The following comes from Pope Benedict's book Light of the World, Ignatius Press
I am not opposed in principle to communion in the hand; I have both administered and received communion in this way myself. The idea behind my current practice of having people kneel to receive communion on the tongue was to send a signal and to underscore the real presence with an exclamation point. One very important reason is that there is a great danger of superficiality precisely in the kinds of mass events we hold at Saint Peter's, both in the Basilica and in the Square. I have heard of people who, after receiving communion, stick the Host in their wallet to take home as a kind of souvenir. In this context, where people think that everyone is just automatically supposed to receive communion - everyone else is going up, so I will, too - I wanted to send a clear signal. I wanted it to be clear: Something quite special is going on here! He is here, the One before whom we fall on our knees! Pay attention! This is not just some social ritual in which we can take part if we want to. Chapter 15 - How is the Church Renewed? p. 156.
One could almost base a new wording for the petition to the Holy Father on these words above, explaining that what the Holy Father found it necessary to do in Rome so many priests would like to be able to do in their own parishes but, at present, can't.
All of Pope Benedict's statements are absolutely correct here. If we are to gather though by the tenor of the some of the comments left here, you would think otherwise with remarks like communion in the hand is an insult to Our Lord etc. This of course is wrong and as I said in my letter accompanying the petition, communion in the hand is a legitimate practice if done with the right dispositions, and most importantly, is allowed by the discipline of the Church.
ReplyDeleteBut if I was allowed my five minutes with Pope Benedict, I would say to him the problems he has become aware of during Masses in St Peter's Basilica, are far worse in ordinary parish churches, in the diaspora.
This is the genesis for this petition from two priests in a rural diocese in Australia, who have experienced this head on. That is why many of us would like to see the older discipline of universal communion on the tongue returned.
Some years ago I wrote to Pope John Paul 11 asking for his help because I had arrived at a point in my priestly life where I could not - in conscience - continue distributing Holy Communion in the hand. I received a reply through the Apostolic Nuncio (unusual since priest's letters to the Vatican were usually returned via Bishop's house). The nuncio wrote to me directly saying that he had been personally instructed to do so by the Pope who was very concerned about my letter and wanted to assure me of that concern. The Nuncio was asked to write explaining that communion in the hand can be received worthily, but there was no mistaking the genuine concern being expressed from the Holy Father. As we know, he had already forbidden the practice in St. Peter's. I was encouraged by the Pope's concern, but remain deeply unhappy about this matter and pray for it to be rectified.
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