7 rules for receiving communion in the hand

Care must also be taken that the communicants have clean hands and that their comportment is becoming and in keeping with the practices of the different peoples. When the communion is distributed under both kinds, it is never permitted to place in the hands of the communicants hosts which have first been placed in the Blood of the Lord. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. The usage of communion in the hand must be accompanied by relevant instruction or catechesis on Catholic teaching regarding Christs real and permanent presence under the eucharistic elements and the proper reverence toward this sacrament. The guidelines, which are to be included in missalettes and other participation aids published in the United States, seek to remind all those who may attend Catholic liturgies of the present discipline of the Church with regard to the sharing of Eucharistic Communion. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A perception such as this is a dreadfully inaccurate and impoverished understanding of what is a significant religious action. But whatever the case, it is the Pope who decides to authorize it for countries, and it is indisputable that he did so. [2] Cyprian, On the Good of Patience 14, On the Lapsed 16 and 26,and Letter 55.9. Finally, ensuring the application of liturgical law is above all the responsibility of the bishop and only indirectly the religious superior. Under the moral aspect will be considered, in reference to Holy Communion: necessity; subject; dispositions. 13.3, trans. 47), and says of the Communion Chant that "its purpose [is] to express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the 'communitarian' character of the procession to receive the Eucharist" (no. The problem of lack of reverence stems not from the manner of receiving Communion but from the lack of faith, awe, and gratitude before this great mystery. It is a matter of particular seriousness that in places where the new practice is lawfully permitted every one of the faithful has the option of receiving communion on the tongue and even when other persons are receiving communion in the hand. Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS) TOP I dont read any statement with canonical force saying that only those countries may apply for an indult. Later that year approval was given to Luxembourg, Scandinavia (Scandia), North Africa, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Monaco (see Notitiae v. 7 (1970), no. Just look at what making donating money an indulgence-eligible corporal work of mercy resulted in during the Renaissance. A situation that, in the US certainly, was not necessarily governed by external uniformity (given the varieties of ethnic piety and cultural practices). Papua and New Guinea, 28 April 1976 I beg to differ. Basil the Great considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault. Alternatively, it is permissible to adopt a simpler procedure, namely, allowing the faithful themselves to take the host from the ciborium or paten. Since practices vary from one church to another, we hope these guidelines help you feel more at home. Japan, 27 June 1970 Im skeptical of the claim that collecting absentee ballots for bishops conference votes is unlawful. As further documentation,Pray Tell provides this excerpt from the 2002General Instruction of the Roman Missal in Latin and English on the reception of Communion. The communicant may choose whether to receive the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. I similarly think Cardinal Sarahs frankly ridiculous comments about Lucifer are draining credibility from his cause (one that I admittedly align with sometimes), even if some of his proposals are good ones. If you are the body and members of Christ, then it is your sacrament that is placed on the table of the Lord; it is your sacrament that you receive. For this is what it is to receive unworthily: if one receives at that time when he ought to be doing penance. In the context of the reception of Communion, this means a cognizance of both Church history and contemporary cultural nuances. In the light of the above, we can come to the heart of the matter as to whether a priest may invoke the question of conscience in order to refuse to distribute Communion in the hand. I mean WHAT SPECIFIC REASONS were given for requesting it in the first place? However, cases of a deplorable lack of respect towards the Eucharistic species have been reported, cases which are imputable not only to the individuals guilty of such behavior but also to the pastors of the church who have not been vigilant enough regarding the attitude of the faithful towards the Eucharist. It is now August 2020 and I can say that you have been proven wrong. 5. [18] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6.43.18. For the first few centuries of the Church, receiving Communion in the hand was a common practice. The left hand is extended, with the right hand under the left in support (left handed persons may wish to . Aaron, Back issue of Notitiae are accessible via the new website of the Congregation for Divine Worship at: http://www.cultodivino.va/content/cultodivino/it/rivista-notitiae/indici-annate.html. Australia, 26 September 1975 91). His blood now flows through our veins. I am from India. Other way round, it was in the hand and changed to the tongue circa 900 in the west. St. 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 . All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. The usage of communion in the hand must be accompanied by relevant instruction or catechesis on Catholic teaching regarding Christs real and permanent presence under the eucharistic elements and the proper reverence toward this sacrament. The Netherlands, 18 September 1969 When we receive Communion, we become members of Christ's Body, the Church. There are many devout Catholics who find this practice helpful. Q. Has done Fire consumed the offering If Your Hand/Hands are Impeded . He can freely share with the faithful his reasons for preferring to adhere to the traditional practice and encourage the faithful to continue doing so. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist? It is also difficult to ensure that the person who receives Communion effectively consumes the host. Malaysia and Singapore, 3 October 1977, * * * * *. All rights reserved. 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. I think that settles it. It was designed: 1. 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. From the point of view of liturgical law, the relevant documents are the following. For this reason, since the question of Communion in the hand is not a question of faith as such, and it has been approved by the legitimate authority, I do not believe that a priest can invoke conscience as a motive for refusing to apply a legitimate law. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church (330-379): "The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in times of persecution.". University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute for Church Life It is standard procedure so I wonder what the basis of this accusation is. 5. It also rules out arguing for an intrinsic link between a rejection of the true presence and communion in the handthe Fathers, on the whole, speak of Christs presence in the Eucharist in highly realistic terms and also received on the hand. Sacrilege is at an all-time high, yet use of the Sacrament of Confession is at an all-time low. Those who receive Communion may receive either in the hand or on the tongue, and the decision should be that of the individual receiving, not of the person distributing Communion. 51 (Feb), pg 62). Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? 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. [6] Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catecheses 5.13. [19] This list is by no means exhaustive, and it would be tedious to cite all of these references as a catalog, but let us turn to a few of them to see what the Fathers have to say about the meaning of this practice. In an even more elevated tone, Ephrem the Syrian, in a stunning passage, invites the Christian communicant to feel awe at what is placed in his or her hand, since even the Seraph did not take the divine coal with his hand, nor did the prophet Isaiah eat it (see: Isa 6:6). 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. It was proved that belief in the Real Presence is abysmal. As a scholar of the early Church, I was surprised to learn that the practice of communion in the hand is such a hotly debated topic; it came to my attention during the early days of the pandemic, when many dioceses required communicants to receive in this way. This norm is supported by an Instruction by the Holy See regarding the Eucharist: "In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that 'sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them'(Code of Canon Law, can. The Holy See has made it abundantly clear that both manners of reception of Communion on the tongue and in the hand are permitted, that Communion should be received reverently, and that the manner of reception should not become an occasion of division in the church. The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by . Over the years I have read a multitude of opinions for and against, and occasionally perceived false arguments. But to us our Lord has given both . The condition is the complete avoidance of any cause for the faithful to be shocked and any danger of irreverence toward the Eucharist. SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS, InstructionImmensae caritatis, on facilitating reception of Communion in certain circumstances, 29 January 1973: AAS 65 (1973) 264-271; Not 9 (1973) 157-164. Others claim that in the context of the discourse St. Cyril was referring to the clergy and not to the faithful. Who holds the wind in the palm of his hand? [5] John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent 28. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. The rationale for Communion on the hands being an ancient practice is from St. Cyril of Jerusalem. For example, Augustine writes, Someone might say that the Eucharist should not be received daily. James Shapiro, a literature prof at Columbia, says the situation is catastrophic: One reason was the way of the world. Phillip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889). In the case of communion under both kinds by way of intinction, it is never permitted to place on the hand of the communicant the host that has been dipped in the Lords blood. Scotland, 7 July 1977 June 29, 2021 | Your email address will not be published. If we follow the example of the Fathers, we will prioritize practices that prevent the dropping of the Eucharist and catechizing communicants not to receive in a state of mortal sin. Our souls ought to be purer than they, more holy, more brilliant. Blog Staff and Editorial Advisory Committee, http://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Handkommunion, http://www.cultodivino.va/content/cultodivino/it/rivista-notitiae/indici-annate.html, From the Wires: U.S. Catholic Priests Are Increasingly Conservative as Faithful Grow More Liberal, Yale Organ Week: Now Accepting Applications, The North American Academy of Liturgy, 2023, New Open-Access, Ecumenical Journal Powered by the University of Vienna, Is the Eucharistic Revival a Liturgical Revival (Part 2), What Did Jesus Know? Then he saw that it was futile. Of note for the modern debate, both John Chrysostom and the Council of Constantinople in Trullo argue that human beings, made in the image of God and capable of communing with him, are more worthy to touch the Eucharist than vessels of gold and silver. 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. 1396: In Baptism we have been called to form but one body. We owe the Lord as much attention to detail. Q. The communicant should audibly respond, "Amen," indicating by that response his or her belief that this small wafer of bread, the wine in this chalice are in reality the body and blood of Christ the Lord. Bishop Athanasius Schneider argued along the same lines at the end of February. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. Greg., Dial., I, III, c. iii). It is not solely the result of some weird medieval form of reverence. 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. Jeffrey T. Wickes FotC 130 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2015). [5] In Jerusalem, we have the mystagogical catecheses of Cyril of Jerusalem (or perhaps of his successor, John). The life of Christ, the Holy Spirit, animates each of us individually, and all of us corporately and guides us together in our efforts to become one in Christ. Interestingly, during the Middle Ages, the reception of Holy Communion was restricted to "on the tongue" because of abuses. When the priest gives it he says: The body of Christ. He teaches you by this word not to look at that which is visible, but to picture in your mind the nature of this oblation, which, by the coming of the Holy Spirit, is the body of Christ. Fire came down and consumed the sacrifices of Elijah Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the, The Abandoned: Toward a Christocentric Phenomenology of Prayer, The Conclusion of Karl Rahner's Dissertation on the Origin of the Church from the Side Wound of the Crucified Christ. These need to be taken seriously if one wants to effectively engage in these discussions with the likes of Cardinal Sarah and others. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. Maybe this is due to its similarity to practices in most Protestant churches, many of which (Anglicans and Lutherans notwithstanding) fundamentally dont believe in a sacramental Communion substance. The infamous coffee cup masses Dorothy Day describes in her book may have had good intentions behind them, but the way they appeared to trivialize the Holy Sacrifice of the mass lent no dignity to the then new Pauline mass. http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2014/03/truth-about-communion-in-hand-while.html#.Wpa2wdIUnGg. Ireland, 4 September 1976 The fire of mercy has become for us a living sacrifice The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed, in the hand, the choice lying with the communicant. Communion in the hand is legitimate only where permitted, and it remains in the realm of a permission. I honestly get sick of it too. Jesus wants to use our hands, which have now become His hands, to help those in need. [12] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10 and Hymns on Virginity 33.7. Unless there is a sense of discipleship rooted in baptism. To be a pledge of everlasting life.