[Gay State Conservative]

The reception of Holy Communion standing, and in the hand.

There are arguments to be made in favor of these.For example,I have two bad hips and find it *very* difficult to kneel or genuflect.I certainly can't be the only one.As for Communion in hand...public health.The possible (unintentional) transmission of various diseases,some minor,some not so minor.

[IbJensen]

Being in a condition that makes it ‘very difficult’ to knee can certainly be overlooked and not be excused as there isn’t anything you can do about the condition.

Why change any of the mass? Pope Pius X guaranteed it in it’s present form in perpetuity.

[netmilsmom]

>>As for Communion in hand...public health.The possible (unintentional) transmission of various diseases,some minor,some not so minor. <<

So instead it’s a “Communal Cup?” Even Barney says not to drink out of anyone else’s cup.

As for transmission of diseases, my husband is an EMHC at our parish which kneels and receives on the tongue. He received training how to distribute communion without touching a person’s lips. It sticks. All you have to do is take the host by one side and touch the other side to the tongue. It sticks there and the person distributing never spreads a germ.

As for kneeling, the majority of the people can kneel. If you can’t, it’s not any big deal. Everyone knows you can’t if you don’t. My daughter has a teacher with horrible RA. she doesn’t and no one thinks anything of her.

[AnAmericanMother]

Of course there is always provision for those who are physically unable to kneel - the priest will come to those who are unable to approach as they sit in their wheelchair or in the front pew. But exceptions don't make the rule. I've had my share of stints on crutches - when I used to be an Episcopalian (where everybody STILL kneels) they were happy to give me communion standing at the side of the rail. But everybody else kept on kneeling. Wiping out the tradition of a thousand years for the sake of a few people is not a good reason.

As for the concern about 'sanitation', actually communion in the hand is WORSE. Hands are germ magnets - and there's often contact hand-to-hand between the EEMs and people who come up after blowing their noses or worse. When the Host is properly administered by the priest, It is simply set on the tongue - no contact at all. Even EEMs can be taught to do this properly -- they administer communion on the tongue at our parish and there's no trouble at all.

[RichardMoore]

Your bad hips should not be considered the rule, but the abnormal. When the abnormal becomes the rule we are violating a first principle. As for transmittion of disease: when was the last time you didn’t wash your hands before eating especially after shaking hands with several people. Receiving by mouth should be more sanitary than in the hand for that reason. But that is not why we should be motivated to do things that are holy in the sight of God. We should strive to adore God.

[maryz]

For example,I have two bad hips and find it *very* difficult to kneel or genuflect.

Believe it or not, even before Vatican II, there were people with bad hips or knees or whatever problem who would have difficulty kneeling. They simply stood at the Communion rail, and the priest reached a bit more.

As for "public health" concerns, I seem to recall a strong and recurrent warning that to avoid contracting contagious diseases, keep your hands away from your face!

Anyway, Sister Sylverius assured us in 9th grade (pre-VatII) that no one ever contracted a disease from receiving Communion! ;-)