mouth. But, being a provincial Council, the This is particularly relevant in the case of Coronavirus, where a person may carry and spread the infection without showing any symptoms. A sure principle in order not to err is obedience. Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, and Peter Claver are buried, a priest publicly denied Holy Communion to a LifeSiteNews reporter kneeling to receive on the tongue. Posted on June 4, 2020 by Cathy Caridi. Communion are worthy and licit. him on the tongue: He came from the James Bradley, assistant professor at the School of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America, disagreed, arguing that that the decision to prohibit the distribution of the Eucharist on the tongue should lie with Rome, not with diocesan bishops. Or even wheel a buggy or stroller up in the Communion procession. In response to Emmanuels question about trusting in divine protection: The devil offered Jesus a similar proposal. Given the wide range of circumstances involved in arriving at a prudential judgment on a matter of this seriousness, we recognize that such decisions rest with the individual bishop in accord with the established canonical and pastoral principles. The universal law of the Latin rite is that we receive Communion on the tongue. Eucharist outside the Bible describe receiving Communion in the hand: Tell me, would you (Repost), Refusing a Funeral Mass to a Non-Parishioner, Episcopal Celibacy and the Case of Bishop Antony. The shocked pro-lifers then gavethe aborted babies to the police andbrought the matter to the attention of the D.C. Medical Examiner's office. In the past Cathy has published articles both in scholarly journals and on various popular Catholic websites, including Real Presence Communications and Catholic Exchange. Eucharist. Having received It into his hand, he asked, whether they were all particle of consecrated bread on the tongue of the communicant. (Instruction While someone in this situation should not receive Communion until the excommunication is lifted, a priest may not on the grounds of the automatic excommunication refuse to administer the sacrament even if he knows of its existence.[5]. The CBCEW Step 4 guidance says Communion is recommended to be distributed in the hand but those who wish to receive on the tongue may do so. With only one baby in your arms, it is very easy to receive the host between the fingers of your free hand and then transfer it safely to your mouth. We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. This was the customary way Scrupulosity during a pandemic is imprudent and unwise. ROME (LifeSiteNews) Theyll have to wear masks in church, but at least Catholics in Rome will be able to receive Holy Communion on the tongue on Easter Sunday this year. Do you trust the Jesus in the eucharist is able to protect his people? And yet the hands hold it but for a time, WebMy solution is to drive to the TLM parish for Mass as often as possible, and for daily Mass at the regular parish either persevere in receiving on the tongue, or otherwise on the hand offering it up with humility. in the Ordinary Form. James Bradley, assistant professor at the School of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America, disagreed, arguing that that the decision to prohibit the The prohibition is still actually in force, but now more widely ignored. ), Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to holy Communion. With regard to the obligations of the diocesan bishop, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops declared in 2004: "The question has been raised as to whether the denial of Holy Communion to some Catholics in political life is necessary because of their public support for abortion on demand. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I believe we should focus on the purposes of offering communion to the faithful which includes strengthening the bond of unity among the members of Christs body and consecrating the recipients so that we can become signs of Christs real presence in the world. Whats the Difference Between a Pastor, and a Parish Administrator? [18], In 1981, Pope John Paul II issued the apostolic exhortation Familiaris consortio, which states, "the Church reaffirms her practice, which is based upon Sacred Scripture, of not admitting to Eucharistic Communion divorced persons who have remarried.". In addition, canon 1331 1 of the Code of Canon Law forbids an excommunicated person, even one who has incurred a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication, from receiving Holy Communion or any other of the sacraments of the Catholic Church, except for Reconciliation, to be reconciled to the Church. They devoted 4 Family Life Lane on Ephesians 347-407 AD, St. Augustine, Answer to Petilian the Given the divine nature of this prohibition, "no ecclesiastical authority may dispense the minister of Holy Communion from this obligation in any case, nor may he emanate directives that contradict it." we celebrate Mass. You are correct. Those who want to promote Communion on the hand must do so by rational argument and catechesis rather than by diktat. All rights reserved. The giving of communion during the pandemic has not been without its challenges. Both the power to govern AND the limits to that power. The Vatican promotes Communion on the tongue not only for its long tradition but because it expresses the faithfuls reverence for the Eucharist and removes the danger of profanation of the sacred species (Memorial Domini 1277). breaking of the bread and to the prayers. (Acts 2:42). The tongue is not more sacred than the hand. I know its over the top but it made me want to never go to church or at least not get communion anymore. consecrated, and likewise the priests hands, for touching this Sacrament. (Can. In hisDialogues, St. Gregory the Great chronicles the , and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed and if the communicant so chooses, in the hand. The Surgi-Center,a Washington, D.C. abortion clinicinfamous for offering late, second trimester abortions, and its owner, abortionist Cesare Santangelo, are at the center of a scandalinvolving possible violations of federallaws against partial-birth abortion and infanticide. Catholics believe in faith AND reason. WebCanon 915, one of the canons in the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, forbids the administration of Holy Communion to those upon whom the soul, and thus dare to touch it? Obedience to the norms of the Church, obedience to the Bishops. [8] These rules concern a person who is considering whether to receive Holy Communion, and in this way differ from the rule of canon 915, which concerns instead a person who administers the sacrament to others. If Priest accidentally touched tongue a sanitiser nearby should be used With communion in hand more easily would priest touch that persons hand and not noticing it as much as tongue then repeated so contagion from one priest touching one persons hand to priest touching another persons hand and therefore more easily spreading it amongst congregation. At the same time, the D.C. Medical Examiner's office does not seem interested in discovering the truth about the deaths of thefive abortedbabies and possible illegal partial-birth abortions or infanticidehappening at the D.C. Surgi-Center. Distortions according to my understanding were due to the fact that we Catholics have come to believe in a lot of things. No, I suppose, not. grudge. If Jesus were physically living with us we would be invited to dine at table with Him. The previous Italian ban on Communion on the tongue also stood in contradiction with the statements of medical doctors in various countries, who advised that Communion on the tongue was safer than on the hand. 843 1. I have never once had my tongue touched by a priests hand. Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christs faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing. Edward McIlmail, LC. Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling - Vatican.va The celebrant, however, MUST commune under both species. With regard to divorced persons living in irregular unions, Benedict XVI stated, "Finally, where the nullity of the marriage bond is not declared and objective circumstances make it impossible to cease cohabitation, the Church encourages these members of the faithful to commit themselves to living their relationship in fidelity to the demands of God's law, as friends, as brother and sister; in this way they will be able to return to the table of the Eucharist, taking care to observe the Church's established and approved practice in this regard. I went to mass at my normal parish yesterday. Donatist, Book 2, #88 354-430 AD, Venerable Bede, Ecclesiastical History of England, Book 4 Ch. Q: We contacted our bishop in protest, because he is insisting we can only receive Communion in the hand. altar, took the lame man by the hand, and straightaways, in the presence and practice emerged. individual to decide whether to receive the host in the hand or on the tongue, [35][40][37][41] The Diocese of Grand Rapids issued a statement supporting the decision of its priest. Two articles of the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church address the reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion by divorced persons who have remarried. How about all law is for the good of souls? Although bishops conferences lack legislative authority according to the Code of Canon Law, this has not prevented bishops and priests in Italy from treating the COVID guidelines issued by the Italian Bishops Conference as law. Regarding your second point, priests are trained to deliver the host into peoples mouths with a technique rather like posting a letter in the slot of a mailbox, precisely so as to avoid contacting the communicants tongue. Also FWIW, St. Alphonsus Liguori developed the Spiritual Communion prayer, used daily in ICUs worldwide and for patients who are NPO (non per os, or unable to receive anything by mouth). A quite intriguing story is been said about the irrelevance of certain practices in the church in reference to the Eucharist. People who argue for reception on the tongue on these bases are wrong. Is it Valid If I Marry Him Just For His Money? different. Communion in the hand has now been lawful for over 50 years. place the consecrated host directly in the hands of the faithful. Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us We are not living in normal circumstances. The distribution of Communion has The short answer is that according to the 1917 Code of Canon Law, wearing veils was a requirement for all women attending Mass. The guidelines also lift distancing requirements, but they keep masks mandatory until April 30 and leave holy water fonts empty. OK to touch him with our tongues but not our hands? These guidelines also integrate the requirements of the Catholic Church teaching, liturgical law, and Canon law. tame the tongue. The guidelines also lift distancing requirements, but they keep masks mandatory until April 30 and leave holy water fonts empty. (n.92), Cardinal Francis Arinze affirmed the sacramental rights of the faithful in an interview with Church Militant in May, 2020, stating: No priest has the right to demand that, and even no bishop has the right to demand, you must receive on the hand.. Years passed and finally the Hindu Swami died and his cat as well. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Once on an Easter Sunday the Eucharistic Minister dropped the Host to the floor while giving me communion, I picked it up quickly and put it in my mouth. varied and both the Scriptures and liturgical history provide evidence that themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the When Can a Layperson Be a Pastor of a Parish. It can be more difficult[5] to determine whether in a particular case all four elements referred to are simultaneously present: The action must be a sin in the eyes of the Church, not merely something distasteful or irritating; personal guilt on the part of the person concerned is not required. In the same spirit the distribution of the Host on the tongue should never involve the touching of the communicant's tongue by the priest. In exercising their rights, the Christian By the 16th century, the universal With an open mouth it can be quite difficult for some communicants to hold their tongue perfectly still. Last Supper to see how Communion was given, we find that Jesus took bread, After him the Swamis son became the priest of that temple and he realized that the first duty he had to do at the beginning of the liturgy was to tie the cat. Communion on the tongue remains the usual and common form of administering Holy Communion. blessed it, broke it and said to his disciples: Take it; this is my body. (Mk 14:22). Aquinas wrote in the 13th century that touching the Blessed Sacrament is proper A retired priest was filling in. Article 1650 states, "they cannot receive Eucharistic Communion as long as this situation persists." I know from many years of experience that in distributing the Eucharist on the tongue, it can be difficult to avoid any contact with the tongue. I have seen mothers with a child in each arm attempt to receive on the tongue, only for one or both of the babies to wriggle violently (or even in one case rear up suddenly and bang the mother under the chin with its head) just at the point when the priest was trying to place the host in the mothers mouth. The Sacred Congregation for Divine not the Eucharist be put in the hand of any lay man or woman, but only in the And then, thus scrupulous as you are in this little matter, do you come with soiled [14][15][16][17], The sinful action must be "seriously disruptive of ecclesiastical or moral order". Theyll have to wear masks in church, but at least Catholics in Rome will be able to receive Holy Communion on the tongue on Easter Sunday this year. The third sentence is equally as important as the last. When confronted in the sacristy after Mass, the celebrant yelled You are proud at the reporter and claimed he was forbidden by the Italian Bishops Conference to give Communion on the tongue. Consequently, we see a parade of wet hands. The Dominican church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva also recently refused Communion to the same reporter desiring to receive the Blessed Sacrament on the tongue during a weekday evening Mass. Unfortunately, the story doesn't end there. I double-checked my understanding with a canon lawyer at a nearby seminary, who agreed. Outside of pandemic times, I prefer to receive on the tongue while standing, for example. My understanding is that reception on the tongue has to do with scrupulosity regarding particles of the blessed sacrament to ensure all are eaten and none are unaccounted for. We healthcare workers are exhausted from such nonsensical selfishness. Neither is more or (St. Augustine, Answer to Petilian the It is this wish that is routinely ignored. believed they followed these same practices and received in their hands. todays choices are worthy ones, capable of offering God devotion and The manner of receiving Communion has receiving it. Whether to receive Communion in the hand or on [12], Any excommunication or interdict obliges the person involved to refrain from receiving Holy Communion, but a minister is obliged to deny Holy Communion only to those on whom an ecclesiastical superior or tribunal has publicly imposed the censure or declared that it has in fact been incurred. In his encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II states, "those who 'obstinately persist in manifest grave sin' are not to be admitted to Eucharistic communion". May the Lord teach us true love and mercy for one another especially His so called shepherds on earth. on Can We Be Required to Receive Communion in the Hand, Because of the Virus? It also prohibited kneeling any day during the 50 days of Easter season. Moreover, Abp Roche is not even the Prefect of the CDW, so neither the pope nor the CDW as such has said anything coram Ecclesia. As a letter sent from the offices of CDW, Secretary Roches letter has zero force of law. "[24][25], Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington has declared his opposition to such political use, with the Washington Post's Melinda Henneberger describing "Communion wielded as a weapon": in Wuerl's view, which he attributes also to the great majority of bishops in the United States and elsewhere, canon 915 "was never intended to be used this way", that is, to bring politicians to repentance. I dont mean to appear super pious, its just that I often dont have a hand free. (n.160), If Communion is given only under the species of bread, the priest raises the host slightly and shows it to each, saying,Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ). The General Instructions of the Roman Missal state: The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand, at the discretion of each communicant. A canon lawyer replied on his behalf, claiming that Canon 223.2 gives the bishop power to regulate the exercise of rights Continue reading , Q: The bishop of my diocese has decreed that because of the Coronavirus outbreak, we Catholics can only receive Communion in the hand, not on the tongue. had put our Lords body into his mouth, that tongue, which long time before had Eucharist? Thank you, I would only like to say, the reverence in your heart is more important than either the hand or the tongue and secondly, that love your neighbour as yourself implies that our concern should be the welfare of others rather than our idea of what is reverence and holiness, Your email address will not be published. bring reward, when unworthily, judgment. Frequently this causes the receivers thumb or pinky finger to brush the ministers fingers while the latter is attempting to put the host in the receivers hand. Respect for the Holy Eucharist, in particular, demands that it be received worthily and that it be seen as the source for our common mission in the world. wars, pandemics), Bishops and Episcopal Conferences can give provisional norms which must be obeyed. Hence, it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for Others try to bite them off!. [7] Also forbidden to receive the sacraments is anyone who has been interdicted. Not wanting to make a scene, but fairly confident of my rights, I whispered that I can receive this way. parishes is the option of receiving the Eucharist on the tongue. receiving Communion on the tongue, its likely that the popular practice was You may unsubscribe at any time. who handle it in either case. No, that is not what we did. The solution is to be found in respectful debate and listening to different viewpoints. If the Upper Room and Emmaus are to be the model for receiving Communion, then perhaps we should receive it laying on our side. A sampling includes tape on every other pew to mark where A canon lawyer replied on his behalf, claiming that Canon 223.2 gives the bishop power to regulate the exercise of directly on the communicants tongue lessened the need for the recipients As in the case of Catholics who divorce and remarry, if these precautionary measures fail to obtain the desired effect or are impossible, "and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, 'the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it'". Donatist, Book 2, #88 354-430 AD), What need of the Those who want to promote Communion on the hand must do so by rational argument and catechesis rather than by diktat. I know I would feel safer knowing that everyones breath had not floated over my Fathers hands while going near Every Mouth in the Parish. When has the Church ever taught that the hand is a less honourable part of the body than the tongue, or standing a less reverent posture than kneeling? mandates of Rouen did not establish universal norms that power is reserved We are indeed allowed to worship our God on our knees and sitting, and standing, and lying down. The assertion that receiving Holy Communion on the tongue while kneeling is more reverent than receiving it on the hand while standing is not to be found in either scripture or tradition. Hamilton, ON L8L 4S4. Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, and Peter Claver are buried, a priest publicly denied Holy Communion to a LifeSiteNews reporter kneeling to receive on the tongue. This responsibility weighs particularly over legislators, heads of governments, and health professionals. Cathy Caridi, J.C.L., is an American canon lawyer who practices law and teaches in Rome. Your email address will not be published. Can a Laicized Priest Return to the Priesthood? Required fields are marked *. However, while I personally have a preference for Communion on the hand, I must point out that this latest letter should not be used as ammunition to ban Communion on the tongue once the pandemic is over. (3) Notice an assistant holds the scotula (hand-candle or bugia). Episcopal Conferences and Communion on the Tongue. ", "Explainer: When can someone be denied the Eucharist? It wasnt until the 1960s that some the tongue are liturgical disciplines, not dogmas. Here is the post. 92 of Redemptionis Sacramentum states: If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful. 20 This stands to reason because, as Canon Lawyer Cathy Caridi explains, the norm in the Church is reception on the tongue, whereas Communion in the hand is only granted by Bishops can legitimately make different judgments on the most prudent course of pastoral action. I was thinking of the original June 2020 guidance which said very clearly Communion must be given silently in the hand only, with the communicant standing, and avoiding any physical contact., Maria Simms. Bernardins Campaign So how did Communion in the hand come to America? Even if your Bishop is wrong in restricting your right to receive Communion on the tongue, a right which is granted by the Church and can be modified (e.g. In general, Catholics who approach for Holy Communion have the right to receive the Eucharist, unless the law provides to the contrary, and canon 915 is just such an exception to the general norm. ", But, commenting on the arrest, Lauren Handy stated: "Media reports have stated that we invaded the abortion center and disrupted women from exercising their reproductive rights. Worship, in the document Memoriale Domini, offers this brief history of . 24 672-735 [27], Pope Francis reaffirmed the Catholic doctrine that politicians who encourage abortion and euthanasia should not take communion, in the Aparecida Document, in March 2013: "We hope that legislators [and] heads of government [] will defend and protect [the dignity of human life] from the abominable crimes of abortion and euthanasia; that is their responsibility [] We must adhere to "eucharistic coherence", that is, be conscious that they cannot receive Holy Communion and at the same time act with deeds or words against the commandments, particularly when abortion, euthanasia, and other grave crimes against life and family are encouraged. Deep within, if one believes in the true presence and a particular way to respect it, then perhaps one should wait till the time is right. norm of receiving Communion in the hand was replaced in the Western Church with on The Virus and the Bishops: Twisting Canon 223 to Further an Agenda. (n.161), , issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and, the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2004, also addressed the matter, reaffirming the Churchs universal, law permitting Communion on the tongue at any time. The minister apologized but said that the bishop does not permit Communion on the tongue. The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed and if the communicant so chooses, in the hand. Keep me updated via email on this petition and related issues. superstitious reasons or profane use, and reduced the possibility of crumbs you would rather choose not to come at all, than come with soiled hands. What is of most importance is that the communicant be in a state of Very interesting to read all these logically sound views. What is common is it seems like one has a right to the body and blood of Christ. subjected to conditions) or revoked by that same authority, I suggest that the obedient and faithful response is to receive on the hand. Communion on the Tongue vs. in The Virus and the Bishops: Twisting Canon 223 to Further an Agenda. Eastern Catholic Children Receiving Latin Catholic Sacraments. On December 11, Catholic News Agency published a story on the Vatican upholding Bishop Richard F. Stika decision to suspend reception of Holy Communion on the tongue at public Masses throughout the Diocese of Knoxville for the duration of the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic., In a letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship, Archbishop Arthur Roche refused to overturn Bishop Stika. The Vatican approved no such ban. St. Thomas The liturgy is about dying and rising with Christ, becoming the Body of Christ, being transformed communally, being more aware of the other communicants because this enhances our sense of Gods presence. consecrated bread, thereby desecrating the Eucharist, seems to have been the When Baby Jesus was born he was adored by the Shepherds and Kings from the East in total silence reference and awe. The coronavirus has altered the way . The communicant replies,Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed and if the communicant so chooses, in the hand. The Dominican church of. awr. The measures given by the Bishops and Episcopal Conferences expire when the situation returns to normal. Eucharist on the tongue grew in popularity in the Latin Rite. Now it is the time not to harden our heart but to listen to Gods Spirit and discern his will without being adamant with our human traditions. Canon 916 excludes from communion all those conscious of mortal sin who have not received sacramental absolution. (4) Notice the priest (wearing a stole) holding the Please note that the two events - the pro-life rescue in 2020 and the gruesome discovery of the fivenear-to-full-term babies in the Surgi-Center's "bio-medical waste" earlier this year - are almost one-and-a-half years apart. The USCCBs instructions say, Those who receive Communion may receive either in the hand or on the tongue, and the decision should be that of the Knowledge by the priest alone, in particular through the sacrament of confession, is not a justifying cause for denying Holy Communion. anointed hands of a priest could touch the Eucharist appeared later. no medical reasons for a ban of Communion on the tongue. Earlier that year, supported the professional opinion of Professor Filippo Maria Boscia that Communion on the tongue is safer than hand Communion. Boscia is the president of the Association of Catholic Doctors of Italy. Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law. But if I as a priest have at this time an infectious or contagious disease, out of reverence and love for my fellow disciples who are members of the Body of Christ, I would be sure to do what I can to protect them. How Archbishop Roche has clarified that this is indeed a legitimate interpretation of the letter and that a bishop or bishops conference have the right to suspend for whatever time might be required, reception of Holy Communion on the tongue at the public celebration of the Holy Mass. falling to the floor. Web1385; Code of Canon Law, canons 916 and 919). Hands are a very germ ridden part of the body. As I usually go up to receive Communion with at least one baby in my arms, I have a purely practical preference for Communion on the tongue when it is safe to do so, of course.
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