Recieving Eucharist on the tounge, not in hand

[Gloria_Dunham]

I am a volunteer at a detention camp. I teach the young men both to receive the Host on the tongue and in the hand, and they can choose. I don’t tell them one is better than the other, however, they do see the volunteers receive on the tounge. A Priest does not like this, and talked to the head of volunteers. A letter was written, saying we should do it like everyone else. We said in Europe, most receive on the tounge. We were told this is America, we should receive in the hand. I wondered what advice someone might have about my delema. I have volunteered 3 times a week for 7 years, and thought I was passing on my love for my Church and Our Lord. I hate controversy.

 

[tee_eff_em]

A letter was written, saying we should do it like everyone else.

I (respectfully) agree with the priest: You should exercise the same rights as everyone else of the faithful.

From *Redemptionis Sacramentum *[with **emphasis added]:

[92.] Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the *recognitio *of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.

:twocents:
tee

 

[RCCDefender]

I (respectfully) agree with the priest: You should exercise the same rights as everyone else of the faithful.
:twocents:
tee

tee, I’m confused! Gloria was saying that she doesn’t want to receive in the hand, but the priest is basically telling her she has to.

Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice,

I thought “at his choice” meant at the faithful parishoner’s choice.



Gloria, was the letter from the head volunteer or the priest? If it was from the former maybe you should go directly to him about it. Show him the source that tee gave and see what he says. If he won’t listen maybe you should go to the Bishop.

 

[homewardbound]

Thats so disgusting that they would actually say something like that! I hope you can find a way to explain what the actual teachings of this are, whether this is America or not, what land mass you’re on has nothing to do with the spiritual realm.

I wish I had some advice for you. My best wishes and prayers and with you.

 

[palmas85]

Many Priest don’t like to distribute on the tongue. I’ve had then do everything from holdthe Host so low I almost had to do a formal bow to receive to actually flipping the Host into my mouth

In the end they have no choice. You are allowed to receive on the tongue and that is the normal way to receive in most of the world even today. Don’t worry about it. Unless he, the Priest, actually comes out and refuses you communion that is.

He can say what his personal preference is all he wants, and make things difficult for you, but an outright refusal would be in direct violation of established norms and guidelines. Unless the Priest is super super liberal, I don’t think he will push it that far.

 

[Gloria_Dunham]

I appreciate hearing from all of you. I just got off of the phone with the Chaplain (a lay person) of my camp and was told that a meeting was held with the head volunteer, and he basicly said we must receive in the hand! I said I cannot go along with that, and I need to respond myself. I guess everyone else is going back to receiving in the hand. I will use the information you have given to me. I might have to find a new ministry, even though I loved this one.

 

[Pong]

You are willing to give up your ministry over something as trite as recieving on the tongue or in the hand when both are proper and approved ways of recieving?!

 

[Denise_Shae]

You are willing to give up your ministry over something as trite as recieving on the tongue or in the hand when both are proper and approved ways of recieving?!

Dear Pong,

With all due respect: What may seem trite to one, may mean a lot more to someone else. She’s following her heart.

My sympathies and support are with Gloria on this issue.

No priest has the right to insist that a communicant receive the Holy Eucharist one way or the other.

God Bless,

Denise

 

[Gloria_Dunham]

responding to Pong: I don’t really think it is trite, but when I prefer to receive it on the tounge, but am told I MUST receive it in the hand, I have a problem. I will always bend to authority in the CHurch, but I have the right to receive either way. The powers that be seem to think that we are telling the young men that we are Holier than thou. As I first posted, I tell the boys that they can receive either way. Maybe I am wrong, and I should do as they wish, so I am praying on it, but if I decide not to change, I do not know how that will be received. I noticed that at my Church, many receive on the tounge, and ushers stand by each Eucharistic Minister to be sure the Host is consumed, and not taken back to their seat. We do the same thing at camp.
The reason I might have to quite is the fact I might not have a choice! I will keep praying. Where can I get it in black and white that we still have a choice of how to receive? God Bless.

 

[Denise_Shae]

responding to Pong: I don’t really think it is trite, but when I prefer to receive it on the tounge, but am told I MUST receive it in the hand, I have a problem. I will always bend to authority in the CHurch, but I have the right to receive either way. The powers that be seem to think that we are telling the young men that we are Holier than thou. As I first posted, I tell the boys that they can receive either way. Maybe I am wrong, and I should do as they wish, so I am praying on it, but if I decide not to change, I do not know how that will be received. I noticed that at my Church, many receive on the tounge, and ushers stand by each Eucharistic Minister to be sure the Host is consumed, and not taken back to their seat. We do the same thing at camp.
The reason I might have to quite is the fact I might not have a choice! I will keep praying. Where can I get it in black and white that we still have a choice of how to receive? God Bless.

Gloria, I’m over at the EWTN web site right now and will try and find something you can read for yourself.

God Bless,

Denise

 

[Denise_Shae]

Okay, Gloria, here it is in Black and White (link to follow):

---

7. The faithful are not to be obliged to adopt the practice of communion in the hand

****. Each one is free to communicate in one way or the other.

Taken from:

Online Edition - Vol. VII, No. 8: November 2001
Letter from Holy See to American Bishops
Communion in the Hand

URL: adoremus.org/1101Communionhand.html

I hope this helps.

God Bless you.

In His Most Sacred ,

Denise

 

[Gloria_Dunham]

Thankyou so much, Denise, this is what I was looking for. I have decided to show the powers that be the" Letter from Holy See to American Bishops", and humbly state that I choose not to change, and hope that will be accepted. Again, thankyou, and God bless. Gloria

 

[kleary]

I am a volunteer at a detention camp. I teach the young men both to receive the Host on the tongue and in the hand, and they can choose. I don’t tell them one is better than the other, however, they do see the volunteers receive on the tounge. A Priest does not like this, and talked to the head of volunteers. A letter was written, saying we should do it like everyone else. We said in Europe, most receive on the tounge. We were told this is America, we should receive in the hand. I wondered what advice someone might have about my delema. I have volunteered 3 times a week for 7 years, and thought I was passing on my love for my Church and Our Lord. I hate controversy

When they told me I had to live with Altar Girls I quit my parish and registered at a TLM Indult parish.

I then trained altar boys there how to serve the Latin Mass.

If there is an indult parish or chapel or location for the Traditional Mass you could help the Church by volunteering to help there. That is what I did.

Ken

 

[thistle]

I am a volunteer at a detention camp. I teach the young men both to receive the Host on the tongue and in the hand, and they can choose. I don’t tell them one is better than the other, however, they do see the volunteers receive on the tounge. A Priest does not like this, and talked to the head of volunteers. A letter was written, saying we should do it like everyone else. We said in Europe, most receive on the tounge. We were told this is America, we should receive in the hand. I wondered what advice someone might have about my delema. I have volunteered 3 times a week for 7 years, and thought I was passing on my love for my Church and Our Lord. I hate controversy

Medjugorie is a banned topic in these forums as the visions and messages are NOT approved by the Church so you cannot make a stand based on anything you heard there.

The fact is you have the right to receive on the tongue or in the hand. If you are being told otherwise that is wrong. Simply attend a different Mass or a different parish church.

 

[tee_eff_em]

tee, I’m confused! Gloria was saying that she doesn’t want to receive in the hand, but the priest is basically telling her she has to.

Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice

*Mea culpa *-- I was being too snarky for my own good. To be more explicit:

A letter was issued saying that Gloria should “receive like everyone else”.

That is a statement that I agree with because, as stated in *Redemptionis Sacramentum *and other documents: in those regions where communion in the hand has been lawfully permitted, “everyone else” among the faithful has the right to receive on the tongue or in the hand, and the communicant’s (*not *the minister’s) discretion.

As I understand it, no minister of Holy Communion, ordinary nor extraordinary, may lawfully force reception by one means nor the other.

I hope this is more clear.

tee

 

[tee_eff_em]

When they told me I had to live with Altar Girls I quit my parish and registered at a TLM Indult parish.

All other things being equal, that is a different situation. Girls and women may legitimately be admitted to service of the altar. But no minister may legitimately force a communicant to receive in the hand.

While “Altar Girls” may not be to you taste, and you have every right to change parishes as permitted, you cannot say your former parish is wrong to allow them.

:twocents:
tee

 

[Gloria_Dunham]

I want to thank tee_eff_em for giving me the resource of Redemptionis Sacramentum. I knew I had the right to receive either way, but when I am upset it is hard to remember where to go. I am going to respectfully request that this will be the end of controversy.

I would like to say to thistle, that I am new here, and I didn’t know Medjugorje is a banned subject. I am sure everyone knows that the Church never rules on appearitions until they stop happening.

God bless everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ute.

Gloria

 

[brotherhrolf]

I’m 55 and have never received the Eucharist in my hand and will not. If I could (and I can if I go to a TLM at a certain church which still has communion rails), I would kneel to this day. So much has changed since my childhood. How do others who grew up in the pre-VII church feel?

 

[Denise_Shae]

Thankyou so much, Denise, this is what I was looking for. I have decided to show the powers that be the" Letter from Holy See to American Bishops", and humbly state that I choose not to change, and hope that will be accepted. Again, thankyou, and God bless. Gloria

You’re very welcome, Gloria. I pray that priest will respect your decision to receive our Dear Jesus on the tongue.

BTW: I saved that page in several places on my computer for future reference. Finding that particular document was like looking for a needle in a haystack. :banghead: <----- I love that emoticon. It’s how I usually feel after a debate w/my “I-know-it-all” 20 year old son.

Let me know how you fare after you show it to the “powers-that-be”.

God Bless you!

In His Most Sacred ,

Denise