(Rome) After several of Pope Francis' celebrated solemn high Masses, it is obvious that the canonical “extraordinary form” of Communion in the hand is being practiced again in a big way in papal Masses. And according to the personal discretion of every priest.
Pope Benedict XVI. had only given Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue to the faithful shortly after he became Pope (except Despite some cases like the Queen of Spain). Through the rediscovery of traditional practice, the reverence for the Eucharist should be strengthened to counteract deformation by the erroneous understanding in the minds of believers of a mere meal with common bread consumption.
Newly appointed in 2007, the papal master of ceremonies, Guido Marini said in June 2008, in an interview with the Osservatore Romano he explained that in future papal Masses, Communion on the tongue will prevail in a kneeling posture. This now no longer seems to be the case.
Canon law has always prescribed that Communion is received kneeling on the tongue as the actual form of Communion reception. With the liturgical reform after the Second Vatican Council, the bishops' conferences were granted the right to allow additional and valid exemption of forms for their area of responsibility. From the exception, however, was a rule that made the actual exception to the rule immediately. In Germany, First Communion is almost everywhere taught everywhere since the 70s exclusively Communion in the hand. Of Communion on the tongue or even kneeling Communion in this large-scale re-education program in fact there is no more talk.
During dozens of scheduled Papal Masses, priests were instructed under Pope Benedict XVI. from 2008 to give the consecrated host only on the tongue. With few exceptions, the traditional practice was quickly put into effect again.
Since the inauguration of Pope Francis any uniformity has been lost. The Pope gives the deacons Communion, while it is received kneeling on the tongue. As the head of the Church, however, he gives no Communion to the faithful, as Pope Benedict XVI's example is minimized. Of the scheduled priests a large number only give Communion on the tongue. However, just as many priests give again Communion in the hand according to the Pre-Benedictine exception, when a communicant holds out their hands. A general practice, they know from most the parishes to which they were only taught by priests. Instructions for the priests as under Benedict XVI. is apparently no more. The form of Communion by the priest seems to be merely a option.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Screenshot CTV 28.04.2013
Translation: Tancred
12 comments:
Would that Archbisop Athanasius Schneider sit down with Francis and talk to him about the horrors of this practice.
Aged P says it all.
I never made the connection between AP’s moniker and Great Expectations. Thank you for that.
One step forward untold steps back.
I "third" Aged parent.
Old friend, Tancred! there are couple of errors in your post.
1. ) >>>>.Pope Benedict XVI. had only gave Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue to the faithful shortly after he became POpe<<<<<<
Wrong. Pope Benedict became Pope in April 2005. Pope Bendedict started kneeling Communion on the tongue on the Feast of Corpus Christi, 2008. i.e. For more than three years, Pope Benedict, himself, distributed Communion the same way the crowd-pleasing priests in today's papal Mass distributed, i.e. Any-Old-Way. I remember the great disappointment I felt seeing this during his visit to America in 2008.
2)>>>>>>>> During dozens of scheduled Papal Masses, priests were instructed under Pope Benedict XVI. from 2008 to give the consecrated host only on the tongue. With few exceptions, the traditional practice was quickly put into effect again<<<<<<<<
Wrong. Tancred! please find me more than one video of Benedict's priests denying people Hand Communion. I've only seen one --on your blog :-)....that's for 8 years of Benedict!! I have seen three videos of this occuring under Francis and that's for ONE MONTH. Incidentally, extrapolating from that....Francis' enforcement of the 'hand-Communion ban' is 250 times stronger than Benedict's. Watch some of Benedict's WYD videos, friend! outside of the sphere of the Pope's personal distribution, it was a free-for all!
Tancred and all fellow traddies! I share your disappointment that the camera man could not catch a priest correcting hand-Communicants, nor did I get to see the Pope's own personal distribution to kneeling communicants ((this might have taken some of the shock/scandal/sting value out of the first communicants being filmed casually taking the Host in their hands)). Some of this could be the luck of the camera draw.....however it clear that IF MSGR Marini has instructed the Priests to emphasize and enforce Communion on the tongue, then many priests are simply defying him.
I pray MSGR M is not being left to twist in the wind!
Sorry, I”m not sure what your point is. The fact of the matter is that Communion in the hand is back at papal liturgies whether we like it or not, although the Pope doesn’t allow it from his Deacons.
Tancred, Thanks. I hadn't either realized Aged parent's Great Expectations connect. Now I confess I can't figure the Mystery of the Eponymous Flower. edelweiss? ST.Tancred? a little child? Will you give a hint?
Scarlet Pimpernel.
How very good. Thanks Tancred. I almost feel like an almost dunce. But I haven't seen The Scarlet Pimpernel for years, Leslie Howard (I think). I've never read the book but maybe I will. Very clever.
I frequently distributed Holy Communion at papal Masses while living in Rome from 2001 until 2011. While the Holy Father--both Pop John Paul II and Pope Benedict--only gave Holy Communion on the tongue and to those kneeling, the rest of us priests were never instructed to do the same. Indeed not once did any one present themselves kneeling to me for Holy Communion in Saint Peter's. And while many did receive on the tongue, even in Rome the majority of the faithful receive Our Lord in their hand.
Mother Teresa reportedly said, "Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand."20 Father John Hardon, S.J. also proclaimed, "Behind Communion in the hand — I wish to repeat and make as plain as I can — is a weakening, a conscious, deliberate weakening of faith in the Real Presence . . . Whatever you can do to stop Communion in the hand will be blessed by God."21 Even the great Pope John Paul II reportedly said: "There is an apostolic letter on the existence of a special valid permission for this [Communion in the hand]. But I tell you that I am not in favor of this practice, nor do I recommend it."22
We know what we should, I dont communion with my hands, I communion while kneeling & using tongue only. somehow the people can see & somehow we pray that they may also follow it.
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