[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). The option must not turn out to be the occasion for regarding it as ordinary bread or as just another religious article., I feel this is a underrated point in recent discussions on the reception of Holy Communion, both here on PT and elsewhere. On this point, I will leave you with a beautiful exhortation from the Golden Tongue: Think of what you receive in your hand and never lift it to strike another and never disgrace with the sin of assault the hand that has been honored with so great a gift. The host will then be laid in the palm of the left hand and then taken by the right hand to the mouth. [9] Theodore of Mopsuestia, Catechetical Homilies 6. Whatever procedure is adopted, care must be taken not to allow particles of the Eucharistic bread to fall or be scattered. For example, although Communion in the hand is generally permitted at the Vatican, in recent years ministers administrating Communion at large at papal Masses have been enjoined to distribute Communion only on the tongue. For the first few centuries of the Church, receiving Communion in the hand was a common practice. England and Wales, 6 March 1976 However, since it is a permission, it does not generate an absolute right, and the pastors can rescind the permission, either generally or in particular circumstances if objective motives exist for doing so. 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. Indeed, it can be dangerous for contagion. Surveys from CARA and Pew reflect this, though I admittedly doubted them until I attended mass with a fellow Catholic at church that predominantly received on the tongue and my friend jeering remarked, why dont they receive in the hand like normal people? 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. [17] See Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 7.9.4. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? For one who eats unworthily eats and drinks to his own condemnation (1 Cor 11:29). While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family. Scandinavia,October 15 1969 They partake not of Him that is in them, they perceive Him not. Father, as to the limitation on what regions might request this indult, Memoriale Domini stipulated that Where a contrary usage, that of placing holy communion on the hand, prevails, the Holy See [] lays on those conferences the task of weighing carefully whatever special circumstances may exist there []. 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. But there is more to the story. The new manner of giving communion must not be imposed in a way that would exclude the traditional practice. [13] In the far-flung regions of the empireGaul (modern-day France and Spain) we have the witness of Caesarius of Arles[14] and the council of Auxerre,[15] and in England, we have the Venerable Bede. Paraguay, 27 September 1971 Other way round, it was in the hand and changed to the tongue circa 900 in the west. Part 4. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. 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. What some call discipleship, others evangelizationnew or whatever, or some speak of discernment and application of spiritual gifts. Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling. 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. 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. [24] Trans. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer Amen. His blood now flows through our veins. Thanks for this, Dennis. 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. 4. 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. 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. 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. Rather maddeningly, it is the Anglicans who in the West have retained the practice as described by St. Cyril, while contemporary Latin-rite Catholics tend to consume the Host as if it were a potato chip., 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. But is the impression they give generally correct? 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. Pray Tell here documents two statements of the Congregation for Divine Worship issued under Pope Paul VI. These considerations can perhaps help balance our perspective (whether in favor or against the practice of communion in the hand), and alert us to the fact that reverence is a complex phenomenon that, of course, does involve postures of the body, but most importantly, the attitude of the heart. Think of what you receive in your hand and keep it clean of all greed and theft. The new manner of giving communion must not be imposed in a way that would exclude the traditional practice. We owe the Lord as much attention to detail. The Pope grants that throughout the territory of your conference, each bishop may, according to his prudent judgment and conscience, authorize in his diocese the introduction of the new rite for giving communion. [5] John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent 28. 48 (Sept/Oct), pg 361. Fire came down and consumed the sacrifices of Elijah Bolivia, October 15 1969 Finally, the fact that the Communion Procession is a profoundly religious action tells us something about the way in which we should participate in this procession. Mingle and flow into the palms of his disciples![22]. Over the years I have read a multitude of opinions for and against, and occasionally perceived false arguments. The divine coal is a common image of the Eucharist in Syrian theology. Madagascar 2 March 1970 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. 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. 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. Greg., Dial., I, III, c. iii). 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. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. If Your Hand/Hands are Impeded . Obviously, for better or worse, the NLM has an agenda. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says the following: 160. Basil the Great considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault. Today, both manners of receiving Communion are worthy and licit. can. This practice has been requested by individual episcopal conferences and has received approval from the Apostolic See. 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. To that which you are you respond Amen (yes, it is true!) and by responding to it you assent to it. The wind has left our sails and many of us are adrift on uncertain seas. Gross Alexander NPNF 13, ed. The people administering the sacrament are asked to use hand sanitizer immediately before. [8] John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians, Baptismal Instruction 12.1516, On the Incomprehensible Nature of God 6.36, and On the Priesthood 3.4. 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. A situation that, in the US certainly, was not necessarily governed by external uniformity (given the varieties of ethnic piety and cultural practices). 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 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 . Zambia, 11 March 1974 The faithful receive Communion kneeling or standing, as established by the episcopal conference. France, 6 June 1969 I wholeheartedly agree with your comment on another thread that this ongoing discussion is frivolous and is only causing needless division. awr. 6. cites vote tallies to defend a claim that a large majority (longe plurimos) of bishops not only oppose introducing Communion in the hand but consider it tum sensui tum spirituali cultui [] offensioni Pope Paul Vl calls attention to the purpose of the InstructionMemoriale Dominiof 29 May 1969, on retaining the traditional practice in use. Hard to believe that Catechesis has never been better if that fundamental is misunderstood. For example, Augustine writes, Someone might say that the Eucharist should not be received daily. 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. 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. It must be presumed that a priest has sufficient formation in moral principles so as to exclude an erroneous conscience in such matters. The condition is the complete avoidance of any cause for the faithful to be shocked and any danger of irreverence toward the Eucharist. divine life. 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. As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable. We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. W.R., Goa, India. Why? 86). You should thus draw near with great awe and love, according to the greatness of that which is given: with awe, because of the greatness of (its) honour; and with love, because of (its) grace. When one receives from the chalice, the same proclamation is made by the person distributing Communion and the Communicant again responds, "Amen." For some, however, the singing of this hymn is perceived as an intrusion on their own prayer, their private thanksgiving after Communion.