Vatican official suggests reconsidering Communion in the hand

[dwc]

Time and time again through the prophets, God reminded His people that true reverence to Him means, not properly performed ceremonies, but a proper attitude of heart. This is just as true today.

Exactly. The pharisees were always quite obsessed with form and outward appearances, also.

 

[cspb56]

Exactly. The pharisees were always quite obsessed with form and outward appearances, also.

And this is what we are seeing in the church today. Obsession with form and outward appearances. We need to get back to the Gospel message.

 

[Lance]

And this is what we are seeing in the church today. Obsession with form and outward appearances. We need to get back to the Gospel message.

Thank you!

 

[Ziv18]

Late in college I decided I was going to receive on the tongue. I had two reasons:

1. I had grown up receiving in the hand and changing was, to ME, a sign that I was no longer the thoughtless, unappreciating fool I was for most of my adolescence.
2. I was challenged by a “tongue only” advocate to examine my hands the next time after I received communion in the hand. To my surprise, there were TWO visible particles of the host remaining on my hand after I was done. He had said to me “if you find pieces still on your hand and you don’t regularly examine your hands, imagine how many pieces of the sacred host you have scattered to who knows where over the years…” Haunting.

I don’t know that tongue only is right for all people and I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision. But I DO know it is right for me.

Ditto…If everyone that is pro-hand on this thread would pay attention to what is left on their hands maybe they would have second thoughts…Those aren’t just crumbs you know…It’s our Lord and God…I get so tired of Catholics trying to pick and choose how they want it. If the church changes how we are to recieve who are we to question and gripe…OBEDIENCE…stop feeling like you are being threatened and just open your mouth and stick out your tongue

 

[LilyM]

Are you serious? Don’t we fast from food and water before receiving Communion? Washing our tongues before Communion breaks the fast…Yes? No?

I really can’t figure if you are serious or just facetious.

Of course I was being facetious - point is those people (or part thereof) DID wash the hands with which they were to receive, thereby at least the majority of their hands were clean.

A service which, as you pointed out, in fact CANNOT be performed for the tongue. Tongue is therefore universally unclean, hands only occasionally so. Thanks for making my case for me.

 

[Lance]

------ If the church changes how we are to recieve who are we to question and gripe…OBEDIENCE…stop feeling like you are being threatened and just open your mouth and stick out your tongue

Exactly! If the church says we can receive in the hand then shut up about it, just as I will shut up about it if and when the church says we can only receive on the tongue. As you said “…OBEDIENCE…stop feeling like you are being threatened and just” stick out your tongue or hand which ever is your preferance, as the church says both are legitamate.

 

[wisdom_3_5]

Of course I was being facetious - point is those people (or part thereof) DID wash the hands with which they were to receive, thereby at least the majority of their hands were clean.

Then there’s the sign of peace right before communion; lots of sweaty hands shaking mine and kids with runny noses etc. How clean can our hands really be?

That’s not the reason I receive on the tongue of course, but that popped up in my mind when I read your post.

Does anyone know how the whole Church (world-wide) receives communion? I know its very common in America but what about other countries? Maybe the Vatican sees this as something to unify the Church worldwide (including the Orthodox) and not just smackdown.

We don’t need to take offense (or be triumphant) at this. If it happens its for the good of the Church.

 

[dwc]

If the church says we can receive in the hand then shut up about it, just as I will shut up about it if and when the church says we can only receive on the tongue. As you said “…OBEDIENCE…stop feeling like you are being threatened and just” stick out your tongue or hand which ever is your preferance, as the church says both are legitamate.

This is just one example of the irony that goes on within our church … the church says a or b are acceptable. Certain uber catholics prefer a. A then becomes the standard for orthodoxy and people who either prefer or don’t object to b are chastised as not being obedient, yada yada. Those who prefer a are completely blind to the fact that their insistence on a is in fact disobedient to the church, which says a or b is acceptable. This type of person loves to accuse people who disagree with him/her of being a “cafeteria catholic,” picking and choosing what to believe, all the while doing the same thing! What’s the saying – take the beam out of your eye before worrying about the splinter in your brother’s eye?

On this issue, I don’t have a true preference. I’ve taken communion both ways, and if the vatican decides to change the practice to only on the tongue, so be it. In the meantime, however, I’ll follow the church’s teaching, and practice either one.

 

[Ziv18]

Exactly! If the church says we can receive in the hand then shut up about it, just as I will shut up about it if and when the church says we can only receive on the tongue. As you said “…OBEDIENCE…stop feeling like you are being threatened and just” stick out your tongue or hand which ever is your preferance, as the church says both are legitamate.

Key word being IF…My whole point was that If the church says to recieve in the Hand only or on the Tongue only or any other change that we don’t like, people will cry about it, …instead of being Obedient. I guess it didn’t come across that way…Don’t tell people to shut up…its not nice…I forgive you.

You didn’t address the problem of your Lord and God falling from your hands to the ground to be trampled on.

 

[KathleenElsie]

No bishop is allowed to prohibit Communion on the tongue.

And yet, my archdiocese does NOT teach the First Holy Communicants how to receive on the tongue. They are taught in the hand ONLY.

Am I missing something here? Has anyone here seen a youngster receive on the tongue in their diocese?

Yes my grandchildren do. One is 9 and the other is 10. We had to teach them as their CCD teacher told them it was to be taken in the hand only.

 

[seekerz]

Key word being IF…My whole point was that If the church says to recieve in the Hand only or on the Tongue only or any other change that we don’t like, people will cry about it, …instead of being Obedient. I guess it didn’t come across that way…Don’t tell people to shut up…its not nice…I forgive you.

You didn’t address the problem of your Lord and God falling from your hands to the ground to be trampled on.

Maybe it’s just because I’m used to receiving in the hand, but it seems to me the chance of the Eucharist falling to the ground is more with reception on the tongue.

I really don’t think it’s a big deal either way. The Church gives us the choice and we do what feels comfortable. What I do have a problem with is the holier than thou attitude of some over their choice…

 

[johnstown_johnn]

Yes my grandchildren do. One is 9 and the other is 10. We had to teach them as their CCD teacher told them it was to be taken in the hand only.

**If your grandchildren were to receive in this diocese on the tongue they, no doubt, would be the only ones.

The bishop here is pro-hand along with other controversial stances. He is against the Latin Mass here and is in favor of homosexual priest “…just as long as they are celebate.” (his words) He is BIG on ecumenism as well and has ridded the diocese of at least three good priests. The diocese has been sued on many counts of abuse of children by priests.

So, what does that tell us? **

 

[Cobbfmly]

Yes my grandchildren do. One is 9 and the other is 10. We had to teach them as their CCD teacher told them it was to be taken in the hand only.

Our parish teaches both hand and tongue in CCD. With knowing both ways, it becomes the child’s choice on how they receive. As an EMHC, I do get a few children who receive on the tongue.

 

[LilyM]

Then there’s the sign of peace right before communion; lots of sweaty hands shaking mine and kids with runny noses etc. How clean can our hands really be?

That’s not the reason I receive on the tongue of course, but that popped up in my mind when I read your post.

Does anyone know how the whole Church (world-wide) receives communion? I know its very common in America but what about other countries? Maybe the Vatican sees this as something to unify the Church worldwide (including the Orthodox) and not just smackdown.

We don’t need to take offense (or be triumphant) at this. If it happens its for the good of the Church.

Priests often (if not usually) shake a fair few hands at the Sign of Peace as well. And I’ve seen the occasional priest blow his own nose after he’s washed his hands. And then they (advertently or inadvertently) probably touch a fair few mouths before they reach yours - people aren’t always perfectly dainty when they receive Communion, no matter how careful the priest may attempt to be.

Most countries, including the old standouts of Italy and Poland, now have the option of receiving in the hand IIRC. How common it is to actually do so I can’t say, nor is it relevant so long as the faithful are permitted to receive in the hand. If the commonness of a behaviour made it a norm then that would mitiagate AGAINST communion on the tongue in most Western countries.

 

[wisdom_3_5]

Priests often (if not usually) shake a fair few hands at the Sign of Peace as well. And then they (advertently or inadvertently) probably touch a fair few mouths before they reach yours - people aren’t always perfectly dainty when they receive Communion, no matter how careful the priest may attempt to be.

True. Its a silly argument for or against either.

 

[seekerz]

**If your grandchildren were to receive in this diocese on the tongue they, no doubt, would be the only ones.

The bishop here is pro-hand along with other controversial stances. He is against the Latin Mass here and is in favor of homosexual priest “…just as long as they are celebate.” (his words) He is BIG on ecumenism as well and has ridded the diocese of at least three good priests. The diocese has been sued on many counts of abuse of children by priests.

So, what does that tell us? **

Since when did mode of receiving communion become a controversial stance? And according to Church teaching, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a celibate homosexual.

Trust me, cases of sexual misconduct I have heard of involving priests known to me have all involved females; would you then say that males should not be priests since there is an inclination to sexual sin with girls or women.

We need to focus on what we can do to build the Church, not on what laws (real or self imposed) others are breaking.

 

[CapaxDei]

I am an extraordinary Eucharistic minister,

No, you are not. There is no such thing. What you mean to say is “extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.” The only minister of the Eucharist is the priest. You, a layperson, lack the capacity to confect the Eucharist.

 

[rlg94086]

No bishop is allowed to prohibit Communion on the tongue.

And yet, my archdiocese does NOT teach the First Holy Communicants how to receive on the tongue. They are taught in the hand ONLY.

Am I missing something here? Has anyone here seen a youngster receive on the tongue in their diocese?

Standard practice for the youngsters in our parish.

But, not our diocese.

 

[rlg94086]

Late in college I decided I was going to receive on the tongue. I had two reasons:

1. I had grown up receiving in the hand and changing was, to ME, a sign that I was no longer the thoughtless, unappreciating fool I was for most of my adolescence.
2. I was challenged by a “tongue only” advocate to examine my hands the next time after I received communion in the hand. To my surprise, there were TWO visible particles of the host remaining on my hand after I was done. He had said to me “if you find pieces still on your hand and you don’t regularly examine your hands, imagine how many pieces of the sacred host you have scattered to who knows where over the years…” Haunting.

I don’t know that tongue only is right for all people and I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision. But I DO know it is right for me.

That is the best reason IMO and the same reason that I switched. I am torn though when I am in a parish that I am unfamiliar with…EMsHC who are baffled/inexperienced with placing the Eucharist on someone’s tongue, no patens, etc. Sometimes, I will receive in the hand just to avoid handling problems. When I can, I will just line up with the priest instead of an EMHC, but in the large parishes with an army of EMsHC that can be difficult to do.

 

[rlg94086]

Kind of like glass chalices or the EMsHC cleaning the vessels after Communion.

That bothers me much, much more. I know it is allowed to place the chalices on a side table for later purification, but I’ve seen some cases where they don’t even consume all of His Precious Blood.