Pope prefers Communion on the tongue

[Walking_Home]

Walking Home – I did not conceive that what I wrote could be made to sound as it did when put in your manner

When we receive Jesus, we receive a Lover. To be able to hold the world’s most adorable Lover and, yes, gaze and whisper to Him while actually touching Him, is, to me, so much more grace-filled than to see Him encased and out of reach during adoration. I say the same things to Him; but the knowledge that God has made it possible for me to hold Him in the palm of my hand (as He holds me in His) is overwhelming!

---

Frankly — I don’t see how you can say our Lord is “encased and out of reach”. He is just as close to you as when you have our Lord and our God in the “palm of your hand”.

 

[Tsuwano]

Really? Please explain how the current method of receiving in the hand approximates that of the early Christians?

I find it difficult to believe that Christ fed his apostles at the last supper as if they were birds. I certainly feel we should honor the eucharist and offer respect during the sacrifice of the mass, but I fail to understand why the hand is any dirtier than the tongue. I have received communion in both ways, but I don’t think one way is more respectful or less respectful than the other. The point is to receive Christ into your heart and allow him to change your life. Whether you receive the eucharist on your tongue or in your hand is not an indication of whether you are holy or not. Indeed, if it indicates anything, it indicates merely a preference.

 

[palmas85]

I find it difficult to believe that Christ fed his apostles at the last supper as if they were birds. I certainly feel we should honor the eucharist and offer respect during the sacrifice of the mass, but I fail to understand why the hand is any dirtier than the tongue. I have received communion in both ways, but I don’t think one way is more respectful or less respectful than the other. The point is to receive Christ into your heart and allow him to change your life. Whether you receive the eucharist on your tongue or in your hand is not an indication of whether you are holy or not. Indeed, if it indicates anything, it indicates merely a preference.

Your statement about feeding the Apostles as if they were birds indicates something that I find quite disturbing among many who advocate the practice of receiving in the hand. In fact, it seems quite insulting. There seems to be a general belief that when one receives in the hand they are somehow more mature, more adult in their practices and beliefs than those who receive on the tongue. I’ve read posts here in which statements such as I approach the Lord on both feet as an adult or Christ wants us to come before him as equals and not as children who need to be fed. I don’t find that particular mindset to be particularly compelling.

In the Seder meals of the times it was quite common for the presider, usually the patriarch of the family to place a small bit of each of the prescribed foods in the mouth of those present at the meal. So it is quite possible and even probable that particular practice occured at the last supper, but we will never really know.

We do know however that the earliest groups of Christians did receive in the hand for a very practical reason. Each family would bring a loaf of bread, not a small individual portion but an entire loaf. These were collected, consecrated and distributed back to the congregation, not necessarily to the same family that brought it and after a small portion s was consumed at the Mass the rest taken home for consumption during the week.

The Church went to communion on the tongue to combat abuses and to foster a belief in the true presence which many of the faithful had lost. Given that many today also don’t believe in the real presence for whatever reason, and there is a serious lack of respect for the Eucharist in many places, maybe a return to the practice of receiving on the tongue is in order

 

[keepitreal]

See this link:
catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0803381.htm

 

[lizaanne]

I love our dear Papa!!! Praying this practice spreads far and wide!!!

~Liza

 

[benedictgal]

It will be most interesting to see how this plays out at the next two huge Papal Masses (the Solemnty of Sts. Peter and Paul and WYD).

Whoever is blessed enough to receive Holy Communion from the Pope will have to be catechized as to the proper procedure.

 

[Tsuwano]

Your statement about feeding the Apostles as if they were birds indicates something that I find quite disturbing among many who advocate the practice of receiving in the hand. In fact, it seems quite insulting. There seems to be a general belief that when one receives in the hand they are somehow more mature, more adult in their practices and beliefs than those who receive on the tongue. I’ve read posts here in which statements such as I approach the Lord on both feet as an adult or Christ wants us to come before him as equals and not as children who need to be fed. I don’t find that particular mindset to be particularly compelling.

In the Seder meals of the times it was quite common for the presider, usually the patriarch of the family to place a small bit of each of the prescribed foods in the mouth of those present at the meal. So it is quite possible and even probable that particular practice occured at the last supper, but we will never really know.

We do know however that the earliest groups of Christians did receive in the hand for a very practical reason. Each family would bring a loaf of bread, not a small individual portion but an entire loaf. These were collected, consecrated and distributed back to the congregation, not necessarily to the same family that brought it and after a small portion s was consumed at the Mass the rest taken home for consumption during the week.

The Church went to communion on the tongue to combat abuses and to foster a belief in the true presence which many of the faithful had lost. Given that many today also don’t believe in the real presence for whatever reason, and there is a serious lack of respect for the Eucharist in many places, maybe a return to the practice of receiving on the tongue is in order

I apologize if you feel I was insulting you. That certainly was not my intent. However, I think you misunderstand my post. First of all, I do not advocate receiving communion in the hand. I also do not advocate receiving communion on the tongue. Both are acceptable in my opinion. My point is that receiving communion in either way does not indicate whether one is holier, more respectful, more traditional, more loving, or more faithful than anyone else, and making a judgement that it does indicate such things seems to go against the very unity we proclaim when we receive the Eucharist in the first place.
Secondly, in spite of your assertion that there is a serious lack of respect for the Eucharist in many places, I do not find that those who receive the Eucharist in the hand are any less respectful than those who do not. In the parish I attend, where most people receive the Eucharist in the hand, there is a great deal of regard for the Eucharist and a sense of awe and prayer permeates the Church during the Eucharistic Rite. I do not believe that these folks need to be upbraided or criticized for their practice of receiving communion in the hand because other folks in other places may show less respect. It should be a matter of education where there is less respect. Even if the common practice was to receive communion on the tongue, do you really think those folks would be more respectful? There have always been abuses in the Church and folks who do not appreciate the fact that the Lord is actually present to us in the Liturgy. These abuses did not begin with Vatican II or in 1965. Indeed, they were present at the Last Supper when Judas participated in the meal with the foreknowledge that he would betray the Lord. Anyway, in the end, as I mentioned in my last post, it is not the position of the knees or the hands or the tongue that is of primary importance when recieving our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. It is the position of your heart and your desire to be united with him in the sacrifice of the Mass and in your daily life.

 

[brigid12]

I much prefer receiving on the tongue - it feels so much more reverent and appropriate that I should be fed Christ by HMC like a baby bird. How apt!

Unfortunately, I would also prefer to receive kneeling, however since altar rails are essentially a thing of the past and since I can’t get up from kneeling without using my arms, I will need to continue receiving standing. At least I can genuflect before receiving if I can get back up using the first pew (usually, it is right there so I can).

 

[palmas85]

I apologize if you feel I was insulting you. That certainly was not my intent. However, I think you misunderstand my post. First of all, I do not advocate receiving communion in the hand. I also do not advocate receiving communion on the tongue. Both are acceptable in my opinion. My point is that receiving communion in either way does not indicate whether one is holier, more respectful, more traditional, more loving, or more faithful than anyone else, and making a judgement that it does indicate such things seems to go against the very unity we proclaim when we receive the Eucharist in the first place.
Secondly, in spite of your assertion that there is a serious lack of respect for the Eucharist in many places, I do not find that those who receive the Eucharist in the hand are any less respectful than those who do not. In the parish I attend, where most people receive the Eucharist in the hand, there is a great deal of regard for the Eucharist and a sense of awe and prayer permeates the Church during the Eucharistic Rite. I do not believe that these folks need to be upbraided or criticized for their practice of receiving communion in the hand because other folks in other places may show less respect. It should be a matter of education where there is less respect. Even if the common practice was to receive communion on the tongue, do you really think those folks would be more respectful? There have always been abuses in the Church and folks who do not appreciate the fact that the Lord is actually present to us in the Liturgy. These abuses did not begin with Vatican II or in 1965. Indeed, they were present at the Last Supper when Judas participated in the meal with the foreknowledge that he would betray the Lord. Anyway, in the end, as I mentioned in my last post, it is not the position of the knees or the hands or the tongue that is of primary importance when recieving our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. It is the position of your heart and your desire to be united with him in the sacrifice of the Mass and in your daily life.

I find it difficult to believe that Christ fed his apostles at the last supper as if they were birds.

That is your statement. It is insulting, and if you can’t see that, well, I really don’t know what to say.

 

[benedictgal]

Raymond Arroyo weighed in on the new developments from the Holy Father:

The Papal master of Ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini announced a new Vatican protocol for receiving communion in L’Osservatore Romano this week. From now on, to receive communion from Pope Benedict at papal liturgies, one will have to kneel and receive on the tongue. Though the current norms allow the faithful to receive in the hand while standing, Pope Benedict has indicated a clear preference for the traditional posture going forward. This is totally consistent with his revival of the traditional Latin Mass (to say nothing of various papal accessories).
Monsignor Marini told the Official Vatican newspaper that kneeling and receiving the Eucharist on the tongue “sheds light on the truth of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, it helps the devotion of the faithful, and introduces them more easily to a sense of mystery.”

Though some will no doubt say this is a step backwards and a retrograde move by the Pope, I think they miss the point. The Pope is merely establishing a protocol consistent with Church teaching. The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is the actual body and Blood of Jesus. If this is the case, why shouldn’t reverence be shown? Remember that line from the Scriptures: “At the name of Jesus ever knee shall bend" (Phil: 2:7). For centuries Catholics would have never dreamt of touching the Eucharist. My mother remembers being taught that she couldn’t even bite the host, but that it should be allowed to dissolve in her mouth.

There will be those who complain that the new papal norm could cause logistical problems. Newsflash: the norm has already been tested, without fanfare, on the Feast of Corpus Christi last month in Rome. Kneelers were set out and all who came forward for communion from the Pope received in the traditional manner. Benedict’s “reform of the reform” seems to be chugging along.

And I thank God every single day that Joseph Ratzinger was elected our Holy Father. Would that all of our bishops were from the same mold!

 

[SacredHeartFan]

My belief:

Commuion railsare put back into church.
People who wish to recieve in the mouth while kneeling can and people who wish to recieve in the hand can.

Simple as that. When I am a priest though I will ask my Bishop if it is permissiable to teach those preparing for communion to kneel and recieve in the mouth.

 

[Tsuwano]

I find it difficult to believe that Christ fed his apostles at the last supper as if they were birds.

That is your statement. It is insulting, and if you can’t see that, well, I really don’t know what to say.

Again, I apologize if you feel insulted. It was not my intention.

 

[palmas85]

Again, I apologize if you feel insulted. It was not my intention.

Then what was the purpose of describing receiving Holy Communion on the tongue as being fed as birds?

No I think your intention was quite clear and speaks volumes about how many of the more progressive types feel about receiving on the tongue.

 

[Steeltemplar]

I find it difficult to believe that Christ fed his apostles at the last supper as if they were birds.

That is your statement. It is insulting, and if you can’t see that, well, I really don’t know what to say.

I understand where it is incorrect, but we should give our brethren the benefit of the doubt and assume misunderstanding before insult. Often, a gentle explanation is all that is required.

 

[Steeltemplar]

Then what was the purpose of describing receiving Holy Communion on the tongue as being fed as birds?

No I think your intention was quite clear and speaks volumes about how many of the more progressive types feel about receiving on the tongue.

He apologized and intended no harm. I do not see any indication here that he is anything other than orthodox. We should consider how we ourselves wish to be treated when we make a mistake.

 

[tassitus]

And I thank God every single day that Joseph Ratzinger was elected our Holy Father.

I was just thinking the same thing. I just saw this on The World Over on EWTN, and my first thought: “Wow, I love our Pope.”

And this from one who less than 2 years ago was a vocal “in the hand” proponent. Care to know why the change?

Here it is:

I am in the process of being granted (please pray for us!) a radical sanation, as my wife of 13 years and I were married outside the Church sans dispensation (I was a heathen at the time). So since my return to the Church in the summer of 2006, I’ve been unable to receive Jesus in the Eucharist - I have many times knelt in tears as all of you received. Perhaps that time for me will end soon…

But, in place of that astounding Sacrament, I have been blessed to be able to spend time at least 5 days a week in Eucharistic Adoration. And my life has changed because of it.

When the bishop grants the sanation of my marriage, and after a good confession (never thought I would so look forward to THAT!), I will again be as blessed as you all to receive our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist.

But I will never, ever, receive in the hand again. Like I said, my life has changed, and that is a small part of the change.

In His peace,

Terry

 

[Lepanto]

Oh if only the entire Church could end the insanity of communion in the hand! Well, at least this is a start.

Mother Teresa is pleased! (See my sig below.)

 

[Steeltemplar]

I personally receive the Eucharist on the tongue. Kneeling is just not very practical in the typical situation of being in a line as we have things, so I stand. But I do genuflect while the person in front of me is receiving.

While I prefer the older way of receiving the Eucharist, I would point out that there is no reason to believe that the heart of someone receiving in the hand is less reverent. I know some people who are extremely pious and receive in the hand.

The revival of the older way, I believe, is meant to help foster more reverence in the faithful. It is not an implication that people receiving in the hand lack reverence because of doing so. I doubt that the Church would have authorized anything that was inherently less respectful of the Holy Eucharist.

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

It is allowed to have the Holy Communion in your hand, and at once put it into your mouth. I mention that, as a man had put it in his pocket “to save it for later”! This of course is blasphemy.
I myself never had it in hand, but onto the tongue. Over here in Germany 95% of all Catholics I think, have it in their hands. Remember; before the VaticanCouncil2 the priest even had to wash his fingers over the chalice in order not to loose a particle and drink this water then. To me it seems an unholy contact with the body of Christ to touch it. Noli me tangere. I never had it standing up either. Overwhelming respect to be such near Jesus, asks me to do so.
But by no means would all this mean that I look down at people who according to VC2 do have the Holy Communion standing up and in theyr hands. It will always remain – as so very many things, merely a matter between God and the individual. But an overwhelming one indeed! If bow your knees before a king… - what a nonworthy puppet or bogaboo is a king, compared to Jesus.
yours
Bruno-Maria-Schulz at Krippenfiguren.com

 

[LilyM]

It is allowed to have the Holy Communion in your hand, and at once put it into your mouth. I mention that, as a man had put it in his pocket “to save it for later”! This of course is blasphemy.
I myself never had it in hand, but onto the tongue. Over here in Germany 95% of all Catholics I think, have it in their hands. Remember; before the VaticanCouncil2 the priest even had to wash his fingers over the chalice in order not to loose a particle and drink this water then. To me it seems an unholy contact with the body of Christ to touch it. Noli me tangere. I never had it standing up either. Overwhelming respect to be such near Jesus, asks me to do so.
But by no means would all this mean that I look down at people who according to VC2 do have the Holy Communion standing up and in theyr hands. It will always remain – as so very many things, merely a matter between God and the individual. But an overwhelming one indeed! If bow your knees before a king… - what a nonworthy puppet or bogaboo is a king, compared to Jesus.
yours
Bruno-Maria-Schulz at Krippenfiguren.com

Allow me to put the case for the other side

Christ said ‘noli me tangere’ indeed - but why? Because He had NOT YET returned to the Father. That very night, however, clearly having done so already, He was INVITING Thomas to touch the very wounds in His hands and side, in order to strengthen him in his faith. Some of us, like Thomas, benefit from having our faith strengthened by the same sense of touch.

As for respect - Eastern Catholics TO THIS DAY do not kneel in Divine Liturgy - ever. Standing is their posture of respect. Kneeling to them is what a worthless and fearful slave does in front of a tyrannical ruler, not a valued subject in front of a loving and merciful King.

Being of Eastern European origin myself, although Latin Rite Catholic, I kinda see the point. I wouldn’t ever kneel to our Queen, and most of her subjects don’t need to either, apart from the possible exception of if she’s knighting them (which ain’t ever going to happen to me anyway).