Space doesn't allow all the details, but the propaganda in the 1970s that was used to sell Communion in the hand to a trusting, vulnerable people was a campaign of calculated half-truths that didn't tell the whole story. Communion in the hand was officially permitted in the United States in 1977, following an indult that is, special permission given by the Congregation for Divine Sacraments in 1969. Jamaica, 12 March 1970 It is difficult for some of us to embrace this emphasis on Mass as the action of a community rather than an individual act of my own faith and piety, but it is important that we make every effort to do so. Has the Holy Eucharist any other effect? Obviously, for better or worse, the NLM has an agenda. [25] Origen of Alexandria, homily in Ex. Follow-up: Objecting to Communion in the Hand (10-16-2018), Pursuant to my reflections on Communion in the hand (October 2), a reader from France claimed that It is totally justified to claim that Communion in the hand is necessarily less reverent or inevitably leads to abuses. This reply aged like Milk (currently January 2022). It must also increase their faith in the sublime reality of the Lords body and blood, which they touch with their hand. IMHO no, contrary to what some real traddies may say. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing. In this way, the practice of Communion in the hand is different from other liturgical elements restored after centuries of disuse, such as the prayer of the faithful and the exchange of peace. 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 . Luxembourg, October 15 1969 (Original Latin text here, see pp. It should be noted that it is never permissible for a person to dip the host he or she has received into the chalice. Ruff, I think we both agree that internal reverence is the most important aspect of this discussion (and therefore the ways each manner serves that) and I know many reverent people who do both. Never receive Holy Communion in the hand when your hands are impeded; e.g., carrying a cane or some other walking-assistance device, carrying a child in your arms, carrying a purse, have a tissue or handkerchief in your hand, have a cast on your hand, etc. It is advisable, therefore, that the rite be introduced gradually and in the beginning within small, better-prepared groups and in favorable settings. [5] John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent 28. 4. The faithful receive Communion kneeling or standing, as established by the episcopal conference. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal takes this hymn very seriously, mandating that it should begin at the Communion of the priest and extend until the last person has received Communion. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For example, Augustine writes, Someone might say that the Eucharist should not be received daily. Per The Baltimore Catechism: How should this evidence be brought to bear on the modern conversation? For this alone is the eating referred to by our Lord ( John 6:58 ). Theres no simple solution to this issue. 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. If our reader had said that he believed that Communion in the hand was more prone to dangers of accidents and profanation, I would accept the argument. Im skeptical of the claim that collecting absentee ballots for bishops conference votes is unlawful. 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. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. [2] Cyprian, On the Good of Patience 14, On the Lapsed 16 and 26,and Letter 55.9. Do we accept an experience of the Real Presence only when the externals and the lingo of 1950 are seen and heard? This is in no way meant to refer to those who, receiving the Lord Jesus in the hand, do so with profound reverence and devotion, in those countries where this practice has been authorized.. Thanks for this, Dennis. 91). Fire and Spirit, contrary to nature
Copyright 2023 Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. Irondale, Alabama. The history of the liturgy, however, makes clear that rather early on a . 1396: In Baptism we have been called to form but one body. Shapiro picked up an abused-looking iPhone from his desk. 4. Our procession should move with dignity; our bearing should be that of those who know they have been redeemed by Christ and are coming to receive their God! Malaysia and Singapore, 3 October 1977, * * * * *. In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. A Journal of the McGrath Institute for Church Life, by Elizabeth Klein Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. In order to be properly disposed to . Particularly in regard to this way of receiving communion, experience suggests certain matters requiring careful attention. Because, he says, one should choose the days on which one lives with more purity and self-control in order to approach so great a sacrament worthily. [17] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 7.9.4. For real reception of the Blessed Eucharist it is required that the sacred species be received into the stomach. What if our reception made us all more loving of one another, whatever our views on how to receive? 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. New Zealand, 24 April 1974 [6] Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catecheses 5.13. 160). vehementer hortatur retention of current practice while invoking the common good of the Church. 843 1; cf. At the same time he has taken into account the reasons given to support your request and the outcome of the vote taken on this matter. Cyril of Jerusalem and Theodore of Mopsuestia liken the practice to that of receiving a king, and both of them note the method of reception was in joined hands (also described in other sources as hands in the form of a cross). It is bad if it makes us prideful/judgmental and distracts from more important things. The Netherlands, 18 September 1969 Japan, 27 June 1970 Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. [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. The restorers of the rite probably had the beautiful simplicity and symbolism of the medieval rite in mind but did not take the changed circumstances sufficiently into account. 5. Other way round, it was in the hand and changed to the tongue circa 900 in the west. 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. What some call discipleship, others evangelizationnew or whatever, or some speak of discernment and application of spiritual gifts. St. Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling. We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? W.R., Goa, India. St. [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. My overarching point in all this (as someone who receives comfortably in both manners) is that I dont think common concerns with reception in the hand have been treated with adequate seriousness by many its defenders. A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist: We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they may all be one" (Jn 17:21). 7. The same Instruction contained a reminder that the laws of the Church and the writings of the Fathers give ample witness of a supreme reverence and utmost caution toward the Eucharist and that this must continue. As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable.. We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. Part 4. Timothy O'Malley on the meaning of Eucharistic coherence in the life of the Church. [10] See John Damascene, On the Orthodox Faith, 4.13. With regard to the second, we have many early witnesses including Paul (see 1 Cor 11:27) and the Didache (seechapter 14). Bishops allowing introduction of the new way of receiving communion are requested to send to this Congregation after six months a report on the result of its concession.. To signify, seal, and apply to believers all the benefits of the new covenant. In this ordinance Christ ratifies his promises to his people, and they on their part solemnly consecrate themselves to him and to his entire service. Phillip Schaff and Henry Wace in NPNF Second Series, 14 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1900). Permission for administering Communion in the hand was granted by the Holy See to the United States on June 17, 1977 and has since become almost the universal norm in the Ordinary Form. [6] In Syria (what we now call Turkey and surrounding regions) it is witnessed by Basil the Great,[7] John Chrysostom,[8] Theodore of Mopsuestia,[9] John Damascene[10] and the Council of Constantinople in Trullo (also called the Quinisext council). Roland Teske (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2001). After receiving Communion our bodies become holy chalices. 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. Later that year approval was given to Luxembourg, Scandinavia (Scandia), North Africa, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Monaco (see Notitiae v. 7 (1970), no. Communion on the tongue remains the usual and common form of administering Holy Communion. I think youre right that, without an explicitly limiting clause, there is no canonically binding restriction to those countries, and that the subsequent granting of dispensation ultimately belied such restriction. Unless there is a sense of discipleship rooted in baptism. When receiving in the hand, the communicant should be guided by the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem . 5.21, trans. From this brief historical survey, however, we know that this need not be the case, and we can look to the Fathers for a pious example as we seek to foster reverence towards the Eucharist in the liturgy today. 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. Just look at what making donating money an indulgence-eligible corporal work of mercy resulted in during the Renaissance. But such as, instead of their hands, make vessels of gold or other materials for the reception of the divine gift, and by these receive the immaculate communion, we by no means allow to come, as preferring inanimate and inferior matter to the image of God.[24]. And why so? St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 348 gave this instruction to his congregation: "When you approach Holy Communion, make the left hand into a throne for the right, which will receive the King. Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from youSt. As to the way to carry out the new rite: one possible model is the traditional usage, which expresses the ministerial functions, by having the priest or deacon place the host in the hand of the communicant. Pray Tell here documents two statements of the Congregation for Divine Worship issued under Pope Paul VI.