Communion in the Hand

I heard over the radio that the Cardinal-Archbishop of Manila, Gaudencio Rosales, is "suggesting" to not distribute communion in the mouth and is "insisting" that Communion be distributed only by hand because of the spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus in the country. Well, the Archdiocese of Manila and even most dioceses in the Philippines want to distribute communion in the hand even if it is an OPTION and not the NORM, swine flu or not! After Vatican 2, everything that a liturgical hobbyists thinks, even if the Holy See issues documents such as Redemptionis Sacramentum, becomes the NORM.

The more reverent way to receive Holy Communion is through the hand of the minister, bishop, priest or deacon, or through the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (which I personally do not want to). Communicating in the Hand is not Communion in my opinion. It is self Communicating!

I am not at all surprised with this statement from the cardinal. He is not known to be a keen observer of the maxim: "Say the Black, Do the Red." He leaves the "creativity" to Chupungco and Diwa.

For excellent resources regarding communion in the hand in the time of the spread of swine flu, click the links below:

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/06/quaeritur-communion-in-the-time-of-swine-flu/
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/05/quaeritur-communion-in-the-time-of-swine-flu-again/
http://forum.catholic.org/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=55767&start=50

Special thanks for Fr. Z and Catholic.org.