Pope Distributing Communion: Kneeling on Tongue

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ElToro

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Pope Bendcit XVI has said that he will distribute communion on the tongue while communicants kneel. He’s the Pope, that’s his personal preference and he still makes accomodations for individual communicants when necessary so all is fine.

Why do some take this a “proof” that COT while kneeling is superior to CIH while standing or even CIH while kneeling when it’s not? Why do they use this as licence to attack CIH and the posture of standing? Do they realize the Pope’s personal preferences do not lead to the conclusion that one method/posture are superior to others?
 
Kneeling on the tongue has gotta hurt. :eek: (sorry to inject this sidebar observation) 😉
 
why when this topic is introduced it is always in terms of picking a fight, never in terms of genuinely seeking information? no wonder it is a banned topic
 
ElToro said:
Pope Bendcit XVI has said that he will distribute communion on the tongue while communicants kneel. He’s the Pope, that’s his personal preference and he still makes accomodations for individual communicants when necessary so all is fine.

Why do some take this a “proof” that COT while kneeling is superior to CIH while standing or even CIH while kneeling when it’s not? Why do they use this as licence to attack CIH and the posture of standing? Do they realize the Pope’s personal preferences do not lead to the conclusion that one method/posture are superior to others?
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I believe that you might be three years later on this one. He brought this practice into being during the Solemnity of Corpus Christi back in 2008. Furthermore, the default is to receive Holy Communion on the tongue while kneeling.

Standing is an option and receiving Holy Communion in the hand is also an option. However, Redemptionis Sacramentum clearly states that if there is a danger of profanation of the Holy Eucharist, CITH may be suspended.
 
Stylites said:
Kneeling on the tongue has gotta hurt. :eek: (sorry to inject this sidebar observation) 😉
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:sad_yes:
:rotfl:
ElToro said:
Why do some take this a “proof” that COT while kneeling is superior to CIH while standing or even CIH while kneeling when it’s not?
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Probably because a “preferred” method typically infers it is superior in some way to another method? It’s human nature to conclude that your preferences are preferences because you judge them to be superior to other choices available, no?
 
Stylites said:
Kneeling on the tongue has gotta hurt. :eek: (sorry to inject this sidebar observation) 😉
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:tiphat: Good one. Had me laughing for awhile, nice visual popped inside my head when reading your post.
 
ElToro said:
Pope Bendcit XVI has said that he will distribute communion on the tongue while communicants kneel. He’s the Pope, that’s his personal preference and he still makes accomodations for individual communicants when necessary so all is fine.

Why do some take this a “proof” that COT while kneeling is superior to CIH while standing or even CIH while kneeling when it’s not? Why do they use this as licence to attack CIH and the posture of standing? Do they realize the Pope’s personal preferences do not lead to the conclusion that one method/posture are superior to others?
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Nothing out of the ordinary. He’s the Pope of the entire Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome. He’s allowed; I strongly suspect that because of his added jurisdiction of Rome that he made his own personal preference. Personally I love it.

However; it is strongly likely that if he wanted the rest of the Catholic Bishops of the World to follow the same gesture the Pope would make an Encyclical stating the obligation of this gesture…which the Pope hasn’t…Yet.

Peace
Chris
 
I don’t mean to belittle a serious discussion, but there’s something about the phrase "kneeling on tongue’ that conjures up an amusing mental picture.
 
SteveGC said:
Probably because a “preferred” method typically infers it is superior in some way to another method? It’s human nature to conclude that your preferences are preferences because you judge them to be superior to other choices available, no?
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Not true. Pope Benedict has said that he personally does not have a problem with communion in the hand but prefers to distribute on the tongue and kneeling because 1) he wishes to highlight reverence to the Blessed Sacrament and 2) to avoid the occasion for those to keep the Blessed Sacrament as a “souvenir” of their Mass with the pope.
 
Timothysis said:
…prefers to distribute on the tongue and kneeling …to avoid the occasion for those to keep the Blessed Sacrament as a “souvenir” of their Mass with the pope.
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Oh. Wow. I had not even thought of that.

A billion people in the Church, I guess the Pope sees everything.
 
Timothysis said:
Not true. Pope Benedict has said that he personally does not have a problem with communion in the hand but prefers to distribute on the tongue and kneeling because 1) he wishes to highlight reverence to the Blessed Sacrament and 2) to avoid the occasion for those to keep the Blessed Sacrament as a “souvenir” of their Mass with the pope.
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ok. So, what is it that’s “not true” about my statements? Because everything you said after “not true” seems to agree with my take on why a person’s preferences typically infer superiority in some way. In other words, 'I prefer x over y" and “to me, x is superior to y” are seen as synonymous statements to most people. I think the big problem here is that those who take offense are mistaking superiority of method with superiority of persons. The claim.of superiority refers to the former and not ever the latter.

Peace.
 
SteveGC said:
ok. So, what is it that’s “not true” about my statements? Because everything you said after “not true” seems to agree with my take on why a person’s preferences typically infer superiority in some way. In other words, 'I prefer x over y" and “to me, x is superior to y” are seen as synonymous statements to most people. I think the big problem here is that those who take offense are mistaking superiority of method with superiority of persons. The claim.of superiority refers to the former and not ever the latter.

Peace.
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It has nothing to do with “preference” or “superiority.” The Holy Father’s method of distribution of communion is rooted in his desire to teach and to protect the Holy Sacrament. As I said, the Holy Father has said that he has no problem with communion in the hand, so to infer that he considers communion on the tongue to be “superior” or that it’s even a “preference” is mistaken.
 
Perhaps a little punctuation would have cleared up the humor early.
 
Timothysis said:
It has nothing to do with “preference” or “superiority.” The Holy Father’s method of distribution of communion is rooted in his desire to teach and to protect the Holy Sacrament. As I said, the Holy Father has said that he has no problem with communion in the hand, so to infer that he considers communion on the tongue to be “superior” or that it’s even a “preference” is mistaken.
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I see. So, the Holy Father does NOT prefer COTT. He simply feels it is a better method to teach and protect the Blessed Sacrament. I think we’re getting a bit hung up over words. Seems to me he prefers it for certain reasons…perhaps not all reasons. Thus, insofar as he deems it preferable for certain reasons (those which you stated), one could reasonably conclude that COTT is superior to CITH for* those* reasons? I’m not debating you…sincerely. Just want to clear the air and see what we’re looking at and talking about. As I’ve mentioned before, I have no vested interest or bias in this. I’m primarily a CITH person, with recent COTT leanings. But the word “superior” has yet to be part of my vocabulary where this is concerned - and if it did, it would never be used to remotely infer a characteristic of people.

Peace.
 
puzzleannie said:
why when this topic is introduced it is always in terms of picking a fight, never in terms of genuinely seeking information? no wonder it is a banned topic
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I was not aware this subject was banned. Moderator, please extinguish this thread.
 
Timothysis said:
It has nothing to do with “preference” or “superiority.” The Holy Father’s method of distribution of communion is rooted in his desire to teach and to protect the Holy Sacrament. As I said, the Holy Father has said that he has no problem with communion in the hand, so to infer that he considers communion on the tongue to be “superior” or that it’s even a “preference” is mistaken.
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It’s his personl preference in how to distribute communion. He never gave the reason for his choice. The rest is opinion.
 
ElToro said:
It’s his personl preference in how to distribute communion. He never gave the reason for his choice. The rest is opinion.
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One would reasonably conclude, however, that the reasons must be related to the benefit of the faithful, and/or the benefit of God, as opposed to his own personal benefit…would you agree?

If so, then what reason besides reverence and protection would you suggest could be logical for him to choose it over CITH?

Where I’m going with this is…if it is reasonable to believe he prefers it for instilling reverence and for protecting it against insult…then for a Catholic to label this a “superior” method for those purposes, doesn’t seem to be irrational…to me.

What say you?
 
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