Archbishop Ranjith: Time To Reconsider Communion In The Hand & Other Good News

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, reiterates the importance of kneeling before the Holy Eucharist and the goodness of kneeling to receive Holy Communion, and has also suggested that it's time to rethink allowing the reception of Holy Communion in the hand.

I like him!

Here's the link to Shawn Tribe's post at the excellent, The New Liturgical Movement: Ranjith On Kneeling For Communion During The Liturgy And Communion On The Tongue

Here's the text of Shawn Tribe's post, which mostly quotes Archbishop Ranjith:

Libreria Editrice Vaticana has published a book, Dominus Est by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, where that Bishop analyzes the question of communion recieved kneeling and on the tongue.

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith has written the foreward to this book, which the NLM is happy to present an unofficial translation here to follow. (Many thanks to a good friend of the NLM for providing the link to this, which came originally through, Associazione Luci sull'Est.

Without further ado, the foreword of Msgr. Ranjith, Secretary to the CDW:

In the Book of Revelation, St. John tells how he had seen and heard what was revealed and prostrated [himself] in adoration at the foot of the angel of God (cf. Rev 22, 8). Prostrating, or getting down one one's knees before the majesty of the presence of God in humble adoration, was a habit of reverence that Israel brought constantly to the presence of the Lord. It says the first book of Kings, "when Solomon had finished putting this prayer to the Lord and this plea, he stood up before the altar of the Lord, where he was kneeling, with palms stretched heavenward, and blessed the whole assembly of Israel "(1 King 8, 54-55). The position of supplication of the King is clear: He was kneeling in front of the altar.

The same tradition is also visible in the New Testament where we see Peter get on his knees before Jesus (cf. Lk 5, 8); when Jairus asked him to heal her daughter (Luke 8, 41), when the Samaritan returned to thank him, and when Mary the sister of Lazarus asked for the life of her brother (John 11, 32). The same attitude of prostration before the revelation of the divine presence and is generally known in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 5, 8, 14 and 19, 4).

Closely linked to this tradition was the conviction that the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God and therefore, in the temple it was necessary to prepare one's disposition by corporal expression, a deep sense of humility and reverence in the presence of the Lord.

Even in the Church, the deep conviction that in the Eucharistic species the Lord is truly and really present, along with the growing practice of preserving the Holy Sacrament in tabernacles, contributed to practice of kneeling in an attitude of humble adoration of the Lord in the Eucharist.

[...]

...faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic species already belonged to the essence of the faith of the Catholic Church and was an intrinsic part of Catholicism. It was clear that we could not build up the Church if that faith was minimally affected.

Therefore, the Eucharist, bread transubstantiated in Body of Christ and wine into the Blood of Christ, God among us, is to be greeted with wonder, reverence and an immense attitude of humble adoration. Pope Benedict XVI... points out that "receiving the Eucharist means adoring him whom we receive [...] only in adoration can a profound and genuine reception mature."(Sacramentum Caritatis 66).

Following this tradition, it is clear that it became coherent and indispensable to take actions and attitudes of the body and spirit which makes it easier to [enter into] silence, recollection, and the humble acceptance of our poverty in the face of the infinite greatness and holiness of the One who comes to meet us in the Eucharistic species. The best way to express our sense of reverence to the Lord in Mass is to follow the example of Peter, who as the Gospel tells us, threw himself on his knees before the Lord and said, 'Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinner " (Luke 5, 8).

As we see in some churches now, this practice is decreasing and those responsible not only require that the faithful should receive the Holy Eucharist standing, but even eliminate all kneelers forcing the faithful to sit or stand, even during the elevation and adoration of the [Sacred] Species. It is ironic that such measures have been taken in [some] dioceses by those responsible for liturgy, or in churches, by pastors, without even the smallest amount of consultation of the faithful, even though today, more than ever, there is an environment desiring democracy in the Church.

At the same time, speaking of communion in the hand, it must be recognized that the practice was improperly and quickly introduced in some quarters of the Church shortly after the Council, changing the age-old practice and becoming regular practice for the whole Church. They justified the change saying that it better reflected the Gospel or the ancient practice of the Church... Some, to justify this practice referred to the words of Jesus: "Take and eat" (Mk 14, 22; Mt 26, 26).

Whatever the reasons for this practice, we cannot ignore what is happening worldwide where this practice has been implemented. This gesture has contributed to a gradual weakening of the attitude of reverence towards the sacred Eucharistic species whereas the previous practice had better safeguarded that sense of reverence. There instead arose an alarming lack of recollection and a general spirit of carelessness. We see communicants who often return to their seats as if nothing extraordinary has happened... In many cases, one cannot discern that sense of seriousness and inner silence that must signal the presence of God in the soul.

Then there are those who take away the sacred species to keep them as souvenirs, those who sell, or worse yet, who take them away to desecrate it in Satanic rituals. Even in large concelebrations, also in Rome, several times the sacred species has been found thrown onto the ground.

This situation not only leads us to reflect upon a serious loss of faith, but also on outrageous offenses...

The Pope speaks of the need not only to understand the true and deep meaning of the Eucharist, but also to celebrate it with dignity and reverence. He says that we must be aware of "gestures and posture, such as kneeling during the central moments of the Eucharistic Prayer." (Sacramentum Caritatis, 65). Also, speaking about the reception of the Holy Communion he invites everyone to "make every effort to ensure that this simple act preserves its importance as a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ in the sacrament." (Sacramentum Caritatis, 50).

In this vein, the book written by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of Karaganda in Kazakhstan entitled Dominus Est is significant and appreciated. He wants to make a contribution to the current debate on the real and substantial presence of Christ in the consecrated species of bread and wine... from his experience, which aroused in him a deep faith, wonder and devotion to the Lord present in the Eucharist, he presents us with a historical-theological [consideration] clarifying how the practice of receiving Holy Communion on the tonue and kneeling has been accepted and practiced in the Church for a long period of time.

Now I think it is high time to review and re-evaluate such good practices and, if necessary, to abandon the current practice that was not called for by Sacrosanctum Concilium, nor by Fathers, but was only accepted after its illegitimate introduction in some countries. Now, more than ever, we must help the faithful to renew a deep faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic species in order to strengthen the life of the Church and defend it in the midst of dangerous distortions of the faith that this situation continues to cause.

The reasons for this move must be not so much academic but pastoral - spiritual as well as liturgical - in short, what builds better faith. Mons. Msgr. Schneider in this sense shows a commendable courage because he has been able to grasp the true meaning of the words of St. Paul: "but everything should be done for building up" (1 Cor 14, 26).

MALCOLM RANJITH
Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship

Here's more good news: German Bishop Supports Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, Slams Liturgical Abuse

Archdiocese Initiates 6-Week Training Program for Priest to Learn Traditional Mass

More than 700 Attend First Latin Mass in Iloilo City, Philippines

Traditional Mass Workshop in NY

Any thoughts?

Comments

[Robert]

Secretary for now. Please, please, please, your Holiness, MAKE THIS ARCHBISHOP THE NEXT PREFECT!

[CatholicCrusader]

My goodness! Progressives like Bishop Tod Brown (see kneeling controversy at St. Mary’s by the Sea) and Roger Cardinal Mahony must be foaming at the mouth and chewing the carpet! The Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome is stressing the importance of kneeling before Our Lord and suggests rethinking the reception of Holy Communion in the hand. The goal of the progressive bishops and priests, after all, is to diminish reverence for and recognition of Christ’s Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist, degrading Communion to something merely symbolic, like when they pass out Welch’s grape juice and something like snickerdoodle cookies at Protestant churches. Some American Catholic dioceses will have to grapple with big payouts not only for the priest sex scandals, but for the expense to install kneelers in churches where they were illicitly removed. These expenses are linked, believe it or not. They have in common that they and many other problems in the Church are rooted in a turning away from Christ. Now, Deo gratias, we have a pope who is trying systematically to return the focus to where it belongs.

[youngfogey]

Thank Jesus that an American doesn't hold this position.

[Jimbo]

I just have to believe that in a country like ours, which so often worships at the altar of self-preoccupation and self-aggrandizement, that kneeling can be a helpful, corrective remedy and reminder of our proper place.

[Jeffrey]

My ship, a guided missile destroyer with about 300 on board, used to carry the Eucharist while underway. We are too small for a chaplain to be embarked always (let alone a priest!) so the Blessed Sacrament was "safeguarded" by a lay leader, and used for "Communion services."
Well, the archbishop (the outgoing one) for the military quashed that practice, as the Eucharist was found in various parts of the ship such as a person's foot locker and other places (the Host was molding!). I watched as a Lutheran took Communion from the lay leader (that was the one and only service I attended). There were far more abuses than I know of.
The chaplain at the base is comfortable with people kneeling and receiving Communion on the tongue, but doesn't necessarily encourage it, although I think he is a good and decent priest.

[kevin57]

And of course an added argument to His Excellency's points is that the apostles knelt before Jesus on Holy Thursday and received the sacred host with tongues extended.

Please...

We do already engage in physical acknowledgment of the Divine Presence by, 1) kneeling during the Eucharistic Prayer, 2) kneeling as we say, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, and 3) bowing when approaching the priest/eucharistic minister.

[Jeffrey]

Kevin,
Massive declines in belief in the True Presence, as well as the Vatican's recent statements, claim otherwise.

[James]

This practice (recieving on the hand) should never have been allowed in the first place. Ask any priest who celebrates the Tridentine Mass and he will tell you that there are always particles on the discos to be cleaned off after everyone receives our Lord. Imagine how may particles have fallen to the floor with everyone receiving our Lord in their hands! This practice was just another step to taking away reverence for Our Lord in the Eucharist. I hope that they stop it soon.

[James]

This practice (recieving on the hand) should never have been allowed in the first place. Ask any priest who celebrates the Tridentine Mass and he will tell you that there are always particles on the discos to be cleaned off after everyone receives our Lord. Imagine how may particles have fallen to the floor with everyone receiving our Lord in their hands! This practice was just another step to taking away reverence for Our Lord in the Eucharist. I hope that they stop it soon.

[Michelle Therese]

The Archbishop is my HERO! I can't kneel though...I'm disabled (bad leg) and getting down and up from the *floor* is nearly impossible for me. Why can't we have our altar rails back????? I can kneel at an altar rail!

[Tracy Illes]

Do we all not have OUR OWN job to do? I believe that the more we compromise the
'Original Church' the more we give it to the Enemy! Is God not Past, Present and
Future? Jesus is here NOW just as He was and will ever Be! We have no right
to change what God has given us, and I believe with immovable volition that
Jesus wants us to take the Host from the Priest's Hand (the one who Jesus sent
to represent Himself), not our own.
I'm sure we all agree that the priest represents our Lord in the flesh giving
Himself to us in the Host. The reason that we do not take the Lord in our own
hands is that we could drop a piece of the Holy Flesh or perhaps decide to
keep it without consuming it (as those who work for the Enemy would!).
Thus, there is far less a chance of defiling, disrespecting and
continuing to "crucify" Jesus Christ if the priest (who represents the Lord) does
the job of handling the Sacred Host. In Christ, Tracy Illes

[Kara]

I like him too! I never had recieved communion in the hand until today and it was only because we had a visiting priest for thanksgiving while our priest was away. The retired priest basically told us the Bishop said we were to recieve by hand due to H1N1 which I had never heard the Bishop say we were only to recieve by hand. I knew that we were only to recieve the one species,the Bread and (No Wine) and no shaking hands at the sign of peace. I was so upset inside when he said this and yet was trying to decide what to do. I had prepared to recieve our Lord with confession and prayers and was beside myself with fear as to whether now to even recieve at all as I didn't wish to disobey the Bishop. I begged God to help me as I did not want to do anything wrong and in my heart I know Jesus wants me to recieve on the tongue. I decided to go up to recieve by hand then not to recieve at all.

It was so upsetting and I could not even think how to do it. As he gave me the Eucharist in my hand I stared at it and barely remembered to say Amen I was so upset. I will never do that again!

Especially after reading this...

(This Dicastery observes that its Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum (25 March 2004) clearly stipulates that "each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue")

Also I wish they would bring back the altar rails because I have knee trouble and if I knelt to get communion as I would like the rails would assure that I would be able to get back to my feet again on my own.
Pray for the Church and Priests!