Monday, May 19, 2014

Extraordinary ministers at Papal Mass deny Communion in the hand

While Pope Francis doesn't reject Communion in the hand (remember Rio?), it's nice to see the convention retrieved under Pope Benedict XVI continued in Rome: Communion on the tongue. Check it out:


Now just imagine one of your lay "Eucharistic ministers" try that in your local AmChurch parish! Isn't this crazy? All hell would break loose, and you know it!

For a good discussion of the issue by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, author of Dominus Est – It Is the Lord! Reflections of a Bishop of Central Asia on Holy Communion(Newman House Press, 2009):


There is also a whole series that Michael Voris is producing on ChurchMilitant.TV called "Sleight of Hand - Reception Deception," that goes into the history and theology, as well as the motive that moved some to push through the widespread change in the practice, but you have to have a premium account to access it, unfortunately. It's excellent, and pulls together a lot of material that would be difficult for one person to dredge up for himself.

3 comments:

Jacobi said...

This matter of Communion in the hand is key in considering the assault on Catholic doctrine in the post-Vatican II period, attack by implication, not outright denial.

If you treat the Consecrated host like a piece of bread, whatever symbolic significance you grant it, then in a very short time, people will accept it as a piece of bread whatever symbolic significance they in turn grant it. It’s all quite simple really.

It’s the same with the Mass, turn it round into a jolly commemorative gathering of the Last Supper, and sooner or later all will roll up and have their symbolic munch, before going off to the parish rooms for a coffee and chat.

Yes simple but frighteningly effective. Has the Vatican i.e., the Pope, at last grasped this as his predecessor did?

Horseradish said...

But on the movie I see an ordinary minister, i.e. priest, wearing a stole over his shoulders.

Pertinacious Papist said...

Horseradish (I prefer Wasabi),

Point taken. Regardless, I think the point still stands that if a lay Eucharistic minister (Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist) were to try this in most suburban AmChurch parishes, he'd run into trouble, wouldn't you agree?