It amazes me the number of countries all over the world that are represented in our petition to the Holy Father. Catholics from so many diverse nations have responded. However it must be said that the numbers signing to this point have been below expectations. Please encourage others who have a deep love and devotion to the real and substantial presence of the Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist to consider signing this petition and to advertise it on their blogs. Of course Catholics from non English speaking countries may wish to begin their own petition which would be a particularly welcome outcome of our own initiative here.
In certain circles online this petition has caused controversy. This is understandable if you have as your starting point a theology of the Eucharist that centres more on celebrating Jesus' presence in our community, rather than Jesus' initiative in giving Himself completely to us in His Eucharistic presence and sacrifice. The heart of the Holy Eucharist is forever new, for it is the utter self giving of Jesus in Love beyond all telling for our Salvation and He is risen ! It is this Communion with Jesus at Mass that forges Communion among us as the the Body of Christ the Church . This Communion is the source and fountainhead from whence all Christian community and service flow.
We are therefore completely dependent on Jesus as the source of our salvation and for our Communion with Him and each other in Christian love and community, moreover we know He is both truly God as well as truly man. On better understanding these truths it will seem more than natural to want to receive Jesus in holy Communion humbly on the tongue to express these realities of faith. Furthermore as this faith will tend to lead us to this practice, the practice if made normative would help to reinforce and build this faith. We could also add something here about kneeling but we will leave that discussion for another time.
