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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. 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. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. Some advocates of communion on the tongue, at least online, seem guilty of thinking that (however much more virtuous than I they probably are in their lives). Church Life Journal 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. It is reported that a bishop shouted out, On the tongue or in the hand?. Malaysia and Singapore, 3 October 1977, * * * * *. [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. Middle Africa, 3 February 1970 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. If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. There is a twofold purpose here: that none will find in the new rite anything disturbing to personal devotion toward the Eucharist; that this sacrament, the source and cause of unity by its very nature, will not become an occasion of discord between members of the faithful. The rationale for Communion on the hands being an ancient practice is from St. Cyril of Jerusalem. [15] See the council of Auxerre, canon 36 (it directs women not to receive on their bare hands, but with their hand covered by a cloth). Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling. 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. 1. When permitted, the choice as to the form of reception falls upon the communicant and not upon the priest. [21] Theodore of Mopsuestia, catech. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. I think that settles it. For example, Augustine writes, Someone might say that the Eucharist should not be received daily. are on the side of Lucifer. Does anyone have an explanation for why France, Germany, and the Low Countries were not quickly regularized once the opportunity was available? The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? [5] In Jerusalem, we have the mystagogical catecheses of Cyril of Jerusalem (or perhaps of his successor, John). And some who do have lost their strength or nerve. Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 2 October 1971 Pope Paul Vl approved this Instruction, confirmed it with his authority, and ordered its publication, setting the day of publication as its effective date. The Netherlands, 18 September 1969 The faithful must be taught that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and that therefore the worship of latria or adoration belonging to God is owed to Christ present in this sacrament. 3. 5. awr. Has done A Journal of the McGrath Institute for Church Life, by Elizabeth Klein The left hand is extended, with the right hand under the left in support (left handed persons may wish to . For one who eats unworthily eats and drinks to his own condemnation (1 Cor 11:29). The elements were placed in the hands (not in the mouth) of each communicant by the clergy who were present, or, according to Justin, by the deacons alone, amid singing of psalms by the congregation (Psalm 34), with the words: The body of Christ; The blood of Christ, the cup of life; to each of which the recipient responded Amen. (eminent Church historian Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church: Ante-Nicene Christianity: A.D. 100-325 [Vol. Just look at what making donating money an indulgence-eligible corporal work of mercy resulted in during the Renaissance. The history of the liturgy, however, makes clear that rather early on a . [20] Cyril of Jerusalem, myst. Basil the Great, 330-379 stated, "The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in times of persecution." This statement may very well have been made in response to St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 348. 6, trans. It is standard procedure so I wonder what the basis of this accusation is. But back in the West, where most of us at PT are from, the Church is struggling. Over and over again the prayers of the liturgy and the norms of the General Instruction emphasize this fundamental concept of the unity of the baptized, stressing that when we come together to participate in the Eucharistic celebration we come, not as individuals, but as united members of Christ's Body. Most often when speaking of reverence, however, the Fathers emphasize two main things: 1) that every precaution should be taken lest the Eucharist fall to the ground and 2) that communicants should be from serious sin and quarrels with other Christians. It is clear that this mode of reception was considered reverent and was to be carried out in a reverent manner. If, for some reason, the communicant is not able or willing to drink from the cup then that person should receive only under the form of bread. The way we communicate the Gospel message is almost as important as the Gospel itself. They should be grave and objective questions related to good and evil. [] It is not permitted for the faithful to take the consecrated Bread or the sacred chalice by themselves and, still less, to hand them on from one to another among themselves. Since Christ is really, substantially, sacramentally present but not physically, being OC over crumbs is not devotion. We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. Scotland, 7 July 1977 It is a matter of particular seriousness that in places where the new practice is lawfully permitted every one of the faithful have the option of receiving communion on the tongue and even when other persons are receiving communion in the hand. In each of the Eucharistic Prayers, though the petition is worded in slightly different ways, God is asked to send his Holy Spirit to make us one body, one spirit in Christ; the General Instruction admonishes the faithful that "they are to form one body, whether in hearing the Word of God, or in taking part in the prayers and in the singing" (no. It must also increase their faith in the sublime reality of the Lords body and blood, which they touch with their hand. On the other hand, if the sins are not so great that a person should be judged to deserve excommunication, he ought not to withdraw from the daily medicine of the Lords body.[26]. If Your Hand/Hands are Impeded . These views are sometimes strongly held. July 2, 2020 ( LifeSiteNews) Many bishops around the world are attempting to compel Catholics, who are in the right dispositions to approach the Holy Eucharist, to receive Our Lord in the. It is simply reading too much into this practice, and it is not correct to support something one favors by denigrating another practice. Was changing the mode reception of Communion one of them? 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. A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all. 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. I would like to remind people to indicate clearly how they wish to receive. And to demonstrate reverence and. 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. Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. In fact, however, this hymn is prayer, the corporate thanksgiving prayer of the members of Christ's Body, united with one another. Todd, yes, the Church as a whole is growing thanks to the great efforts of missionaries in Africa and Asia (many are now coming back here), and yes, more people are receiving the Sacraments now than ever. 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. 1396: In Baptism we have been called to form but one body. Germany, 6 June 1969 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. How should this evidence be brought to bear on the modern conversation? The Council was a start, but we have allowed ourselves to get sidetracked in silly and divisive banter. Roland Teske (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2001). II], The host will then be laid in the palm of the left hand and then taken by the right hand to the mouth. [18] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6.43.18. On the one hand, I think this evidence precludes describing communion in the hand as intrinsically irreverent. To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul. When we move in procession, particularly the procession to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Communion, we are a sign, a symbol of that pilgrim Church "on the way.". 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. In order to be properly disposed to . 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. But as time passed it became the practice to receive Communion directly on the tongue in order to assure that the Host was received reverently. If he is a religious priest, what actions can a legitimate superior take as regards the member who denies Communion in the hand? The recent survey asking Catholics about Holy Communion indicates that 70% DO NOT BELIEVE that Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus. (Original Latin text here, see pp. Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by Satan to destroy the Church (ok, probably not that). First, Chrysostom in one of his Homilies on Ephesians: What, do you not see the holy vessels so thoroughly cleansed all over, so resplendent? 4. First, Cyril: Coming up to receive, therefore, do not approach with your wrists extended or your fingers splayed, but making your left hand a throne for the right (for it is about to receive a King) and cupping your palm, so receive the Body of Christ; and answer: "Amen." [20] Here is what Theodore says: Part 4. To continue the sacrifice of the Cross in His Church. A letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship to presidents of bishops conferences on May 29, 1969: AAS 61 (1969) 546-547; Notitiae 5 (1969) 351-353: In reply to the request of your conference of bishops regarding permission to give communion by placing the host on the hand of the faithful, I wish to communicate the following. [5] John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent 28. The congregation returned to this issue in the instructionImmensae Caritatis,January 29, 1973: AAS 65 (1973) 264-271; Notitiae 9 (1973) 157-164: Part 4. Obviously, for better or worse, the NLM has an agenda. Receiving communion in the hand was the common practice of the Church in both East and West for the first 800 years of Christianity, and it was certainly considered reverent by the Fathers. Later that year approval was given to Luxembourg, Scandinavia (Scandia), North Africa, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Monaco (see Notitiae v. 7 (1970), no. The fire of mercy has become for us a living sacrifice [6] Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catecheses 5.13. Holt Orders cannot sustain the Church, no matter how much traditionalists preach priests are of the utmost importance. I beg to differ. Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling. If one is left-handed this is reversed. Maybe this is part of a grand conspiracy by . We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. It must also increase their faith in the sublime reality of the Lords body and blood, which they touch with their hand. Still, while not the direction eventually taken, I believe restriction to be the more natural reading of the Vaticans intent at that moment in time. 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. [23] John Chrysostom, hom. Copyright PrayTellBlog.com Your fire, O, Our Lord we have eaten in your offering [12] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10 and Hymns on Virginity 33.7. They would find many more areas we all need to work on than just their main focus. 5. Confess it and move on. 915). If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. FYI, the announcement that approval for Communion in the Hand was given (in 1969) to Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, and Chad appeared in Notitiae in v. 6 (1969), no. But we doyes, verily. From the point of view of liturgical law, the relevant documents are the following. A: The answer to this question is somewhat complex. W.R., Goa, India. 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. Uruguay,October 15 1969 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. Shapiro picked up an abused-looking iPhone from his desk. When permitted, the choice as to the form of reception falls upon the communicant and not upon the priest. Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute. On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. Under the moral aspect will be considered, in reference to Holy Communion: necessity; subject; dispositions. On reverence for the Eucharist and belief in the Real Presence among Catholic laity has greatly declined I dont think this has ever been proven. Hard to believe that Catechesis has never been better if that fundamental is misunderstood. One could have perfect adoration of Real Presence in humble posture and, at least in theory, miss the point of Communion. 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. Henry Percival and ed. The Communion Procession is an action of the Body of Christ. 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. All rights reserved. Indeed, it can be dangerous for contagion. Whatever one thinks about the practice today and its reemergence after Vatican II, it is important that our conversation be grounded in an accurate picture of the history of this practice. Other way round, it was in the hand and changed to the tongue circa 900 in the west. Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from youSt. ODonaghues post, I note with interest that the countries in which Communion in the hand is alleged to have been most prevalent either did not apply for or at any rate receive an indult in these first 8 years of results. To lessen our evil inclinations. 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 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: All of us should receive with great reverence and respect. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. This catechesis must succeed in excluding any suggestion that in the mind of the Church there is a lessening of faith in the eucharistic presence and in excluding as well any danger or hint of danger of profaning the Eucharist. Fire and Spirit, contrary to nature [24] Trans. From these documents, we can deduce the following points. It was designed: 1. A situation that, in the US certainly, was not necessarily governed by external uniformity (given the varieties of ethnic piety and cultural practices). Q. I mean WHAT SPECIFIC REASONS were given for requesting it in the first place? 843 1; cf. The symptoms are myriadI certainly would assent to much of what you cite. 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 . In the context of the reception of Communion, this means a cognizance of both Church history and contemporary cultural nuances. So Indian Bishop conference have not got any Indult for communion in hand? St. 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. For Catholics: As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. 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. What a Priest Might Do If He Wants to Avoid It. Djibouti, 6 March 1970 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. 4. I used the wordnecessarilyas an equivalent to in and of itself. There is no inherent reason why Communion in the hand is less reverent. October 13, 2022. The author seems to think that liturgical reforms should consist of only what an ecumenical council prescribed. IMHO no, contrary to what some real traddies may say. Never receive Holy Communion by extending only one hand. It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. 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 . St. We should weigh very well the matters in which we appeal to conscience. Communion should not be received on the run, as you're walking back to your place; it should be consumed before you leave the area below the altar. 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. In North Africa (including Egypt) the practice is mentioned by Tertullian,[1] Cyprian,[2] Augustine,[3] Cyril of Alexandria,[4] and John Climacus. 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. 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. It seems appropriate to conclude this reflection on the Communion Procession and the reception of Communion with a quotation from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. Featured Image: Rossano Gospels, Last Supper, 6th c.; Source: Wikimedia Commons, PD-Old-100. The guidelines recommend against serving Communion until gatherings of more than 50 people are allowed. From the historical point of view, we can say that there is strong evidence that the practice existed in early centuries in some areas of the Church. The following norms must, therefore, be respected. For you hear the words, the Body of Christ and respond Amen. Be then a member of the Body of Christ that your Amen may be true (St. Augustine, Sermon 272: PL 38, 1247). Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion. So whats missing? 51 (Feb), pg 62). His blood now flows through our veins. 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. [17] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 7.9.4. If one is receiving in the hand the following is normative: upon approaching the minister of the Host extend the hands in the middle of the chest. Luxembourg, October 15 1969 Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. Our worship ought to create common unity under Christ, not destroy it. Paul W. Harkins ACW 31 (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1963). Or is there more context that is missing? They probably never foresaw its subsequent, and occasionally chaotic, development in some parts of the Church. 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. When the bishops reassembled, Cardinal John Carberry of St. Louis, a determined opponent of Communion in the hand, was quick to get up to set things straight. [3] Augustine, Answer to Petilian 2.23.53and Against Parmenian 2.7.13. Others claim that in the context of the discourse St. Cyril was referring to the clergy and not to the faithful. For the first few centuries of the Church, receiving Communion in the hand was a common practice. Ever since the InstructionMemoriale Dominithree years ago, some of the conferences of bishops have been requesting the Apostolic See for the faculty to allow ministers distributing communion to place the eucharistic bread in the hand of the faithful. 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. It is advisable, therefore, that the rite be introduced gradually and in the beginning within small, better prepared groups and in favorable settings. North Africa,October 15 1969 After stipulating the historical practice of Communion in the hand, Memoriale Domini: defends the development of discipline that led to Communion on the tongue Timothy O'Malley, Copyright 2023 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. 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. The causes are myriad and often interconnected. 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. To be a pledge of everlasting life. I am just wondering what the reason or reasons were for allowing reception of Communion in the hand to begin with? It is also difficult to ensure that the person who receives Communion effectively consumes the host. 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. United States, 17 June 1977 Thanks for this, Dennis. In light of some genuinely moving testimonies on the merits of reception in the hand, we cannot ignore that reverence for the Eucharist and belief in the Real Presence among Catholic laity has greatly declined since around the time in which this practice reenterred the Roman Rite after a millennium of absence. 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. 95% of parishes shrinking, seminaries empty, young people disengaged: it will happen in Africa and Asia too when the culture of the secular West overwhelms the Third World. I am a daily witness at the Basilique du Sacr-Cur de Montmartre (Paris).. Please take responsibility for the lies, the bile, and the sinful stuff. 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. To unite us to Himself and to nourish our soul with His Bolivia, October 15 1969 [16] Liturgical evidence from Rome is always sparser than one would like, but Eusebius preserves a mention of communion in the hand in a letter written from Dionysius of Alexandria to Sixtus I, bishop of Rome,[17] and in a letter of Cornelius, bishop of Rome. Cardinals Thorne (Peru) and Caffarra (Bologna) have banned Communion in the hand, citing reasons of abuse and disrespect. [23], The great and divine Apostle Paul with loud voice calls man created in the image of God, the body and temple of Christ. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. There are particles, and there are particles. However, while this text is undoubtedly ancient evidence of the existence of Communion in the hand, it is, like many patristic texts, fraught with interpretative conundrums. [27] John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instruction, 12.15-16, trans. (I dont direct this at you, I mean it to everyone on all sides.). The Holy Eucharist remits venial sins by disposing us to perform acts of love and contrition. Pakistan, 29 October 1976 Fr. Alphonse Mingana (Gorgias Press: Piscataway, NJ, 2009 [1933]). I dont mean how did it come about. A perception such as this is a dreadfully inaccurate and impoverished understanding of what is a significant religious action. Fire consumed the offering awr. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation. To that which you are you respond Amen (yes, it is true!) and by responding to it you assent to it. [T]hose who restrict communicants to receive Holy Communion only in the hands are acting against the norms, as are those who refuse to Christ's faithful [the right] to receive Communion in the hand in dioceses that enjoy this indult.