tongue or hand?

[Hellisreal]

Actually, I did some research on this and found that the practice of receiving in the hand is not something new that was recently added as some people think. It actually goes way back to many of the early church fathers and saints.

To say that receiving in the hand is irreverent is an opinion not shared by the Church or proved by Tradition. As much as I respect other’s opinions on this matter, I submit myself to the Church and She has spoken on this matter. Both ways are acceptable.

That’s the only authority I need.

How did Jesus do it at the last supper?

I picture it by hand. I dont picture them lining up with their mouth open.

That is just me though.

You are right, and I will say Jesus is the only authority I need and if HE wanted us to do it a CERTIAN way, HE would have told us clearly.



After all, it is all about Him isn’t it?

He was our teacher- he would have taught it then if it was such a huge deal.

 

[otjm]

I know several people who look down on those who take via the hand (not here, just personally) because it’s less reverent and because it’s self communication.

I agree. People who say that it is self-communication are simply wrong; they heard the term and have decided, without looking at what the Church actually says, to apply their own spin to the issue.

Self communication is forbidden by the Church, and it means reaching out and taking a Host from the ciborium. When the priest takes the Host, whether he puts it on the tongue on on the palm of the hand, it is not self communication. Their attitude is that if they do anything at all besides stick their tongue out, it is self communication. It simply isn’t.

 

[otjm]

Like Mother said, it is clear that communion in the hand is allowed, but look around you today in the Church and see for yourself how many other things are “allowed” and are each one of these practices you see around you at Mass a Holy practice?

Well given that Christ distributed to the Apostles by hand (no, it is not in the Gospels, but they in turn did what they learned and it is clear that in the early Church that is how Communion was distributed), and given that it was good enough and Holy enough for Christ, and the Apostles, and the Early Church, I fail to see that is suddenly became Unholy. I will not dispute with anyone that we have less of a sense of reverence than we should; and that applies to life as well as to Church - just look at the abortion mills and the sex industry that has built up world wide. But remember - reverence is as reverence does - one can be extremely reverant and receive on the hand, and one can be flippant and receive on the tongue. It is not the mode of reception that is Holy; it is the sense of the Holy that one has.

I know many receive communion in the hand and do so with a disposition of good intention, but in charity it should be pointed that this practice was introduced out of a spirit of misdirection as many other irreverences have been that have made their way into our Church. We see it time and time again in our churches how little the sacred is acknowledged these days.

I sincerely disagree with you that Communion in the hand was introduced out of a spirit of misdirection. It was introduced because it is authentic - it is how the Early Church received, and because it was felt to show better the aspect of Sacred Meal, which is part and parcel with the Sacrifice aspect of the Mass. There are all sorts of people who want to claim that it was introduced for nefarious purposes; and not one of them ever cites anything other than other opinions.

 

[palmas85]

Actually, I did some research on this and found that the practice of receiving in the hand is not something new that was recently added as some people think. It actually goes way back to many of the early church fathers and saints.

To say that receiving in the hand is irreverent is an opinion not shared by the Church or proved by Tradition. As much as I respect other’s opinions on this matter, I submit myself to the Church and She has spoken on this matter. Both ways are acceptable.

That’s the only authority I need.

Of course those in the early Church were generally receiving a loaf rather than a wafer, reception in the hand was justified and it is well known that they did so. I concur. It is also well known and generally accepted that the Church went to reception on the tongue in an effort to re-enforce a sense of reverence that was waning and to combat rising abuses, ie: use of the Eucharist as a good luck charm, to ward of sickness, buying and selling of the Eucharist for various other practices and to stop a practice growing in popularity, private home exhibitions.

Unfortunately from where I sit, a sizeable number of people today do essentially the same thing. I’ve seen on this very forum questions on how best to preserve the Eucharist at home for private adoration and we know that consecrated Hosts from Papal Masses have been or attempted to be sold.

I think as long as the laity are well catechized and knowledgeable about what they are doing by receiving in the hand it is all right. But most, sad to say are not and should not be doing it. Same with the laity and the Precious Blood. In fact, if I remember correctly, the Church itself issued guidelines on that very subject requiring proper catechisis and people being of the proper disposition in order to so receive.

 

[mike_sieber]

Of course those in the early Church were generally receiving a loaf rather than a wafer, reception in the hand was justified and it is well known that they did so. I concur. It is also well known and generally accepted that the Church went to reception on the tongue in an effort to re-enforce a sense of reverence that was waning and to combat rising abuses, ie: use of the Eucharist as a good luck charm, to ward of sickness, buying and selling of the Eucharist for various other practices and to stop a practice growing in popularity, private home exhibitions.

Unfortunately from where I sit, a sizeable number of people today do essentially the same thing. I’ve seen on this very forum questions on how best to preserve the Eucharist at home for private adoration and we know that consecrated Hosts from Papal Masses have been or attempted to be sold.

I think as long as the laity are well catechized and knowledgeable about what they are doing by receiving in the hand it is all right. But most, sad to say are not and should not be doing it. Same with the laity and the Precious Blood. In fact, if I remember correctly, the Church itself issued guidelines on that very subject requiring proper catechisis and people being of the proper disposition in order to so receive.

You’re absolutely right. In the reading that I did Pope Paul VI stressed that there needs to be proper catechisis regarding the Eucharist. True reverence should come from true belief and understanding of the miracle that’s taking place.

Reverence is more than just an outer expression. You can take the Sacrament on the tongue and still have disbelief in your heart.

 

[Roger_Wissinger]

I say, the tongue, bring back the communion rail, and put the tabernacle where it belongs.

 

[Christophorus]

tongue…