Mother Teresa and Holy communion

[SHEMP]

According to the Pope and his MC, she was certainly not wrong. My comment is in the bold face in the following quote:

Go to the link for the context if you are interested. I think the quotes I have lifted reflect the gist of the article.

zenit.org/article-23028?l=english

**“without taking anything away from the other” **

"Aspects which, in our times, pastorally speaking, it is urgent to highlight and recover."

This is exactly the issue. There is NOTHING wrong with receiving in the hand. It is wrong to not have the appropriate understanding and respect for the Eucharist. It is a pastoral concern and a prudential judgement for the bishops to decide how best to encourage and teach the faithful about the Eucharist. Posture is one way to do this. For a person to be outraged that the bishops allow a certain posture is missing the point. You can receive in the hand and have the appropriate understanding and respect!! You can also receive kneeling, on the tongue and be a sinful, prideful hippocrite.

 

[Leeta]

There is a much greater risk to our Lord by socalled communion in the Hand. Just as you would not knock a baby against a wall, so also you don’t want to put our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in danger of falling. Also most who receive in the hand do not purify their hands, so that our Lord falls to ground and is trampled upon by the very ones who profess love for Him!
Pretty soon, unconsciously, and then consciously, belief in the Real Presence is discounted, since we deingrate what our body does. Many argue, like the Protestants, that its what in your heart that counts, not all those icky material things. After all it couldn’t be God, since no one acts like it is!

 

[sancte_joseph]

I love Mother Theresa, but sometimes she strikes me as a bit of an enigma. I used to read her works voraciously, but one day realized that her teachings really don’t apply very much to my life. I don’t want to sound heartless, but her ‘charity at all costs’ philosophy simply isn’t possible for the average person. If I treated my students the way she treated her flock, for example, they’d eat me alive, so to speak. Once I made this realization, I felt less drawn to Mother Theresa’s work.

Yea…well it hard to follow Jesus…Right…

Did not Jesus say…if someone should stike you on the one cheek offer the other

All that you do to the least of my brothers you do to me…

Love your enemies do good to them that hate you

if someone should steal your cloak offer them your tunic too



THE LORD HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR US!

 

[nice2000]

According to the Pope and his MC, she was certainly not wrong. My comment is in the bold face in the following quote:

Go to the link for the context if you are interested. I think the quotes I have lifted reflect the gist of the article.

zenit.org/article-23028?l=english

Thanks for the link.

Hopefully more people will follow suit of Pope Benedict XVI and receive the Body of Christ on the tongue.

I prefer receiving on the tongue.

 

[SHEMP]

There is a much greater risk to our Lord by socalled communion in the Hand. Just as you would not knock a baby against a wall, so also you don’t want to put our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in danger of falling. Also most who receive in the hand do not purify their hands, so that our Lord falls to ground and is trampled upon by the very ones who profess love for Him!
Pretty soon, unconsciously, and then consciously, belief in the Real Presence is discounted, since we deingrate what our body does. Many argue, like the Protestants, that its what in your heart that counts, not all those icky material things. After all it couldn’t be God, since no one acts like it is!

This arguement about the Blessed Sacrament falling to the floor more often when receiving in the hand versus when receiving in on the tongue is dubious. Do you have evidence that this is true. I have never seen the Blessed Sacrament fall to the floor when receiving in the hand. I have seen the Blessed Sacrament fall when receiving on the tongue. Receiving on the tongue is so problematic that you normally use a paten…kind of an admission that accidents will happen.

Regardless these are all prudential judgements to be made by the bishops and obeyed by the faithful! My understanding of the Bible and the tradition of the Church is that there is nothing theologically unsound about receiving in the hand. It purely has to do with pastoral and prudential judgements of the bishops.

 

[SHEMP]

Thanks for the link.

Hopefully more people will follow suit of Pope Benedict XVI and receive the Body of Christ on the tongue.

I prefer receiving on the tongue.

If the pope “prefers” this then he has the authority to require it. This is a prudential judgement not a doctrinal statement of papal infallability that should get the saints all riled up.

 

[KingAlfred]

Yea…well it hard to follow Jesus…Right…

Did not Jesus say…if someone should stike you on the one cheek offer the other

All that you do to the least of my brothers you do to me…

Love your enemies do good to them that hate you

if someone should steal your cloak offer them your tunic too



THE LORD HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR US!

I know what you’re saying, and agree, but unfortunately, none of that applies literally to teaching. Again, I’m confident Mother Theresa treated her students differently from the sick and dying she helped in the ghettos of India. Running a school or classroom is very different from running a hospice. Nonetheless, I do apply her teachings on a philosophical level, privately, to my work. Of course I love my kids, and always try to help them the best I can. Still, I must protect the learning environment from the ruffians who don’t want to be there, or are determined to disrupt class for whatever reason (and where I teach, they constitute a good third of the student population). I have that moral obligation. I’m not a missionary, but a teacher.

 

[nice2000]

If the pope “prefers” this then he has the authority to require it. This is a prudential judgement not a doctrinal statement of papal infallability that should get the saints all riled up.

Okay, I looked up those big words in the dictionary (prudential judgement and doctrinal) you mentioned in your post because I didn’t understand a thing you said.

Anyways, No I am not being pre-occupied with “doctrine”; which means ---- “quibbling over doctrinal minutiae” .

Yes, I am being “prudent” which means - “Having discretionary or advisory authority”.

Prudent - Is making a good decision. In other words the person took time to think about what decision they made.

The Pope’s “Advisory Authority” comes from God.

The Pope (Holy See) receives communion (the body of Christ) by mouth.

So shall I.

 

[SHEMP]

Okay, I looked up those big words in the dictionary (prudential judgement and doctrinal) you mentioned in your post because I didn’t understand a thing you said.

Anyways, No I am not being pre-occupied with “doctrine”; which means ---- “quibbling over doctrinal minutiae” .

Yes, I am being “prudent” which means - “Having discretionary or advisory authority”.

Prudent - Is making a good decision. In other words the person took time to think about what decision they made.

The Pope’s “Advisory Authority” comes from God.

The Pope (Holy See) receives communion (the body of Christ) by mouth.

So shall I.

Thats great! Wonderful!

The pope has allowed the bishops to decide the appropriate procedure and posture for the reception of the Eucharist. The US bishops also allow the faithful to receive on the hand in addition to the norm of receiving on the tongue.

I am amazed with the less than Saintly, judgemental, hypercritical attitude (this would included Blessed Mother Teresa if the quote in this thread is true) concerning those who receive the Eucharist in the hand! Whether one receives in the hand or on the tongue says nothing about the reverence and respect that they are giving to this most holy and central Sacrament!

If the Pope and Bishops make a judgement that we all should receive on the tongue and one would refuse then they might not be disrespecting the Eucharist but they most certainly would be disobediant and disrespectful to the authority of the bishops and the pope.

Currently in the US, receiving in the hand neither shows disrespect to the Eucharist nor does it show disrespect to the authority of our bishops.

Therefore as Jesus commanded me, I will not judge others!

 

[eelpis]

Thats great! Wonderful!

The pope has allowed the bishops to decide the appropriate procedure and posture for the reception of the Eucharist. The US bishops also allow the faithful to receive on the hand.

I am amazed with the less than Saintly, judgemental, hypercritical attitude (this would included Blessed Mother Teresa if the quote in this thread is true) concerning those who receive the Eucharist in the hand! Whether one receives in the hand or on the tongue says nothing about the reverence and respect that they are giving to this most holy and central Sacrament!

If the Pope and Bishops make a judgement that we all should receive on the mouth and one would refuse then they might not be disrespecting the Eucharist but they most certainly would be disobediant and disrespectful to the authority of the bishops and the pope.

Currently in the US, receiving in the hand neither shows disrespect to the Eucharist nor does it show disrespect to the authority of our bishops.

Therefore as Jesus commanded me, I will not judge others!

Mother Teresa still felt what she felt. Regardless of popes and bishops. I won’t judge her.

 

[SHEMP]

Mother Teresa still felt what she felt. Regardless of popes and bishops. I won’t judge her.

Fr. Curran, Fr. Mcbride, Fr. Greeley, etc feel what they feel, regardless of popes and bishops also.

 

[eelpis]

Fr. Curran, Fr. Mcbride, Fr. Greeley, etc feel what they feel, regardless of popes and bishops also.

They play in another league all together.

I don’t judge anyone who recieves in the hand, those who do so might be more reverent than those who recieve in the normal way. But-
Why should we recieve holy communion in the hand ? What’s so special about it?

 

[SHEMP]

They play in another league all together.

I don’t judge anyone who recieves in the hand, those who do so might be more reverent than those who recieve in the normal way. But-
Why should we recieve holy communion in the hand ? What’s so special about it?

Its your choice in the US. If your love of the Eucharist leads you to receive on the tongue then that IS what you should do. Just don’t judge those who are receiving in the hand. You don’t know their heart AND they are not being disobediant to either the pope or the US bishops.

Supposedly Blessed Mother Teresa said:
Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people take communion in the hand

Why should she be said if a holy person with great love for the Real Presence should receive in the hand in the US? This sadness sounds judgemental.

If Mother Teresa said this, I think I know what she meant. She meant that it makes her sad that there is a lack of understanding and true love for the Real Presence. I understand this sadness. I think that if the pope requires reception of the Eucharist on the tongue while kneeling that this MIGHT help but I could be wrong. This is why this would be a prudential judgement. The reason to require reception kneeling and/or on the tongue is to stress the reality. The posture of standing can be a very respectful and appropriate posture. The reception in the hand can be very respectful and theologically sound. A pope might decide to require a certain posture and procedure to help stress the reality due to conditions of the time. Certainly no one would likely be sad thinking of the early Christian Communities receiving the Eucharist in the hand while standing. We are not sad because we think that they had the approapriate respect and belief.

 

[eelpis]

Its your choice in the US. If your love of the Eucharist leads you to receive on the tongue then that IS what you should do. Just don’t judge those who are receiving in the hand. You don’t know their heart AND they are not being disobediant to either the pope or the US bishops.

Supposedly Blessed Mother Teresa said:
Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people take communion in the hand

Why should she be said if a holy person with great love for the Real Presence should receive in the hand in the US? This sadness sounds judgemental.

If Mother Teresa said this, I think I know what she meant. She meant that it makes her sad that there is a lack of understanding and true love for the Real Presence. I understand this sadness. I think that if the pope requires reception of the Eucharist on the tongue while kneeling that this MIGHT help but I could be wrong. This is why this would be a prudential judgement. The reason to require reception kneeling and/or on the tongue is to stress the reality. The posture of standing can be a very respectful and appropriate posture. The reception in the hand can be very respectful and theologically sound. A pope might decide to require a certain posture and procedure to help stress the reality due to conditions of the time. Certainly no one would likely be sad thinking of the early Christian Communities receiving the Eucharist in the hand while standing. We are not sad because we think that they had the approapriate respect and belief.

Yes, it’s your choice. But what’s so special about it? Why should we do it?

 

[SHEMP]

Yes, it’s your choice. But what’s so special about it? Why should we do it?

I could come up with many reasons that one could want to do it.

I will give one reason: In order to emulate the early Christians who were closest to Christ.

‘Catechetical Lectures’, ca. 350 AD: *“In approaching, therefore, do not come up with your wrists apart or with your fingers spread, but make of your left hand a throne for the right, since you are about to receive into it a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it the AMEN.” *

Here is the USCCB with a general review about posture and the liturgy:

usccb.org/liturgy/girm/bul3.shtml

 

[nice2000]

Thats great! Wonderful!

The pope has allowed the bishops to decide the appropriate procedure and posture for the reception of the Eucharist. The US bishops also allow the faithful to receive on the hand in addition to the norm of receiving on the tongue.

I am amazed with the less than Saintly, judgemental, hypercritical attitude (this would included Blessed Mother Teresa if the quote in this thread is true) concerning those who receive the Eucharist in the hand! Whether one receives in the hand or on the tongue says nothing about the reverence and respect that they are giving to this most holy and central Sacrament!

If the Pope and Bishops make a judgement that we all should receive on the tongue and one would refuse then they might not be disrespecting the Eucharist but they most certainly would be disobediant and disrespectful to the authority of the bishops and the pope.

Currently in the US, receiving in the hand neither shows disrespect to the Eucharist nor does it show disrespect to the authority of our bishops.

Therefore as Jesus commanded me, I will not judge others!

Are you saying that I am judging others by receiving the Body of Christ by mouth?

This is my way of showing respect to my Lord Jesus Christ by receiving him by mouth.

Others want to hold him in their hands.

I am just giving my opinion.

I don’t want to take any chances of dropping(particles that are unseen and seen) by holding him in my hand.

 

[nice2000]

Supposedly Blessed Mother Teresa said:
Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people take communion in the hand

Why should she be said if a holy person with great love for the Real Presence should receive in the hand in the US? This sadness sounds judgemental.

Please correct me if I misunderstand what you are saying.

But are you trying to say that Mother Theresa was judgemental by saying ? …

Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people take communion in the hand

I don’t think she was being judgemental.
All she did was stated what made her sad.

You also stated the following…

If Mother Teresa said this, I think I know what she meant. She meant that it makes her sad that there is a lack of understanding and true love for the Real Presence.

Now I agree with that portion of your statement.

I’m sure Mother Teresa received Jesus by mouth as well because

“It makes her sad that there is a lack of understanding and true love for the Real Presence.”

 

[sancte_joseph]

‘Catechetical Lectures’, ca. 350 AD: “In approaching, therefore, do not come up with your wrists apart or with your fingers spread, but make of your left hand a throne for the right, since you are about to receive into it a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it the AMEN.”

I heard that this was taught by someone (bishop?) who later got excommunicated!!!

He taught to many things that were against what the church taughtBASICLY HERESY!..so…i wouldn’t really use this as an excuse to receive on the hand

 

[SHEMP]

Please correct me if I misunderstand what you are saying.

But are you trying to say that Mother Theresa was judgemental by saying ? …

Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people take communion in the hand

I don’t think she was being judgemental.
All she did was stated what made her sad.

You also stated the following…

Now I agree with that portion of your statement.

I’m sure Mother Teresa received Jesus by mouth as well because

Blessed Mother Teresa was “looking” at people receiving Communion and was “sad”. Sounds like a judgement to me. If she meant that this indicated that the person was not receiving Jesus with the appropriate respect and love then yes this was the worst king of judgement. Christ commanded us not to judge others.

 

[SHEMP]

I heard that this was taught by someone (bishop?) who later got excommunicated!!!

He taught to many things that were against what the church taughtBASICLY HERESY!..so…i wouldn’t really use this as an excuse to receive on the hand

Hey Sancet Joe,
Cyril of Jeruselem was not a heretic he was a Father of the Church. Be careful with those types of accusations. Some people love to throw that word heresy word around. Whoever told you that St. Cyril was a heretic clearly was either mistaken or purposefuly misleading.

Here is a quote from Pope Benedict during his Wednesday audience on Cyril of Jeruselem:

*Of the last five so-called “mystagogical catecheses”, the first two develop a commentary on the rites of Baptism and the last three focus on the Chrism, the Body and Blood of Christ and the Eucharistic Liturgy. They include an explanation of the Our Father (Oratio dominica).

This forms the basis of a process of initiation to prayer which develops on a par with the initiation to the three Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.

The basis of his instruction on the Christian faith also served to play a polemic role against pagans, Judaeo Christians and Manicheans. The argument was based on the fulfilment of the Old Testament promises, in a language rich in imagery.

Catechesis marked an important moment in the broader context of the whole life - particularly liturgical - of the Christian community, in whose maternal womb the gestation of the future faithful took place, accompanied by prayer and the witness of the brethren.

Taken as a whole, Cyril’s homilies form a systematic catechesis on the Christian’s rebirth through Baptism.

He tells the catechumen: "You have been caught in the *