Communion in the hand

Solace Girl said:

And Eastern Orthodoxy uses buns (at least they did in the book I read about the Byzantine Empire, things might have changed) so that may lead to less abuse.

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They're big, dense loaves. They're a conundrum. Even though they're sopping wet with the Blood of Christ, they're crumbly and don't fall apart.
(At least they are at the Eastern Catholic Churches, I have no clue about the Orthodox)

Dylan Michael said:

They're big, dense loaves. They're a conundrum. Even though they're sopping wet with the Blood of Christ, they're crumbly and don't fall apart.
(At least they are at the Eastern Catholic Churches, I have no clue about the Orthodox)

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And that's where the golden spoon comes in (at least in the Divine Liturgy of a Eastern Catholic rite by me.) Open mouth (like a little bird) and the priest drops a piece of the wet Eucharist in.)

Orthodox were using the golden spoon long before the Eastern Catholics were shown the ropes!

Open mouth like a little bird???

AMDG said:

And that's where the golden spoon comes in (at least in the Divine Liturgy of a Eastern Catholic rite by me.) Open mouth (like a little bird) and the priest drops a piece of the wet Eucharist in.)

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AMDG said:

Just trying to answer your questions. Communion-in-the-hand is done when the priest (or extraordinary minister) gives the person Communion in the person's hand and not in the universal way (on the person's tongue.)

Sometimes it leads to disrespect against Jesus who is the Eucharist and that is an abuse. Corinthians speaks about not receiving Communion worthily and not recognizing Jesus in Communion. We (and the Eastern Orthodox as well as the Eastern Catholics) take that very seriously.

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Ah, I see! Thank you! I've never heard that. However, given that I grew up in a more Lutheran household, and that I didn't take Communion until I was a teenager, that would explain why. Do priests/ministers do Communion-in-the-hand for the sake of staying germ-free?

gurneyhalleck1 said:

Open mouth like a little bird???

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Well, you know that Latin rite Catholics are to exclaim "Amen" to the priest or extraordinary minister, so when the Latin rite go to Communion in the Eastern Catholic rite church by me, they are given instructions how--no need to talk (the priest does all the talking), just open mouth to be fed.

AMDG said:

There was some talk about an extraordinary minister's fingers (or the priest's) fingers touching the tongue. Honestly have NEVER known this to happen. (Both priests and extraordinary ministers are trained to give Communion--they hold the Eucharist by the edge--hold it up for the Communicant to reverence and then again by holding the Consecrated Host by the edge transfers the Consecrated Host to the Communicant's proffered tongue. Reminds me of the prayer "By His Hand we must be fed")

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I have asked my priest friends and deacon friend along with EMHC about fingers touching the tongue of people receiving. All say it happens, not often, but it does.

The fact is, it's not a natural way of eating, i.e. head back tongue sticking out.

The natural method is as Jesus instructed, "take and eat."

Jim

I've never been to mass where people received it on the tongue. Apparently it's a major faux-pas on the European mainland.

concretecamper said:

The "normal" or "preferred" way to receive communion is on your knees and on the tongue. Receiving while standing and in the hands is the optional way.

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Standing is the norm for Catholics in the USA.

Ministers can not refuse a person who receives kneeling, but they should be given pastoral guidance on the normative posture for receiving in the USA.

Kneeling to receive is often disruptive and even risks tripping people, as everyone expect the person in front of them to stand, then they suddenly drop to their knees without warning.

It's also a symbol of "I'm more Catholic," and the attitudes expressed my many who receive this way, confirm the attitude.

If the Church sees receiving kneeling on the tongue as the preferred way, then they should make it the norm here in the USA, and have us all doing the same, as to not have others stand out among the congregation, but receive in union with their fellow Catholics.

Even if the Church were to make this the norm, I can guarantee, there will be those who go beyond to exhibit their level of piety.

Jim

SaltwaterHeart said:

Ah, I see! Thank you! I've never heard that. However, given that I grew up in a more Lutheran household, and that I didn't take Communion until I was a teenager, that would explain why. Do priests/ministers do Communion-in-the-hand for the sake of staying germ-free?

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I think extraordinary ministers (the priest is the ordinary minister) are just in the Latin rite. I can only speak for the Eastern rite by me and there ONLY the priest gives Communion.

Don't know the reason that only some countries have allowed the indult of Communion-in-the-hand for the Latin rite, but doubt that "germs" would be the reason, particularly since the cup of Consecrated wine is shared by the Congregation. Members who choose to receive the Consecrated wine approach the extraordinary minister holding the cup, and after answering "Amen" to the extraordinary minister's "Blood of Christ", he takes a sip. The extraordinary minister wipes the area while deftly turning the cup a bit and repeats the process for the next Communicant. Intinction (dipping the Consecrated host into the Consecrated wine) is not allowed. Seems to me that the Consecrated Host immersed in the Consecrated Wine (necessitating that golden spoon where Communion is "dropped" into open mouth) is just something done by the East.

There's only been a few times that Communion with the Consecrated Wine has been stopped for a time because of a flu epidemic. In that case, Communion with the Consecrated Host is still available.

Antigone said:

I've never been to mass where people received it on the tongue. Apparently it's a major faux-pas on the European mainland.

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Both styles can be seen during the Easter Mass in Vatican. It's available on Youtube (just search for: Easter Mass 2014), the Communion starts from about 1hour 20minutes. (I really wish I could post links...)

Ren207 said:

Both styles can be seen during the Easter Mass in Vatican. It's available on Youtube (just search for: Easter Mass 2014), the Communion starts from about 1hour 20minutes. (I really wish I could post links...)

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This?

Easter Mass - YouTube

I've only ever attended mass in the Germanic countries, to be fair, but I've never seen anything but hand.

Snipped to portion addressed. Longer post above.

JimR-OCDS said:

Standing is the norm for Catholics in the USA.

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Jim, it is up to the Communicant. Also my granddaughter will be making her First Communion next Sunday. She will be receiving it as her parish has ALL the children receive their First Communion--on her knees and by mouth.

Not ALL parishes in the USA do this, my present one included, but it seems that it WOULD solve a problem that my present parish experienced--that of telling the little 8 year olds not to wear artificial nails and nail polish that would distract from the solemn occasion this is.

Antigone said:

This?
I've only ever attended mass in the Germanic countries, to be fair, but I've never seen anything but hand.

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Yes, thank you. I should have been more specific, heh: 1:23:30.

LivingWordUnity said:

That would be very conspicuous if that happened. And are you saying that can't happen or is less likely when someone receives Holy Communion in the hand? I think an abuse would be harder to do and harder to hide when one receives Holy Communion on the tongue. I'm not saying that Catholics shouldn't receive Holy Communion in the hand. They can because the bishops have said that they can.

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It's neither more or less likely.

The other thing I believe, though, is that God takes note when someone consciously desecrates Him. Also, there are some of us who are watchdogs. I can't admit to always doing it, but sometimes, if I'm serving the altar, I will watch people receive. If they don't consume it, I don't know what I would do, but I've never come across it. Many people are conscious of Our Lord. Not so long ago, a woman with sinus issues received on the tongue, and before she could swallow it, she sneezed part of it out. I didn't notice, but another congregant did, and told me about it. I went and picked it up, and gave it to the priest, who destroyed it. I believe anyone who believes that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus should watch out for anything untoward, whether on purpose, or inadvertent, and know what to do. For example, if someone drops the host, the spot on the ground where the host fell also possibly has fragments of host, and should be blotted with holy water. I believe there needs to be education for the faithful to remind them of the seriousness of the Eucharist...

AMDG

Jim, it is up to the Communicant.

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The USCCB have stated that standing is the Norm. The Vatican has said that a commicant can not be refused for kneeling when they receive, but should be given pastoral guidance when appropriate

Also my granddaughter will be making her First Communion next Sunday. She will be receiving it as her parish has ALL the children receive their First Communion--on her knees and by mouth.

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Great. Now imagine if one of those children insisted on receiving standing and in the hand ? They would be placing themselves outside of the community receiving and this they should not do, which is the point I'm making here.

Not ALL parishes in the USA do this, my present one included, but it seems that it WOULD solve a problem that my present parish experienced--that of telling the little 8 year olds not to wear artificial nails and nail polish that would distract from the solemn occasion this is.

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I know not all parishes do this. My parish, which is a very tiny church with not much room, people kneeling would cause a obstacle for others.

The USCCB and the pastor of the parish will decide the norm for parishes in the USA. In humility, follow their decision on the issue.

Jim

You are correct. We don't say "amen," but rather kiss the bottom of the chalice as we are chewing. That's our "amen" of sorts.

AMDG said:

Well, you know that Latin rite Catholics are to exclaim "Amen" to the priest or extraordinary minister, so when the Latin rite go to Communion in the Eastern Catholic rite church by me, they are given instructions how--no need to talk (the priest does all the talking), just open mouth to be fed.

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JimR-OCDS said:

AMDG



The USCCB have stated that standing is the Norm. The Vatican has said that a commicant can not be refused for kneeling when they receive, but should be given pastoral guidance when appropriate

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Jim, it is STILL up to the Communicant--we are NOT supposed to be uniform robots. People can still choose to receive Communion the universal way or through the INDULT--in- the-hand. I see the mix of either way of receiving Communion in every Latin rite Catholic Church I have had the opportunity to celebrate Mass (we aren't just limited to our local Churches either.) What is important is receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. It has also been decreed (in the USA) that IF the person decides on Communion standing and in-the-hand, he MUST offer a sign of reverence, but if he receives kneeling, that is considered reverence enough--that in itself is a sign of reverence.

People are not FORCED to ONLY receive in-the-hand. They can still receive on-the-tongue whether or not they add the kneeling. In fact many do...for various reasons.

IMO if you are happy standing and receiving by the INDULT, that's your affair. There is no need to judge others who choose to receive Communion on-the-tongue whether they stand or kneel. And to forbid one from receiving the universal way (on-the-tongue) and kneeling is an abuse to be reported to one's bishop.

My priest insists that we receive communion by mouth, so I don't have to wonder which way to receive it.

AMDG

Jim, it is STILL up to the Communicant--we are NOT supposed to be uniform robots.

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Actually it's not, the person who receives kneeling can not be refused, but should be given pastoral instruction about standing being the norm.

If the continue to kneel after being instructed, well it may be the sin of pride they're committing.

People can still choose to receive Communion the universal way or through the INDULT--in- the-hand.

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Yup, and they can't be forced to receive on the tongue by an individual parish priest.

I see the mix of either way of receiving Communion in every Latin rite Catholic Church I have had the opportunity to celebrate Mass (we aren't just limited to our local Churches either.) What is important is receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. It has also been decreed (in the USA) that IF the person decides on Communion standing and in-the-hand, he MUST offer a sign of reverence, but if he receives kneeling, that is considered reverence enough--that in itself is a sign of reverence.

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I never heard that it is mandated that a person show a sign of reverence while receiving Holy Communion, but that it's suggested.

A slight bow is all that is needed.

Leave it to some, and they'll approach the Eucharistic crawling on their hands and knees.

People are not FORCED to ONLY receive in-the-hand. They can still receive on-the-tongue whether or not they add the kneeling. In fact many do...for various reasons.

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And they can't be forced to receive on the tongue either, unless receiving from the Pope and he mandates it. However, they can go to another Eucharistic minister and receive in the hand at the same Mass.

IMO if you are happy standing and receiving by the INDULT, that's your affair. There is no need to judge others who choose to receive Communion on-the-tongue whether they stand or kneel. And to forbid one from receiving the universal way (on-the-tongue) and kneeling is an abuse to be reported to one's bishop.

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Uhm, I didn't open this thread condemning receiving Holy Communion in the hand. You've seem to missed that point.


I'm merely defending it against those who would force us to receive on the tongue if they had their way.

Jim

I like your priest already!!!!

Chrystal-J said:

My priest insists that we receive communion by mouth, so I don't have to wonder which way to receive it.

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