Extraordinary ministers at Papal Mass deny Communion in the hand

Musings of a Pertinacious Papist ^ | May 19, 2014

[NYer]

While Pope Francis doesn't reject Communion in the hand (remember Rio?), it's nice to see the convention retrieved under Pope Benedict XVI continued in Rome: Communion on the tongue. Check it out:

Pope Francis on Reception of Holy Communion Kneeling and On The Tongue- Video

Now just imagine one of your lay "Eucharistic ministers" try that in your local AmChurch parish! Isn't this crazy? All hell would break loose, and you know it!

For a good discussion of the issue by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, author of Dominus Est – It Is the Lord! Reflections of a Bishop of Central Asia on Holy Communion(Newman House Press, 2009):

Most Rev. Athanasius Schneider on Communion in the Hand - Video

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The Eponymous Flower

Friday, August 12, 2011

Auxiliary Bishop Says Communion In the Hand is a Calvinist Novelty

Not Even Martin Luther Would Have Done It

In the last century the Old Liberal Bishops promoted hand Communion.  They used a historical lie toward this end.

Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider

(kreuz.net)Present day Communion in the Hand has no roots in the early Church.


This was stressed by Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider (50) of Astana in Kazakhstan on the 19th on the radio station 'Radio Maria Südtirol'

Msgr Schneider is a Patristic expert.

Hand Communion was contrived "all new" from the Second Vatican Council -- the Auxiliary Bishop firmly said.

The antique Church had practiced a completely different form for the reception of Communion.

In that period the hand in which Communion was received was purified before and after.

Additionally, the faithful would take the Body of the Lord from their hand in a disposition of prayer with his tongue:

"If anything it was more of an oral reception of Communion than in the hand".

After Communion, the communicant had to lick their hands with their tongues, so that even the smallest particle should not be lost.

A Deacon supervised the purification.

The Auxiliary Bishop cotinued: "This concern and care stands in direct opposition to indifference and carelessness with which so called Communion in the hand is dispensed."

Women never held Communion simply on the flat of the hand.

They spread a white cloth, a manner of corporal over their hand.

Then, they would receive Communion directly to their mouth from the linen cloth.

"That is a tremendous contrast to the present form of Communion in the hand" -- insisted Msgr Schneider.

The ancient faithful never took Communion with their fingers: "the gesture of hand Communion was completely unknown in the Church."

The Antique Form of Giving Communion Was Impractical in the Final Analysis

In the course of the centuries the Church developed a form of giving Communion which "surely came from the Holy Ghost".

Msgr Schneider explained that the Eastern Church had already completed this step by the 5th Century, the West somewhat later.

The transition took place worldwide, organically, instinctively and peacefully.

The Auxiliary Bishop reports that Pope Gregory the Great († 604), gave Communion in on the tongue.

French and Spanish Synods of the 8th and 9th Centuries sanctioned against touching the Host with excommunication:

"If a Synod can make such a strict threat, this form will be forbidden in a short time."

Communion in the Hand Comes from the Calvinists

According to the Auxiliary Bishop, communion in the hand comes from the Dutch Calvinists of the 17th Century.

Calvinism denies the real presence of Christ in the Host.

One such communion in the hand wasn't even practiced by the Lutherans:

"The Lutherans have until quite recently, and till today in Scandinavian lands, preserved communion kneeling and on the tongue."

Coming up: Communion in the hand destroys piety.

Link to original, kreuznet...

[NYer]

The videos provide more in depth historical information, ping!

[BillyBoy]

>> Communion in the Hand has no roots in the early Church. <<

Aside from, you know, that Last Supper thing where Jesus handed them the bread instead of placing it on their tongue.

[FatherofFive]

Aside from, you know, that Last Supper thing where Jesus handed them the bread instead of placing it on their tongue.

Exactly. "Take this and eat."

[AlexW]

Growing up in the Episcopal church, I never knew anything but “in the hand” communion. I think we all know what became of that once great church.
Since leaving the US, I have not been in any church but the Catholic. It is my new home.

[Salvation]

Bravo for these Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion!

[FatherofFive]

Bravo for these Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion!

What does "Take this and eat" mean? You receive on the tongue. You take in the hand.

[jacknhoo]

Man, imagine telling our Lord we wouldn’t accept him, from himself, in the hand.

[FatherofFive]

Man, imagine telling our Lord we wouldn’t accept him, from himself, in the hand.

I am a very conservative, cradel Catholic. I reverantly received on the tongue as a youth. But when Christ said, "Take this and eat" I believe taking in the hand is in accordance with his commands. This is why I believe our Orthodox brothers are wrong - mixing the bread and wine and receiving from a spoon.

Take means take, in the hand.

[verga]

Ordinarily you and I are in agreement, but the opportunity for the theft of consecrated hosts is greatly reduced by limiting reception to the tongue.

At our parish we do permit reception both ways, we also have either the KOC or ushers observing to prevent theft.

[AppyPappy]

I would think that Intinction was heresy then.

[FatherofFive]

Ordinarily you and I are in agreement, but the opportunity for the theft of consecrated hosts is greatly reduced by limiting reception to the tongue.

Not really. You could take it out real quick.

What does "Take this and eat" mean to you? Did Christ put the bread in the mouths of the apostles?

[verga]

Not here to argue, I said my peace. Let it go.

[cloudmountain]

I have never done anything BUT take communion on the tongue from the priest.

If a lay person distributes holy communion I take it in my hand. I've only "had" to do that once or twice in YEARS. I ALWAYS line up for the/a priest.

[FatherofFive]

we also have either the KOC or ushers observing to prevent theft.

Christ was scourged, spat upon, and totally abused. It would not be surprising if somebody disrespected His Body today. It actually would be surprising if nobody did. That doesn't diminish the majesty of our Lord and Savior

[annalex]

That is likely, but not the only meaning of "λαβετε".

The word has two main senses, one (more active) take; the other (more passive) receive

Liddell-Scott

In any event, the Church has the prerogative to define the rubrics of the Mass, including the manner of receiving.

[morphing libertarian]

Churches should focus on whom they administer communion too, like abortion supporters, funders, etc. and not whether it is on the tongue or in the hand.

[Salvation]

[Salvation]

Please read the book “Get Us Out of Here” by Maria Simma. You will never receive the Eucharist in your hands ever again after reading it.

[Salvation]