Posted on 06/11/2011 6:45:43 AM PDT by stfassisi
A Letter from Our Cathedral Rector by Very Rev. Fr. John Lankeit, Rector, Ss. Simon & Jude Cathedral Phoenix, AZ January 30, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
I want to thank all of you who have recently started receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, not to mention those of you who already had been. This subject has generated a lot of buzz over the past few weeks, the vast majority of which has been overwhelmingly positive.
While my main objective in encouraging reception on the tongue is to deepen appreciation for the Eucharist, I also have a pastoral responsibility to eliminate abuses common to receiving in the hand. Such abuses are no doubt unintentional. Nevertheless, what I witness troubles me. And I'm not alone.
In 2004, responding to the problem of Eucharistic profanation, the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament released an official instruction entitled REDEMPTIONIS SACRAMENTUS: On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist. Regarding Holy Communion the document states:
"[S]pecial care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful." (Paragraph 92)
Here are just a few examples of profanation that I see all too frequently:
We would never treat a piece of GOLD with the same casualness - especially in this economy! Yet many treat the Eucharist "piece" of GOD with casualness at best, indifference and irreverence at worst. Of course, much abuse is due to ignorance, owing to poor catechesis, which is precisely why I have written about this issue for four consecutive weeks.
Yet we have another great incentive...
When Holy Communion is received on the tongue... every single one of these abuses is instantly eliminated!
The way we treat another person says more about our relationship with that person than any words we might say. This is especially true of our relationship with the Divine Person, Jesus Christ. So let us continually seek to increase our reverence for our Eucharistic Savior, and to eliminate anything that degrades the respect He deserves.
God's Blessings... my prayers...
I was an altar boy years ago and the very idea of touching a consecrated host was way beyond the pale. Unthinkable.
I have always received the host in my mouth. I would never touch it. I was brought that way ,no touching of the host.
Another thing is that I do not got to communion every Sunday as though I were free of sin.
I go to Penance, then I go to Communion that Sunday, I am still probably not free from sin,but it’s about as close as I can get.
* Chewing gum before you receive the Host.
* Drinking the Starbucks coffee you brought into the pew before Mass.
* Talking to your neighbor and giggling immediately after reception.
These abuses ended with our new pastor.
The greatest abuse is receiving Him knowing you are in mortal sin.
I agree with you and I wish they’d stop the damned ‘’sign of peace’’ thing. Geez, what I wouldn’t give for a pre-Vatican Mass.
I will never change.
no kidding. if a Host hit the floor, the nuns would come running up and put police crime scene tape around the area.
Exactly!
I wish that Churches would teach Eucharistic ministers to properly place the Host on the tongue though,some of them don’t do a very good job with this.
Of course, I usually try to go directly to the Priest to receive communion ,but that is not always possible
I laughed until I was crying.This was so true!!!
I remember the priest once dropping the sacred host and he fell to his knees and went deep into prayer,remorse????
Thanks so much for the gut buster.
>>Geez, what I wouldn’t give for a pre-Vatican Mass.<<
If you share where you are at, many of us can direct you.
At my parish here in the Detroit area, we have not only a Pre-Vatican II Holy Mass (TLM) but also EVERY one of our masses are Historically correct VII masses, like you see on EWTN. No guitars, no talking in the main before or after, and proper dress. Although we don’t have an Altar rail, we have kneelers and receive kneeling by intiction on the tongue. I’ve even seen our priests hold a host up until a person opens his mouth.
Come join us if you’re ever in the area.
Bless you dear. I’d have to get up a bit early to make Mass(I live in NJ) but thank you just the same and God Bless you. :-)
**When Holy Communion is received on the tongue... every single one of these abuses is instantly eliminated!**
Let’s make reception of the most precious Blessed Sacrament the norm at our churches. Talk with your priest. Send this letter to them.
When I was an altar boy many years ago you did not dare touch the Holy Eucharist or the Chalice with your hands.
Back then you would never see women in tank tops, shorts and flip flops either.
The Sign of Peace is complete descretional. Talk to your priest and ask if he has ever thought about eliminating it.
Not in my parish. I tried abstaining once and did I get dirty looks!
I wish that Churches would teach Eucharistic ministers to properly place the Host on the tongue though,some of them don’t do a very good job with this.Easy enough; get rid of the EMs altogether. :)
They've got that doe in the headlights look.
" A Humble and Contrite heart He will not ignore."
We have a problem with pride at times. I sometimes at first think it is an inconvience yet I look up and can see Christ on the Cross. We preach Christ crucified. If he did this for our souls. What is the problem with the sign of peace. It reminds me how mortal I am as Christian and a person on this earth.
I have humbled myself towards others. I told an anti-type I loved her after discussion on thread. It took a while to type believe me. Afterwood I was bathed in the Holy Spirit. It was too good to explain. I had to lay down on the bed. The Peace of God was so great. His glory is great. I believe the Holy Spirit is in the Sign of Peace.
Galatians 5:22-23
Fruit of the Spirit
22" But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law."
What did Jesus Say! Remember You will know them by their Fruits! What is the Fruit of the Spirit= Galatians 5:22-23!
Praise Jesus and Hail Mary!!
AMEN!!!
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