.

This is so much a probability that an Indiana bishop [alluding to other bishops also] mandated CITH during the H1N1 crisis.

In response to concerns over the spread of the H1N1 virus, Bishop William Higi of Lafayette, Indiana, has mandated the distribution of Holy Communion in the hand and ordered parishes to remove holy water from fonts. Like several other bishops, he has also suspended the practices of distributing the Precious Blood in a chalice and shaking hands during the sign of peace.

catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=4463&repos=4&subrepos=2&searchid=629963

Although I am not in this region, my state’s bishops followed the same practice regarding the chalice and sign of peace, except that CITH was not mandated, since most of the congregation receives in this manner.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

I am amazed at the person who claims to have received COT for 30 years without ever having had his tongue touched. That’s remarkable.

I have distributed communion to thousands of people including a great many on the tongue. I am in my early 40’s, have outstanding hand/eye coordination, have excellent “technique” yet I still end-up touching peoples’ lips or tongue from time to time.

It’s not due to my hand either. It’s due to a jerked head at an inopportune time or someone who wants to receive COT yet they will not open up their mouths and stick out their tongues. They end-up trying to use the very tips of their tongues to bring the host into their mouths and it can get messy.

Maybe that becauce I open my mouth and extend my toung and wait for the Host to be placed on it. I do not jerk or move til it is. I did say it has never happened only that I do not recall it. so the times that it may have happened are so few that I do not remember them at all.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I attended the OF Mass at a very small Latin Rite parish on July 4th. I think everyone in the church received COT except for me. I received CIH. The looks of pure hatred from several of the laity were amusing and rather sad – I felt sorry for them. I wasn’t entirely sure the celebrant was going to give me CIH but I think he quickly realized that I wasn’t about to receive COT or step out of the line without receiving so he did the right thing and gave me communion in the manner I am allowed in the USA.

Just goes to show that there is misplaced discrimination from all angles.

Well well, there’s nothing like asserting one’s rights when receiving Communion.
I couldn’t help but notice that you feel strongly about receiving properly in an Eastern Catholic Church. You are also aware that the analogy would be to demand CITH while standing at TLM. But you still decided to take CITH in a church where people received on the tongue. Why? Because you can? No respect for the parishioners’ feelings about this (rather sensitive) matter? Sounds a bit arrogant to me.

 

[ProVobis]

This is so much a probability that an Indiana bishop [alluding to other bishops also] mandated CITH during the H1N1 crisis.

Then I suggest the people need to be trained a little better in receiving COTT. Like everything that has value, it must be practiced, even when being alone. We do as we’re taught to do and as we practice. It was not a big problem prior to CITH because it was practiced more. I know because I never saw it in countless years I held patens under people’s chins even when my hands hurt. Why? Because it was worth it to save particles of Christ from falling. Apparently the attitude towards respect for the sacrament has changed.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

Then I suggest the people need to be trained a little better in receiving COTT. Like everything that has value, it must be practiced, even when being alone. We do as we’re taught to do and as we practice. It was not a big problem prior to CITH because it was practiced more. I know because I never saw it in countless years I held patens under people’s chins even when my hands hurt. Why? Because it was worth it to save particles of Christ from falling. Apparently the attitude towards respect for the sacrament has changed.

Amen. Also of the 4 bishops in Indiana he was the only one to do so. And really if the person had the H1n1 and sneezed/coughed ( and hopfully covered their mouth) then the recvied in the hand and the person touched their hand same issue would be there.

 

[benedictgal]

No way. You may be right in theory but the indult isn’t going anywhere. If anything CIH will be given the same status as COT.

Some guy at church was lamenting CIH. I said something like “just relax. Both COT and CIH are approved for the OT here in the USA. Choose the way you want to receive and don’t worry about other people.”

Of course he came back with “oh, but it’s an INDULT!”

To which I said “the Church doesn’t even so much as hint that CIH is inferior to COT because it’s allowed via indult and you shouldn’t either. Just accept what the Church actually directs. Don’t try to make yourself the arbiter”

"He replied “but COT was slide in at the very last minute!”

To wit I said "We have a name for people that take it upon themselves to choose or reject what the Church has approved. We call them cafeteria catholics. You’re nothing more than a cafeteria catholic on this matter and it’s embarrassing to hear you talk about this stuff at the entrance to our parish.

At that point he got angry and I walked away.

Perhaps you did not read my post, boatbearer. CITH is an indult that can be rescinded at any time. It is also an option, not the default. Furthermore, as RS notes:

If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to thefaithful.179

It is not about being a “cafeteria Catholic”; rather, it’s about knowing what the documents actually say than what you think they should mean.

 

[benedictgal]

This is so much a probability that an Indiana bishop [alluding to other bishops also] mandated CITH during the H1N1 crisis.

However, that should not have been done. The CDWDS received several letters of complaint from the faithful regarding this practice and the Congregation reasserted the fact that the faithful have a right to COTT. In fact, the CDWDS had to write to the dioceses and parishes in question regarding the situation. They had to correct the problem.