Priest offering communion with left hand

[Vixit]

My friends old German grandma associated the left hand with shady dealings, such as “Politicians- you give them money, and it goes straight to the left hand”. Left handed dealings.

Also I’d like to say that my mom was born left handed, but the nuns (and grandfather) smacked her into right-handedness. She was not big on the Church after that

 

[Cat]

My husband is left-handed, but he does many things with his right hand. He bowls and bats right handed. He uses his mouse right-handed, although at his computer at home, he sets it up so that it can be used by his left hand. He jumps and spins in the right-handed direction when ice skating (although this really has nothing to do with handedness–left-handed people will often jump right-handed and vice-verse).

And he receives Holy Communion in his left hand and takes it into his mouth with his right hand (like many of the right-handed people).

The only things he has to do left-handed are eating (silverware) and writing.

My favorite actor is left-handed, but he also does many things right-handed, mainly shooting a gun or handling any kind of “action” device.

Both he and my husband state that left-handed people learn to do many things right-handed because from an early age, it’s their only option.

It seems to me that if the left hand is considered “shady” or even “evil,” then left-handed men would be forbidden from becoming priests, as they would be considered “flawed”?

Also, I think that if the rubrics called for use of the right hand, left-handed priests would practice this in seminary and learn to be comfortable with their right hands, just as my husband and my favorite actor have learned to do many other tasks with their right hands.

 

[ChadS]

My husband is left-handed, but he does many things with his right hand. He bowls and bats right handed. He uses his mouse right-handed, although at his computer at home, he sets it up so that it can be used by his left hand. He jumps and spins in the right-handed direction when ice skating (although this really has nothing to do with handedness–left-handed people will often jump right-handed and vice-verse).

And he receives Holy Communion in his left hand and takes it into his mouth with his right hand (like many of the right-handed people).

The only things he has to do left-handed are eating (silverware) and writing.

My favorite actor is left-handed, but he also does many things right-handed, mainly shooting a gun or handling any kind of “action” device.

Both he and my husband state that left-handed people learn to do many things right-handed because from an early age, it’s their only option.

It seems to me that if the left hand is considered “shady” or even “evil,” then left-handed men would be forbidden from becoming priests, as they would be considered “flawed”?

Also, I think that if the rubrics called for use of the right hand, left-handed priests would practice this in seminary and learn to be comfortable with their right hands, just as my husband and my favorite actor have learned to do many other tasks with their right hands.

As as left-hander I know the feeling. I remember in kindergarten my natural instint was to pick up scissors with my left hand and attempt to use them that way and they even had left-handed scissors, but those scissors were always in the worst shape and even more beat up than the other scissors. So, eventually, just so I could get even cuts with clean edges I forced myself to use the right-handed one, even though that felt incredibly awkward.

ChadS

 

[Asriel]

The above is not relevant. The Church does NOT forbid a priest to distribute using his left hand. You are mistaken in your belief it is wrong.

Okay, I finally went to my parish priest with this. To my surprise, he told me that I wasn’t the first one to complain. So I asked him point blank if it’s “wrong” or just a violation of convention. or what.

He pulled out a book, something like Roman Missal: The Ceremonies of The Mass, and showed me that in the formation of any priest, these were the rubrics that are to be followed, laid down by the Catholic Church. It spells out very clearly that the right hand only is to be used to offer Communion (along with many other restrictions, such as keeping the thumb and forefinger together except when obtaining another Eucharist to offer to the next communicant, so any particles fall back into the Chalice, etc).

He said he didn’t personally witness this happening, so there wasn’t much he could do, but if that priest should ever be back at our parish, he would monitor him. The most interesting thing he said was that the only reason a priest would offer Communion in the left hand was out of direct disobedience. No priest anywhere in the world is instructed otherwise, he said.

 

[Beachcomber]

This has turned into quite a discussion. Now, I wonder about all those folks out there who are ambi-dextrous (such as my dh).

 

[Beachcomber]

My friends old German grandma associated the left hand with shady dealings, such as “Politicians- you give them money, and it goes straight to the left hand”. Left handed dealings.

She sure got that right.

 

[AJV]

Okay, I finally went to my parish priest with this. To my surprise, he told me that I wasn’t the first one to complain. So I asked him point blank if it’s “wrong” or just a violation of convention. or what.

He pulled out a book, something like Roman Missal: The Ceremonies of The Mass, and showed me that in the formation of any priest, these were the rubrics that are to be followed, laid down by the Catholic Church. It spells out very clearly that the right hand only is to be used to offer Communion (along with many other restrictions, such as keeping the thumb and forefinger together except when obtaining another Eucharist to offer to the next communicant, so any particles fall back into the Chalice, etc).

He said he didn’t personally witness this happening, so there wasn’t much he could do, but if that priest should ever be back at our parish, he would monitor him. The most interesting thing he said was that the only reason a priest would offer Communion in the left hand was out of direct disobedience. No priest anywhere in the world is instructed otherwise, he said.

The book is out of date and its rules cannot be applied to the revised liturgy. I’m assuming of course, that you aren’t attending a Traditional Latin Mass parish, in which case it would apply. The rules on right hand, thumb and forefinger, etc. were in the older missal but are not in the new, and thus the priest can’t be accused of disobedience. I have no doubt that priests are taught in seminary to administer Communion with the right hand, because that is the customary way - but should a priest use the left hand, he is not flouting any rubric.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

Well, despite the book he showed you I can give another reason why it is better to use the right hand when distributing the Blessed Sacrament.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

If you go to a Parish, you should be expected to do things normally compared to them, not normally compared to France.

But thats just my two cents…:twocents:

 

[Asriel]

The book is out of date and its rules cannot be applied to the revised liturgy.

No, this was the current version of the book of the rubrics for the post-conciliar revised liturgy. The date on the binding was 2007. There was another book up on his shelf called ‘Missale Romanum’ (sp?) for the Latin rite. I suppose it was even more strict.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

Though I doubt it is a sin, I do hope that Priest does get corrected and distributes the Most Blessed Sacrament correctly from now on.

The worse thing is this, if he can’t distribute Eucharist correctly, what else does he do wrong?

Have a nice day.

 

[AJV]

No, this was the current version of the book of the rubrics for the post-conciliar revised liturgy. The date on the binding was 2007. There was another book up on his shelf called ‘Missale Romanum’ (sp?) for the Latin rite. I suppose it was even more strict.

There’s a recent reprint. And I can almost guarantee you that if it spoke of the thumb and forefinger, it was the older liturgy. The current General Instruction tells the celebrant to rub his fingers over the paten. Ask your priest for the Sacramentary and go through it. You’ll be looking in vain for an instruction like that.

 

[SunnaB16]

Though I doubt it is a sin, I do hope that Priest does get corrected and distributes the Most Blessed Sacrament correctly from now on.

Currently, the Church is under demonically-drivem attack from all sides by dissenters/heretics/apostates; and some people are upset because a presumably left-handed priest gives out the Blessed Sacrament with his left hand. If that`s not petty, then what is it?

The worse thing is this, if he can’t distribute Eucharist correctly, what else does he do wrong?
Have a nice day.

Are you serious?
He probably brushes his teeth/pats the cat/writes/opens and closes doors’stirs his tea, ad infinitum, with the incorrect hand. He should be defrocked!
i can just see a headline in a secular publication:
Pope Benedict XVI Accused of Coverup in Latest Left-Handed Priest Scandal!

An unnamed journalist with The Lurid Unveiler, a gutter-press newspaper published in Sodom, Massachusetts, and most notable for its exclusive use of recycled lavatory paper in all of its editions, has released what he believes is damning evidence that Josef Ratzinger was involved in a large scale coverup which allowed thousands of left-handed males to gain entry to the world`s Roman Catholic cemeteries…

Wake up, some of you right-handers, and focus on the important issues!

Those of us who are exclusively left-handed are stuck with it.
Talk about discrimination!

Then again: i cant help feeling that youre pulling our legs. Yes? NO?
Your screen name suggests that, as well.

Knowing how strict the TLM rules are, they probably insist on use of the right hand…

 

[ChadS]

Those of us who are exclusively left-handed are stuck with it.
Talk about discrimination!

As a left hander I completely agree. Perhaps left-handed discrimination is really the last acceptable prejudice.

After all how many times on this thread did we have to be reminded that the word sinister comes from the Latin for left-handed. Or we’re reminded that sombodys old German grandmother thought that all sorts of unsavory practices by politicians are done with their left hand. Or we’re even told about how in some cultures the left hand is for bodily functions etc. etc.

Of course none of that had any relevant bearing on the topic at hand, but yet it was necessary to be brought up … for what purpose I’m not sure.

ChadS

 

[SimonDodd]

No, this was the current version of the book of the rubrics for the post-conciliar revised liturgy. The date on the binding was 2007. There was another book up on his shelf called ‘Missale Romanum’ (sp?) for the Latin rite. I suppose it was even more strict.

You mean this book? That’s the only book in current print that I can find with a title that’s even close to what you gave, and it pertains to the EF, not the OF.

No, this was the current version of the book of the rubrics for the post-conciliar revised liturgy. The date on the binding was 2007. There was another book up on his shelf called ‘Missale Romanum’ (sp?) for the Latin rite. I suppose it was even more strict.

You “suppose”? So you didn’t look? Anyone else catch what Asriel did there? “The Roman Missal supports my point! It must, because my priest had another book that supports my point, and he also owns the Roman Missal.”

Frankly, I just don’t believe you. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof; it would be extraordinary for Rome to engage in such silly pedantry as to require a left-handed priest to use his right hand, and extraordinary squared for such a prohibition to exist yet be found nowhere in the GIRM or related documents. And nothing you have supplied has even drawn the question into doubt.

 

[lizaanne]

Wow. Now I see what happens when someone has nothing better to do.

What a ridiculous concern.

Left handed priests - my gosh, the Church has really gone to pieces now!!!

~Liza

 

[Spirithound]

No, this was the current version of the book of the rubrics for the post-conciliar revised liturgy. The date on the binding was 2007. There was another book up on his shelf called ‘Missale Romanum’ (sp?) for the Latin rite. I suppose it was even more strict.

Is the book on his shelf “Missale Romanum” or “Missale Romanum for the Latin rite” ?
The first one is for the Ordinary Form, which contrary to your supposition, is less strict than what your priest showed you. The second book does not exist.

 

[SunnaB16]

As a left hander I completely agree. Perhaps left-handed discrimination is really the last acceptable prejudice…

Of course none of that had any relevant bearing on the topic at hand, but yet it was necessary to be brought up … for what purpose I’m not sure.

ChadS

Its a prejudice, alright; even to the point of compromising safety in some cases: eg some power tools, layout of control panels, location of emergency stop buttons. Having to use some measuring equipment upside down: eg vernier calipers...... Its been stated already; but i wouldn`t mind betting that with the TLM, use of the right hand is COMPULSORY.

i suppose this thread has added a bit of comic farce to these forums; but if some of these posters are deadly serious…it`s a bit worrying…

How many children have been emotionally damaged by having right-handedness bashed and beaten into them?
My late mother once accused me of choosing to be left-handed because i knew it would annoy her. Do you think a toddler would think that way?
i suffered heaps of abuse due to lousy handwriting…

 

[PacoG]

Okay, I finally went to my parish priest with this. To my surprise, he told me that I wasn’t the first one to complain. So I asked him point blank if it’s “wrong” or just a violation of convention. or what.

He pulled out a book, something like Roman Missal: The Ceremonies of The Mass, and showed me that in the formation of any priest, these were the rubrics that are to be followed, laid down by the Catholic Church. It spells out very clearly that the right hand only is to be used to offer Communion (along with many other restrictions, such as keeping the thumb and forefinger together except when obtaining another Eucharist to offer to the next communicant, so any particles fall back into the Chalice, etc).

He said he didn’t personally witness this happening, so there wasn’t much he could do, but if that priest should ever be back at our parish, he would monitor him. The most interesting thing he said was that the only reason a priest would offer Communion in the left hand was out of direct disobedience. No priest anywhere in the world is instructed otherwise, he said.

Here is the 2003 version of the GIRM. Please show us where that rule is, nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/GIRM.pdf

Here is Redemptionis Sacramentum. Please show us where that rule is. nccbuscc.org/liturgy/documents/instructioneng.shtml

I’m trying not to be uncharitable. Could it be that your priest was mocking you or making fun of you for your pettiness? While it would be ugly of him, it might have been hard for him to resist.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Left handed priests - my gosh, the Church has really gone to pieces now!!!

~Liza

Its symbolic of the Church’s continual drift to the left!!! LOL

 

[Vixit]

As a left hander I completely agree. Perhaps left-handed discrimination is really the last acceptable prejudice.

After all how many times on this thread did we have to be reminded that the word sinister comes from the Latin for left-handed. Or we’re reminded that sombodys old German grandmother thought that all sorts of unsavory practices by politicians are done with their left hand. Or we’re even told about how in some cultures the left hand is for bodily functions etc. etc.

Of course none of that had any relevant bearing on the topic at hand, but yet it was necessary to be brought up … for what purpose I’m not sure.

ChadS

I was not trying to be discriminatory or rude, just stating a fact. Many people often thought left-handed people were somehow wrong, and so they made stupid rules about it. Did I also discriminate against my mother when I mentioned how she had her left-handedness beaten out of her?