Communion On The Hand

[Nihil Obstat]

I feel it's important to make note of their noble Ukrainian heritage.

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='15 November 2009 - 11:11 AM' timestamp='1258243867' post='2002898']
If I manage to get there before the temporary suspension is lifted, I will be sure to tell you.
[/quote]

I go to an FSSP Mass in Melbourne (Australia) and we receive kneeling, on the tongue!

[CatherineM]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='14 November 2009 - 02:53 PM' timestamp='1258232015' post='2002776']
You tell him. I'm afraid of mine.
[/quote]
That's wise. I'd want Bishop Henry on my side in a bar fight.

The right of peace being removed has calmed things down in our parish too. Another good thing about not being allowed to receive from the cup is that we have 8 less people crowded behind the altar since we no longer need so many EMHC's.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='CatherineM' date='26 November 2009 - 12:30 PM' timestamp='1259260225' post='2009772']
That's wise. I'd want Bishop Henry on my side in a bar fight.

The right of peace being removed has calmed things down in our parish too. Another good thing about not being allowed to receive from the cup is that we have 8 less people crowded behind the altar since we no longer need so many EMHC's.
[/quote]
I am glad about the chalice being suspended for the congregation.
They made the sign of peace worse though. The bishop gave priests the option to let the congregation substitute some other 'sign of peace' besides a handshake....... so the result is that hundreds of people are told "don't shake hands, but do something else" and have zero idea what to do. Leads to confusion, then people losing focus, and this all amplifies the already present break in reverence by a hundred times.

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='26 November 2009 - 01:59 PM' timestamp='1259261948' post='2009792']
...this all amplifies the already present break in reverence by a hundred times.
[/quote]

Funny we've all come to accept this as the norm. What a strange and confusing time we live in.

[nowak.chris]

[quote name='nunsense' date='09 November 2009 - 09:02 AM' timestamp='1257771747' post='1998731']
Another good reason to attend a Latin Mass - we are still receiving on the tongue and using Holy Water! And we don't have to give the sign of peace - all good things! I do think that there has been a little bit of an overreaction to this virus thing with regard to Communion and Holy Water though ....
[/quote]

Whoops, [url="http://www.examiner.com/x-20920-Grand-Rapids-Catholic-Examiner~y2009m12d1-Calgary-bishop-suspends-Latin-Mass"]no more Latin Mass[/url] there either!

Miserere Nobis, Domine!

[Pliny]

I used to receive on the tounge, but stopped, because it was happening too often that I would feel the minister's fingers or hand touch my lips or tongue.

If it happens to me, it must surely happen to others.

I am happy that our temporary policy is now in the hand only. I don't want to receive communion that was touched by hands that touched other tounges, especially during a flu season.

As the letter from our pastor said in effect, was that we should subjugate our personal piety for the sake of the greater good.

Those who would insisist on receiving on the tongue are putting others at risk, and possibly causing them to be cautious and not receive Holy Communion.

Why fight it? What's wrong with thinking about the overall heath of the parish, and make that sacrifice for the greater good?


While on the subject of hygiene...we have some ushers who shake everyone's hand as they exit the pew for the communion line. I don't want to shake hands with them after they've just touched 100 other hands, and before I take Communion in the hand, and it's very distracting and not a time for an usher to act like a politician.

Edited December 18, 2009 by Pliny

[zunshynn]

[quote name='Pliny' date='17 December 2009 - 07:40 PM' timestamp='1261104037' post='2022549']
[quote]I used to receive on the tounge, but stopped, because it was happening too often that I would feel the minister's fingers or hand touch my lips or tongue.

If it happens to me, it must surely happen to others.[/quote]

It rarely happens to me. Maybe you could try opening your mouth wider. I have noticed that tends to happen more with extraordinary ministers than priests. Maybe they get nervous. I don't know.

[quote]I am happy that our temporary policy is now in the hand only. I don't want to receive communion that was touched by hands that touched other tounges, especially during a flu season.[/quote]

Your diocese or parishes temporary policy is not in the hand only. No one has the authority to make it hands only except the Holy See, and the Holy See has maintained that Redemptionis Sacramentum, which states that "Each of the faithful [b]always[/b] has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue" (92, emphasis mine) still applies.

[quote]As the letter from our pastor said in effect, was that we should subjugate our personal piety for the sake of the greater good.

Those who would insisist on receiving on the tongue are putting others at risk, and possibly causing them to be cautious and not receive Holy Communion.

Why fight it? What's wrong with thinking about the overall heath of the parish, and make that sacrifice for the greater good? [/quote]

Interesting... you think the physical health of parishioners is greater good than the spiritual health of the parish? Personally I think spiritual health is the greater good, not to mention expressing external reverence and safeguarding the Blessed Sacrament, but that's just me. And anyway, personally I feel receiving on the tongue from a priest is more sanitary than a dozen extraordinary ministers distributing holy communion after having handled hymnals and shaking hands and wiping children's noses and who knows what else before they go up to distribute holy communion.

Not to mention, I trust that God can prevent me from getting sick when I receive communion and if he wants me to get sick for some reason when I do, it's going to happen whether or not I receive on the tongue. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with safeguards. But I don't think people should be trying to overturn the centuries old, still ordinary tradition of receiving holy communion every time a sickness goes around. The sick don't need to go to Mass anyway.

I find it ironic that I was refused holy communion on the tongue on Sunday, because it was "flu season" and yet, no one seemed to think there was any problem with everyone recieving from the chalice.

I think there's an ulterior motive to all this fuss about holy communion on the tongue being a greater risk for the flu, but again, that's just me.

[quote]While on the subject of hygiene...we have some ushers who shake everyone's hand as they exit the pew for the communion line. I don't want to shake hands with them after they've just touched 100 other hands, and before I take Communion in the hand, and it's very distracting and not a time for an usher to act like a politician.[/quote]

I agree with that, although not so much because its unhygienic as because its disrespectful.

Edited December 18, 2009 by zunshynn

[Archaeology cat]

As zunshynn said, I've only had a priest actually touch my tongue or lips maybe once or twice, and on one of those occasions it was because I'm taller than the priest and didn't stoop down enough. I prefer to receive on the tongue, but also don't usually have a free hand anyway.

[Pliny]

[quote]Your diocese or parishes temporary policy is not in the hand only. No one has the authority to make it hands only except the Holy See, and the Holy See has maintained that Redemptionis Sacramentum, which states that "Each of the faithful [b]always[/b] has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue" (92, emphasis mine) still applies.
[/quote]

Fine, but I think it's a reasonable request during a time of a heath crisis. How does it hurt you to receive in the hand? Will it damage you spiritually? Will you be more likely to sin? I don't see why it's worth a fight.

[quote]Interesting... you think the physical health of parishioners is greater good than the spiritual health of the parish? Personally I think spiritual health is the greater good, not to mention expressing external reverence and safeguarding the Blessed Sacrament, but that's just me. [/quote]

I never said or implied such a thing. If my personal practice is to receive on the tongue, but I'm asked by my pastor to receive in the hand for the sake of my fellow parishioners, I can give up my personal preference for their sakes. That little "sacrifice" on my part would not dimish my spiritul health, and in fact could increase it, since I'm doing what I would otherwise not do for the sake of my brothers and sisters.

And I would not defy the pastor and claim "my right." It's a very reasonable request and not something that should cause contention.

[quote]I find it ironic that I was refused holy communion on the tongue on Sunday, because it was "flu season" and yet, no one seemed to think there was any problem with everyone recieving from the chalice.[/quote]

Agreed. Receiving from the chalice has been suspended at our parish.

[quote]I think there's an ulterior motive to all this fuss about holy communion on the tongue being a greater risk for the flu, but again, that's just me.[/quote]

What would the "ulterior motive" be?

[Laudate_Dominum]

I keep reading this thread title as "Communism on the hand"

*facepalm*

But how would that work exactly?

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[IMG]http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h119/NoonienSoong_2006/communism-773745.jpg[/IMG]
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[holly.o]

[quote name='Pliny' date='18 December 2009 - 04:09 PM' timestamp='1261166956' post='2022794']
Fine, but I think it's a reasonable request during a time of a heath crisis. How does it hurt you to receive in the hand? Will it damage you spiritually? Will you be more likely to sin? I don't see why it's worth a fight.
[/quote]

Let's pose those questions at something else relating to the Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament: genuflecting. I think it does hurt you to not genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament because it shows lack of respect & love. In that way it hurts you spiritually because you're failing to fulfill the commandment to worship the Lord. & yes, that would lead to other sins of a similar type. Even that is worth a fight.

But the Eucharist is so much more intimate. Our Lord is giving Himself to you. Anything centered on that reality is definitely worth a fight, especially to those of us who are being challenged to change something that we consider important.

[quote]I never said or implied such a thing. If my personal practice is to receive on the tongue, but I'm asked by my pastor to receive in the hand for the sake of my fellow parishioners, I can give up my personal preference for their sakes. That little "sacrifice" on my part would not dimish my spiritul health, and in fact could increase it, since I'm doing what I would otherwise not do for the sake of my brothers and sisters.

And I would not defy the pastor and claim "my right." It's a very reasonable request and not something that should cause contention. [/quote]

Personally, I don't think that would help me spiritually to do that, but only God could be the judge of another's heart. Better, I think, for me, to make a spiritual communion & pray that God still receives reverence & adoration in the Blessed Sacrament.

& if someone does something contrary to what the Church teaches, it's your duty to defy them. & I don't think anyone actually said it was "my right" to even receive the Eucharist ever at all... ?


[quote]
What would the "ulterior motive" be?
[/quote]

I read that as lack of respect for the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist (correct me if I'm wrong, zunshynn). One of the arguments that compelled me to begin receiving on the tongue was that Protestants began receiving in the hand to deny He was truly present. & I do have a greater reverence for Him in the Blessed Sacrament now than before. So to me, it would be allowing greater doubt into whether or not this Sacrament is what (really - Who) the Church claims.

In Christ,
Holly


P.S. I'm sorry if any of that came off as rude - I really don't like to debate or even get into confrontations (even over the Internet!). It's just something that I've developed a deep conviction for, & I wanted to try to help you understand the other side since you asked.

[Pliny]

You'll have to do what you think is best, of course.

From my perspective, I'm so grateful to receive Communion, it doesn't matter to me whether someone puts it in my mouth or whether I do it myself. How it goes in does not diminsh or enlarge an infinite God, and again, from my own personal perpective, does not enlarge or diminish my belief.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Pliny' date='19 December 2009 - 12:22 AM' timestamp='1261203747' post='2023045']
You'll have to do what you think is best, of course.

From my perspective, I'm so grateful to receive Communion, it doesn't matter to me whether someone puts it in my mouth or whether I do it myself. How it goes in does not diminsh or enlarge an infinite God, and again, from my own personal perpective, does not enlarge or diminish my belief.
[/quote]
In my opinion then, you would not be the average person. I see a huge difference in the amount of reverence shown by those who receive in the hand, and those who receive on the tongue. In general of course, because I don't mean to imply anything about anyone here.
At the Mass I attended in the Extraordinary Form, the reverence was so obvious that it was absolutely overwhelming. Enough that I nearly couldn't walk. It left me speechless. We just don't see that in our Masses right now, by and large. There are probably a lot of reasons, but one of them, and I believe an important one, is the allowance for Communion in the hand.
However if it doesn't affect you, even the tiniest bit, then I applaud you as an unusually focussed and astute individual and would suggest that you teach everybody you know to be this way.
On the other hand, can you really say that it doesn't affect you? Even the smallest bit? Should we not be pushing ourselves to be just that little bit better wherever we have a chance?

Only you can answer that, I guess.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='19 December 2009 - 01:54 AM' timestamp='1261205697' post='2023063']
In my opinion then, you would not be the average person. I see a huge difference in the amount of reverence shown by those who receive in the hand, and those who receive on the tongue. In general of course, because I don't mean to imply anything about anyone here.
At the Mass I attended in the Extraordinary Form, the reverence was so obvious that it was absolutely overwhelming. Enough that I nearly couldn't walk. It left me speechless. We just don't see that in our Masses right now, by and large. There are probably a lot of reasons, but one of them, and I believe an important one, is the allowance for Communion in the hand.
However if it doesn't affect you, even the tiniest bit, then I applaud you as an unusually focussed and astute individual and would suggest that you teach everybody you know to be this way.
On the other hand, can you really say that it doesn't affect you? Even the smallest bit? Should we not be pushing ourselves to be just that little bit better wherever we have a chance?

Only you can answer that, I guess.
[/quote]

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