Lifesitenews come out with exhortation to refuse to ever receive communion in the hand

[PatienceAndHumility]

Hi All,

I know the underlying topic has been covered in other threads (and it can get high spirited- so mods please do take action as needed). My personal views are that such exhortations are plain and simply wrong. Preference of method should never dictate WHETHER one should receive our lord. It is simple.

This escalation from Lifesitenews is worrying. Many impressionable Catholics will now go without receiving communion due to this influence. Perhaps some children may never receive communion. If the Church has sanctioned this method of reception, why let your preference trump actual reception itself.

Do you view your ability to show reverence in your preferred way as more important than the unfathomable infinite and eternal benefits of receiving the Lord Himself??

I expect ad hominems- so for the record, I attend TLM and receive on the tongue (not that that should matter)

Pax Christi

Why are pro-lifers concerned about Communion in the hand? - LifeSite

 

[adamhovey1988]

(not that that should matter)

And it shouldn’t! Since the pandemic, I have been receiving on the hand. I don’t like it, but I get it. I said this elsewhere: which is more important, that you receive on the tongue but only believe the Eucharist to be symbolic, or that you receive in the hand, but believe it really is Jesus?

 

[commenter]

LSN has done useful coverage of genuine prolife issues in the past. Sadly, their fringe articles hurt their credibility.

Ironically by stretching the prolife issue out to various matters of opinion, they imitate the Left, which is always diluting the prolife issue.

 

[Polak]

LSN has done useful coverage of genuine prolife issues in the past. Sadly, their fringe articles hurt their credibility.

Well put. I think they cover the abuses of pro-abortion organisations well, as well as some other topics, but from time to time you get a really outlandish article. Not long ago they did a piece on how Trump was basically prophesied in the 80s to be the saviour of America and bring it back to God.

President Trump will 'lead America back to God,' according to 1983 prophecy - LifeSite

Not trying to turn this into a Trump bashing thread. I actually think he was a better option than Hillary (before I get attacked for bringing him up), but bring America back to God? I’m just giving an example of some of their kooky articles.

Back on topic though. Yes, I think it is wrong to put it into people’s heads that communion in the hand is unacceptable. For many people (including myself) receiving on the tongue is preferrable. I think in situations like this however, receiving on the hand and consuming the Eucharist in front of the priest before you walk off, is absolutely fine. Better to receive in the hand that not to receive, obviously.

 

[Zaccheus]

Glory be to God that He has given us the gift of Holy Mass and the Eucharist.

I think receiving in the hand is poor practice; disrespectful to God.
But:
If my choices are ‘in the hand’ or ‘not at all’ I will accept communion in the hand.

Nor will I quarrel with those who think receiving in the hand is good practice. I will not allow honest disagreement to separate me from my brothers and sisters.
Especially not when Covid-19 has for months deprived me of the chance to attend Mass at all.

 

[dscath]

LSN has done useful coverage of genuine prolife issues in the past. Sadly, their fringe articles hurt their credibility.

This is exactly why whenever I see a LSN article linked, I most often just move on to another thread.

 

[Minks]

Step right up, folks! Enjoy the show! There’s plenty of popcorn, but bring your own drinks!

 

[Irishmom2]

I know it’s early in the day, but… Help yourself.

 

[Maxirad]

Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong doesn’t like LifeSiteNews.

Do Catholic Reactionary Sites Have Little Influence? | Dave Armstrong

 

[godisgood77]

Do you view your ability to show reverence in your preferred way as more important than the unfathomable infinite and eternal benefits of receiving the Lord Himself??

These communion on the tongue ‘mobs’ are advocating for a false connection between being pro-life and the posture one uses for receiving communion. This amounts to a very unfortunate and unnecessary source of division during a time when people are already polarized on many, many topics.

Wish that the Eucharist would be exempted from this type division among Catholics and instead a source of unity for Catholics… makes me sad.

 

[PatienceAndHumility]

false connection between being pro-life and the posture one uses for receiving communion

Indeed, Amen. This is an abuse of position. LSN and the like are creating an echo chamber of these views amongst Traditional Catholics online, who are being steered from the straight path…

Are there problems with interpretations of VII. Yes. Are liturgical abuses widespread. Yes. Truisms. The temptation for sensationalism and triumphalism MUST be curtailed with charity and obedience, however.

 

[commenter]

Ideally you should at Mass be so focused on the encouter with God you are hardly even aware of what form you take Communion - let alone monitor and assess how everyone else receives.

 

[TheLittleLady]

They have dropped the mask, tipped their hand. Perhaps now Catholics will put this blog to the discard heap

 

[godisgood77]

They have dropped the mask, tipped their hand. Perhaps now Catholics will put this blog to the discard heap

good aspiration… I keep an eye on them. It helps to understand the radicals and their movement to better protect our families from them.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

Yeah… I used to have respect for Life Site News, but it definitely seems they’ve taken on the RadTrad mantle. They are calling for active disobedience from the bishops in an area where the bishops have authority to govern. I support communion on the tongue, but they have the right to request that we abstain from that method of reception. This is just sowing further seeds of division…

Some of their articles are still good, but this is uncalled for…

 

[Anrakyr]

Great! You frequent LifeSiteNews and you’re branded a radical now. I learn something new here daily. Hell…I’ve been called worse.

Try not to be overly dramatic. LSN is fairly radical. They post polarizing pieces, attack the pope and other good people in an attempt to create an enemy. They take that enemy (that we must be ever vigilant of) and use it to gain followers by being the one to say things without holding back.

Oh, look at them fighting the good fight!

Doesn’t matter they slice the church in half to do it.

 

[Fuerza]

Referring to them as “mobs” doesn’t really help with the division issue though does it?

I have no problem with those who choose to receive in the hand, though I personally will not. It hasn’t been an issue for me so far, since due to my job and my elevated risk of catching and passing on the virus without being aware of it, I will not be returning to Mass until the dispensation has been lifted in my diocese. That said, once I do return I will likely resume my practice of only receiving at TLMs anyway, so it likely still won’t be an issue for me. (Note: before I get jumped on, this is not because I have animosity toward the OF. I have adopted this practice for other reasons).

 

[Anne1964]

The “tongue people?” I’m sure some people here will find that descriptive phrase offensive but it struck me as really funny.

For the record I am one of the “tongue people” who kneels to receive Communion.

 

[JanR]

All of this is foolish. Whether we receive Jesus in our hand or on our tongue, we’re still receiving Jesus.

 

[JanR]

I don’t have consecrated hands so I’m not going to touch it.

The priest has consecrated the host for you. As long as you’re in a state of grace, it’s perfectly okay to touch it. If you’re that concerned, you can wash and sanitize your hands prior to touching the host. They needn’t be consecrated.