LifeSite news reports today on an interview with Antonio Cardinal Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. See the full interview and the LifeSite report.Quite properly, LifeSite, which is concerned with Catholic moral teaching on pro-life matters, questioned the Cardinal on the link between faithfulness to the norms of the Liturgy and faithfulness to the Church's moral teachings. The Cardinal affirmed that there is an inseparable link between the Eucharist and the defence of life because in the Eucharist we enter into communion with Jesus Christ and His life. This divine life should make us communicate love and defend human life.
His Eminence gives an interesting answer on the question of whether there is a movement in the Vatican to return to the traditional manner of reception of Communion (kneeling and on the tongue):
If the papal liturgy is a sign, an indication for all the Church, we should promote Communion kneeling and in the mouth. But, this does not mean not permitting or forbidding Communion in the hand if it is done with due respect. With a previous gesture of adoration. This could be kneeling, or a genuflection or with a deep bow. And also in the moment of receiving Communion, the right hand should be placed under the left hand forming a cross expressing in this way the recognition of the real presence of the body of Christ offered for us. We should take care that no particle should be lost. And the body of Christ should be received in front of the priest.This is yet another affirmation from a senior figure concerned with the Sacred Liturgy that we should "promote" communion kneeling and received on the tongue. I agree with him that if communion is received reverently on the hand, it is not sensible at the present time to impede it. But he is also right that the "lamentable" failure to receive communion reverently is often observed with communion on the hand, and the traditional manner of receiving communion can help to restore reverence.
We should recognise that frequently Communion in the hand many times is not received in this way.
It is very lamentable.
8 comments:
Keep in mind that receiving Holy Communion in the hand is only done by indult, and an indult can be withdrawn for good reason.
I take it the Cardinal hasn't seen any left handed people....
Yes the indult should be withdrawn. The impostion of communion on the hand was a huge mistake. Even some protestants do not do this while others take communion this way because it desacralises communion. While I only take communion the traditional way, I am scandalised by communion on the hand. It is like slapping a face and saying "I love you".
His Eminence said that there was no way to abolish Communion in the hand, but I have to say I found it difficult to refrain from mentioning the fact that the traditional manner is the norm of the Church and the new way only allowed by a papal indult that could be rescinded at any time by the Holy Father.
But I managed in the end.
As an aside, he struck me as a deeply spiritual and holy man, and his answers to my questions were so completely non-political, so deeply embedded in the core of the Holy Faith that I was given great hope.
Father, I wonder whether you could confirm that this declaration, on the manner of distributing and receiving communion, has be enacted outside the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle:
'24th July 2009: A Message from Bishop Seamus Cunningham:
On the basis of advice from Health Authorities, I request that we observe the following from 24th July:
a) No Communion from the Chalice
b) Communion with the Host to be received only in the hand
c) Sign of Peace to be made without a handshake
When the circumstances improve then we can return to usual practice.
Liam - we have received nothing of the sort in Southwark although I have heard of one or two dioceses where the same thing has been said. The Liturgy Office of the Bishops' Conference still has the standard advice up about The Church & 'flu.
Father,
Gemoftheocean and I have been debating whether or not there is a connection between pro-choice Catholicism and hand Communion over on my website.
k.c.
The Cardinal, unfortunately, is unable to bring himself to the only rational notion that will end the post-Vatican II liturgical collapse:
That is, the complete return by Rome to the TLM.
As the Cardinal's remarks indicate, the "reform of the reform" refuses to touch the for example, the destructive Communion-in-the-hand novelty.
Communion in the hand is practiced with "reverence" at any number of conservative and liberal parishes within my dioceses.
Therefore, I don't understand the Cardinal's argument in that regard.
I witness my brothers and sisters in the Faith receive Communion in the hand each week at Mass.
They do so in reverent fashion.
Regardless, said practice is untraditional and should be consigned to history this very second.
Thomas
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