7 Common Holy Communion Abuses(Catholic Caucus)

http://www.communion-in-the-hand.org/articles.html ^ | Jan 2011 | Rev. Fr. John Lankeit

[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:

• Blessing oneself with the host before consuming it. (The act of blessing with the Eucharist is called "Benediction" and is reserved to clergy).
• Receiving the host in the palm of the hand, contorting that same hand until the host is controlled by the fingers, then consuming it (resembling a one-handed "watch-the-coin-disappear" magic trick).
• Popping the host into the mouth like a piece of popcorn.
• Popping the host into the mouth like a piece of popcorn.
• Attempting to receive with other items in the hands, like a dirty Kleenex or a Rosary.
• Receiving the host with dirty hands.

• Receiving the host, closing the hand around it, then letting the hand fall to the side (as if carrying a suitcase) while walking away and/or blessing oneself with the other hand.
• Walking away without consuming the host.
• Giving the host to someone else after receiving... yes, it happens!

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...

[johngrace]

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/english_pdf/Douai.pdf

[aksarben6]

You not only need to abstain but enlighten the pagans after Mass that one comes to worship God not their neighbor. Sometimes, if in a "Happy Clappy Liturgical Abusing Parish" I wish them a Happy Hanukkah and love the puzzled look on their faces even though my wife objects to such rude and crude behavior.

In a related matter, those who assist with the distribution of the Eucharist are Extraordinary Ministers of Communion not Eucharist Ministers. Anytime one can discombobulate the mental equilibrium of these Vat 2 types do it for we are commanded to perform corporal works of mercy.

[NYer]

When Holy Communion is received on the tongue... every single one of these abuses is instantly eliminated!

There are 22 Catholic Churches among which only the Latin Church distributes communion in the hand. Banish the practice and the problem is immediately resolved. Restrict distribution of communion to a priest and/or a deacon and other problematic situations are also resolved.

Petition the bishops to ban communion in the hand!

[NYer]

I’d have to get up a bit early to make Mass(I live in NJ)

Is Somerset within driving distance? A while back, tired of the liturgical abuse at most of the churches in my diocese, I asked our Lord to guide me to a "holy priest, a reverent liturgy and a community where whatever my God-given abilities were, could be of service to them". I compiled a list of parishes within a certain radius of home. Another freeper suggested including any Eastern Catholic parishes. Each Sunday, I attended mass at a different parish always repeating that prayer. After 3 weeks, a Maronite Catholic parish was next on the list. I was so moved by the beauty and reverence of their liturgy, that I returned the following week, and the week after that. It has now been 7 1/2 years since I entered that church and I am still moved to tears of joy by their liturgy and reverence. Communion is by intinction and on the tongue. It is distributed only by a priest or bishop. There are no extraordinary ministers of holy communion. Since joining this parish, I have been asked elected to the Parish Council, the women's sodality and serve as Director for Religious Education. Now retired, I volunteer my time at the parish office and assist the building committee with the renovations to our future church.

There is a beautiful Maronite Catholic Church in Somerset.

St. Sharbel.

To learn more about the liturgy, you can visit this link. Should you decide to visit the church, drop me a freepmail so I can explain some of the differences in the two rites.

God bless you on your journey!

[VermiciousKnid]

Dear jmacusa,

This site lists 17 Tridentine Masses in New Jersey. I hope you will find it helpful and that one of these is close enough for you to be able to attend the Mass of the Ages.

http://web2.iadfw.net/carlsch/MaterDei/churches.htm

Best regards,

[netmilsmom]

And you my Friend!

[oldsicilian]

AMEN!

[jmacusa]

Somerset is about and hour or so north of me, thank you. God bless you.

[jmacusa]

Thanks for the link, God bless you.

[VermiciousKnid]

God bless you, too, jma. Please let me know if you get to a TLM! We are lucky enough to have one at my own parish on Long Island, and I can’t tell you how edifying it’s been these past four years. A miracle!

Regards,

[hattend]

I agree with you and I wish they’d stop the damned ‘’sign of peace’’ thing.

dittos

[AnAmericanMother]

The Sign of Peace if properly done is edifying and inspiring. . .

. . . but way too many people use it as an excuse to gossip and chit-chat and wave at friends across the way . . . right in the middle of Mass! It distracts from the Holy Sacrifice and breaks everybody's focus.

At one of the loopier parishes in our diocese, one of the priests has done an interesting thing -- he recites the sign of peace, but moves right on to the Agnus Dei. Everybody greets one another after Mass is concluded.

That works for me, and you still have the Peace, but without the social hour.

[AnAmericanMother]

If you remain kneeling for the Lord's Prayer, people will leave you alone!

Also, if you put your face in your hands like you're lost in prayer, it helps. I've used that in self-defense in some happy-clappy parishes (not my own which is pretty orthodox and has a rather subdued exchange of the Peace).

[Jeff Chandler]

. . . I wish they’d stop the damned ‘’sign of peace’’ thing

I hate the fact that we have two of them, the first one being immediately proceeding the Procession: "Please stand and greet those around you."

Then there is the extra homily immediately following the Procession where the priest goes into great detail about what the readings are going to be about and how they relate to our lives, blah blah blah. Egos on Parade.

/rant

[Jeff Chandler]

prEceding the procession

[dsc]

“The greatest abuse is receiving Him knowing you are in mortal sin.”

Especially difficult to deal with if you are in one of those dioceses that are miserly with absolution.

I try to stay away from the Bishop, because I’m afraid I’ll add shouting at him in rage to my other sins.

[dsc]

“The Sign of Peace if properly done is edifying and inspiring. . . “

Perhaps I don’t understand things correctly, but I’m at Mass to worship Our Lord, to reflect on His goodness and the many blessings I have received, to try and gain understanding or fuller understanding of His word, to talk to Him, and to quiet myself so that I can hear Him if He’s talking to me.

IOW, leave me ALONE. Don’t stick your hand out at me. I hate to shake hands under any circumstances, and I hate it ten times as much during Mass. Don’t try to grab my hand while I am striving to dispose my heart properly to say the Pater Noster. If I wanted to hold hands while I pray, I’d go down the street to a protestant church.

The lines of communication at Mass should be vertical only. It’s not about us; it’s about Him. If I want horizontal communication with my fellow sinners I will seek it at times not reserved for communing with the Holy Trinity and all the angels and saints.

Interestingly enough, I have never once had anyone ask me why I wouldn’t hold hands during the Pater Noster, though I have attended Mass at many different churches.

[dsc]

“Please stand and greet those around you.”

Would it be improper simply to refuse?

[Hegewisch Dupa]

I think he means it’s optional to have it as part of the service. Of course it’s optional for you not to shake hands, if you want to be that guy who lets a person hold their hand out to them just to be ignored.

[AnAmericanMother]

Did you just read the first sentence? Sheesh! Try to be nice to people, and see what you get!