St. Catherine Review: Communion in the Hand

St. Catherine Review ^ | May-June 1996

[narses]

Communion-in-the-Hand: An Historical View
from the May-June 1996 issue

If you are among the many who have wondered over the past decade just how the practice of communion-in-the-hand originated and for what reasons, the following provides a concise history as well as a brief look into what has resulted from the institution of this curious practice.

The History
The practice of communion-in-the-hand was "first introduced in Belgium by Cardinal Suenans, in flagrant disobedience to the rubrics given by the Holy See. Not wishing to publicly reprove a brother bishop, Paul VI decided to lift the ban prohibiting Holy Communion in the hand, leaving the decision to individual bishops" (Von Hildebrand, The Latin Mass Society, Nov 1995).

In 1969, Pope Paul VI polled the bishops of the world on the question of communion-in-the-hand and subsequently proclaimed that, while there was no consensus for the practice worldwide, in those areas where a different practice prevails it may be introduced by a two-thirds vote of the bishops (of each conference).

In 1976 Call to Action, an influential group of Catholic dissenters (recently condemned in Nebraska by Bishop Bruskewitz), added to their agenda the promotion of communion-in-the-hand. Other publicly-dissenting Catholic groups, already holding wildly disobedient do-it-yourself liturgies, also actively promoted it. Outside these circles of dissent, however, the practice of receiving the Blessed Sacrament in one's hand was rare. In truth, only a handful of self-styled "progressive" parishes had disobediently introduced the practice and the only demand for it came from dissenting clergymen and chancery apparatchiks.

Despite the fact that communion-in-the-hand could hardly be considered a prevailing practice in the United States, the Archbishop of Cincinnati, Joseph Bernardin (now cardinal archbishop of Chicago), then president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB), initiated two unsuccessful attempts to introduce the practice in 1975 and 1976, stating that communion-in-the-hand had become universally popular as a natural expression of the pious sentiments of the faithful.

In the Spring of 1977 at Archbishop Bernardin's last meeting as president of the NCCB and with San Francisco's Archbishop Quinn acting as the chief designated lobbyist for communion-in-the-hand, the bishops' vote again fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority. Nevertheless, for the first time ever, bishops in absentia were polled by mail after the conference meeting; subsequently the necessary votes materialized and the measure was declared passed. Soon thereafter the practice of communion-in-the-hand spread rapidly throughout the country, and in a few years the new practice became normative amongst American parishes.

The Results

Frequently it is said that those who place any importance on how the Blessed Sacrament is received are no better than the biblical Pharisees who focused upon the externals of faith rather than the internals. For the Pharisees the external replaced the internal, but it does not follow that the lack of external reverence today can be divorced from the internal disposition of the faithful.

The consequences of introducing this practice are far-reaching, and one need only look to the parish Mass for proof. Not the least of these consequences is the common lack of respect shown for the Blessed Sacrament. Only with the belief that the Holy Eucharist is not supernatural, can this practice of communion-in-the-hand not matter. Since it is truly the most extraordinary substance on earth, surely our comportment should reflect that? Surely our faith in the Holy Eucharist, which deserves our greatest reverence, should reflect into our actions in actually receiving the sacrament?

Alas, it is not so! Communion-in-the-hand weakens faith in the Real Presence. The consequences are profound. May we make up in our love of the Eucharist for all the outrages and indifference which now surround Our Lord’s magnificent gift to us.

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[Sock]

I'm wondering if the use of lay persons as Extraordinary Euchartisiic Minister has weakens faith in the Real Presence among the Faith communities.

I believe that would depend on a number of things within the individual themselves. Is their position one of necessity, approached with awe and reverence or is it done out of pride? I don't know.

On a related subject (I think), do you pray before meals at a restaurant? I mean do you and your family visibly bless yourselves and say a slightly audible prayer thanking God and asking Him to bless you and your food? There was a time when I didn't and I approached a meal like an animal without recognizing Who provided the food and Who permits me to enjoy it.

[narses]

I don't know, but it has certainly led to other outrages. In a chapel near me they have divorced and remarried women acting in that capacity.

[narses]

"Do you have any suggestions?"

More priests?

[sitetest]

Dear narses,

"More priests?"

*chuckle*

I remember when I was young, I went to a parish with I guess over a thousand families. There were typically three or four priests assigned to the parish at any one time, not including the pastor emeritus. They were generally all relatively young men. When it came time for Communion, it seemed almost as if a small army of priests came out of the sacristy to assist in the distribution of Communion.

I remember one of the priests in particular, he was always after me. I spent lots of time alone with him. I'd visit in his room in the rectory. We'd go places together. I knew what he wanted... he wanted me... TO JOIN THE PRIESTHOOD! What a good and holy priest he is.

It would be nice if God gave the Church more vocations (and it would be nice if the vocations He gave the Church weren't thwarted by others). At every Knights of Columbus Council meeting, we close by praying for vocations.

However, narses, I'm not sure how that would help with the problem at hand. Do you think that priests are more careful in the distribution of Communion than are extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist? That hasn't been my experience.

sitetest

[narses]

"It would be nice if God gave the Church more vocations"

God will, but it would help Him if the Church promoted Catholic Education. In my area the Church (flush with the "Spirit of Vatican II") GAVE all of it's schools to the public schools and told the people to stop "being different". The only Catholic K-12 schools here for many years were established years after that fact and run by the regular clergy as opposed to the diocese (and under very strained relations with the Ordinary). A few years ago, in opposition to the parish priests, the PARENTS organized a lay run "Catholic" school. No support comes from any of the local parishes, the parents do all the work themselves.

As for the current "crisis", clearly there are many places where the extraordinary ministers are necessary. There are also clearly places and times where they are not and they are misused.