Holy Communion

[the_rev]

A few questions about Holy Communion.

When was the reception of the body allowed in the hand?

When was the reception of the blood of Christ allowed?

If Christ is present body, blood, soul and divinity in the body is their a need to receive the blood?

When did kneeling for communion stop happening?

Thanks

Eddy

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
11/10 - Thirty-second Thursday

the_rev,

Good questions.

1.) Receiving on the hand was the norm in ancient Christianity, and for good reason - they were often using bread that had been made at a Christian's home. As a result, breaking off pieces and putting them in peoples' mouths was very difficult if one was not to lose crumbs. Reception on the tongue did not become the norm until the middle of the 9th century with the Council of Rouen. It was re-allowed only to cultures where it had become the norm in the mid-1980s.

2.) Again, this had been common in ancient Christianity, but fell into disuse rather quickly. This practice was re-allowed (but not mandated) by the Second Vatican Council.

3.) There is no need on the part of the faithful to receive the Precious Blood, since the entirety of Christ is present under either species. However, it is required for priests who are celebrating Mass for a variety of reasons.

4.) Kneeling for communion in the West became the norm by the 7th or 8th century (if I recall correctly). This practice had not altogether ended, but definitively ended in America in 2004 with the US bishops' declaration that the normal posture for the reception of communion is standing.

Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono

P.S.: Thanks for asking now, I was just tested on this stuff on Wednesday. :

[phatcatholic]

note that while the normal posture in the US for reception of the Eucharist is standing, we are [i]still[/i] allowed to receive the Eucharist kneeling and the Eucharist cannot be denied us b/c we assume this posture for reception.

[Cam42]

Not to totally contradict Pio Nono, I must respectfully disagree with his assertation:

[quote]Kneeling for communion in the West became the norm by the 7th or 8th century (if I recall correctly). This practice had not altogether ended, but definitively ended in America in 2004 with the US bishops' declaration that the normal posture for the reception of communion is standing.[/quote]

[quote name='Redemptionis Sacramentum #90']“The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined,” with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. “However, if they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that they give due reverence before the reception of the Sacrament, as set forth in the same norms.”[/quote]

The most recent document on reception of Holy Communion is silent, it is [i]Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America.[/i]

The norm in the US is to stand, as stated by the GIRM in the US, however, it is not definitive. Here is what the GIRM says:

[quote name='GIRM #160']The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed.[/quote]

In other words, if one chooses to kneel, they are not to be denied, but rather they are to be admitted.

Here is more:

[quote name='Redemptionis Sacramentum #91']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”. Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.[/quote]

This statement says that regardless the norm, one cannot be denied Holy Communion because he kneels.

Again, I don't have a problem with the norm being standing, but it is hardly definitive, in America.

Here is what the Vatican has to say on this, as well:

[quote name='Congregation de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum']
Rome, 1 July 2002

Your Excellency,

This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has recently received reports of members of the faithful in your Diocese being refused Holy Communion unless while standing to receive, as opposed to kneeling. The reports state that such a policy has been announced to parishioners. There were possible indications that such a phenomenon might be somewhat more widespread in the Diocese, but the Congregation is unable to verify whether such is the case. This Dicastery is confident that Your Excellency will be in a position to make a more reliable determination of the matter, and these complaints in any event provide an occasion for the Congregation to communicate the manner in which it habitually addresses this matter, with a request that you make this position known to any priests who may be in need of being thus informed.

[u]The Congregation in fact is concerned at the number of similar complaints that it has received in recent months from various places, and considers any refusal of Holy Communion to a member of the faithful on the basis of his or her kneeling posture to be a grave violation of one of the most basic rights of the Christian faithful, namely that of being assisted by their Pastors by means of the Sacraments (Codex Iuris Canonici, canon 213).[/u] In view of the law that "sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who opportunely ask for them, are properly disposed and are not prohibited by law from receiving them" (canon 843 1), there should be no such refusal to any Catholic who presents himself for Holy Communion at Mass, except in cases presenting a danger of grave scandal to other believers arising out of the person's unrepented public sin or obstinate heresy or schism, publicly professed or declared. [b]Even where the Congregation has approved of legislation denoting standing as the posture for Holy Communion, in accordance with the adaptations permitted to the Conferences of Bishops by the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani n. 160, paragraph 2, it has done so with the stipulation that communicants who choose to kneel are not to be denied Holy Communion on these grounds.[/b]

[b]In fact, as His Eminence, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has recently emphasized, the practice of kneeling for Holy Communion has in its favor a centuries-old tradition, and it is a particularly expressive sign of adoration, completely appropriate in light of the true, real and substantial presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the consecrated species.[/b]

[u]Given the importance of this matter, the Congregation would request that Your Excellency inquire specifically whether this priest in fact has a regular practice of refusing Holy Communion to any member of the faithful in the circumstances described above and - if the complaint is verified - that you also firmly instruct him and any other priests who may have had such a practice to refrain from acting thus in the future. Priests should understand that the Congregation will regard future complaints of this nature with great seriousness, and if they are verified, it intends to seek disciplinary action consonant with the gravity of the pastoral abuse.[/u]

Thanking Your Excellency for your attention to this matter and relying on your kind collaboration in its regard,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Jorge A. Cardinal Medina Estévez
Prefect

+Francesco Pio Tamburrino
Archbishop Secretary[/quote]