Last Monday I put up a post with a quote about the reception of communion in the hand. It received the most comments of any post I have put up to date. Let me state once again before I go any further that I do not judge anyone who receives communion in the hand. It is interesting that this quote drew so many comments considering the man who said it is none other than Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X. Yes he was my “Mystery Catholic”. Currently Fellay is excommunicated but the SSPX has been in the news lately, but I prefer not to make this post about Fellay or the SSPX. (This means I don’t want comments praising or bashing Fellay and the SSPX, keep your comments about the reception of communion) The reason I called Fellay a “Mystery Catholic” is because even though he is excommunicated from the Catholic Church he is in discussions with Rome and it is quite possible that his excommunication could be lifted. So in the end it is a mystery if Fellay is Catholic or not.
As much as I disagree with Fellay on a number of things I do see his point about communion in the hand, which I will quote here again:
…At first, many may have been shocked by communion in the hand; but “everybody does it.” Then little by little, as you receive Our Lord in your hands standing, you end up thinking that He is not your Lord. Because if He were really God, you would fall on your knees to adore Him and you would not take Him in your hand. For when you take something in your hand, you are the one in control. “I have the matter in hand” means that you have something under control…
One comment from Bill from the previous post said “Yes kneeling may be “tolerated” but the USCCB discourages it”. It is not my desire to draw attention to myself by kneeling to receive communion, and I don’t encourage anyone else to kneel either unless a kneeler is present, but I find it a bit odd that the USCCB, our own Shepards, would discourage us from kneeling to receive communion. I know this is more of a logistics and flow issue more than anything else but it is a logistics and flow issue that was created by our Shepards. I for one love the Novus Ordo Mass, I grew up with it, but it would be even better if the norm was for us to receive our Lord kneeling. This logistics and flow issue can be resolved considering that for hundreds of years the laity received communion kneeling.
Another comment from JohnR said “But as I read and reflect on Matthew 26:26, While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
It appears to me communion in the hand is a personal invitation “He…gave it to his disciples, and said Take”. It doesn’t get more personal than to have it handed directly to you and personally invited to take it (His body). Throughout the gospels we hear of the personal, physical interaction of our Lord with His sheep, and hear how those present want to be near and touch Him. I have a longing to be touch by Jesus Christ spiritually and physically. Communion in the hand seems like a perfect opportunity.”
I think this is an excellent point but I would offer two additional thoughts.
- You are touching him when he is placed on your tongue.
- Christ said take and eat to the Apostles who are our modern day Bishops.
The Catholic Church teaches that we receive communion do not take it. Only those above a certain ordained level are allowed to serve themselves communion. I’m not sure about the rule on Deacons but we the laity do not take communion we receive it.
Which leads me to the conclusion of my longest post to date. (Thanks for taking the time to read it.) Recently in the L’Osservatore Romano (the Vatican newspaper) Msgr. Guido Marini was asked, “In the recent visit to Santa Maria di Leuca and Brindisi the Pope distributed Communion to the faithful on the tongue and kneeling. Is this a practice destined to become habitual in papal ceremonies?
Msgr. Marini: I really think so. In this regard it is necessary not to forget that the distribution of Communion in the hand remains, even now, from the juridical standpoint, an indult from the universal law, conceded by the Holy See to those bishops conferences which requested it. The method adopted by Benedict XVI tends to underscore the force of the norm valid for the whole Church. In addition, one could perhaps also note a preference for using this method of distribution which, without taking anything from the other, better sheds light on the truth of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, it helps the devotion of the faithful, introduces them more easily to a sense of mystery. Aspects which, in our time, speaking pastorally, it is urgent to highlight and recover.”
Reception of communion in the hand is an indult, i.e. a concession or privilege that is not allowed by the Church’s common law. It can be removed, just like the removal of the ability for the laity to purify the sacred vessels of communion, that indult was removed not to long ago. Note, that ever since the Feast of Corpus Christi the Pope is giving communion kneeling and on the tongue. (see below) One can only wonder if this is sign of things to come for the entire Church.
I Have The Matter In Hand - 2
Last Monday I put up a post with a quote about the reception of communion in the hand. It received the most comments of any post I have put up to date. Let me state once again before I go any further that I do not judge anyone who receives communion in the hand. It is interesting that this quote drew so many comments considering the man who said it is none other than Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X. Yes he was my “Mystery Catholic”. Currently Fellay is excommunicated but the SSPX has been in the news lately, but I prefer not to make this post about Fellay or the SSPX. (This means I don’t want comments praising or bashing Fellay and the SSPX, keep your comments about the reception of communion) The reason I called Fellay a “Mystery Catholic” is because even though he is excommunicated from the Catholic Church he is in discussions with Rome and it is quite possible that his excommunication could be lifted. So in the end it is a mystery if Fellay is Catholic or not.
As much as I disagree with Fellay on a number of things I do see his point about communion in the hand, which I will quote here again:
…At first, many may have been shocked by communion in the hand; but “everybody does it.” Then little by little, as you receive Our Lord in your hands standing, you end up thinking that He is not your Lord. Because if He were really God, you would fall on your knees to adore Him and you would not take Him in your hand. For when you take something in your hand, you are the one in control. “I have the matter in hand” means that you have something under control…
One comment from Bill from the previous post said “Yes kneeling may be “tolerated” but the USCCB discourages it”. It is not my desire to draw attention to myself by kneeling to receive communion, and I don’t encourage anyone else to kneel either unless a kneeler is present, but I find it a bit odd that the USCCB, our own Shepards, would discourage us from kneeling to receive communion. I know this is more of a logistics and flow issue more than anything else but it is a logistics and flow issue that was created by our Shepards. I for one love the Novus Ordo Mass, I grew up with it, but it would be even better if the norm was for us to receive our Lord kneeling. This logistics and flow issue can be resolved considering that for hundreds of years the laity received communion kneeling.
Another comment from JohnR said “But as I read and reflect on Matthew 26:26, While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
It appears to me communion in the hand is a personal invitation “He…gave it to his disciples, and said Take”. It doesn’t get more personal than to have it handed directly to you and personally invited to take it (His body). Throughout the gospels we hear of the personal, physical interaction of our Lord with His sheep, and hear how those present want to be near and touch Him. I have a longing to be touch by Jesus Christ spiritually and physically. Communion in the hand seems like a perfect opportunity.”
I think this is an excellent point but I would offer two additional thoughts.
The Catholic Church teaches that we receive communion do not take it. Only those above a certain ordained level are allowed to serve themselves communion. I’m not sure about the rule on Deacons but we the laity do not take communion we receive it.
Which leads me to the conclusion of my longest post to date. (Thanks for taking the time to read it.) Recently in the L’Osservatore Romano (the Vatican newspaper) Msgr. Guido Marini was asked, “In the recent visit to Santa Maria di Leuca and Brindisi the Pope distributed Communion to the faithful on the tongue and kneeling. Is this a practice destined to become habitual in papal ceremonies?
Msgr. Marini: I really think so. In this regard it is necessary not to forget that the distribution of Communion in the hand remains, even now, from the juridical standpoint, an indult from the universal law, conceded by the Holy See to those bishops conferences which requested it. The method adopted by Benedict XVI tends to underscore the force of the norm valid for the whole Church. In addition, one could perhaps also note a preference for using this method of distribution which, without taking anything from the other, better sheds light on the truth of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, it helps the devotion of the faithful, introduces them more easily to a sense of mystery. Aspects which, in our time, speaking pastorally, it is urgent to highlight and recover.”
Reception of communion in the hand is an indult, i.e. a concession or privilege that is not allowed by the Church’s common law. It can be removed, just like the removal of the ability for the laity to purify the sacred vessels of communion, that indult was removed not to long ago. Note, that ever since the Feast of Corpus Christi the Pope is giving communion kneeling and on the tongue. (see below) One can only wonder if this is sign of things to come for the entire Church.