Archbishop Jan Lenga of Kazakhstan: Restore Tabernacle, Stop Communion in the Hand

Vatican Information Service ^ | 10/5/2005 | Archbishop Jan Pawel Lenga M.I.C

[Pyro7480]

FOURTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 2005 (VIS) - The Fourth General Congregation of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began in the Synod Hall at 4.30 p.m. today, Tuesday. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico, and there were 242 Synod Fathers present.

Following are excerpts from a number of the speeches given:

ARCHBISHOP JAN PAWEL LENGA M.I.C. OF KARAGANDA, KAZAKHSTAN. "Among the liturgical innovations produced in the Western world, two in particular tend to cloud the visible aspect of the Eucharist, especially as regards its centrality and sacredness: the removal of the tabernacle from the center and the distribution of communion in the hand. ... Communion in the hand is spreading and even prevailing as being easier, as a kind of fashion. ... Therefore, I humbly propose the following practical propositions: that the Holy See issue a universal regulation establishing the official way of receiving communion as being in the mouth and kneeling; with communion in the hand to be reserved for the clergy alone. May bishops in places where communion in the hand has been introduced work with pastoral prudence to bring the faithful slowly back to the official rite of communion, valid for all local Churches."

[diamond6]

I personally don't see how receiving communion in the hand is so terrible. I consider myself a very devout catholic, I bow before receiving him, genuflect before every tabernacle and even do the sign of the cross whenever I drive by a church.

Christ at the Last Supper, handed them the Eucharist, he didn't place tiny pieces on the tongue.

However, with that said, I would gladly kneel and receive the Eucharist on my tongue. If that is what the Holy Spirit wants, then that is what I will do.

[Military family member]

Those are two separate issues which you are trying to cloud by comparison. If your belief in God is such that you must take communion by mouth while kneeling, then do so. Why worry about horror stories. Do what your spirit tells you is right.

Bottom line is that the Vatican has said that both methods are acceptable, unlike abortion.

[Dominick]

A major problem is that in most Parishes, Communion on the tongue is not offered, and more seriously, kneeling during Communion is hard in the "drive through" lines!

[Pyro7480]

Christ at the Last Supper, handed them the Eucharist, he didn't place tiny pieces on the tongue.

The Church was very small at that point. Later, abuses came up, and the Church, in her wisdom, stopped that practice. The potential for those abuses have not ended, so why was communion on the hand allowed?

[marshmallow]

Kazakhstan eh!?

Hmmmmm..... (Bob Barker voice)....I sense a promotion in your future, your Grace.........oh yes I do......that's right.....you'll soon be moving to........ ***BELARUS***!!! (Thunderous applause...)

[Maeve]

I have a new hero! God bless the Archbishop!

[Pyro7480]

Hmmmmm..... (Bob Barker voice)....I sense a promotion in your future, your Grace.........oh yes I do......that's right.....you'll soon be moving to........ ***BELARUS***!!! (Thunderous applause...)

LOL!!! And to think, I was accused earlier today in a private e-mail that I didn't have a sense of humor. Here's what I say to that person:

He don't know me very well - do he?

[ELS]

Pope Giacomo della Chiesa † (1907) (aka Benedict XIV)

Hmm, do you mean Benedict XV?

[Pyro7480]

Hmm, do you mean Benedict XV?

Whoops! Thanks for catching that! :-)

[nickcarraway]

However, all of the Apostles were ordained priests.

[Pyro7480]

Not just ordained priests, but bishops!

[SAMS]

I agree with you. We are military, and our last army Chaplain was Polish (born & raised) what a very devout man he is. We are back in the states now, and dealing with liberal theology, again.

[nickcarraway]

Eactly, so it's a little different how they recieved Holy Communion.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Christ at the Last Supper, handed them the Eucharist, he didn't place tiny pieces on the tongue.

The apostles were priests, not laity.

[Deo volente]

According to this report, Cardinal Mahony DENIED communicants the right to receive on the tongue, at a gay and lesbian pow-wow he presided over in Long Beach, Calif. back in 1997.


Excerpt:
At the Long Beach Mass, leavened bread was used instead of hosts, with Cardinal Mahony denying one young woman communion on the tongue. "No, this isn't done here," he told her.
http://www.losangelesmission.com/ed/articles/2003/1103iw.htm

[Kolokotronis]

What have I been telling you guys lately! One trusts the Vatican will listen to these voices from the East.

[netmilsmom]

>> We are back in the states now, and dealing with liberal theology, again.<<

I'll pray for you, my FRiend!

[arkady_renko]

And half of the American Bishops fainted dead on the floor when he said it!

You've got that right. And the other half of them were holding hands during the Our Father...

a_r

[diamond6]

You all make a very good point.

[netmilsmom]

>>You've got that right. And the other half of them were holding hands during the Our Father...<<

LOLOLOLOL!!!!!