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To: sitetest
In Vatican I the Council found dozens and dozens of errors made in public pronouncements by Popes over the centuries. I don't recall if any of them related to the Liturgy or not. This article and others have suggested the practice of Communion in the Hand was promoted by rebellion within the Church. If that is so, would (and should) it bother you?

Do you agree that Liturgy is a silent teacher?
43 posted on 07/09/2002 8:55:28 AM PDT by narses
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To: narses
Dear narses,

It's my understanding that a certain infallibility inheres to the liturgy as promulgated by the Supreme Pontiff. Thus, though popes have made mistakes uncountable over 2000 years, the Mass itself is protected.

The article really doesn't address so much the idea that Communion in the hand was promoted by rebellion in the Church. The article does, however, state quite clearly that Communion in the hand leads to loss of belief in the Real Presence, and makes an argument throughout the article that Communion in the hand is inherently a bad practice that the Church spent many centuries trying to stamp out.

You just haven't made the argument that this was promoted by those in rebellion. You've asserted it, but the argument isn't there. And even if some promoted this practice in order to further rebellion, that doesn't take into account that others promoted this practice for reasons antithetical to the rebels. I gave witness to a Catholic religious order that promoted this practice, not for purposes of rebellion, but for purposes of deepened faith.

Would it bother me to learn that some had promoted this change for less than worthy purposes? A little, but not a lot. Not in and of itself. The Church is a big place. At any one time, there are lots of people pulling in any particular direction for any particular reason.

The practice of Communion in the hand is not inherently bad. It can be used exceedingly well to promote reverence for and belief in the Real Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. It can also be used to degrade reverence and belief, as could the practice of reception on the tongue.

It's all what you make of it.

"Do you agree that Liturgy is a silent teacher?"

The liturgy teaches, of course. But not in a vacuum, not out of context. The lessons that the liturgy would teach are incomprehensible without someone to communicate them. Thus, it's the duty of the catechist to make good use of the lessons that the liturgy provides.

As the primary catechist for my own sons, I have no problems communicating Catholic faith to my sons, with the liturgy as it is.

sitetest

47 posted on 07/09/2002 9:15:07 AM PDT by sitetest
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