Revoke the U.S. Indult on Standing for Holy Communion

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Its a pretty simple decision. Go to a Lutheran Church and watch them "Celebrate the eucharist " and distribute “Communion” standing in the hand - then go to a Tridentine Latin Rite Catholic Church and watch them distribute Holy Communion to each communicant kneeling at the rail on the tongue with the paten under the Priests hand and the Communicants chin.

Then you can go home and think about who you would rather be like.

We know that Lutherans reject the belief in the Real Presence.

We know that Catholics believe in the Real Presence.

Watching what takes place on Sunday confirms it.

So I am not going to argue about it. Its a matter of history that 3 Lutherans helped to design the Novus Ordo Missae so as to be palatable to Non Catholics because of the Teachings of Vatican II. Its taken place. So there is no reason to argue about it.

Some people see no problem behaving like Lutherans and it is for that reason that Catholics today are losing the belief in the Real Presence. The Church herself admits as much. So doing the same thing and yet expecting different results seems to be argument forwarded by those in favor of communion in the hand and standing…

Well then - expect this erosion of the dogma of the Real Presence to continue. Or do something about it. There is no law against Kneeling and Communion on the tongue now.
Quit waiting for the Church to tell you whats right and simply do whats right.

How many times do we have to go over this same ground. Its the same argument.
 
Its a pretty simple decision. Go to a Lutheran Church and watch them "Celebrate the eucharist " and distribute “Communion” standing in the hand - then go to a Tridentine Latin Rite Catholic Church and watch them distribute Holy Communion to each communicant kneeling at the rail on the tongue with the paten under the Priests hand and the Communicants chin.

Then you can go home and think about who you would rather be like.

We know that Lutherans reject the belief in the Real Presence.

We know that Catholics believe in the Real Presence.

Watching what takes place on Sunday confirms it.
I would add that one should also go to an Orthodox Divine Liturgy and a Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy and watch them celebrate the Eucharist and receive standing and watch the reverence they show while doing so.

Standing is not an evil, the Church can not promote evil.

I agree with JKirkLVNV these are not the correct sort of arguments to be making.
 
I would add that one should also go to an Orthodox Divine Liturgy and a Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy and watch them celebrate the Eucharist and receive standing and watch the reverence they show while doing so.

Standing is not an evil, the Church can not promote evil.

I agree with JKirkLVNV these are not the correct sort of arguments to be making.
The Byzantine and Orthodox use leven bread for Holy Communion. The Latin Rite does not. Also, The traditions of the Devine Liturgy of the Eastern Rite and Orothodox are different than those of the West. The Eastern Rite uses a spoon to administer Holy Communion. While the West does not. I have the ultmost respect for the Eastern Rite and the Orothodox!
 
<<<< BZY : I would add that one should also go to an Orthodox Divine Liturgy and a Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy and watch them celebrate the Eucharist and receive standing and watch the reverence they show while doing so.

Standing is not an evil, the Church can not promote evil. >>>

Malleus: We arent discussing a Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy in the Traditional Forum. Both Standing and Communion in the Hand in the Western Church was not a result of a Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy - it had its origin in Belgium due to Protestant influence where the Bishop in defiance of Paul the VI first allowed it.

Heretics within the Church can and have promoted evil many times in the past.

With all that being said - we Traditional Latin Rite Catholics have no problem with Holy Communion in the following manner :

from SAINT ATHANASIUS THE GREAT BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH Website.

RECEIVING “HOLY COMMUNION”

During the Holy and divine Liturgy (our name for what the Latins call “Mass”), when the time comes for the distribution of the Most Holy Body and the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ (called “Holy Communion” by the Latins), do not be afraid to receive if you are Catholic or Orthodox and in the state of Grace. “Holy Communion” is given under both forms, bread and wine, using a golden spoon. The spoon simplifies things for us, since we use leavened bread, (baked with a special recipe and marked with special markings - and called prosphora) rather than the unleavened (flat wafer) bread used by the Latins. Communion “in the hand” is NOT an option.

To receive the Most Holy body and the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, just approach the Priest with your arms folded in the form of St. Andrew’s Cross (X), tilt your head back slightly, and open your mouth. The priest says a prayer; you DO NOT answer “Amen.” Be sure to chew the Sacred Species carefully. No one has ever choked on a “Particle” here; neither will you.

Your Sunday obligation is fulfilled by attending the Holy and Divine Liturgy (“Mass”) in any Catholic Church of any tradition.

In summation - we never were speaking about Eastern Rites - but if we do - we will be certain and visit the Eastern Rites Thread here at Catholic forums. Because after all - We wouldnt want to barge into your forum and tell you how to worship would we?
 
I take it that your use of the term “Ordinary ministers of the Eucharist” here is sarcasm directed at the abusive overuse of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
The priest/deacon is the only “Ordinary minister of Holy Communion”. "Extraordinary" in this case does not mean what we generally take it to mean (something very special, or better than ordinary). In this case it means “not ordinary” as in not a priest or deacon. It is not an "abuse" to use the term Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, it is actually the correct terminology.
 
You know what I would be happy with? The priest taking occasion one Sunday to simply say that receiving on the tongue and kneeling is ok. That it’s not a freak show, and that if you come up and kneel, it’s not going to make a scene. And that everyone else should understand why some people want to do it and why those desires are reasonable.

I receive communion on the tongue, but have never kneeled. I’ve thought about it, but I also am wary of anything that puts undue attention on myself, especially because nobody would understand it. It would cause distraction with no explanation, and I don’t think that’s appropriate.

I think that a lot of people, if they knew that these things were not “weird” and were acceptable, and why, would do it. I wish everyone in my church would google “communion in the hand”, and I bet half the congregation would stop taking it that way. They don’t know any better.
This is a really good point. Kneeling may be technically acceptable, but if you hear the stories it’s easy to tell that many Priests in many dioceses are hostile towards this. Perhaps a lot of people who would otherwise consider kneeling don’t do so because they are afraid the Priest will call attention to them or refuse to give them Communion (it has happened!).

So this is a good suggestion. The Priest should let the faithful know what options are available to them.

Oh, and for the poster that asked about the Pre-Vatican II practise in regards to not being able to kneel, I wasn’t alive back then but at a lot of traditional parishes that use the Communion rail, those who cannot kneel simply stand at the rail. No big deal.
 
So I am not going to argue about it. Its a matter of history that 3 Lutherans helped to design the Novus Ordo Missae so as to be palatable to Non Catholics because of the Teachings of Vatican II. Its taken place. So there is no reason to argue about it.

**The above is an out and out lie and those who perpetuate it are either deceived or are themselves liars. The Holy See has sternly denied this charge. The Holy See and the observers have confirmed that that is ALL the Protestants did at Vatican II…observe. They had no consultive role and no editorial role. **

Some people see no problem behaving like Lutherans and it is for that reason that =.
The same false argument…This is what I mean. A lie cannot serve the truth, because when it is known to be a lie, then the truth is also questioned.

We should return to Communion on the tongue and kneeling because it is a more complete outward sign of the reverence we are supposed to have for Our Eucharistic Lord.
 
Do you have any actual proof that this is the case? I live in a country where standing seems to be the norm and on a recent trip that included six countries in Europe, standing also seemed to be the norm. I’d be grateful if you could show me the proof that the U.S is merely an exception as you appear to believe.
I too have traveled extensively in Europe and never saw anyone kneeling to receive, including in St Peter’s.
 
The same false argument…This is what I mean. A lie cannot serve the truth, because when it is known to be a lie, then the truth is also questioned.

Malleus: Its the same true argument. And your consternation about it reflects the fact that it is in fact true. In fact - do you likewise deny the Preface of the NAB Scriptures? In black and white:

The New American Bible has accomplished this in response to the need of the church in America today. It is the achievement of some fifty biblical scholars, the greater number of whom, though not all, are Catholics. In particular, the editors-in-chief have devoted twenty-five years to this work. The collaboration of scholars who are not Catholic fulfills the directive of the Second Vatican Council, not only that “correct translations be made into different languages especially from the original texts of the sacred books,” but that, “with the approval of the church authority, these translations be produced in cooperation with separated brothers” so that “all Christians may be able to use them.”

Tell me - where do your READINGS at Mass come from? Or am I making this up as well? You can talk until you are blue in the face about no Protestant Influence but from Communion in the Hand to Changed Words of Consecration (In the vernacular not the Original) to admitted Protestant influenced Scripture - as it says above in the Preface of the NAB Scripture itself : " The collaboration of scholars who are not Catholic fulfills the directive of the Second Vatican Council " That same collaberation occured at the formulation of the Novus Ordo Missae and why? Says so in this preface : in cooperation with separated brothers" so that “all Christians may be able to use them.” Canon law of 1983 allows for " separated brothers" under certain conditions to recieve these sacraments. These are not lies. Its in black and white.

<<<>>

Mal: I agree. And the Real Presence suffers so long as we do not.
 
The same false argument…This is what I mean. A lie cannot serve the truth, because when it is known to be a lie, then the truth is also questioned.

Malleus: Its the same true argument. And your consternation about it reflects the fact that it is in fact true. In fact - do you likewise deny the Preface of the NAB Scriptures? In black and white:

The New American Bible has accomplished this in response to the need of the church in America today. It is the achievement of some fifty biblical scholars, the greater number of whom, though not all, are Catholics. In particular, the editors-in-chief have devoted twenty-five years to this work. The collaboration of scholars who are not Catholic fulfills the directive of the Second Vatican Council, not only that “correct translations be made into different languages especially from the original texts of the sacred books,” but that, “with the approval of the church authority, these translations be produced in cooperation with separated brothers” so that “all Christians may be able to use them.”

Tell me - where do your READINGS at Mass come from? Or am I making this up as well? You can talk until you are blue in the face about no Protestant Influence but from Communion in the Hand to Changed Words of Consecration (In the vernacular not the Original) to admitted Protestant influenced Scripture - as it says above in the Preface of the NAB Scripture itself : " The collaboration of scholars who are not Catholic fulfills the directive of the Second Vatican Council " That same collaberation occured at the formulation of the Novus Ordo Missae and why? Says so in this preface : in cooperation with separated brothers" so that “all Christians may be able to use them.” Canon law of 1983 allows for " separated brothers" under certain conditions to recieve these sacraments. These are not lies. Its in black and white.

<<<>>

Mal: I agree. And the Real Presence suffers so long as we do not.
AGAIN, your assertion regarding the OF is a lie, has been identified as such by the Holy See AND the Protestant observers, and to persist in it when you know is to be such is culpable. The argument about Bible versions is a diversion.
 
My statement regarding kneeling for Holy Communion should not be regarded as a slight of our Eastern brothers and sisters, whose disciplines and traditions, some Apostolic, differ from ours. I apologize to any of them that I might have offended, esp. our brother ByzCath.
 
=JKirkLVNV;6363370]Just to clarify and not to read anything into what you’ve said: Reception standing (in procession, really) and in the hand are approved disciplines of the Church. Neither is a corruption of the Holy Liturgy. There are antecedants for both in the ancient Church (Apostolic perhaps and certainly Patristic) and they are not, of themselves, bad. Further, the Church’s disciplines are protected by at least a negative infallibility; that is to say, the Church cannot initiate or approve a discipline that will lead the faithful to impiety (what people do with it is another story).

If I have misunderstood what you have said, please forgive me.

Also, what do you mean by this: “No Catholic gains salvation on a technicality.”
A few FACTS:

The Fathers at Vatican II actually voted this practice DOWN!

Receiving on the tongue and keeling REMAINS the worldwide NORM for CC!

Pope returns to old way of distributing Communion

Catholics NEED NOT GUES what Rome and the Holy Father want. But hey, catholic Bishops have an indult:rolleyes:

2 days ago: June 25,2008

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A papal aide says Pope Benedict XVI intends to return to the old way of distributing Communion at Masses.

Benedict’s master of liturgical ceremonies said in an interview Wednesday in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano that the pontiff will place the Communion host in the mouths of the faithful who kneel before him.

That’s how Roman Catholics received Communion in the years before the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. The reforms made it possible for faithful to take the host in their hands while standing.

Benedict gave Communion to kneeling faithful during his trip this month to southern Italy.
The aide, Monsignor Guido Marini, says that distributing Communion the old way helps faithful be devout.

Catholic News Network

Vatican
Pope prefers Communion on the tongue, Msgr. Marini says

Vatican City, Jun 25, 2008 / 04:51 pm (CNA).- In interview published in the Wednesday edition of L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict’s new Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, Monsignor Guido Marini, says he believes that people receiving Communion kneeling and on the tongue will become common practice at the Vatican.

Msgr. Marini’s comments were made during an interview with Gianluca Biccini on some of Pope Benedict XVI’s recent liturgical decisions and their meaning.

Biccini noted in the exchange that Pope Benedict distributed Holy Communion to people who knelt and received the host on their tongues during his visit to Brindisi (Southern Italy) last week.

When he was asked if this would become a common practice at the Vatican, Marini responded, “I believe so.”

"In this regard it is necessary not to forget the fact that the distribution of Communion on the hand remains, up to now, from the juridical standpoint, an exception (indult) to the universal law, conceded by the Holy See to those bishops’ conferences who requested it,” the liturgical master of ceremonies reminded.

Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and the United States are all countries that have been granted an exception from the universal practice of receiving Communion on the tongue.

It seems though that the Pope wants to provide an example for the Church, according to Msgr. Marini, “The form adopted by Benedict XVI is meant to highlight the force of this valid norm for the whole Church."

“It could also be noted that the (Pope’s) preference for such form of distribution which, without taking anything away from the other one, better highlights the truth of the real presence in the Eucharist, helps the devotion of the faithful, and introduces more easily to the sense of mystery. Aspects which, in our times, pastorally speaking, it is urgent to highlight and recover.”

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass ad orientem [means with His back to the congregation as is the NORM in the Latin Mass] on December 1, 2009 in the Pauline Chapel at the apostolic palace. The chapel had been renovated earlier this year, with the altar moved to allow the priest to celebrate Mass either ad orientem or versus populum. The Holy Father chose the former option as he presided at the Eucharistic liturgy for members of the International Theological Commission. In his homily the Pope warned the theologians against taking undue pride in their scholarly work. He noted that many renowned thinkers have been “unable to see the mystery in itself, the central nucleus: that Christ truly was the Son of God.” By contrast, he pointed out, simple believers like St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Damian of Molokai have plumbed the depths of the faith; they were “little people who were also wise.” The Pontiff cited the attitude of St. Paul, who “became blind and thus truly came to see.”

FYI…
Once again we see “actions speaking louder than words.” About a year ago I shared with you the fact that if one is to receive Holy Communion from our Pope, one must do so kneeling and on the tongue. [Receiving Christ not merely TAKING Christ.]

The position was the norm for most of the 2000 year old History of our Church as it is “GOD Centered” rather than the current “community- we are THEE church” centered worship.
 
Just to clarify and not to read anything into what you’ve said: Reception standing (in procession, really) and in the hand are approved disciplines of the Church. Neither is a corruption of the Holy Liturgy. There are antecedants for both in the ancient Church (Apostolic perhaps and certainly Patristic) and they are not, of themselves, bad. Further, the Church’s disciplines are protected by at least a negative infallibility; that is to say, the Church cannot initiate or approve a discipline that will lead the faithful to impiety (what people do with it is another story).

If I have misunderstood what you have said, please forgive me.

Also, what do you mean by this: “No Catholic gains salvation on a technicality.”
Indeed, the novelty of receiving Holy Communion standing posture and in the hand was granted an indult by the Church. Here in California, the novelty of using Marijuana for medical purposes was granted a similar indult by the State. Just because a destructive behavior has been decriminalized does not mean folks should embrace it just because they can.

I was born to Catholic parents and baptized twelve days later. I attended Mass with them and was enrolled in a Catholic school where I made my First Confession and First Holy Communion during the week that JFK was laid to rest at Arlington. In those days, every Catholic was a member of the Ancient Church, with Christ at its head. We assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the purpose of worshiping and glorifying God. Nothing less. How much reverence is He due? More.

In the use of the word technicality, I intended it communicate the idea of legal technicality or sleight of hand, if you will. Even if we were all to agree that a dog dressed as a cat is actually a cat, the dog is not thereby convered into a cat. Some things are obvious, others less so. Perhaps we should all pray for the wisdom to tell the difference.

Peace.
 
Indeed, the novelty of receiving Holy Communion standing posture and in the hand was granted an indult by the Church. Here in California, the novelty of using Marijuana for medical purposes was granted a similar indult by the State. Just because a destructive behavior has been decriminalized does not mean folks should embrace it just because they can.
But unlike the state, the Church is protected from leading the faithful into impious practice.
 
If the Communion rail is not there have a kneeler avaliable.
I was actually thinking this the other day. If the altar rails were removed (with what authority?) or weren’t built in new churches to use a kneeler if the parish is not too large.
 
…or the use of EMHC, I see the prudential point of not allowing those things.
This isn’t about the use of EMHCs, but the abuse of EMHCs. In the overwhelming mojority of parishes in my region that use EMHCs are doing it illicitly, because the GIRM states that they are only to be used when distribution of Holy Communion by the priest alone would unduly prolong the Mass. It even goes as far to say that even if the Mass was prolonged just a little bit it would not be cause to use EMHCs.

But then no one cares and these rules are thrown out the window like trash by people who don’t care, even though the priests are commissioned by Christ to “feed the lambs” and distributing Communion is one of their intimate duties as a priest of Christ.
 
=Matariel;6364240]You’re are correct, this is a serially abused allowance in the GIRM; the GIRM states that these Extraordinary (i.e., not ordinarily supposed to be used) Ministers of Holy Communion are to be used ONLY when there is no way for the priest to distribute in an ordinate amount of time. This is definitely not the case in the overwhelming majority of parishes that use EMHCs.
Secondly, this is an official abuse; whereas standing is permitted legally in the U.S. regions of the Church. The first needs be be corrected by informing the priest and other liturgical authorities, while the second needs to simply be revoked by the Pope.
And that is the issue: is there any way we can get the Pope’s attention on this issue? I know he believes that kneeling is the best mode of reception.
WOW! We almost agree on everything you said:D

Sadly, its not geting Romes attention that is thisue. Its getting the Bishops to listen and obey, and then get tere priest to do the same.:o

Pope returns to old way of distributing Communion

2 days ago: June 25,2008

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A papal aide says Pope Benedict XVI intends to return to the old way of distributing Communion at Masses.

Benedict’s master of liturgical ceremonies said in an interview Wednesday in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano that the pontiff will place the Communion host in the mouths of the faithful who kneel before him.
That’s how Roman Catholics received Communion in the years before the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. The reforms made it possible for faithful to take the host in their hands while standing.

Benedict gave Communion to kneeling faithful during his trip this month to southern Italy.
The aide, Monsignor Guido Marini, says that distributing Communion the old way helps faithful be devout.

Catholic News Network

Vatican
Pope prefers Communion on the tongue, Msgr. Marini says

Vatican City, Jun 25, 2008 / 04:51 pm (CNA).- In interview published in the Wednesday edition of L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict’s new Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, Monsignor Guido Marini, says he believes that people receiving Communion kneeling and on the tongue will become common practice at the Vatican.
Msgr. Marini’s comments were made during an interview with Gianluca Biccini on some of Pope Benedict XVI’s recent liturgical decisions and their meaning.

Biccini noted in the exchange that Pope Benedict distributed Holy Communion to people who knelt and received the host on their tongues during his visit to Brindisi (Southern Italy) last week.

When he was asked if this would become a common practice at the Vatican, Marini responded, “I believe so.”
"In this regard it is necessary not to forget the fact that the distribution of Communion on the hand remains, up to now, from the juridical standpoint, an exception (indult) to the universal law, conceded by the Holy See to those bishops’ conferences who requested it,” the liturgical master of ceremonies reminded.

Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and the United States are all countries that have been granted an exception from the universal practice of receiving Communion on the tongue.

It seems though that the Pope wants to provide an example for the Church, according to Msgr. Marini, “The form adopted by Benedict XVI is meant to highlight the force of this valid norm for the whole Church."

“It could also be noted that the (Pope’s) preference for such form of distribution which, without taking anything away from the other one, better highlights the truth of the real presence in the Eucharist, helps the devotion of the faithful, and introduces more easily to the sense of mystery. Aspects which, in our times, pastorally speaking, it is urgent to highlight and recover.”

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass ad orientem [means with His back to the congregation as is the NORM in the Latin Mass] on December 1, 2009 in the Pauline Chapel at the apostolic palace. The chapel had been renovated earlier this year, with the altar moved to allow the priest to celebrate Mass either ad orientem or versus populum. The Holy Father chose the former option as he presided at the Eucharistic liturgy for members of the International Theological Commission. In his homily the Pope warned the theologians against taking undue pride in their scholarly work. He noted that many renowned thinkers have been “unable to see the mystery in itself, the central nucleus: that Christ truly was the Son of God.” By contrast, he pointed out, simple believers like St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Damian of Molokai have plumbed the depths of the faith; they were “little people who were also wise.” The Pontiff cited the attitude of St. Paul, who “became blind and thus truly came to see.”

FYI…
Once again we see “actions speaking louder than words.” About a year ago I shared with you the fact that if one is to receive Holy Communion from our Pope, one must do so kneeling and on the tongue. [Receiving Christ not merely TAKING Christ.]
The position was the norm for most of the 2000 year old History of our Church as it is “GOD Centered” rather than the current “community- we are THEE church” centered worship.

Love and prayers friend. Your doing GOOD:thumbsup:
 
Do you have any actual proof that this is the case? I live in a country where standing seems to be the norm and on a recent trip that included six countries in Europe, standing also seemed to be the norm. I’d be grateful if you could show me the proof that the U.S is merely an exception as you appear to believe.
When the papal liturgist and master of ceremonies for Pope Benedict XVI, Monsignor Marini, was asked why Pope Benedict XVI gave Holy Communion kneeling, he said:

“The method adopted by Benedict XVI tends to underscore the** force of the norm valid for the whole Church**. In addition, one could perhaps also note a preference for using this method of distribution which, without taking anything from the other, better sheds light on the truth of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, it helps the the devotion of the faithful, introduces them more easily to a sense of mystery. Aspects which, in our time, speaking pastorally, it is urgent to highlight and recover.”

Whatever countries you visited probably also established standing as their regional norm, as that is the latest trend among Western nations. But kneeling is still the norm in many more places, and is the universal norm. Of course, Communion in the hand is an older practice also; but we can’t be antiquarians when it comes to liturgy, unless there is a deep theologically valid reason for adhering to an older practice. I believe such applies in the case of kneeling.

And thanks for the comments PJM! 👍
 
Of course, Communion in the hand is an older practice also; but
But surely the Apostles received Communion in the hand at the Last Supper? It is usually presumed that this was so. Even if it were, though, we would point out that the Apostles were themselves priests, or even Bishops.

But we must not forget a traditional custom of middle-eastern hospitality which was in practice in Jesus’ time and which is still the case; that is, one feeds his guests with one’s own hand, placing a symbolic morsel in the mouth of the guest. And we have this text of St. John’s Gospel (13:26-30): “Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I shall give this Morsel when I have dipped It.’ So when He had dipped the Morsel, He gave It to Judas… So, after receiving the Morsel, he [Judas] immediately went out…”

Did Our Lord place this wet Morsel into Judas’ hand? That would be rather messy. Did He not perhaps extend to the one whom He addressed later in the garden as “friend” the gesture of hospitality spoken of above? And if so, why not with Holy Communion, “giving Himself by His own Hand”?

Fr. Paul McDonald
franciscan-archive.org/apologetica/tongue.html
 
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