Mother Teresa / Communion in the hand

[TheGrowingGrape]

Mother Teresa did not think highly of recieving Communion in the hand, and neither should we:

---

As reported by Fr. George Rutler in his Good Friday sermon at St. Agnes Church, New York in 1989, when **Mother Teresa of Calcutta **was asked by Fr. Rutler, “What do you think is the worst problem in the world today?”

She more than anyone could name any number of candidates: famine, plague, disease, the breakdown of the family, rebellion against God, the corruption of the media, world debt, nuclear threat and so on. "Without pausing a second she said, 'Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand.’"

(note: Fr. Emerson of the Fraternity of St. Peter was also a witness to this statement by Mother Teresa).

 

[pnewton]

There was another thread on the subject if someone really wants to read on and on and on. It was mercifully closed this weekend.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=9191

 

[Deacon_Ed]

The so-called quote from Mother Teresa never happened. She was photographed many times receiving communion in the hand. This quote has taken on a life of its own independent of the fact that the origin of it is unknown and that it has been shown to be false by the parties mentioned. This seems to have acquired the status of “urban myth.”

Deacon Ed

 

[JohnCantius]

Well, the only way we can settle this is ask Fr Rutler, whatSaint (Mother)Teresa of Calcutta said!

 

[deogratias]

are you volunteering to do that?

 

[deogratias]

While I consider myself to be a traditionalist (that means I am not a liberal), it grieves me some of the things some self-proclaimed “traditionalists” say and do, especially those that totally discount anything post Vatican II as being “wrong”.

Liberals and Traditionists alike must guard against the sin of partiality by elevating what is and is not proper based on their personal likes and dislikes or worse on the rhetoric of some schismatic or borderline schismatic groups rather than what the Church actually teaches.

This is one of those things they frequently use in their arguments. (Let me say I prefer to receive communion on the tongue so no one thinks I am just defending Communion in the hand - what I do defend is your right to choose if you live in a country that grants the Indult to receive in the hand)

The ultratraditionalist and the ultraliberal are not that different, i.e. one can fall into the gutter on either side of the road.

Both can be and are disobedient if it supports their personal agendae.

Putting these words in the mouth of Mother Theresa and in some cases Our Lady (through alledged apparitions) shows how desparate some professed trationalists are to make their case to the rest of the Catholics, i.e. those who wish to be obedient to the Church and exercise their rights to preferences where allowed.

Can you imagine our Holy Mother or Mother Theresa advising disobedience to the Pope and the Magisterium of Mother Church?

(Mother Theresa in fact denounced the use of her name by those crusading against communion by hand.)

 

[Catholic_Eagle]

deogratias:

…

Liberals and Traditionists alike must guard against the sin of partiality by elevating what is and is not proper based on their personal likes and dislikes or worse on the rhetoric of some schismatic or borderline schismatic groups rather than what the Church actually teaches.

This is one of those things they frequently use in their arguments. (Let me say I prefer to receive communion on the tongue so no one thinks I am just defending Communion in the hand - what I do defend is your right to choose if you live in a country that grants the Indult to receive in the hand)
The ultratraditionalist and the ultraliberal are not that different, i.e. one can fall into the gutter on either side of the road.
Both can be and are disobedient if it supports their personal agendae.
Putting these words in the mouth of Mother Theresa and in some cases Our Lady (through alledged apparitions) shows how desparate some professed trationalists are to make their case to the rest of the Catholics, i.e. those who wish to be obedient to the Church and exercise their rights to preferences where allowed.
Can you imagine our Holy Mother or Mother Theresa advising disobedience to the Pope and the Magisterium of Mother Church?
(Mother Theresa in fact denounced the use of her name by those crusading against communion by hand.)

First thing first. The priests who said this are not sedevacantists or SSPX priests[who are good but dispised by many]. One priest is from the conservative NO parish of St.Agnes,New York and the other is a FSSP priest. Are these people ultratraditionalists with evil agendaes to destroy the Church? Nope, these are faithful priests who have tried to preserve our Church from destruction. Hardly an ultratraditionalist, becuase as you know they will not even attend the NO. Or are these people borderline schismatics? No. So deogratias, you have just branded a reputable priest a schismatic or borerline schismatic.

Anyways Mother Theresa was just a simple nun who founded an order of nuns. She does not have the authority to declare soemthing so for people take heed to it. She was made popular by the media not by her saintliness. I wonder how many bishops, CNN talks about in a good light?

P.S. Deogratias, why do you use the word agenda so many times in your posts? How is it that people you don’t understand already must have a personal agenda? What are Traditional Catholics’ agenda? Are they people who are planning the destruction of the Church[which will never happen]? Somehow in you eyes Traditional Catholics are easy to blame for all your ills and your problems.

 

[pnewton]

Catholic Eagle:

Anyways Mother Theresa was just a simple nun who founded an order of nuns. She does not have the authority to declare soemthing so for people take heed to it.

You are right in this. We should only care about what is said through proper channels, not third had accounts of what any individual said. This is why I do not understand why what Mother Teresa said or did not say is an issue.

 

[deogratias]

First thing first. The priests who said this are not sedevacantists or SSPX priests[who are good but dispised by many]. One priest is from the conservative NO parish of St.Agnes,New York and the other is a FSSP priest. Are these people ultratraditionalists with evil agendaes to destroy the Church? Nope, these are faithful priests who have tried to preserve our Church from destruction. Hardly an ultratraditionalist, becuase as you know they will not even attend the NO. Or are these people borderline schismatics? No. So deogratias, you have just branded a reputable priest a schismatic or borerline schismatic.

Anyways Mother Theresa was just a simple nun who founded an order of nuns. She does not have the authority to declare soemthing so for people take heed to it. She was made popular by the media not by her saintliness. I wonder how many bishops, CNN talks about in a good light?

P.S. Deogratias, why do you use the word agenda so many times in your posts? How is it that people you don’t understand already must have a personal agenda? What are Traditional Catholics’ agenda? Are they people who are planning the destruction of the Church[which will never happen]? Somehow in you eyes Traditional Catholics are easy to blame for all your ills and your problems.

---

First - these priests were “alledged” to have said this. Mother Theresa denied it.

Secondly I said no one had an "evil " agenda to destroy the Church so quit putting words in my mouth.

I did not brand these priests as anything - I did not mention these priests.

I mentioned some people who would have us believe that communion in the hand is wrong and that Mother Theresa said so. I do not include these priests among them but only those who propagate this urban legand. It didn’t happen.

You know there was a man, who questioned her on everything about Vatican II and the NOM - she responded to his questions but not without saying this and I say it to you as well:

My dear Ram:

I have just received the answers to your last lot of questions etc. I am sending them to you. I hope this will help you you know my love for you and know how much I want you to be all for Jesus. Ram, go before Jesus living truly in the bread of life - ask yourself. Do I believe? If you do believe, then do not waste time on useless arguments and questions, for they are all useless if you Believe. If you do not believe - then you need all the arguments you can make and all the endless discussions you can produce.

Pray this prayer to Our Lady:

AMary my mother - give me your heart so beautiful, so pure - your heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive and carry Jesus as you received him and carried him - come O Mary my Queen and my Mother. Come and receive Jesus in me@

My prayer for you is that you find Our Lady as your Mother - and ask her to be a Mother to you now.

God bless you

M. Theresa, M.O.

May our lady help us both to know the Truth, the light and the Way, and may she give us the grace to be obedient in the fullest sense of the word.

 

[Catholic_Eagle]

deogratias:

First - these priests were “alledged” to have said this. Mother Theresa denied it.

Secondly I said no one had an "evil " agenda to destroy the Church so quit putting words in my mouth.

I did not brand these priests as anything - I did not mention these priests.

I mentioned some people who would have us believe that communion in the hand is wrong and that Mother Theresa said so. I do not include these priests among them but only those who propagate this urban legand. It didn’t happen.

You know there was a man, who questioned her on everything about Vatican II and the NOM - she responded to his questions but not without saying this and I say it to you as well:

May our lady help us both to know the Truth, the light and the Way, and may she give us the grace to be obedient in the fullest sense of the word.

I am no Rama Coomaraswamy[should we call him a priest or not?] I haven’t even mentioned anything about Vaitcan II in this thread and you attack me for questioning Vatican II. And as I say before Mother Theresa is not a bishop and doesn’t enjoy the graces which a bishop enjoys. I don’t care if she said Mass should be like this or that, her opinion is just an opinion

 

[Catholic_Eagle]

Deogratias: if you really want to send me these polemics, send them to my private message box.

 

[deogratias]

.S. Deogratias, why do you use the word agenda so many times in your posts? How is it that people you don’t understand already must have a personal agenda? What are Traditional Catholics’ agenda? Are they people who are planning the destruction of the Church[which will never happen]? Somehow in you eyes Traditional Catholics are easy to blame for all your ills and your problems.

Eagle - I forgot to reply to your postscript.

I use the word agenda where I could use purpose or goal or intent.

I have used it in particular to describe what I see as an agenda by some posters who do not accept Vatican II and I think there Agenda is to discredit Vatican II and to confuse those who would be obedient to it and to the Pope and the Magesterium.

I do not say all Traditional Catholics for I am one. I attend Tridentine Mass, I won’t support the abuses of the NOM and I believe what the Church teaches and respect that the authority of the Church.

“Somehow in you eyes Traditional Catholics are easy to blame for all your ills and your problems.” Oh really now - you constantly put words in my mouth and now in my mind>

This is not personal and as used by you, I have no ills and problems that I blame anyone for. My ills are those that come with old age and I thank God that I have no problems worth mentioning. Nor do I blame what you term traditionalist for the problems in the Church today. But I do see that “some” radical traditionalists do blame Vatican II for the problems in the Church today.

But I do and probably will continue to take acception to some of your posts if they question the authority of the Pope or the validity of Vatican II

 

[dream_wanderer]

Growing Grape means well but she tries hard to force her opinions on everyone and then claim they are from God. They may well be but her authoritarian attitude turns many people off. Its not her message…its her method and she somehow fails to see the difference.

She means well but I basically ignore her posts.

dream wanderer

 

[Trad_Catholic]

“The so-called quote from Mother Teresa never happened. She was photographed many times receiving communion in the hand.”

Would you care to show (an UNDOCTORED) photo? I have yet to seen such a one.

 

[johnnydigit]

wow i didn’t know this topic was so old. i was looking for confirmation on this and i guess there doesn’t seem to be any conclusive evidence that she ever said this?

what about JP2’s thoughts on the matter? people that cite what Blessed Mother Teresa allegedly said usually include something similar about JP2. i want to be absolutely sure before i repeat any such claims…

why does it matter? because i admire them greatly and i want to know their opinion. no they don’t have any authority on the matter but like my favorite Saints, i like to imitate them when they give reasonable explanations for doing so.

 

[Heckesh]

Mother Teresa did not think highly of recieving Communion in the hand, and neither should we

Thankfully it wasn’t up to her.

 

[Heckesh]

While I consider myself to be a traditionalist (that means I am not a liberal), it grieves me some of the things some self-proclaimed “traditionalists” say and do, especially those that totally discount anything post Vatican II as being “wrong”.

Liberals and Traditionists alike must guard against the sin of partiality by elevating what is and is not proper based on their personal likes and dislikes or worse on the rhetoric of some schismatic or borderline schismatic groups rather than what the Church actually teaches.

This is one of those things they frequently use in their arguments. (Let me say I prefer to receive communion on the tongue so no one thinks I am just defending Communion in the hand - what I do defend is your right to choose if you live in a country that grants the Indult to receive in the hand)

The ultratraditionalist and the ultraliberal are not that different, i.e. one can fall into the gutter on either side of the road.

Both can be and are disobedient if it supports their personal agendae.

Putting these words in the mouth of Mother Theresa and in some cases Our Lady (through alledged apparitions) shows how desparate some professed trationalists are to make their case to the rest of the Catholics, i.e. those who wish to be obedient to the Church and exercise their rights to preferences where allowed.

Can you imagine our Holy Mother or Mother Theresa advising disobedience to the Pope and the Magisterium of Mother Church?

(Mother Theresa in fact denounced the use of her name by those crusading against communion by hand.)

AMEN!!! Excellent posting.

 

[Lisa_De_Ruyter]

Pope Benedict is saying that we should promote Communion in the mouth while Kneeling. Enjoy!!!

lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09072703.html

                                Complete LSN Interview with Antonio Cardinal Cañizares Llovera

LSN: Is there a movement in the Vatican to return to the traditional manner of reception of Communion? (With the recipient kneeling and the host placed directly on the tongue.)

“Cardinal Canizares Llovera: There is no resolution that forbids giving Communion in the mouth. In the same way, there is no norm that forbids Communion in the hand. Neither can be forbidden. Neither one nor the other. This means that Communion in the mouth has a long history and tradition that expresses in a profound way the sense of adoration, reverence in the presence of the body of Christ. Everything that is at stake in the real presence of Christ. If Communion in the mouth goes with the gesture of kneeling, it expresses in a stronger way, with stronger force, the real presence of Christ, the sense of adoration, the participation in the body of Christ that offers Himself for us.”

"If the papal liturgy is a sign, an indication for all the Church, we should promote Communion kneeling and in the mouth. But, this does not mean not permitting or forbidding Communion in the hand if it is done with due respect. With a previous gesture of adoration. This could be kneeling, or a genuflection or with a deep bow. And also in the moment of receiving Communion, the right hand should be placed under the left hand forming a cross expressing in this way the recognition of the real presence of the body of Christ offered for us. We should take care that no particle should be lost. And the body of Christ should be received in front of the priest."

We should all fight to avoid abuses against the Eucharist. It is the holiest, greatest, most important [thing] in the Church and in life. We should respect the Eucharist and the rules and discipline of the Church that give the warranty of ecclesial communion that has its sources, its roots, its truth in the Eucharist, in the celebration of the Eucharist, in the rite that the Church has indicated.

God love you
Lisa

 

[paperwight66]

Actually, I see nothing there that the Pope says we should promote COTT. I see a Cardinal saying that we should. But not the Pope.

Perhaps you don’t know, but Pope Benedict said in his latest book that he had no problem personally with CITH, and that he had both received and administered that way himself. COTT was the norm for those receiving from him at Papal Masses, for two reasons. One was to emphasise the holiness of the event for those watching (TV viewers, for example). And the other was that there had been cases if people keeping the Host as a souvenir if they had received it from him

Do you have evidence that the Pope has said COTT is to be promoted?

 

[Timothysis]

Folks, this thread is 7 years old. It is really necessary to revive it?