There is an aspect of the Communion-in-the-hand discussion that I feel has been overlooked and so I would like to address it.
One of the results of the increase in Communion in the hand has been a proportional decrease in the use of patens that catch Communion particles during distribution. It is very easy, in the transfer of hosts to the communicant’s hand or mouth, for a small piece of Communion to fall, and it is the minister’s responsibility to make sure It is caught.
When I’ve acted as an Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, without a server and paten, I’ve tried to use the ciborium as a kind of paten itself. It isn’t at all difficult to make sure that the ciborium is constantly underneath the host as it is transferred to the communicant, held under my hand and also under the chin or hands of the communicant, but I’m somewhat amazed at how many times this easy precaution is not taken.
Nought the precious gift divideth.
Breaking but the sign betideth.
Jesus still the same abideth,
Still unbroken doth remain.
(Corpus Christi Sequence)
Great observation and advice.
However, the more I observe folks communicating, the more convinced I am that altar rails and kneeling is not only more reverent, but much more efficient towards alleviating such concerns. And they are great concerns, as I've witnessed enough instances of what seemed to be attempted intentional abuse that disturbs the rite.
Good advice.
Hear, hear, Charles!
communion in the hand was borne of rank disobedience and false scholarship. For that reason alone, it should be shelved. Charles raises the practical downside of this practice
Interestingly, according to Redemptonis Sacramentum, it appears that the paten (or communion-plate, as it's officially called, not to be confused with the paten that holds the consecrated hosts) is required to be used, according to number 93.
The disuse of communion patens is concomitant not with communion in the hand (however much communion on the tongue is preferable), but with loss of belief in the Real Presence. (Setting aside issues of cause and effect.)
I concur with everyone's comments regarding the critical need for a return to the true sacredness of the handling and distribution of the the Body of our Lord. My preference is to receive the sacred species kneeling at the communion rail. None of the parishes in our desert communities have the rails so sadly it's a moot issue. 🙁
Bring back the communion rails and kneeling and receiving on the tongue only lack of which has led to abuse upon abuse. When Cardinal Arinze visited the U.S. as prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship, he commented on the lack of communion rails and wondered what had happened to them. This was all part of the misinformation and liberal takeover after Vat. II. In my opinion, there is much too much use of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion when they are not necessary, but woe to anyone who tries to take this privilege away!
Hear, hear! Earlier this Spring the EMs brought up the Ciborium and the Chalice to the choir loft. Upon his descent, the EM with the chalice missed a step and baptized the stair well with the Precious Blood! During Lent the EMs dutifully brought Holy Communion up under both species and this time a choir member attempted to catch the Host as it fell from his mouth and in so doing bumped the ciborium and scattered the entire contents. Both incidences created all manner of bad feelings and many questions about the practice to follow should this occur. We had a loooonnnnngggg discussion about the practice that took into those considerations when there was a very strong belief in the Real Presence. If the belief in the Real Presence were still held in high regard and more universally this practice would stop.
The practice of having every one now come up for either Communion or a blessing and that no one seems to show up for Mass unprepared to receive Communion worthily presents another aspect of the same issue. We now have to check for hosts in the books in the pews, or stuck under the pews with the gum and other things. We have found them outside on the ground and in the garbage!!! I've seen young people take the Host and shove it in their pockets and not consume it.
I can't remember the last time I heard any teaching on this. Of course, today this practice was designed to reduce not only the belief in the Real Presence, but to minimize the consecrated, ordained priesthood. The number of communicants is not so immense as to demand continuous parades of EMs through the church and the sanctuary. Should the reception of Holy Communion take a bit longer would that be so bad as to allow for a few more moments of quiet contemplation about the very act of receiving the Body of the Lord?
At least we don't have a drive through yet.
My parish in Macon has always, before and after Vatican II, had the altar server hold the paten at Holy Communion time. They place the paten either under the chin or under the hand if the communicant receives in the hand. I don't know how successful their "catch" rate is, but there is a symbolic sign of respect for the desire to prevent accidents ,if the Host falls, that is important.
I've mentioned elsewhere we have a new (wonderful) pastor. After school Mass this morning, he, the principal and I were casually yakking things liturgical. Two things related to Kathy's great memo came up:
1. The pastor wants to abolish the accreted custom of non-communicants receiving any sort of physical blessing with those attendant postures (crossed arms, etc.) YAHOO! He and I in unison said "All they need to do, should they wish to be in procession, is provide the reverential bow. Duh.
2. I jokingly said "Okay, let's see how well the new pastor knows the music director: "What would the music director do to make reception both reverential and more efficient?" He immediately responded: "Put the communion rail back up!"
Oh, I'm so going to enjoy my final years with this pastor!
I'm jealous, but in the most positive way!
We had this discussion at our school and the middle school religion teacher was voicing her strong feelings about a non-Catholic student not coming forward for a "blessing".. . "She could at least do THAT" cried the teacher. I mentioned that it was acceptable practice for one not receiving communion to remain in their place and they were not obligated to come forth for any kind of acknowledgement. I mentioned that that this student showed more respect and personal integrity to behave in this manner. Needless to say, this was a very unpopular an rejected idea.
Y'all come and do something, I guess.
it scares me that this person is teaching religion when she apparently needs a remedial course in Catholicism
Hi. I choose at times to receive in the hand for that very reason, no paten. Thank you for bringing this up!