We may talk about a lot of things the ancient church did by citing a lot of writings of the saints regarding the subject matter. All this documents aside, let us ask ourselves...If we stand in attention during the singing of our own national anthems...if we show proper respect for visiting heads of states or even guests at our offices or our own homes...what attitude would you show if Christ the Lord comes into you in Holy Communion?
Which do you prefer?
In the hand?
Or kneeling?
"What does it mean to receive communion in the mouth? What does it mean to kneel before the Most Holy Sacrament? What does it mean to kneel during the consecration at Mass? It means adoration, it means recognizing the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist; it means respect and an attitude of faith of a man who prostrates before God because he knows that everything comes from Him, and we feel speechless, dumbfounded, before the wondrousness, his goodness, and his mercy. That is why it is not the same to place the hand, and to receive communion in any fashion, than doing it in a respectful way; it is not the same to receive communion kneeling or standing up, because all these signs indicate a profound meaning. What we have to grasp is that profound attitude of the man who prostrates himself before God, and that is what the Pope wants." Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera
MOTHER TERESA'S SECRET:
ReplyDelete"I will tell you a secret, since we have just a thousand close friends together, and also because we have the Missionaries of Charity with us... Not very long ago I said Mass and preached for their Mother, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and after breakfast we spent quite a long time talking in a little room. Suddenly, I found myself asking her -- don't know why -- 'Mother, what do you think is the worst problem in the world today?' She more than anyone could name any number of candidates: famine, plague, disease, the breakdown of the family, rebellion against God, the corruption of the media, world debt, nuclear threat, and so on. Without pausing a second she said, 'Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand.'"
- Father George William Rutler, Good Friday, 1989 in St. Agnes Church, New York City (a precise transcript taken from a tape of his talk available from St. Agnes Church)
I read this story too Connie but I would tell this story to you via email if you could email me Connie. thepinoycatholic@gmail.com
ReplyDeletefor PRACTICALITY the best is by Hand why can't you give the proper reverence as take it by hand, The Early Christians did it. As said by our Parish Priest becased He researched about it, You can avoid transfer of disease. Will Jesus benefit from it. NO, it's for YOUR benefit, would He mind, NO, the important thing is You get your dose of Vitamin Eucharist to strengthen You in your spiritual life. Ang dami kasing Arte, nakalimutan na kung ano ang importante
ReplyDeleteleanvillanueva PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD go to these links and read it first:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.communion-in-the-hand.org/
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_in_hand.htm
We receive Communion not for practicality's sake first.
Are you telling me that YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THE POPE WHO WANTS COMMUNION ON THE TONGUE AND KNEELING AND NOT BY THE HAND?