Priest offering communion with left hand

[Beachcomber]

He’s probably left-handed. Using your dominant hand would lessen the chances of dropping the consecrated host.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Just to show a little charity to the OP I’m wondering if this has come about because of the method we are required to receive communion in the hand: the host is placed in the lest hand and we then pick it up with our right one.

This is suggested, it is in no way the “required” way.

 

[ChadS]

Just to show a little charity to the OP I’m wondering if this has come about because of the method we are required to receive communion in the hand: the host is placed in the lest hand and we then pick it up with our right one.

That’s only true if you’re right-handed. I’m a lefty so I put my right hand in my left when receiving the host and then pick it up with my left. The most likely explanation is the priest is left-handed.

ChadS

 

[Spirithound]

Since the OP appears to be a trenchant satire of a certain kind of nit-picker, I shall respond in kind: “You must immediately write to your bishop!”

uh oh…Poe’s Law has finally been activated…

 

[Matthew_Holford]

That’s only true if you’re right-handed. I’m a lefty so I put my right hand in my left when receiving the host and then pick it up with my left. The most likely explanation is the priest is left-handed.

ChadS

May be it’s an “English” thing. That’s the way I was ‘taught’. As far as I can tell everyone seems in my parish to take it that way. Personally, I receive on the tongue anyway.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Just to show a little charity to the OP I’m wondering if this has come about because of the method we are required to receive communion in the hand: the host is placed in the lest hand and we then pick it up with our right one.

I thought that it was that way too but I’ve spoken with some priests who suggest to always use your strong hand to pick up the Precious Body and put it into your mouth. Of course it makes sense that you don’t want to use your off hand as you may be a bit more careless with it and drop the Host.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I thought that it was that way too but I’ve spoken with some priests who suggest to always use your strong hand to pick up the Precious Body and put it into your mouth. Of course it makes sense that you don’t want to use your off hand as you may be a bit more careless with it and drop the Host.

I was just wondering if that is what lead to the OP coming up with his hypothesis. I was always under the impression it was the correct manner: make a throne with your left hand then pick up the Sacred Body with your right hand. I don’t suppose it matters which way. I also believe it is what the Most Rev’d. Athanasius Schneider, O.R.C. (Titular Bishop of Celerina) teaches in his book Dominus Est. Of course, I believe this is an expression of is own opinion and not necessarily an authentic teaching of the Church.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I was just wondering if that is what lead to the OP coming up with his hypothesis. I was always under the impression it was the correct manner: make a throne with your left hand then pick up the Sacred Body with your right hand. I don’t suppose it matters which way. I also believe it is what the Most Rev’d. Athanasius Schneider, O.R.C. (Titular Bishop of Celerina) teaches in his book Dominus Est. Of course, I believe this is an expression of is own opinion and not necessarily an authentic teaching of the Church.

I think the symbolism of the rigth hand over the left. The right hand has always been a place of honor, Jesus even mentions it several times Him being at the right hand of the Father, and the Apostles wondering who will be at the right hand of Christ in heaven. Its probably a misinterpretation that using the left hand to handle the Precious Body of Christ as not giving due reverence.

 

[AJV]

There’s a visiting priest from France at our parish, and he seems sincere enough, except that during communion he offers each communicant the Holy Eucharist with his left hand.

I’m thinking of confronting him (or the parish priest) about this, but I need some ammo incase they reply with, “So what?”

This is wrong, is it not?

Formerly, when the rubrics were more detailed and minute, the priest was instructed to hold the Hosts with his right hand.

However, the current rubrics are much more general and do not specify which hand must be used. So, strictly speaking, the priest can use either hand. It may be that in some places, the left hand holds a highly negative connotation, in which case, the right hand would probably be advisable.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

May be it’s an “English” thing. That’s the way I was ‘taught’. As far as I can tell everyone seems in my parish to take it that way. Personally, I receive on the tongue anyway.

I thought that it was that way too but I’ve spoken with some priests who suggest to always use your strong hand to pick up the Precious Body and put it into your mouth. Of course it makes sense that you don’t want to use your off hand as you may be a bit more careless with it and drop the Host.

I believe it is becuase of this from St. Cyril of Jerusalem in the 4th century said;
When thou goest to receive communion go not with thy wrists extended, nor with thy fingers separated, but placing thy left hand as a throne for thy right, which is to receive so great a King, and in the hollow of the palm receive the body of Christ, saying, Amen.

 

[SimonDodd]

I believe it is becuase of this from St. Cyril of Jerusalem in the 4th century said;
When thou goest to receive communion go not with thy wrists extended, nor with thy fingers separated, but placing thy left hand as a throne for thy right, which is to receive so great a King, and in the hollow of the palm receive the body of Christ, saying, Amen.

That’s so northpaw-normative.

 

[Phemie]

I believe it is becuase of this from St. Cyril of Jerusalem in the 4th century said;When thou goest to receive communion go not with thy wrists extended, nor with thy fingers separated, but placing thy left hand as a throne for thy right, which is to receive so great a King, and in the hollow of the palm receive the body of Christ, saying, Amen.

That description may be why the African couple I know place their hands that way, and once the Host is deposited in their hand they keep them in the same position and immediately bring both hands to their mouth. They never pick up the Host.

 

[ConstantineTG]

That description may be why the African couple I know place their hands that way, and once the Host is deposited in their hand they keep them in the same position and immediately bring both hands to their mouth. They never pick up the Host.

I’m thinking this could be how Coptics receive.

 

[ConstantineTG]

That’s so northpaw-normative.

Given in early times most people are illiterate, left-handed or right-handed may not be such a big deal.

 

[rick43235]

There’s a visiting priest from France at our parish, and he seems sincere enough, except that during communion he offers each communicant the Holy Eucharist with his left hand.

Is he an Eastern Rite priest? You know those Eastern Rite Catholics do a few things backwards.

 

[JM3]

I believe it is becuase of this from St. Cyril of Jerusalem in the 4th century said;
When thou goest to receive communion go not with thy wrists extended, nor with thy fingers separated, but placing thy left hand as a throne for thy right, which is to receive so great a King, and in the hollow of the palm receive the body of Christ, saying, Amen.

There was a time, in many cultures, when the left hand was considered ‘unclean’, because it was used for ‘cleaning’ from the waist down. Some, also, consider extending your left hand for a hand shake to be an insult.
With hygiene as good as it is today, it doesn’t seem to matter, but at one time it did matter.

 

[Asriel]

I found what I was looking for in the Bible. The right hand is the hand of honor and exhalation. The right hand is “the arm of His majesty.”

Genesis 48:14 ,18
But he stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of Ephraim the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses who was the elder, changing his hands… And Joseph said to his father: It should not be so, my father: for this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head.

Exodus 15:6
Thy right hand, O Lord, is magnified in strength: thy right hand, O Lord, hath slain the enemy.

Exodus 33:22
And when my glory shall pass, I will set thee in a hole of the rock, and protect thee with my right hand, till I pass.

Deuteronomy 33:2
He hath appeared from mount Pharan, and with him thousands of saints. In his right hand a fiery law.

Job 40:9
Then I will confess that thy right hand is able to save thee.

Psalms 15:8
I set the Lord always in my sight: for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.

Psalms 16:8
From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.

Psalms 17:36
And thou hast given me the protection of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath held me up.

Psalms 19:7
He will hear him from his holy heaven: the salvation of his right hand is in powers.

Psalms 20:9
Let thy hand be found by all thy enemies: let thy right hand find out all them that hate thee.

Psalms 43:4
Neither did their own arm save them, but thy right hand and thy arm, and the light of thy countenance: because thou wast pleased with them.

Psalms 47:11
According to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of justice.

Psalms 59:7
Save me with thy right hand, and hear me.

Psalms 88:14
Thy arm is with might. Let thy hand be strengthened, and thy right hand exalted.

Psalms 89:12
Can number thy wrath? Make thy right hand known: and men learned in heart, in wisdom.

Psalms 97:1
Sing ye to the Lord anew canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy.

Psalms 107:7
That thy beloved may be delivered: Save with thy right hand and hear me.

Psalms 117:16
The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength: the right hand of the Lord hath exulted me: the right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength.

Psalms 137:7
If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, thou wilt quicken me: and thou hast stretched forth thy hand against the wrath of my enemies: and thy right hand hath saved me.

Wisdom 5:17
Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of beauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover them, and with his holy arm he will defend them.

Isaias 62:8
The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength.

Isaias 63:12
He that brought out Moses by the right hand, by the arm of His majesty: that divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name.

Matthew 25:33,34
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 26:64
Jesus saith to him: Thou hast said it. Nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Acts Of Apostles 2:33
Being exalted therefore by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this which you see and hear.

Acts Of Apostles 5:31
Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Don’t forget:
[BIBLEDRB]Mark 10:37[/BIBLEDRB]

Seems one hand washes the other.

tee

 

[JM3]

“Avoid, as you would a sacrilege, all scandalous reflections upon persons consecrated to God. If their conduct furnish matter for censure, nevertheless continue to respect the sacred character with which they are invested.”

The Sinner’s Guide by Venerable Louis of Granada

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

“Avoid, as you would a sacrilege, all scandalous reflections upon persons consecrated to God. If their conduct furnish matter for censure, nevertheless continue to respect the sacred character with which they are invested.”

The Sinner’s Guide by Venerable Louis of Granada

Important thing to note though is that this priest has done nothing wrong.

You should have stopped with this;
Avoid, as you would a sacrilege, all scandalous reflections upon persons consecrated to God.