The little book that will cause a great storm ('Dominus Est' by Bishop Schneider) (Catholic Caucus)

Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 12/19/2008 | Alcuin Reed, OSB

[Pyro7480]

...The Congregation for Divine Worship [in 1969] issued an Instruction, Memoriale Domini, on the manner of receiving Holy Communion....

After recalling the development of the reception of Communion on the tongue as a fruit of "a deepening understanding of the truth of the Eucharistic mystery...", the Instruction declares that "this method of distributing Holy Communion must be retained...."

It also warned: "A change in a matter of such moment, based on a most ancient and venerable tradition, does not merely affect discipline. It carries certain dangers with it...the danger of a loss of reverence for the august sacrament of the altar, of profanation, of adulterating the true doctrine."

...Today, the Instruction's warnings about loss of reverence for, belief in and even the profanation of the Blessed Sacrament have - sadly - been vindicated. It is time to look again at the question of Communion in the hand. This is precisely what a young bishop from Central Asia has done in 'Dominus Est.'

This little book, a brief but insightful survey of the Fathers, the Early Church, the Magisterium and the Eastern and Western liturgical rites, is capable of creating a storm - not in a teacup, but in the minds of those unduly attached to the flawed external changes made to the liturgy in what can only be described as a peculiar period in the Church's history.

That it will provoke a storm is unfortunate, for the practice it advocates is a practice of love and of humility, one from which no one who truly adores Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament ought to recoil....

[Pyro7480]

Another excerpt from the above review:

Bishop Athanasius Schneider, a patristic scholar, appointed a bishop by Pope Benedict in 2006, has raised his voice in prophetic call for the western Church to recall the importance, if not the necessity, of returning to the previous discipline of the reception of Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue....

Lest we think that this young bishop - whose account of his formation in Eucharistic piety under Communist persecution in the first chapter is a spiritual treasure in itself - raises his voice alone, let us be clear that the book carries the approbation of the superiors of the Congregation for Divine Worship. Cardinal Arinze, who retired this month, states: "I have read the whole book with delight. It is excellent."

And Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, a true prophet of the liturgical reform of Benedict XVI, writes in the preface: "I think it is time to evaluate carefully the practice of Communion in the hand and, if necessary, to abandon what was never actually called for in the Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium nor by the Council Fathers but was... 'accepted' after it was introduced as an abuse in some countries."

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

[netmilsmom]

So does this mean that Eucharist in the Hand will be prohibited?!?

Praise the Lord!

Now let’s get rid of the “cups”.

[Pyro7480]

I hope this will be enforced:

Kneeling for communion and communion on the tongue: "Profound meaning," says Cañizares

[Pyro7480]

Ping!

[jtal]

Now let’s get rid of the “cups”.

I'm with ya. When communion under both species was forced on us it necessitated an army of "extraordinary" ministers of communion to assist.

Now the norm in parishes is for the faithful to wait while a score of EMOCs swarm the sanctuary and are given communion and then the vessels.

Not to mention waiting for the (sole) priest to purify a dozen chalices after the communion rite.

I'm all for back to communion under one species (as is done now at my home parish.)

[353FMG]

“..the reception of Communion on the tongue..”

It is a pious idea but it has become difficult for today’s celebrant to have to distribute Communion to all the faithful at Mass. That is why he is being assisted by extraordinary ministers of communion (laymen) who, out of necessity, hold the Blessed Sacrament in their hands. These laymen also bring Communion to the sick in hospitals and nursing homes—a function that used to be performed by priests before Vatican II.

Yet, for practical reasons, it is a good idea to return to the former practice of Communion on the tongue because it should prevent recipients from taking the Host outside the sanctuary.

What, in my opinion, should be done away with is the distribution of Communion under both Species.

[jo kus]

After recalling the development of the reception of Communion on the tongue as a fruit of "a deepening understanding of the truth of the Eucharistic mystery...", the Instruction declares that "this method of distributing Holy Communion must be retained...."

It also warned: "A change in a matter of such moment, based on a most ancient and venerable tradition, does not merely affect discipline. It carries certain dangers with it...the danger of a loss of reverence for the august sacrament of the altar, of profanation, of adulterating the true doctrine."

No kidding. Makes you wonder what the Liturgistical liberals were thinking when they allowed communion in the hand. Did they think "in the mouth" vs "in the hand" was the same symbol and sign? Did they think people would retain awe and reverance when they could take the wafer from the priest's hands and walk off non-chalantly???

Regards

[Claud]

I'm all for back to communion under one species (as is done now at my home parish.)

If a concession needs to be granted on this point, then let the Blood be given be intinction. I went to a parish that had that once and I thought it worked very well.

Good thing also about intinction, it makes receiving in the hand impossible.

[GonzoII]

“loss of reverence for the august sacrament of the altar..”
—

I believe that's what has happened with communion in the hand; along with kneeling, Communion on the tongue should be the norm; not to mention it might also stop the “nuts” who try and take the consecrated host out the door.

[netmilsmom]

>>I went to a parish that had that once and I thought it worked very well.<<

YES!!!!

That is my parish!!!!
Now, I have to add the question that will be asked. Do we have EMHCs? The answer is yes. My husband is one of them. Usually he is an Usher and is pulled to distribute Holy Communion at times when we don’t have enough priest and/or Deacons to cover. It is a truly “Extraordinary” call. He does not distribute by intinction as this is not allowed.

We receive kneeling and on the tongue. Yes this is not a TLM but an NO Holy Mass. The key to it is “Holy”.

[netmilsmom]

>>Not to mention waiting for the (sole) priest to purify a dozen chalices after the communion rite. <<

You have hit on a very important point.
If the Priest or an actual ordained Deacon is not purifying, it is an abuse.

Yet, when I have been in discussions about making EMHCs what they are supposed to be “Extraordinay”, I get, “There are too many people for my priest to do it alone.”

BUT if done correctly, the priest must purify those vessels. How much time does THAT take?

[NYer]

Bishop Schneider was the guest last night on EWTN Live. He gave direct testimony of how VCII confused the ancient practice of reception in the hand from how it was originally done. He is an authority on the Church Fathers and said they would be furious at this practice in today's Church. It was originally distributed on a white corporal in the communicant's right hand. The communicant would bow towards the host and ingest it without ever touching the host. They would also wash their hands both before and after reception of the Eucharist in a basin that would catch any particles that might have fallen off.

If you have the opportunity to watch a rerun of that program, be sure to do so.

[netmilsmom]

>>It is a pious idea but it has become difficult for today’s celebrant to have to distribute Communion to all the faithful at Mass. <<

And how do you think the amount of Catholics were handled Pre-Vatican II?

I find this to be strange. We had many more Catholics when we received on the tongue, yet, there was never a thought of “too many for the priest to handle”

Maybe the problem is the lack of communion rails.

[netmilsmom]

Amen!

[Romulus]

it has become difficult for today’s celebrant to have to distribute Communion to all the faithful at Mass.

One solution no one considers would be to encourage the faithful to refrain from communion until properly disposed. Preach more and with more vigor about sin and the need for the sacrament of Penance. Restore a proper eucharistic fast (at least 3 hours). If there are still too many communicants for the celebrant to handle on his own, use instituted acolytes, as a way of reconnecting the ministry to the priesthood. We have GOT to get away from this idea that the routine use of lay men and women in the distribution of Holy Communion is anything less than a disordered and damaging practice.

[annalex]

I heard fragments of that interview. One story he told:

After much trouble with the Soviet authority the young Schneider and his family ended up in West Germany in the early eighties.

As a farewell warning, their priest in their native Estonia cautioned them that in Germany they might find some parishes where the Holy Communion is given in the hand. “It is a new fashion out there, but only a few parishes do that. If you chance upoin such parish, don’t go there and find another”.

Once settled in a small town in West Germany, they went to Mass, and sure enough the communion was given in the hand. Terrified, they went to another parish and then another... There were four Catholic churches in the town and all four gave Communion in the hand. He remembers his mother weeping after she realized that with the freedom they gained, they also lost the ability to receive the Holy Communion properly.

[annalex]

early eighties -> early 70’s

[papertyger]

My reverence for the Blessed Sacrament has absolutely nothing to do with the manner in which I receive the Host.

[NYer]

Yes .. I was absolutely riveted to the tv! We take far too much for granted in this country. The bishop's family used to travel 60 miles each way on Sunday to attend Mass. It was forbidden to bring children. There were 4 children in the family and his parents would pack them on a train that left around 6am while it was still dark. After Mass, the priest would invite the family to remain at his 'house' (only one room) until dark and they would travel back home around 11 at night.

This could happen here.