Communion in the Hand

TRADITIO Traditional Roman Catholic Internet Site ^ | unknown | unknown

[WriteOn]

COMMUNION IN THE HAND

"Communion in the hand" is a Protestant innovation foisted upon the Catholic world in the name of false ecumenism. The Novus Ordo practice of communion in the hand is rooted in the rejection of the Catholic doctrine on the Holy Eucharist and the denial of the Catholic priesthood.

The Church has condemned communion in the hand from the early centuries on:

ST. SIXTUS I (115-125). Prohibited the faithful from even touching the Sacred Vessels: "Statutum est ut sacra vasa non ab aliis quam a sacratis Dominoque dicatis contrectentur hominibus..." [It has been decreed that the Sacred Vessels are not to be handled by others than by those consecrated and dedicated to the Lord.]

POPE ST. EUTYCHIAN (275-283). Forbad the faithful from taking the Sacred Host in their hand.

ST. BASIL THE GREAT, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (330-379). "The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in time of persecution." St. Basil considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault.

COUNCIL OF SARAGOSSA (380). It was decided to punish with EXCOMMUNICATION anyone who dared to continue the practice of Holy Communion in the hand. The Synod of Toledo confirmed this decree.

POPE ST. LEO I THE GREAT (440-461). Energetically defended and required faithful obedience to the practice of administering Holy Communion on the tongue of the faithful.

SYNOD OF ROUEN (650). Condemned Communion in the hand to halt widespread abuses that occurred from this practice, and as a safeguard against sacrilege.

SIXTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, AT CONSTANTINOPLE (680-681). Forbad the faithful to take the Sacred Host in their hand, threatening the transgressors with excommunication.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (1225-1274). "Out of reverence towards this sacrament [the Holy Eucharist], nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest's hands, for touching this sacrament." (Summa Theologica, Pars III, Q. 82, Art. 3, Rep. Obj. 8)

COUNCIL OF TRENT (1545-1565). "The fact that only the priest gives Holy Communion with his consecrated hands is an Apostolic Tradition."

POPE PAUL VI (1963-1978). "This method [on the tongue] must be retained." (Apostolic Epistle "Memoriale Domini")

POPE JOHN PAUL II (1978-). "To touch the sacred species and to distribute them with their own hands is a privilege of the ordained. (Dominicae Cenae, sec. 11)

"It is not permitted that the faithful should themselves pick up the consecrated bread and the sacred chalice, still less that they should hand them from one to another." (Inaestimabile Donum, April 17, 1980, sec. 9)

[WriteOn]

Thought it was interesting.

[sockmonkey]

Though I avoid the Traditio website, I thought I'd add Mother Teresa's sentiments on communion in the hand:

"Without pausing a second she said, 'Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand.'"

-- Fr. George William Rutler, Good Friday, 1989 in St. Agnes Church, New York City (a precise transcript taken from a tape of his talk available from St. Agnes Church)

[sinkspur]

Communion on the tongue is still an option in even the most liberal parishes I've been to.

[Siobhan]

Thank you for posting Mother's words. I was about to do so, and then scanned down to see your post.

Fr. Rutler was a convert from Anglicanism, wasn't he?

[patent]

You've missed a few then, not that we expect you to have attended every liberal Church. There are those who will scold you if you try to receive on the tongue. They will scold you if you genuflect. Etc. Fortunately there aren't very many, but they do exist, and their actions are directly contrary to both the tradition and the living authority of the Church.

[patent]

"Communion in the hand" is a Protestant innovation foisted upon the Catholic world in the name of false ecumenism. The Novus Ordo practice of communion in the hand is rooted in the rejection of the Catholic doctrine on the Holy Eucharist and the denial of the Catholic priesthood.

This, on the other hand, is pure hogwash. I received Communion in the hand for several years, and yet I never rejected Catholic doctrine on the Holy Eucharist, nor did I deny the priesthood. There is no evidence those who instituted these practices did either.

Some people think that just because a Protestant may have done it first, at least in relatively modern times, it therefore must be a rejection of Catholic principles. It is a rather faulty worldview.

patent  +AMDG

[american colleen]

Actually, the early Church took consecrated loaves of bread home for use during the entire week. People could not get to Mass every day because of distance, hard work or it wasn't available because in the very early church, the church was underground.

That said, I take Communion on the tongue.

[katnip]

You know, for me this was probably the most disturbing change that was done.

Only myself and a few old people in my Church still have it placed on our tongues.

The Pastor doesn't seem to mind doing it for us, I just wonder why it was changed?

[american colleen]

My son received his First Communion last month. The nun in charge of the class refused him Communion on the tongue during practice - I was there. I told her that he made the decision himself and he understood the difference between the hand and tongue reception - she said "I don't care how he receives it for the rest of his life, but on Communion day he will take it in his hands" - I called the priest and my son did receive on his tongue, but the nun was fit to be tied.

[american colleen]

I was told that it was a "return to the early church" - but (and I told the nun that said that to me) 100% of the early church knew that Jesus Christ was truly present in the Eucharist while only 33% of Catholics are now.

[sockmonkey]

Communion on the tongue is still an option in even the most liberal parishes I've been to.

Thank God, I've been delivered from liberal Parishes. At my Parish, there is no option. You receive on the tongue while kneeling at the altar rail.

[Siobhan]

Good for you and your son!!!

[Siobhan]

You are most blessed to be in an Anglican Use parish, sockmonkey.

[sockmonkey]

I was watching the "Mass for the Gift of Tears" at the Bishop's Conference. By the way, I thought that was some PR crapola title for the Mass. Anyway, I noticed only one person, the female reporter from Inside the Vatican receiving Communion on the tongue.

[sockmonkey]

You are most blessed to be in an Anglican Use parish, sockmonkey.

Yes, I am. Though it doesn't seem to be counteracting my crustiness, and cynicism.

[Siobhan]

I saw 2 women receive upon the tongue.

What kind of garbage was that title anyway - "Mass for the Gift of Tears". Some idiot in D.C. thought that was a "healing" way to describe the Mass.

They should have had the Eastern-rite bishops celebrate a penitential Divine Liturgy for the assembled prelates and faithful.

[american colleen]

I asked your father what I should do on that. I didn't want to cause a big stink over the whole thing if it was something that we should just "offer up" and take Communion on the tongue in the future.

He bolded his response to me and said in caps "I'll CALL THE PRIEST FOR YOU" - it was so nice! He asked for the phone number and everything! Well, if your father was so adamant, then I knew it was the right thing to do. So, I thank your father (again) for helping me out.

[Siobhan]

I didn't know about that Colleen. I'll share that with the family when we gather for Father's Day tomorrow.

I will be offline Sunday and Monday. See you soon!

[american colleen]

What kind of garbage was that title anyway - "Mass for the Gift of Tears". Some idiot in D.C. thought that was a "healing" way to describe the Mass.

Wasn't that more PR BS? It was offensive. I'll bet Mahony's newly hired marketing firm came up with that one.

[sockmonkey]

I didn't know about that Colleen. I'll share that with the family when we gather for Father's Day tomorrow.

Siobhan, your Father was just such a good and decent man who touched so many people on FR's lives through his faith, and faithfulness. He is and will be missed for a long time to come.