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Daprato
Guest
This is just your personal conjecture. You offer no proof.
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Daprato
Guest
So? Others simply prefer to follow the Church’s instructions – at ALL times…
W
Walking_Home
Guest
While there are many, many people who receive reverently in the hand—there is also another side to the story—I will let our late Pope tell you:
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_24021980_dominicae-cenae_en.html
LETTER DOMINICAE CENAE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
JOHN PAUL II TO ALL THE BISHOPS OF THE CHURCH
ON THE MYSTERY AND WORSHIP OF THE EUCHARIST
In some countries the practice of receiving Communion in the hand has been introduced. This practice has been requested by individual episcopal conferences and has received approval from the Apostolic See. However, cases of a deplorable lack of respect towards the eucharistic species have been reported, cases which are imputable not only to the individuals guilty of such behavior but also to the pastors of the church who have not been vigilant enough regarding the attitude of the faithful towards the Eucharist. It also happens, on occasion, that the free choice of those who prefer to continue the practice of receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is not taken into account in those places where the distribution of Communion in the hand has been authorized. It is therefore difficult in the context of this present letter not to mention the sad phenomena previously referred to.
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BritishCatholic
Guest
That is a wonderful quote from Pope John Paul II. Thank you very much for posting that. It makes up for the disdain I felt when I saw him at one of the super charismatic Masses…
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I_Believe
Guest
Thank you WH, I had seen this letter before but could not find it.
And to everyone…
You know, I was also wondering, after reading the replies on this thread, what about the washing of the hands by the priest ? Is this not an act of reverence in order to handle the consecrated Host in the most holy manner ? It would seem to me, that right there is enough to discourage communion in the hand ?
Obviously, the Church does not agree. What am I missing here ?
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Dauphin
Guest
It’s reasonable conjecture based on fact. There is no question that the vast numbers of Catholics today have no belief in the real presence. Do you honestly believe that treating the Eucharist like a potato chip has no impact on reverence toward It?
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Dauphin
Guest
Try not to talk so foolishly. The Church’s universal instruction is to receive communion on the tongue. In some places, it has offered an indult which permits people to receive on the hand. No one would seriously argue though, that Rome promotes this method of communion.
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HailMary
Guest
The Church leaders, my Church, the Chaldean Church, that has its roots in Apostolic times, permitted reception in the Hand and we have nothing to do with the West until recent times.
Its nothing new. The disposition of the recipient and his/her reverence is the real matter. Forcing people to receive in the tongue w/o a change of heart will not generate more saints. Once the contraception poison leaves the Church, then perhaps, the faithful will see that reverence come back: whether its by intinction or under both species.
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Dauphin
Guest
If people were *forced *to receive on their knees and on the tongue, do you seriously doubt that reverence for the Eucharist would increase? Do you really want to argue that communion on the hand hasn’t contributed to a decline in belief in the real presence? Just because a miniscule eastern church permits it doesn’t make it a good idea.
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HailMary
Guest
Your missing in the point. It is SIN that is the cause of problems, not receiving under both species.
If people were *forced *to receive on their knees and on the tongue, do you seriously doubt that reverence for the Eucharist would increase? Do you really want to argue that communion on the hand hasn’t contributed to a decline in belief in the real presence? Just because a miniscule eastern church permits it doesn’t make it a good idea.
And your comment about the “miniscule” eastern church is irrelevant since arithmetic does not determine who is right or wrong. At one point is Church history, 70-80% of all Bishops were in heresy but that didn’t mean they were correct.
And yes, I can see the benefits of receiving on your knees, by intinction, and that would be wonderful, but its not going to happen anytime soon.
B
BobP123
Guest
If they keep allowing more and more options, what’s there to obey? Now if they were to RESTRICT options, then I could see issues of obedience. But in this case there seem to be no restrictions, it’s all do what you feel like, just go. Sorry but I wasn’t baptized in this Church.
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NPC
Guest
I certainly understand how nervous you must be about receiving on the tongue. Since I was about 9 (I’m 23 now) I have received into my hands. I always tried to receive in a pious and respectful manner, knowing that I was holding the Body of Christ.
However, last week on All Saints Day, I was at Mass and as usual received Christ into my hands. As I left the altar rails I noticed there were one or two minute pieces of the host which had been left on my hand. I was greatly troubled by this as I had never noticed this before and I realised there must have been countless times when I (and others receiving in the hand) had carlessly let our Lord fall to the floor. So, imagine that after years of thinking that I was reverently consuming the Lord, I was probably defiling the Body of Christ by letting Him fall to the ground to be trampled upon by others…
Needless to say, after this experience, the following day I received on the tongue. It was strange though - I too was a bit preoccupied about how far to put out my tongue, but I knelt as always, stuck it out and the priest did the rest. It was no big deal, apart from that I was receiving the precious Body of Christ of course!
However, last week on All Saints Day, I was at Mass and as usual received Christ into my hands. As I left the altar rails I noticed there were one or two minute pieces of the host which had been left on my hand. I was greatly troubled by this as I had never noticed this before and I realised there must have been countless times when I (and others receiving in the hand) had carlessly let our Lord fall to the floor. So, imagine that after years of thinking that I was reverently consuming the Lord, I was probably defiling the Body of Christ by letting Him fall to the ground to be trampled upon by others…
Needless to say, after this experience, the following day I received on the tongue. It was strange though - I too was a bit preoccupied about how far to put out my tongue, but I knelt as always, stuck it out and the priest did the rest. It was no big deal, apart from that I was receiving the precious Body of Christ of course!
E
ElizaCatherine
Guest
I was taught when I converted (in 2002) that it was preferred that we receive on the tongue. It is the only way I received the Eucharist until we moved into another diocese. When we moved we have a large number of EMHC’s distributing communion (which is a whole different discussion) and I am not comfortable receiving from them on the tongue (probably because I am afraid they will be nervous about it and won’t know how to handle it). On the days that I sing in the choir I have to receive from an EMHC. On those days I do receive in my hand and I check my hand throughly for particles once I am back to my seat. Any other day I make sure that I sit in the section of the church where either a priest or deacon will be distributing communion.
I was taught to make a genuflection or profound bow before I stepped up to receive the Eucharist and then to tip my head back slightly and stick out my tongue (right after I said Amen) and then (in our previous parish) the alter server would hold the paten under our chin and the priest would place the Eucharist on our tongues. I guess I close my eyes because I am thinking of the wonderful gift I am receiving. By the way there were many in that parish that would receive kneeling. No one thought anything of it. I know some priests do not welcome that, but in our parish it was “normal”.
Of course all of my experience is with NO masses. If you are going to a TLM I know things will differ some.
I was taught to make a genuflection or profound bow before I stepped up to receive the Eucharist and then to tip my head back slightly and stick out my tongue (right after I said Amen) and then (in our previous parish) the alter server would hold the paten under our chin and the priest would place the Eucharist on our tongues. I guess I close my eyes because I am thinking of the wonderful gift I am receiving. By the way there were many in that parish that would receive kneeling. No one thought anything of it. I know some priests do not welcome that, but in our parish it was “normal”.
Of course all of my experience is with NO masses. If you are going to a TLM I know things will differ some.
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Daprato
Guest
Conjecture is just that – conjecture, and your’s means nothing to me.
First, could you please give me some sources for your comment “the vast numbers of Catholics today have no belief in the real presence?” I had hear that spewed a great deal and I actually did some digging and looked into the original Gallop poll on the matter. Maybe you have updated information from reputable sources? Jimmy Akin did a nice write-up on that infamous poll.
But far more important, I really don’t know what sort of world you live in but I have never seen anyone treat the Blessed Sacrament like a “potato chip.” Not once. To suggest that one treats the Blessed Sacrament like a “potato chip” because they receive in hand is not only ignorant, it’s inflammatory and just plain nasty.
I actually wonder what’s wrong in your life for that matte to even come into your head? Why would you even think of such a thing?
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Daprato
Guest
Ad hominem aside, now you have changed from “allows” to “promotes”, huh? Why the change? Either means is valid in the USA and neither one is more reverent or “better” than the other.
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Daprato
Guest
1.) Yes.
1.) If people were *forced *to receive on their knees and on the tongue, do you seriously doubt that reverence for the Eucharist would increase? 2.) Do you really want to argue that communion on the hand hasn’t contributed to a decline in belief in the real presence? 3.) Just because a miniscule eastern church permits it doesn’t make it a good idea.
2.) Of course.
3.) Now the size of a tradition/rite is the determining factor? C’mon.
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Walking_Home
Guest
What world you ask—the same world our late Pope speaks about.
I provided the following for you before—you may have missed it so I bring it here again. Although our late Pope did not use the word “potato chip”—it fits the profile of a “deplorable lack of respect toward the Eucharistic species”. Though many receive in the hand reverently --our late Pope brings to light the other side of communion in the hand.
vatican.va/holy_father/jo…-cenae_en.html
LETTER DOMINICAE CENAE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
JOHN PAUL II TO ALL THE BISHOPS OF THE CHURCH
ON THE MYSTERY AND WORSHIP OF THE EUCHARIST
In some countries the practice of receiving Communion in the hand has been introduced. This practice has been requested by individual episcopal conferences and has received approval from the Apostolic See. However, cases of a deplorable lack of respect towards the eucharistic species have been reported, cases which are imputable not only to the individuals guilty of such behavior but also to the pastors of the church who have not been vigilant enough regarding the attitude of the faithful towards the Eucharist. It also happens, on occasion, that the free choice of those who prefer to continue the practice of receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is not taken into account in those places where the distribution of Communion in the hand has been authorized. It is therefore difficult in the context of this present letter not to mention the sad phenomena previously referred to.
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BobP123
Guest
Sounds as if you would really have a problem if the Pope were to discontinue the practice of communion in the hand, I take it?
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Marina14
Guest
He is the one who used his Keys to “Loose” the practice, if he was so concerned he could have used the Keys to “Bind” it back up. Why didn’t he? Just curious now.
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Dauphin
Guest
“Vast numbers” doesn’t necessarily mean a majority. I’m sure that a majority of church-going Catholics have a belief in the real presence, but I’m equally certain that there are “vast numbers” who have no such belief. I used the term “vast numbers” instead of “a majority” in order to avoid this very debate you’re trying to open about how to interpret the findings of polls and establish their reliability. It’s enough to know that there is a massive crisis of faith in the Church today, and that this crisis is due at least in part to irreverence toward the Eucharist.
I see the Eucharist treated like a potato chip at virtually every Mass I attend. I see people absent-mindedly tossing it into their mouths after they gambol away from the priest, making it evident that they really don’t know what they’re receiving. I can already anticipate your reply, so I’ll answer it now; no, I don’t monitor others as they receive Communion. I just happen to notice some things, since I have to keep my eyes open while walking towards the Eucharist. I do my best to focus on Christ.
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