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."
Catholic ping!
So does this mean that Eucharist in the Hand will be prohibited?!?
Praise the Lord!
Now let’s get rid of the “cups”.
Ping!
“..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.
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
If you have the opportunity to watch a rerun of that program, be sure to do so.
My reverence for the Blessed Sacrament has absolutely nothing to do with the manner in which I receive the Host.
And where is his diocese again?
Oh, that's right......Kazakhstan......where the Catholic population is about a dozen and a half.
How come a huge diocese like LA gets saddled with a turkey like Mahony and the great bishops end up in the former Soviet Central Asia?
Time to bring this man to the Vatican.
Bishop Schneider’s article “Cum Amore Ac Timore: On Holy Communion on the Tongue” originally published in L’Osservatore Romano has been reprinted in the recently published work “Sursum Corda: Documents and Readings on the Traditional Latin Mass (available at amazon.com)
ping