One of my favourite books this book is a must have. Once you read this you will never take Communion in the Hand again.
Archangel777, are you the author of this book? The reason I am asking is that we as Catholics do not "take" communion. We receive it. I'm just confused by this terminology.
er is nog geen enkele paus geweest die de hand-communie verboden heeft! dus waarom zou het niet toegestaan zijn? het is vooral belangrijk dat je innerlijke ingesteldheid juist is,je hart moet zuiver zijn om jezus te ontvangen!
there is no pope who hand-communion has forbidden! So why would not it be allowed? it is especially important that your inner attitude is correct, your heart must be pure in order to receive Jesus!
there is no pope who hand-communion has forbidden! So why would not it be allowed? it is especially important that your inner attitude is correct, your heart must be pure in order to receive Jesus!
The Church has never officially approved Communion in the Hand. The Belgian (or Dutch ?) Bishops' Conference first introduced this without reference to Rome and it was rapidly approved by other Bishops' Conferences. The Philippines Bishops reversed their decision to permit it. Even my own Parish Priest says that this undesirable innovation was permitted under the reforms of Vatican II (it was not). In Maria Simma's book 'Get Us Out of Here', she is quoted as saying that God is very displeased at this practice and, since reading those words, I have received on the tongue. It may not be true but I remember when everyone received on the tongue and kneeling and have always felt uneasy with receiving in the hand and didn't feel brave enough to be the only one doing so, until I did it and the priest gave a reminder, a few weeks after I started that, people may receive on the tongue. I haven't been brave enough to kneel but always bow low before receiving . The inner sentiment is, of course, vital but it can very easily be demonstrated by outward signs of respect.
It is interesting that in raising six children, we allowed them to choose. Geralyn and I receive on the tongue not only out of reverence but because the practice decreases the opportunity for desecration or misuse. Two Sundays ago a person in my parish received in the hand and then carried the precious Host over to the cupbearer. She then practiced intinction by dipping the precious Host in the Blood and placing the Host on her tongue. Now, she did this with all due respect, but it was an unapproved and illicit act on her part. By the way, five of our children receive on the tongue, the sixth on the hand. Rebel! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
It was 1969. Paul VI was the Pope. The Congregation for Divine Worship issued an Instruction, Memoriale Domini, on the manner of receiving Holy Communion. It makes very interesting reading. After recalling the development of the reception of Communion on the tongue as a fruit of "a deepening understanding of the truth of the Eucharistic mystery, of its power and of the presence of Christ in it", the Instruction declares that "this method of distributing Holy Communion must be retained... not merely because it has many centuries of tradition behind it, but especially because it expresses the faithful's reverence for the Eucharist. "The custom does not detract in any way from the personal dignity of those who approach this great sacrament: it is part of that preparation that is needed for the most fruitful reception of the Body of the Lord," it said. It also warned: "A change in a matter of such moment, based on a most ancient and venerable tradition, does not merely affect discipline. It carries certain dangers with it which may arise from the new manner of administering Holy Communion: the danger of a loss of reverence for the august sacrament of the altar, of profanation, of adulterating the true doctrine." And it published a survey of the world's bishops, which led it to conclude: "The vast majority of bishops believe that the present discipline should not be changed, and that if it were, the change would be offensive to the sentiments and the spiritual culture of these bishops and of many of the faithful." For this reason it reported: "The Holy Father has decided not to change the existing way of administering Holy Communion to the faithful." So, given that Communion in the hand is now practically universal and younger generations know practically nothing else, what happened? A "loophole" existed. The Instruction contained the provision for bishops' conferences to make a decision to allow Communion in the hand in places where "contrary usage... prevails". And over the coming decade or so this loophole was exploited.
