Receiving Communion on the hand in Eastern Churches

[Lenten_ashes]

Does this practice happen anywhere outside the Latin rite? Like anywhere in the East?

I went to a Maronite Rite Mass here this week and received by “intinction”. Apparently the hand wasn’t a option.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Does this practice happen anywhere outside the Latin rite? Like anywhere in the East?

I went to a Maronite Rite Mass here this week and received by “intinction”. Apparently the hand wasn’t a option.

The only Churches I know of that such a practice has been allowed since antiquity are those of the Assyrian Tradition - Chaldean Catholic Church, Assyrian Church of the East, Ancient Church of the East, Chaldean-Syrian Church, and Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Most of these don’t do it every Qurbana, but do allow for the practice.

 

[jediliz]

I’m Not eastern, but in the hand would not be done in those rites because of the way they give both species.

 

[RyanBlack]

I’m Not eastern, but in the hand would not be done in those rites because of the way they give both species.

There are multiple Eastern rites. Combining the species in the chalice is not done in all of the Eastern churches.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I can’t speak for all the Eastern churches but I’ve only gone to Melkite Greek Catholic Syriac Orthodox and Maronite Syriac Catholic. It goes without saying that I did not receive communion in the Syriac Orthodox church although I was invited to and they were well aware of the fact I’m Catholic. I can’t remember any of them receiving on the hand in any of those. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen I’m just saying I don’t remember it happening

 

[SyroMalankara]

I can’t speak for all the Eastern churches but I’ve only gone to Melkite Greek Catholic Syriac Orthodox and Maronite Syriac Catholic. It goes without saying that I did not receive communion in the Syriac Orthodox church although I was invited to and they were well aware of the fact I’m Catholic. I can’t remember any of them receiving on the hand in any of those. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen I’m just saying I don’t remember it happening

Adam, why did you refrain from communing in the Syriac Orthodox Church?

 

[adamhovey1988]

Adam, why did you refrain from communing in the Syriac Orthodox Church?

Because it was not an absolute necessity if you’ll read the code of canon law that would have been an act of schism. I will say that if I was somewhere where there was no Catholic church nearby then I probably would have. I could not in good conscience do it.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Because it was not an absolute necessity if you’ll read the code of canon law that would have been an act of schism. I will say that if I was somewhere where there was no Catholic church nearby then I probably would have. I could not in good conscience do it.

There are agreements in place between Syriac Orthodox and Catholic intercommunion, signed by the respective heads of Churches, maybe these do not apply to your particular circumstance.

 

[Augustine]

There are agreements in place between Syriac Orthodox and Catholic intercommunion, signed by the respective heads of Churches, maybe these do not apply to your particular circumstance.

And for a good reason: these Churches are from regions where Christians are often persecuted and martyred. So making the sacraments widely available is an extremely kind and generous pastoral gesture.

 

[MorEphrem]

Because it was not an absolute necessity if you’ll read the code of canon law that would have been an act of schism. I will say that if I was somewhere where there was no Catholic church nearby then I probably would have. I could not in good conscience do it.

Well I am of the opinion your act of “good conscience” was more in schism with the Church than if you had received, which was in particular rupture with the authority of Paul VI and the apostolicity of the Syriac Orthodox, but I digress.

Normatively, only the East Syriac (read: Assyrian and Chaldean) Churches give communion in the hand normally, following the prescribed process of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. However, I’ve seen a Melkite priest do it while doing the Anaphora of St. James for novelty. Additionally, an unfortunate [and “progressive”] practice amongst the Lebanese Maronites has arisen in which they commune people in the hand using lay EMoHC, in addition to subdeacons, who are also often used as EMoHC. Lastly, amongst the Armenian Apostolic there is a very rare usage of communion on the [back of the] hand if an individual is sick so as to not touch the person’s saliva.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Because it was not an absolute necessity if you’ll read the code of canon law that would have been an act of schism. I will say that if I was somewhere where there was no Catholic church nearby then I probably would have. I could not in good conscience do it.

What you have written is simply not correct at all, relative to the Roman Church…

 

[Thomas48]

Does this practice happen anywhere outside the Latin rite? Like anywhere in the East?

I went to a Maronite Rite Mass here this week and received by “intinction”. Apparently the hand wasn’t a option.

Regularly done during the Syro Malabar Qurbana. The host is given to you by hand then you go and intinct yourself in the chalice. In other cases, some churches have a combined chalice and paten in which the priest/server will give you the host and you intinct into the wine or the priest/server will intinct for you and place it on the tongue.

I remember my first few experiences at Latin Mass were awkward because I would walk over with the host to intinct into the wine and the server would either give me a concerned look and let me intinct or they would cover the chalice and tell me eat the host first . In my personal experience with other Syro Malabar Catholics at Latin Mass, I have noticed that many of us will skip the chalice entirely for this reason and only take the host. Drinking out of the chalice is just a very unfamiliar concept for some of us.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Regularly done during the Syro Malabar Qurbana. The host is given to you by hand then you go and intinct yourself in the chalice. In other cases, some churches have a combined chalice and paten in which the priest/server will give you the host and you intinct into the wine or the priest/server will intinct for you and place it on the tongue.

I remember my first few experiences at Latin Mass were awkward because I would walk over with the host to intinct into the wine and the server would either give me a concerned look and let me intinct or they would cover the chalice and tell me eat the host first . In my personal experience with other Syro Malabar Catholics at Latin Mass, I have noticed that many of us will skip the chalice entirely for this reason and only take the host. Drinking out of the chalice is just a very unfamiliar concept for some of us.

Thanks for sharing that

 

[Ghosty1981]

I’ve received Communion from a Syriac Orthodox priest at a Melkite Divine Liturgy with a Melkite Bishop present. I wouldn’t worry too much about being schismatic if you were invited to receive (something that warms my heart and doesn’t surprise me at all).

I do understand your concern, however, and you shouldn’t go against your conscience. I would invite you to thoroughly examine whether or not such an action would truly be schismatic, however, rather than a healing act towards a wound that has no place in the Body of Christ.

Peace and God bless!

 

[adamhovey1988]

I did what I was supposed to do as a Catholic. Nothing more. It would be
different if I could not get to a Catholic Mass, but I could and did. That
said, I still recognise they have a valid Eucharist and pray our divisions
end.

 

[Ghosty1981]

It’s good that you follow your conscience. Just letting you know that rules are not as rigid in practice as you might think. For example, Canon 844 paragraph 2 is often understood to apply in such situations as you describe; it is not necessary that there be no Catholic parishes in the area.

Peace and God bless!