If someone asks you to take something, what do you do? Do you reach out, or do you wait for them to put it in your hand, or even on your tongue?
Jesus said, “Take, eat” (Labete phagete in Matthew’s Greek).
Some hope that fewer Catholics will do that, and will instead opt to open their mouths and receive Communion on the tongue as in older times (a practice a senior Vatican official is suggesting should once again be the universal practice). Fr. John Z. reports and comments; see also the discussion at Commonweal.
Those Catholics who advocate for Communion being received by the laity only on the tongue and kneeling (clerics would still get to receive in the hand) stress the reality of the Eucharist as the body and blood of Christ.
Let’s not argue with the latter point for the moment.
What was Jesus’ attitude towards his physical body? “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.” Go ahead. Touch me. I’m not a ghost.
Why should he now be untouchable?
Do some Catholics really think this is what happened at the Last Supper?
5 Comments
February 25, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Priests and bishops would not receive, they would take from the paten, as long as they were concelebrating. Those attending in choir or part of the congregation would receive communion just as members of the laity. Deacons, would only receive. I am not contradicting your central point but this is my understanding of the situation.
February 25, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Yes, of course. I oversimplified that point.
February 25, 2008 at 11:27 pm
There is too much opportunity for sacriledge and indifference now a days with receiving in the hand. Also, when my Lord is before me, I’d rather kneel before my King and recive him reverently and solemly on my tongue w/o any incidence of mistreating his divine presence, body, blood, soul, and divinity.
February 26, 2008 at 4:16 am
That is a Traditional Catholic attitude … but so far different than the attitude Jesus asked to be shown to him.
July 28, 2008 at 4:36 pm
You know, if more Catholics were better educated about the reality of the Eucharist and what we believe does take place in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (that we are made contemporary with Christ’s act of worship and self-giving on the Cross), then I would be more comfortable with receiving on the hand.
I just don’t like how the entire Mass builds up to the Eucharist and then it is given away speedily like candy. Let us approach it in a manner that suggests we really do believe in the mystery.
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