Faithlessness: The Terrible Price of Communion in the Hand

The Remnant ^ | 1/21/15 | The Remnant

[BlatherNaut]

Another sacrilegious scandal at a big papal pep really--this time in Manila. Why is the Vicar treated like God, while God is treated like a bag of Doritos? What part does the institutionalized abuse of Communion in the hand play in this ongoing outrage?

[BlatherNaut]

MEMORIALE DOMINI Instruction on the Manner of Distributing Holy Communion Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship

http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWMEMOR.HTM

[expat2]

What is ‘Communion in the Hand’?

[Cry if I Wanna]

I bet Jesus and the apostles passed the bread around with their hands at the last supper. And does anyone really go to church in France anymore?

[AnalogReigns]

What is ‘Communion in the Hand’?

The way all Christians, except a very few ultra-conservative Roman Catholics--who have the bread placed in their mouth--take holy communion, by taking the bread in their hands...

[Arkansas Toothpick]

From Colossians 2: Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

[stisidore]

Au contraire, Analog.

Communion in the hand was NEVER approved by the Vatican, and to this day, if you watch Communion being distributed at Mass there on TV, the only people you will see taking the Eucharist in this fashion (i.e., by hand) is the odd cardinal who is above it all. Otherwise everone receives on the tongue.

Now, under Pope Francis, this might change with his ‘reform of the reform of the reform’, but not yet.

I remember vaguely the debate about receiving in the hand here in the States. This notion began in the late 60’s or 70’s on the Benelux countries, particularly Belgium and the Netherlands. It was condemned by Paul VI, but they went ahead and did it anyway.

At this point, it is worthwhile to note that Mass attendance in these countries was at the time over 80%; it is now less than 5%. Brilliant idea that.

It was strongly debated among US Catholic bishops, which, as I understand, were mostly AGAINST communion in the hand, but somehow it went through regardless. I apologize that I do not have any writings to back this up at the moment. I am going from memory here.

I did remember this also because it began when I was a high school student, and although my worldview of the Church was limited in scope, I knew that something was rotten in Denmark — or rather Belgium and later the US. Because of this controversy, I, being no one’s conservative, only continued to receive on the tongue, except on a handful of occasions (no pun intended.)

For whatever reasons, my family also continued to receive on the tongue, later to begin receiving in the hand. We haven’t discussed this as a family; we all just followed whatever the accepted norms were.

More recently my habits have been influenced by the book, “Get Us Out of Here”, which deals primarily with the experiences of a Swiss or Austrian (?) woman who had helped Holy Souls become released from Purgatory. After reading this, I now ONLY receive from a priest or deacon based on information I read in the book. (I’d have to re-read it to make specific points, and time does not allow at the moment.)

My personal belief is that there will be a great chastisement for our generation for this and other grave reasons. This is based on multiple prophecies from Saints and Blesseds regarding what is called The Three Days of Darkness. Following this event, a ‘reform of the reform of the reform of the reform’, or rather, a restoration, will take place for those still alive to see it.

(Cf. http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?)number=326829

[expat2]

Ok, but why does that cause problems?

[Arkansas Toothpick]

Because the legalists said so. No other reason. They are helplessly entangled in their own web of rules and regulations that they cannot see God’s clear teaching in His holy Scriptures. I pray that they will loosen their chains, come to Him humbly, and abandon the pretense of religion.

[AppyPappy]

We are all legalists to a certain extent. I think it comes down to people desiring a settled rule.
It’s like people wanting the original Apostles Creed(He descended into Hell) rather than the new version (He descended to the dead)

[avenir]

As always, Paul storm troops in bringing the freedom that is in Christ Jesus!

[Salvation]

"ALWAYS receive Communion on the tongue!"

[Ransomed]

“The way all Christians, except a very few ultra-conservative Roman Catholics—who have the bread placed in their mouth—take holy communion, by taking the bread in their hands...”

Don’t the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox all take communion without using their hands?

Freegards

[blackpacific]

Yes, they all receive on the tongue from the hand of the priest.

Recall how lovers feed each other, a sign of intimacy.

The priest is an alter christus when he is consecrating and distributing the precious Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, so the one who receives from the priest receives from Christ.

Here is the appropriate bumper sticker:

“Communion in the hand is for strangers,
Communion on the tongue is for lovers”

Besides the loss of intimacy with Christ is the very real problem of particles of sacred host being dropped on the floor.

[Ransomed]

Thanks, I thought the Orthodox don’t use the hands. I dig your explanation.

Freegards

[blackpacific]

If you recall, Judas helped himself...:)

[blackpacific]

The idea of the alter christus was from my Fraternity priest.