Communion in the Hand Destroys Piety: Bishop Athansius Schneider

Edit: Continued from a previous article that not even Luther would have given Communion in the Hand.

A Calvinist Invention

Every priest can see that parts of the Host will remain on the hands of the faithful, and parts will fall to the ground to be trampled.

(kreuz.net) Communion on the tongue is a fruit of piety and grown naturally.

Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider (50) said this for the radio station, 'Radio Maria Südtirol' on the 19th of July.

The current form of Communion in thee hand comes, on the contrary, to a dishonoring of the Sacrament of the Altar.

It was introduced with the sweep of a hand and has damaged piety.

How the Deviltry Began

Auxiliary Bishop Schneider explains how Communion in the Hand was introduced in a spirit of disobedience during the 60s of the last century.

In the Netherlands, Belgium and Northern Germany it was insisted suddenly that hand communion came down from the time of the Church Fathers:

"Unfortunately this is something the Bishops at the time had invented."

After the Second Vatican council Paul VI († 1978) expressly forbid Communion in the Hand.

But the Bishops in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria and Germany put pressure on the Pope.

They insisted that it was no longer possible to prescribe the wild practice.

Whereupon in 1968 the Pope addressed all Bishops regarding Communion in the Hand.

Almost two thirds of the world Episcopate opposed the sacrilege.

The majority of the Bishops warned that the particles of the consecrated Hosts would fall on the floor and that sacrality would by destroyed by this practiced.

But the propagandists of Hand Communion were not appeased.

Thereupon Paul VI allowed in May of 1969 in the document 'Memoriale Domini' to allow Hand Communion where it had already been illegally practiced.

The Communion on the Tongue was designated as the "Rule".


The Abuse is the Rule

Msgr Schndeider has noticed that things have been turned upside down.

Communion on the Tongue is the exception and Communion in the Hand is the rule.

The Auxiliary Bishop excoriates that the giving of Communion will always involve particles remaining on the fingers.

Additionally, there is at least the danger that the Host could be stolen.

Hand Communion may only be suppressed from on high

Msgr Schneider encourages Bishops and Priests to promote Communion on the Tongue.

That the Holy Father himself only gives Communion kneeling on the tongue, serves as an example for us.

The Bishops must draw their own conclusions from this:

"If the Pope does it, it is also a sign for me as a Bishop to act in the same way"

Auxiliary Bishop Schneider believes that the faithful, who love the Church and the Mass, would readily embrace Communion on the Tongue.


Communion Rails Must be Present

The Auxiliary Bishop recommends setting up Communion rails again.

That is especially helpful for older persons, who would be supported when they knelt.

They would otherwise be at a disadvantage, when there is a possibility to receive kneeling.

The faithful could --says the Auxiliary Bishop -- even stay at the Communion rail. Then no one can be discriminated against.

The introduction of Communion rails are "logical and just".

The Bishop believes that with time, the majority will sink to their knees for the overpowering moment of Communion.

You take Communion Yourself and Stick it in the Mouth


Finally, he stresses that Communion in the Hand can be worthily received.

But it recalls the daily grind, where "I can take it myself and put it in my own mouth."

That diminishes sacrality.

Link to kreuz.net ...
Photo: © thatliz, Flickr, CC