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."

[Military family member]

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! If you drop to your knees before the priest to receive communion, others will wait. I have yet to see a mass where at least one person doesn't open his or her mouth to receiv Communion. I just sponsored a friend through RCIA and we spent two hours discussing this topic one night. There is absolutely nothing to prevent anyone from receiving Communion gby mouth while kneeling Regardless of what other may say or do, ask your parish priest. If you want Communion in the pre-Vatican Council II method, then you can receive it that way. Better yet, anyone who feels strongly about this, should do it. If a group of homosexuals can stand in a church and disrupt mass, why can't a group of devote Catholics drop to their knees to receive Holy Communion?

[sitetest]

Dear Dominick,

I've never been to a Mass where someone who preferred to receive on the tongue was refused.


sitetest

[k omalley]

When my youngest daughter received her first Holy Communion in the diocese of Richmond the priest instructed the parents and the first communicants that they were not to receive on the tongue. Would he have refused to give Communion if one of the little ones tried to receive that way? I don't know and no one tried.

The priest in my present parish has no problems with Communion on the tongue but he has asked us not to kneel.

[sitetest]

Dear k omalley,

I've heard of folks being instructed to receive in the hand, but never seen anyone refused otherwise.

As for kneeling, the (now former) pastor of our parish strongly discouraged kneeling while receiving, but would say nothing about folks who kneeled immediately prior to receiving.

I don't know about our new pastor. He's only been here a week.


sitetest

[GrannyML]

Kneeling to receive Communion has been outright forbidden in our parish.

[fatima]

Here's a bump Pyro7480.

[kstewskis]

I like this Archbishop!

I hope he is heard loud and clear.

[kstewskis]

I've never been to a Mass where someone who preferred to receive on the tongue was refused.

I had the unfortunate opportunity to witness someone, who knelt for communion, and was *almost* denied. The priest told him to stand. Some words were exchanged, the young fellow remainded kneeling (with his hands still clasped in prayer), and he finally received on the tongue.

This young fellow was literaly chastised by the priest during the "announcements" (aka "two minute warning") by way of the priest's condescending lecture on "proper 'posturing' according to the GIRM."

It was heartbreaking to say the least, I vowed never to return to that parish (which happens to be my "neighborhood" parish) again. Only in hind site, I wished I had written the Bishop and let him know about it.

Heck, even I was guilty of forgetting to say "Amen" as I took on the tongue....The priest literally held it back until I said "Amen."

I was so used to the priest saying it during the old latin rite I usually attend, I think I might have been most likely included in that little post communion "lecture" lol.

[Dominick]

Let me be clearer, I receive on the tongue when attending Novus Ordo parishes, but in CCD classes they instruct them the "way" we do it is in the hand.

My kids get Daddy's CCD class, which is a little more complete, and I verify the basics of the faith.

"When you get communion what are you eating?"
My kids know the correct answer, on their tongues (a pun) in in their hearts! (By the grace of God)

[nanetteclaret]

Here is what our Holy Father says about kneeling in his book, "The Spirit of the Liturgy." (Ignatius Press, 2000)

“Worship is one of those fundamental acts that affect the whole man. That is why bending the knee before the presence of the living God is something we cannot abandon…. THE INABILITY TO KNEEL IS SEEN AS THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE DIABOLICAL ….The man who learns to believe learns also to kneel, and a faith or liturgy no longer familiar with kneeling would be sick at the core. Where it has been lost, kneeling must be rediscovered, so that, in our prayer, we remain in fellowship with the apostles and martyrs, in fellowship with the whole cosmos, indeed in union with Jesus Christ Himself.” (Emphasis mine.)

What does this say about priests and bishops who refuse to allow or make it difficult for communicants to kneel while receiving Holy Communion?

[kstewskis]

My kids get Daddy's CCD class, which is a little more complete, and I verify the basics of the faith.

As it should be :)

"When you get communion what are you eating?" My kids know the correct answer, on their tongues (a pun) in in their hearts! (By the grace of God)

I love it!