Vatican official suggests reconsidering Communion in the hand

[lak611]

Standing while receiving on the tongue is only asking for dropped hosts if the person receiving is pulling away from the priest or EMHC too quickly; this doesn’t seem to happen too often.

Or if the communicant is 6’5" and the priest, deacon, or EMHC is 5’5".

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Well that was strange, Power is back on.

The decisions of a Universal Cauncil do not take effect until the current or future Pope approves them.

Correct. The point is, a Cardinal inside the Vatican, can not dictate to the other Bishops, what norms they are to follow. Only the Pope, has this authority.

Jim

 

[Uncle_Norbert]

I don’t disagree, I’m sure it must have happened. I don’t think that negates the point. To me, there is still a “due diligence” kind of difference between the two “systems”.

Exactly.

Receiving on the tongue nowadays can pose potential health issues too, with potential saliva-borne germs, etc floating around out there.

 

[James0235]

Exactly.

Receiving on the tongue nowadays can pose potential health issues too, with potential saliva-borne germs, etc floating around out there.

Does that mean that you oppose the distribution of Communion under both species then?

James

 

[pnewton]

As I said in another thread, even though I normally receive in the hand, I really do not mind what the Church decides. I will be happy either way. I think the heighth issue is a small obstacle. Most altar areas are raised. If nothing else the server could stand a step up to gain heighth. There are other work arounds. All each parish should need is the marching orders. There are bright enough heads to figure our implementation.

 

[Uncle_Norbert]

Does that mean that you oppose the distribution of Communion under both species then?

James

Nope, and I receive both ways each Sunday, knowing the inherent health risk. But, it is my choice to take that risk by receiving the Precious Blood, wheras, I have NEVER seen someone “pass” on the Body, and take the Blood.

Make sense?

Just out of curiosity, what makes our mouth/tongue more holy than our hands, for those who prefer tongue acceptance?

 

[archer]

I would not be in favour of a return to the placing of the Host on the tongue. I doubt if Jesus placed the consecrated bread on the apostles’ tongues at the last supper.

Let’s keep it as natural as possible.

 

[Beautiful]

I would not be in favour of a return to the placing of the Host on the tongue. I doubt if Jesus placed the consecrated bread on the apostles’ tongues at the last supper.

Let’s keep it as natural as possible.

Natural and not too intimate!!:yup:

God made my female lips and I am thankful. I just don’t think it is necessary or theologically justified to make reception by tongue the law of the land.

Wikkipedia says this about lips:

Because of its high amounts of nerve endings, the lips make an erogenous zone. Lips play a crucial role in kissing and other acts of intimacy.

Lips are a visible expression of fertility. It has been shown that the more estrogen a woman has the fuller her lips are, and that full lips are considered attractive. Indeed lipstick “tricks” men into thinking that a women has more estrogen than she actually has and thus finding her more attractive.

Lips are often viewed as a symbol for sensuality. This has many origins; above all that they are very sensitive as a tactile organ and feel pleasantly soft. It has been suggested that female lips are seen as sexually attractive because they mimic the appearance and sexual swelling of the you know what.

To put it bluntly - I say - stay away from my mouth - thank you.

 

[childofmary1143]

Then it would render any ecumenical council in the future, meaningless and useless, and I doubt the Pope would do it.

Well I think Ecumenical Councils exist for more than to decide whether to rescind Communion in the hand so even if the Pope were to unilaterally decide to stop communion in the hand there would still be Ecumenical Councils in the future.

Why bother calling together the Bishops of the world together in a council, if a future Pope will throw out the work and decisions the council established?

Furthermore communion on the hand was never discussed at Vatican 2 so it doesn’t apply to that.

However, Pope’s have never operated in this format. Mostly, because of their own humility, they rely on the wisdom of the council of Bishops, to help him come to an agreement. They generally follow the decisions of the council.

Jim

Did Pope Benedict lack humility when he on his own authority issue the Motu Proprio? I think not.

 

[VociMike]

Let’s keep it as natural as possible.

That’s kinda funny considering transubstantiation and all.

 

[Uncle_Norbert]

If I may raise another issue…it is common practice in many churches these days, for non-communicants to approach as well, for a “blessing”. The blessing usually entails the priest touching the head/hair of the blessee…

Touching hair and tongues all together…not exactly sanitary?

The “tongue” thing has fascinated me for years. I was an altar server for many years in my youth, and I saw lotsa tongues.

Long ones, short ones, fat ones, skinny ones…people who stuck em WAY out, and others not much at all.

A priest distributing Communion on the tongue could be something of an art form…I saw a few who COULD distribute to the entire line without touching a tongue…kinda funny for a young altar server to watch back then

 

[rpp]

Exactly.

Receiving on the tongue nowadays can pose potential health issues too, with potential saliva-borne germs, etc floating around out there.

“Nowadays”. Were there no germs floating around before Reception in the hand was permitted?

I have always received on the tongue. Usually while standing. No one has ever touched my tongue.

 

[Uncle_Norbert]

“Nowadays”. Were there no germs floating around before Reception in the hand was permitted?

I have always received on the tongue. Usually while standing. No one has ever touched my tongue.

There’s things floating around out there that weren’t before…things that soap, water, or Listerine won’t make go away.

Some priests are very adept at distributing Communion without touching tongues, while others aren’t.

 

[Wolseley]

If I may raise another issue…it is common practice in many churches these days, for non-communicants to approach as well, for a “blessing”. The blessing usually entails the priest touching the head/hair of the blessee…

Touching hair and tongues all together…not exactly sanitary?

So the priest touches someone’s hair and picks up some germs. Then he touches the Host and transfers the germs to the Host.

Whether he places the germ-laden Host on your tongue or in your hand, the result is exactly the same: he has touched It with his fingers, that already touched someone else’s hair.
Uncle Norbert:

There’s things floating around out there that weren’t before…things that soap, water, or Listerine won’t make go away.

I’m assuming you mean thing like HIV? When was the last time you heard of HIV being transmitted by consuming dry food that was handled by in infected person? Be real.

 

[Uncle_Norbert]

Hey, if you want a finger stuck on your tongue that’s touched another hundred or so in the last five minutes, not to mention the hair of assorted “blessees”…that’s your business, but don’t make it mine.

 

[rpp]

Hey, if you want a finger stuck on your tongue that’s touched another hundred or so in the last five minutes, not to mention the hair of assorted “blessees”…that’s your business, but don’t make it mine.

No one is. However, your fear may be real to you, but it is not supportable by observed facts. If it were true, people such as myself, traditional Catholics, and those who are in parishes that still received on the tongue would have a much greater incidence of illness. In addition, priests and EMoHCs would be quite ill themselves quite frequently. Since this is not thae case, your concern is not based on reality.

I would also lie to point out that it all of what you said was true, it would not matter whether you received on the tongue or in the hand.

Perhaps you should take a look at this article.

But if you are still concerned, I suppose you could bring this along when you get in the Communion line.

 

[Joannm]

Does that mean that you oppose the distribution of Communion under both species then?

James

The Center for Disease COntrol has stated that the alcohol content and the turning and wiping of the cup does a good job at eliminating germs. The same could not be said for fingers that have touched others mouths.

 

[Uncle_Norbert]

The Center for Disease COntrol has stated that the alcohol content and the turning and wiping of the cup does a good job at eliminating germs. The same could not be said for fingers that have touched others mouths.

See, alcohol can be a good thing

 

[palmas85]

This discussion has reached the point of diminishing returns and I truly think it s time for it to go away.

 

[benedictgal]

I don’t remember who said it, but, the person made a very valid argument for receiving on the tongue. We are children of the Father. We come to receive Jesus. Like children, we must be fed. We don’t take; we receive. Perhaps one of the more humbling aspects is to receive in the tongue, to be hand-fed, much the same as our parents fed us when we were infants.

Interestingly enough, one person who was not a huge fan of receiving Holy Communion in the hand was Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.