The list obviously is not complete, for this article says that Germany and France both received permission from the Holy See on the same day in 1969: This means that Jesus has no eyes but our eyes, no feet . With regard to the first precept, Origen of Alexandria cautions, You who are accustomed to take part in divine mysteries know, when you receive the body of the Lord, how you protect it with all caution and veneration lest any small part fall from it, lest anything of the consecrated gift be lost. On the other hand, this mode of communion is not anywhere associated with lay involvement or accessibility, nor is it thought to de-emphasize the role of the priest. Paraguay, 27 September 1971 Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. In defending his push to give Communion to grave sinners, McElroy reiterated his belief that conscience has the "privileged place" over doctrine in decision-making and suggested that it can . awr. R. E. Heine FotC 21 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1982). It may well be the case that the sudden change in practice after Vatican II decreased devotion towards the Eucharist and belief in the true presence, and it may well be the case that there were bad actors who in fact desired this result. Finally, to the end that their coming to this heavenly table may be completely worthy and fruitful, the faithful should be instructed on its benefits and effects, for both the individual and society, so that their familial relationship to the Father who gives us our daily bread, may reflect the highest reverence for him, nurture love, and lead to a living bond with Christ, in whose flesh and blood we share.. 3. One said: When [the practice was] introduced in the U.S. Cyril of Jerusalem was quoted make your hands a throne for the King, take and eat.Is anyone denying the quote?, Concerning Communion in the hand, please consult the Mystical Catechesis of St. Cyril of Jerusalem for a description of the practice around A.D. 345. The showing of tooth and claw by some traditional-leaning Catholics is a scandal that discourages neighbors, and puts a very ugly face on the Body for others to view. Just look at what making donating money an indulgence-eligible corporal work of mercy resulted in during the Renaissance. St. On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. Nor did the Vatican interpret it that way, near as I can tell. I dont mean how did it come about. Permission for administering Communion in the hand was granted by the Holy See to the following countries and regions under Pope Paul VI:[UPDATED 3-2-18], Belgium, 31 May 1969 For pastoral reasons this manner of receiving communion has been legitimately established as the most common form in the Latin rite. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation. Councils establish principles (and rarely go into specific points) and then leave it to a commission to carry out the detailed work after the Council. Theres no simple solution to this issue. The very idea of people regularly receiving Communion (and even receiving Communion as part of the liturgy to the Eucharist itself) were relatively new ideas at the time of the Council. Devotion and reverence toward the Eucharist in the case of communion in the hand. The liturgical assembly of the baptized that comes together for the celebration of the Eucharist is a witness to, a manifestation of, the pilgrim Church. Bolivia, October 15 1969 I suspect that Christ can cope with particles that get dropped but the care we show, or the lack of care, is what counts. A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist: 1996, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. [17] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 7.9.4. can. Paul W. Harkins ACW 31 (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1963). No wonder so many people there have given up on Christianity. This is the reason why you say after him: Amen.[21]. OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF. The custom of placing the Sacred Particle in the mouth, rather than in the hand of the communicant, dates in Rome from the sixth, and in Gaul from the ninth century (Van der Stappen, IV, 227; cf. Fire came down and consumed the sacrifices of Elijah I do make the point that reverence, while important, is not the only or most important aspect of Communion. At Christ's invitation, extended by the priest acting in Christ's person: "Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb," the members of the community move forward to share in the sacred meal, to receive the Body and Blood of Christ which is the sign and the source of their unity. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer 'Amen'. While we have the option of receiving holy Communion either on the tongue or on the hand, we must always be mindful of receiving our Lord respectfully. If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. The causes are myriad and often interconnected. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of Communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 3). Our souls ought to be purer than they, more holy, more brilliant. A perception such as this is a dreadfully inaccurate and impoverished understanding of what is a significant religious action. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing. Alphonse Mingana (Gorgias Press: Piscataway, NJ, 2009 [1933]). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA. This practice has been requested by individual episcopal conferences and has received approval from the Apostolic See. The US might have been little-touched by the scorched earth of world war, and perhaps our feel-good stance astride the planet delayed the decay somewhat. As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes the whole of it. 896. Look how military inspectors demand very high standards of care when inspecting barracks for cleanliness. All of us are only grasping a hint of it. Above all, it is necessary to have the introduction of the rite preceded by an effective catechesis so that the people will clearly understand the meaning of receiving in the hand and will practice it with the reverence owed to the sacrament. This would be done especially if it is very difficult or impossible to fulfill the necessary conditions as outlined in the documents above. The fire of mercy has become for us a living sacrifice [24] Trans. I dont read any statement with canonical force saying that only those countries may apply for an indult. Im skeptical of the claim that collecting absentee ballots for bishops conference votes is unlawful. However, he should not refuse to administer Communion to those faithful desirous of availing themselves of a legitimate authorization. This is the quote that is always used: " make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. Since practices vary from one church to another, we hope these guidelines help you feel more at home. It must be presumed that a priest has sufficient formation in moral principles so as to exclude an erroneous conscience in such matters. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. The host will then be laid in the palm of the left hand and then taken by the right hand to the mouth. The liturgical renewal of St. Pius X which promoted the frequent reception of Communion were still quite young. ), Pray Tell: An open forum on faith in South Texas. This formula should not be altered, as it is a proclamation which calls for a response of faith on the part of the one who receives. It describes one of the purposes of the opening song of the Mass as to "foster the unity of those who have been gathered" (no. Copyright PrayTellBlog.com Take this from someone who receives in the hand sometimes, I would never do it if I thought it was enabling Lucifer to corrupt my soul. God has come to live in us. To lessen our evil inclinations. Madagascar 2 March 1970 Upper Volta and Niger, 20 February 1970 Required fields are marked *. As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable. There are particles, and there are particles. United States, 17 June 1977 They are also to be instructed not to omit after communion the sincere and appropriate thanksgiving that is in keeping with their individual capacities, state, and occupation. If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. If he is a religious priest, what actions can a legitimate superior take as regards the member who denies Communion in the hand? How should this evidence be brought to bear on the modern conversation? We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. in Eph 3, trans. In this he shows a great fear, and since the hand that is stretched out holds a higher rank, it is the one that is extended for receiving the body of the King, and the other hand bears and brings its sister hand, while not thinking that it is playing the role of a servant, as it is equal with it in honour, on account of the bread of the King, which is also borne by it. I did an internet search about the history of communion in the hand in the U.S. and the only thing I found was an article by the NLM. So Indian Bishop conference have not got any Indult for communion in hand? Others claim that in the context of the discourse St. Cyril was referring to the clergy and not to the faithful. 161. Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. Particularly in regard to this way of receiving communion, experience suggests certain matters requiring careful attention. They probably never foresaw its subsequent, and occasionally chaotic, development in some parts of the Church. It is reported that a bishop shouted out, On the tongue or in the hand?. This article has been selected from the ZENIT Daily Dispatch Innovative Media, Inc. ZENIT International News Agency Via della Stazione di Ottavia, 95 00165 Rome, Italywww.zenit.org, To subscribe http://www.zenit.org/english/subscribe.html or email: english-request@zenit.org with SUBSCRIBE in the "subject" field, Provided Courtesy of: Eternal Word Television Network 5817 Old Leeds Road Irondale, AL 35210www.ewtn.com, HOME - EWTNews - FAITH - TELEVISION - RADIO - LIBRARY - MULTIMEDIAWHAT'S NEW - GENERAL - RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE - PILGRIMAGES - ESPAOL, EWTN | 5817 Old Leeds Rd. The author claims that Communion in the hand could only be authorized in countries where it was an established practice but doesnt give a citation. A: The answer to this question is somewhat complex. The option offered to the faithful of receiving the Eucharistic bread in their hand and putting it into their own mouth must not turn out to be the occasion for regarding it as ordinary bread or as just another religious article. But back in the West, where most of us at PT are from, the Church is struggling. These guidelines replace the guidelines approved by the Administrative Committee of the NCCB in November 1986. There is also evidence that this was a contested subject (i.e., about what sins prevent someone from receiving), as it would continue to be throughout the history of the Church. For whatever reason, reception on the hand does not appear to convey the same level of reverence in the public consciousness as reception on the tongue. The most ancient practice of distributing Holy Communion was, with all probability, to give Communion to the faithful in the palm of the hand. This reply aged like Milk (currently January 2022). 1396: In Baptism we have been called to form but one body. It was designed: 1. The two ways of receiving communion can without question take place during the same liturgical service. On the part of both the minister and the recipient, whenever the host is placed in the hand of a communicant there must be careful concern and caution, especially about particles that might fall from the hosts. All rights reserved. A passage from St. Cyril of Jerusalem is used to persuade Catholics that Communion in the hand is an ancient practice legitimately restored after Vatican II. Their decisions should be sent to Rome to receive the necessary confirmation, []. The document does not have numbered paragraphs to cite, but youll find it a few paragraphs after the tabulation of votes collected from bishops. Christ himself at the Last Supper pleaded with his Father: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us" (John 17:11, 21).Baptism has joined us to Christ and to one another as the vine and its branches. Among Catholics, there is a sincere difference of opinion with respect to the opportunity of this practice, as to its possible spiritual benefits or detriments. It is adoration of Christ, meal of fellowship, union with other communicants (hence the Church wants us to sing during reception), sharing in Christs self-sacrifice, mystical union with angels & saints, sharing even now in the heavenly banquet, having the life of the Risen Christ in oneself, a call to charity and works of justice and making real on earth the peace foreshadowed in Communion, etc. Instead, this option must increase in them a consciousness of the dignity of the members of Christs Mystical Body, into which they are incorporated by baptism and by the grace of the Eucharist. Bishops who have been permitted to introduce the new rite of communion are asked to send a report to the congregation, six months hence, on the outcome. There are many devout Catholics who find this practice helpful. And to demonstrate reverence and. Since Christ is really, substantially, sacramentally present but not physically, being OC over crumbs is not devotion. [2] 2 Accept Communion in a state of grace. Instead of receiving in my hand, thinking "the other way is better," and quickly gobbling up the Eucharist, I took the "popular way," as a gift: I put my left hand on top of my right . Receiving the host in one's hand has been an option in the United States since the bishops authorized this in May 1977 and the Holy See confirmed it. I wholeheartedly agree with your comment on another thread that this ongoing discussion is frivolous and is only causing needless division. Thanks for this, Dennis. Can you direct me to where you obtained this list? So whats missing? All the rites which use leavened bread are reverent but not obsessive. Shapiro picked up an abused-looking iPhone from his desk. James Shapiro, a literature prof at Columbia, says the situation is catastrophic: One reason was the way of the world.