Jamaica, 12 March 1970 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. 2. SACRED CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP, Letter En reponse a la demande, to presidents of those conferences of bishops petitioning the indult for communion in the hand, 29 May 1969: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 61 (1969) 546-547; Notitiae 5 (1969) 351-353. That the conference had voted twice but failed to approve the practice and then only won the third vote by gathering absentee votes which is the article claims was unlawful? Cdl. McElroy doubles down on heresy, pushes Communion for 'sexually 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. Reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament | The Fatima Center In the context of the reception of Communion, this means a cognizance of both Church history and contemporary cultural nuances. The traditional and preferred method is the reception of the Host on the tongue: Step forward and kneel at the Communion rail or station (if you stand, make a sign of reverencesuch as a bow or genuflection or Sign of the Crossbefore receiving the Host and take care not to disrupt the Communion line). Pope Paul Vl approved this Instruction, confirmed it with his authority, and ordered its publication, setting the day of publication as its effective date. I used the wordnecessarilyas an equivalent to in and of itself. There is no inherent reason why Communion in the hand is less reverent. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. 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. How to Receive the Eucharist | Catholic Answers Bishops Cannot Mandate Communion on the Hand or Forbid Communion on the Elizabeth Klein is an Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute. 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. Alphonse Mingana (Gorgias Press: Piscataway, NJ, 2009 [1933]). Indeed, it can be dangerous for contagion. The problem is a lack of intentionality across the board, starting with the laity. This is a fundamental misunderstanding. 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. 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. 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. As I read above article, I didnt found name of my country India in the list of countries which have Indult for communion in hand. 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. The faithful receive Communion kneeling or standing, as established by the episcopal conference. Paul VI had a measure of it in 1974, and we hav emostly missed the wisdom of Evangelii Nuntiandi. Holt Orders cannot sustain the Church, no matter how much traditionalists preach priests are of the utmost importance. Particularly in regard to this way of receiving communion, experience suggests certain matters requiring careful attention. A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist: Finally, ensuring the application of liturgical law is above all the responsibility of the bishop and only indirectly the religious superior. This action by Christ's body, the Church assembled for the Eucharist, is manifested and supported by the Communion Chant, a hymn in praise of Christ sung by the united voices of those who believe in him and share his life. What if our way of calling our fellow Christians to a higher way were based on loving example and not polemics? This was the law of the Church for almost 14 centuries, and is still the general norm today. For example, to say that Communion in the hand is a sign of spiritual maturity, or that Communion on the tongue reduces the lay faithful to infancy, is belied by centuries of lay saints who received in this manner. On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. 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. Church Life Journal Cyril of Jerusalem [c. 313-386], Catechetical Lectures, 23:21-22) Several more but no room here. 284-287 is to be followed.. Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. Battered Gargoyles & The Human Future - Rod Dreher's Diary [5] John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent 28. Several readers pointed out that I made no mention of a text of St. Cyril when mentioning the historical foundations of the practice. 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. 161. divine life. I honestly get sick of it too. | Irondale, AL 35210 |. Early Christian Communion in the Hand | Church Life Journal Even if we presume the authenticity of the text we still do not know how long the practice lasted, whether leavened or unleavened bread was used and whether the practice was exclusive to the Church of Jerusalem. 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. 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. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. 4. He said that he had checked with the then Apostolic Delegation and had been assured that the pope was giving the boy a rosary. 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. 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. 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. Hard to believe that Catechesis has never been better if that fundamental is misunderstood. If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church: Receiving Communion All of us are only grasping a hint of it. The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? [26] Augustine, Letter 54.3.4, trans. Fire and Spirit, contrary to nature 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. Library : Holy Communion in the Hand? | Catholic Culture The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says the following: 160. There are many devout Catholics who find this practice helpful. But is the impression they give generally correct? To unite us to Himself and to nourish our soul with His Some may choose to receive the Lord on the tongue while others choose to receive in the hand. 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). 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. We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. 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. Communion on the tongue is recommended and considered the most consonant way to receive the Eucharist, while Communion on the hand is permitted, provided that certain precautions are observed, such as checking to see if any fragments of the Host remain on the palm of the hand. I think the Holy Spirit was nudging people closer to the problem, which was already in evidence decades before the Council. All our lives we who believe in Christ are moving in time toward that moment when we will be taken by death from this world and enter into the joy of the Lord in the eternal Kingdom he has prepared for us. Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us The missal of 1570 eliminated almost all sequences and moved the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar to the beginning of the Order of Mass though the Council of Trent never said a word about either. [22] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10, trans. The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? 48 (Sept/Oct), pg 361. I have celebrated Mass in places where there is no Communion in the hand and yet have observed some people approach the Eucharist in a slovenly and distracted manner with nary a trace of reverence in sight. On the one hand, I think this evidence precludes describing communion in the hand as intrinsically irreverent. Come see, [3] Augustine, Answer to Petilian 2.23.53and Against Parmenian 2.7.13. I am just wondering what the reason or reasons were for allowing reception of Communion in the hand to begin with? 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. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. [1] This RCIA Process is the way in which you are prepared to be formally received by the Church; this is necessary before you can take Communion. 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. 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. The General Instruction asks each country's Conference of Bishops to determine the posture to be used for the reception of Communion and the act of reverence to be made by each person as he or she receives Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 4). However, this is likely to lead to many embarrassing instances for the faithful who approach communion unaware of the situation. 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. Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. . From a hygienic point of view, the hand carries a huge amount of bacteria. 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). Dear Patrick, Germany, 6 June 1969 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. 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. 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. ADOM :: Communion: in the hand or the tongue Churches are closing, priests are dying off, masses young people are dropping their faith, and the Church is slowly slipping into obscurity in its own homeland. I make no judgment about who is guilty of this- I dont know most of the people by far and am in no position to judge. Other way round, it was in the hand and changed to the tongue circa 900 in the west. Consider that you not only receive this gift in your hand, but that you also bring it up to your mouth, and keep your tongue clean of all disgraceful and outrageous words, blasphemy, perjury and all other sins of this sort. R. E. Heine FotC 21 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1982). I think proponents of tongue/kneeling will get a better hearing if they uphold all aspects of Communion. Bishop Athanasius Schneider argued along the same lines at the end of February. Indonesia, 27 March 1971 Leo P. McCauley FotC 64 (Catholic University of America Press: Washington, DC, 2000 [1970]). And to demonstrate reverence and. Part I - Holy Communion: The Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus - USCCB But one should not by his own judgment abstain from or return to communion, as he pleases. Today, both manners of receiving Communion are worthy and licit. 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. In comparing the indult list provided in this post with the brief history of Fr. 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. 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. What some call discipleship, others evangelizationnew or whatever, or some speak of discernment and application of spiritual gifts. 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. 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. I dont think reception in the hand is destroying the Church like what some prominent leaders in the Church have implied, but this practice has still had wide ranging [and not entirely positive] ramifications in the Church over the last half century, far beyond the obvious choice of the individual communicant. His blood now flows through our veins. For it is a deed fraught with destruction to take the tongue which serve such awesome mysteries, which has become purpled with a blood so precious, which has become a sword of gold and to change its course to abuse, insolence and ribald jests. Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion. 21. 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. But to us our Lord has given both . In fact, each time we move forward together to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord, we join the countless ranks of all the baptized who have gone before us, our loved ones, the canonized and uncanonized saints down through the ages, who at their time in history formed a part of this mighty stream of believers. 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.. Devotion and reverence toward the Eucharist in the case of communion in the hand.
Pioneer Woman Chicken Stuffing Casserole,
Simply Ming Spicy Shrimp With Fregola And Chickpeas,
Articles OTHER