Why is CIH so popular?

[Theophilus777]

I prefer to receive Communion in the hand because of the use of extraordinary ministers. While it may be an entirely psychological thing with me, I believe that a priest takes extra care to make sure that his hands are clean. However, the extraordinary minister, however holy and charitable, may not have washed his or her hands as thoroughly as I’d like after they changed their baby’s diaper before driving to Mass. There is something about a layperson touching my tongue with his or her fingers that is “unappetizing” to me. I have long believed that if we should ever return to solely receiving communion on the tongue that we should likewise do away with Extraordinary Ministers entirely. Why would it be proper for an unordained person to touch the Eucharist with their hand to put it on my tongue and not be proper for an unordained person(myself) to receive it likewise in my hand? I think that people haven’t taken the matter of Extraordinary Ministers into account in their zeal for Communion on the Tongue. Can you imagine how long it would take for one priest to distribute Communion to several hundred people? My Parish is huge(several thousand parishioners). Nostalgia for the way things used to be is certainly admirable, but practically speaking, the logistics speak otherwise. The fact remains that Extraordinary Ministers are unordained.

 

[FAB]

I believe that a priest takes extra care to make sure that his hands are clean. .

The priest action of washing his hands is more symbolic than practical. It comes from the practice of the rabbies doing a cleansing before entering the temple. The cleasing that the preist does is for his own sinfulness so he will be worthy to consecrate the bread and wine.

 

[paperwight66]

The priest action of washing his hands is more symbolic than practical. It comes from the practice of the rabbies doing a cleansing before entering the temple. The cleasing that the preist does is for his own sinfulness so he will be worthy to consecrate the bread and wine.

Indeed yes, it is symbolic, not for hygiene, as all altar-servers will tell you. The altar server trickles a little water over the priest’s fingers while he says a prayer that he be washed of his iniquities and cleansed of his sins. There is no hot water, no soap, no real washing at all.

 

[ElToro]

The priest action of washing his hands is more symbolic than practical. It comes from the practice of the rabbies doing a cleansing before entering the temple. The cleasing that the preist does is for his own sinfulness so he will be worthy to consecrate the bread and wine.

Actually the basis for the lavabo is because the priest used to touch/handle the gifts which included livestock, eggs, vegetables, etc. It has a very practical beginning.

 

[ElToro]

Indeed yes, it is symbolic, not for hygiene, as all altar-servers will tell you. The altar server trickles a little water over the priest’s fingers while he says a prayer that he be washed of his iniquities and cleansed of his sins. There is no hot water, no soap, no real washing at all.

Not only do I fill the ewer with steaming hot water at the beginning of the Mass I also preheat the ewer. It’s still quite hot at the lavabo.

I have had priests sneeze in their hands and their response was to re-do the lavabo for purely functional purposes.

 

[paperwight66]

Not only do I fill the ewer with steaming hot water at the beginning of the Mass I also preheat the ewer. It’s still quite hot at the lavabo.
I.

I’d imagine that is quite unusual. and without soap or detergent it would still not kill many germs. It’s better than cold water, I grant you, but still not adequate.

 

[ElToro]

I’d imagine that is quite unusual. and without soap or detergent it would still not kill many germs. It’s better than cold water, I grant you, but still not adequate.

It requires neither soap nor detergent. We use alcohol mixed with the water.

 

[brigid12]

I much prefer COTT to CITH, however I’m tall and have a real problem with short EMHCs. Besides many not knowing how to give COTT is the problem of my bending low enough to receive.

 

[ProVobis]

Indeed yes, it is symbolic, not for hygiene, as all altar-servers will tell you. The altar server trickles a little water over the priest’s fingers while he says a prayer that he be washed of his iniquities and cleansed of his sins. There is no hot water, no soap, no real washing at all.

When I used to serve, I witnessed priests washing their hands thoroughly before every Mass. That, in addition to the Lavabo, where they also used a clean linen to dry themselves with. And there used to be a time when only the priest would handle the chalice and ciboria.

 

[ConstantineTG]

And there used to be a time when only the priest would handle the chalice and ciboria.

I agree. Sacred vessels should not be touched at all by anyone other than the ordained (deacons can touch of course).

 

[ElToro]

Could it possibly be because people really didn’t like COTT but did it because that’s what the rule said they had to do? That would explain why they embraced CIH once it was allowed.

Yes, I suspect that was a huge part of it. People embarassed by the condition of their teeth and the coatings on their tongues, etc. People who did not like to stick out their tongues or have a hand go near their mouths, etc.

 

[ElToro]

When I used to serve, I witnessed priests washing their hands thoroughly before every Mass. That, in addition to the Lavabo, where they also used a clean linen to dry themselves with. And there used to be a time when only the priest would handle the chalice and ciboria.

Before and after…

 

[ElToro]

I agree. Sacred vessels should not be touched at all by anyone other than the ordained (deacons can touch of course).

How come? The Catholic Church certainly does not require this.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I much prefer COTT to CITH, however I’m tall and have a real problem with short EMHCs. Besides many not knowing how to give COTT is the problem of my bending low enough to receive.

In the Byzantine Rite, it normal to bend your knees so that the priest can give you communion. After I got used to this when I receive standing in the Roman Rite, I would bend my knees as well. I’m a tall person too

 

[ConstantineTG]

How come? The Catholic Church certainly does not require this.

I know, I’m just sharing my opinion. In the Byzantine Rite its forbidden for lay people and even those in minor orders to touch the Sacred Vessels, including the Spoon and Lance (the knife used to slice the bread). Once my priest dropped the spoon (after giving Communion, so no Eucharist was spilled) and I bent over to help pick it up but then I thought of this and stopped short of touching it and let our priest pick the spoon up. Although in some traditions, reverencing the Vessels are allowed, such as kissing the chalice after receiving the Eucharist.

As an altar server, it makes my job a lot easier as the priest does everything. But seriously, I just think it helps promote a sense of holiness to the vessels and what they would or are carrying.

 

[FAB]

Actually the basis for the lavabo is because the priest used to touch/handle the gifts which included livestock, eggs, vegetables, etc. It has a very practical beginning.

Not any more and not for centuries, so it is now a symbolic cleansing.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Not any more and not for centuries, so it is now a symbolic cleansing.

Amazing really how something simple and mundane in the past evolved into a symbolic gesture in the present.

There is a discussion in the Eastern Catholic Forum about the origin of the waving of the aer (a cloth to cover the gifts of bread and wine) during the recitation of the Creed. Someone suggested that its origin was to wave off the flies away. But today it symbolizes the Holy Spirit descending on the gifts which will then be consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Christ.

 

[ElToro]

I know, I’m just sharing my opinion. **In the Byzantine Rite its forbidden for lay people and even those in minor orders to touch the Sacred Vessels, including the Spoon and Lance (the knife used to slice the bread). ** Once my priest dropped the spoon (after giving Communion, so no Eucharist was spilled) and I bent over to help pick it up but then I thought of this and stopped short of touching it and let our priest pick the spoon up. Although in some traditions, reverencing the Vessels are allowed, such as kissing the chalice after receiving the Eucharist.

As an altar server, it makes my job a lot easier as the priest does everything. But seriously, I just think it helps promote a sense of holiness to the vessels and what they would or are carrying.

That’s absolutely not true. In fact Ruthenian particular law allows the use of male EMsHC in the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church if there is sufficient need (one EMHC per 75 communicants) and insufficient clergy available:

**Particular Law for the Byzantine-Ruthenian Church in the USA

Canon 709 §2**

§l. In cases of true necessity, deacons may distribute the Divine Eucharist.

§2. In the same cases, even minor clerics and members of the laity can be designated to distribute the Divine Eucharist.

 1o. A parish may have one person designated for this purpose plus another for each 75 communicants at the Liturgy.

byzcath.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=334

 

[ElToro]

Not any more and not for centuries, so it is now a symbolic cleansing.

I was simply correcting your comment. Practical reasons (dirty hands) is the genesis of the lavabo – not Temple rituals.

 

[FAB]

Amazing really how something simple and mundane in the past evolved into a symbolic gesture in the present.

There is a discussion in the Eastern Catholic Forum about the origin of the waving of the aer (a cloth to cover the gifts of bread and wine) during the recitation of the Creed. Someone suggested that its origin was to wave off the flies away. But today it symbolizes the Holy Spirit descending on the gifts which will then be consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Christ.

No doubt ways that the Spirit causes us to look at deeper meaning to practicle guesters for a closer relationship to God.