Vatican official suggests reconsidering Communion in the hand

[MrS]

As I see it…those in the heirarchies that promote Communion-in-the-hand are not deeply insightful of what the Eucharist is…NOT what it REPRESENTS but WHAT IT IS. True belivers KNOW it is Jesus Himself who comes to us in that bread so to feed our souls for eternal life…to live for ALL ETERNITY.

The magnitude of the Eucharist should make us more aware as to how we must cherish It.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “The most heartbreaking thing she experiences is seeing Communion in the hand.”

She is NOT alone…some of us feel the SAME as she.

I completely agree. It is like the Our Father. If we really knew what we were saying, we might then fear saying the prayer again.

With the Eucharist if we really understood all about the Real Presence, we would simply go prostrate and remain there.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

At the time my daughter was only 6 yrs old and unable to comprehend at that time all of the theological (quibbling) and to tell you the truth I needed a quick and easy answer to give her and God provided one. Being a nurse, I know that there are more germs in the mouth than in the hand but as you’ve pointed out it really isn’t about germs is it?
When I began homeschooling my children I ordered a book from ABeka, Growing Up in Jesus’ Time, in which it stated that when a host invited people to sup, that host would place the first morsel of food on the tongue of the invited guests and this morsel of food was referred to as a sop. I find that very interesting.
When I see Jesus face to face I won’t rush up to Him and grab Him with my hands, I’ll fall prostrate on the ground as if struck dead like the great apostle.
We recognize that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist which is why we genuflect before Him and receive on our tongues. As mother Theresa said the greatest sacrilege that she has seen is Communion in the hand.

**I believe deeply, Imrein, that Jesus has read your post above. I believe you have received His personal blessing in defending the sacredness of His Body in the Eucharist. Your reverence is an outward show to ALL as to how YOU love Him.

I can even imagine that when you are walking back to your pew that you are accompanied by angels…you make them most joyous. Sometimes angels reveal themselves…it could happen to YOU; one never knows.**

 

[Joe_Frank]

I absolutely believe that communion on the tongue would bring about a much more devout attidude toward the Sacred Species of Out Lords’ own body! I have witnessed the huge difference in our church, over the years, and it is shamefully obvious there is too much ‘casualness’ in church. Behavior and dress are very much in need of an upgrade!

 

[SacredHeartFan]

On well, I take the Eucharist by mouth anyway because I feel that I desicrate the host when I touch it with my bare hands. After using the bathroom, toucghing things outdoors, etc. I think that my hands are to dirty to touch Christ. ( I think my mouth is too dirty to! )

 

[Sylvia_Usling]

Nothing saddens me more than finding the host lying on the floor. This usually happens after weddings or funerals where non-Catholics or non-practicing Catholics go up for communion and have no idea what they are receiving. If they were required to kneel and receive the holy eucherist on their tongue, they may be more inclined to stay in their seats.
I recently attended Latin mass for the first time. Communion was much more reverent. I’d like to see that at every mass where the person receiving communion doesn’t go back to their seats until the host is consumed.
My humble opinion.

 

[seekerz]

What I see is a lot of assertions that receiving on the tongue is more reverent. The why…well that remains elusive, to me at least. Why can’t we just respect each others ‘Church-allowed’ preferences?

Maybe I’m just too logical a person, but with any assertion presented to me, my usual response is “why” or “how”. If I am able to sensibly refute the resulting answer, my initial question still stands…

 

[Mahree]

I am a convert and was first taught to receive on the tongue. Then when the choice was given, I changed to receiving in the hand. This was much more comfortable for me. However, I tried to understand. Why was this more comfortable? For me it was much more humbling to receive on the tongue. I think that was why I changed back to receiving on the tongue.

 

[stinkcat_14]

What I see is a lot of assertions that receiving on the tongue is more reverent. The why…well that remains elusive, to me at least. Why can’t we just respect each others ‘Church-allowed’ preferences?

 

[jpy15026]

…

 

[wisdom_3_5]

I am a convert and was first taught to receive on the tongue. Then when the choice was given, I changed to receiving in the hand. This was much more comfortable for me. However, I tried to understand. Why was this more comfortable? For me it was much more humbling to receive on the tongue. I think that was why I changed back to receiving on the tongue.

Yes, like a baby being fed by his/her mother. I really like that imagery of Mother Church feeding her children. Only the very helpless are fed by another. Receiving on the tongue is an admission that we are helpless to save ourselves, that we allow God to feed us (through His priests) by hand. An animal would not eat from the hand of a human unless there was** trust** in that human. We receive on our tongue as an outward sign of our trust in God to feed and care for us.

 

[stinkcat_14]

We receive on our tongue as an outward sign of our trust in God to feed and care for us.

Actually, it would be more correct to say that is why you receive on the tongue. Receiving on the tongue is your choice, just as receiving in the hand is my choice.

 

[rlg94086]

Actually, it would be more correct to say that is why you receive on the tongue. Receiving on the tongue is your choice, just as receiving in the hand is my choice.

Why do people who receive in the hand take such offense at someone else stating their opinion on the reverence of receiving on the tongue?

As you say, it is your choice. Are you so insecure in your choice, that you can’t accept someone voicing a contrary view? Stating a contrary opinion is not a form of disrespect.

 

[stinkcat_14]

Why do people who receive in the hand take such offense at someone else stating their opinion on the reverence of receiving on the tongue?

As you say, it is your choice. Are you so insecure in your choice, that you can’t accept someone voicing a contrary view? Stating a contrary opinion is not a form of disrespect.

I take no offense. But, the poster was stating the reason why they themselves receive on the tongue, but their use of the term “we”, suggested that they were speaking for others. I was just clarifying the fact that their comment only pertained to themselves and was not a general statement about the merits of receiving on the tongue versus in the hand.

 

[rlg94086]

I take no offense. But, the poster was stating the reason why they themselves receive on the tongue, but their use of the term “we”, suggested that they were speaking for others. I was just clarifying the fact that their comment only pertained to themselves and was not a general statement about the merits of receiving on the tongue versus in the hand.

Understood.

 

[wisdom_3_5]

I take no offense. But, the poster was stating the reason why they themselves receive on the tongue, but their use of the term “we”, suggested that they were speaking for others. I was just clarifying the fact that their comment only pertained to themselves and was not a general statement about the merits of receiving on the tongue versus in the hand.

Sorry. I was using the term “we” as in “we who receive on the tongue”

 

[GemmaRose]

Originally Posted by puzzleannie
the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle, biggest church in the valley, and the de facto cathedral, since Immaculate Conception in Brownsville is small and not centrally located, has recently returned to communion on the tongue only, and they are not offering the precious blood anymore, either. this is due to a new rector and concern about rampant abuse that has been observed by the many tourists who visit the shrine.

Originally posted by Shoshana
That seem slike a good idea. But being a EOM, that does not stop one from taking it from the tongue to pocket it.

I, myself, has started taking the Eucharist on my tongue.

it does if the ushers and EMHCs watch you like a hawk so you don’t move until you swallow, they are very good, very observant, having been instructed to do so.

I can understand in a shrine setting with many tourists, but being watched “like a hawk”? What are we getting into here, gestapo tactics? Will we have invasive searches at the door to make sure we’ve swallowed?

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*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani

 

[GemmaRose]

I’ll be praying that Communion in the hand doesn’t go back to mandatory Communion on the tongue!

Seems to me that if the Cardinal is concerned about a general sense of “carelessness” about the Eucharist, as well as some flagrant abuses that he should be calling for better education of the faithful.

AMEN! In my lifetime, 40 Hours Devotions were done away with, religious instructions became “feel good” lessons rather than some good old basic catechesis, Eucharistic processions disappeared, and now everyone wonders why only about a quarter of Catholics believe in the Real Presence and there are abuses and carelessness!

When was the last time you heard a good sermon on the Eucharistic Christ??

I have no problem with Communion in the hand, since that was the method used by Jesus and what’s good enough for Him is good enough for me. But let’s start catechizing or re-catechizing the faithful so that they may truly be faithful !

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*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani

 

[GemmaRose]

The hands are the outer extremity of the body. Hands are not always washed by many folks. Most sins include the hands. The hands are an ADDED part of our imperfections.

Disagree.

Although the following section refers primarily to clean and unclean food and the Mosaic law, I think it is also appropriate here (from Mark 7):

(5) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” (6) He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; … (14) He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. (15) Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” … (17 ) When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. (18) He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, (19) since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) (20) “But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. (21) From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, (22) adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. (23) All these evils come from within and they defile.”

I believe it is the same here. A hand, a tongue, all part of our sinful, unworthy bodies. Yes, we can sin with our hands, but what comes out of our mouths? Lies, which can ruin another’s reputation, abet thievery, drug abuse, adultery… Blasphemy. Gossip. Lewd speech, curses, curse words, abusive language. Far greater sins and more numerous sins come out of our mouths than what our hands usually do, and as for having had washed our hands, well, Jesus covered that topic in the passage above, although I would hope that we all have enough respect for Jesus to go to Mass with a freshly washed body (whether receiving on tongue or hand).

We need more sermons on the Eucharist, more Eucharistic devotions, Eucharistic adoration in EVERY parish… this is what will prevent abuse and carelessness.

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*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani

 

[johnstown_johnn]

When I see attitudes and perspectives that differ so greatly on the Eucharist I sometimes think there must be TWO Heavens…one for each viewpoint.

Cannot imagine living for all eternity in the same neighborhood with such polarizing approaches to the Eucharist.

In any case, those that believe in Communion-on-the-tongue is a more reverential sign versus those that think In-the-hand is the equivalent of reverence…NEITHER will make any converts from one side or the other.

There has been prophetic thoughts that the Church will go through a “cleansing” and will experience a sad division in the end times.

The Eucharist is the centerpiece of the Faith and It may be the catalyst for the division.

We should pray that we are imbued with the proper love, realization and reverence for the Eucharist whichever side one chooses.

Yours in Christ

 

[GemmaRose]

…In any case, those that believe in Communion-on-the-tongue is a more reverential sign versus those that think In-the-hand is the equivalent of reverence…NEITHER will make any converts from one side or the other.

…

We should pray that we are imbued with the proper love, realization and reverence for the Eucharist whichever side one chooses.

Yours in Christ

You’re right… neither side will convince the other. I just pray that if a change is made, that people will be obedient. Obedience is so very important.

What dismays me is the vehemence with which “one side” attacks the “other side”. We must remember that, currently, both sides are being obedient to the Church, and it is not anyone’s place to judge the interior dispositions of either side. God alone is Judge.

In case you or anyone else is wondering, I’m kind of stuck in the middle. I’ve received in the hand for years, and prefer that method for a variety of reasons. However, lately, I like the sense of humility that receiving on the tongue gives, and so now usually receive that way. I don’t really “sweat” the issue, since the Church allows both methods. If she changes back to only on the tongue (or even comes up with some brand new method ) I would obey.

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*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani