Dear Friends:
Last weekend, Archbishop Coyne visited our parish and celebrated the 10:45 AM Mass at St. Mary’s. I am grateful that the Archbishop took the time to make a pastoral visit to Precious Blood, and I am equally grateful that a good number of parishioners came to greet the Archbishop. I want to thank publicly Jean Pierre Dumont, our parish organist and music director, the members of the choir, Mary Kriksciun, the sacristan at St. Mary’s, the altar servers, and Diane Candido, and all who worked with her in arranging for the reception after the Mass.
This Sunday, we celebrate the patronal feast of our parish as we mark the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist remains as the greatest gift that the Lord left to us on the night before his death and his return to the Father. In our parish, the reception of Holy Communion takes place quite well, but there are reminders needed from time to time, and this is the time and the place to do so.
Holy Communion may be received on the tongue or in the hand. Either way, done reverently, is proper. There are some who seem to think that Communion on the tongue has always been the norm in the Church. Such is not the case. By way of illustration, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who lived in the fourth century, wrote a brief instruction on how to receive Communion properly in the hand, noting that we should present our hands as a “throne” on which the Lord is placed before we receive him. One should not reach out for the host, nor should one hold one’s hands side-by-side. Communion in the hand is received properly, in the modern practice, by having one hand directly under the other, palm up. Before the host is placed in the hand, the communicant says, “Amen” loudly enough for the minister to hear it, and then he or she receives it. They step to the side, place the host on their tongue and return to their pew. There should be no kneeling at the edge of the sanctuary. Return to the pew and offer a prayer of thanksgiving.
As for Communion on the tongue, those who choose to receive this way should, once approaching the minister and having had the host presented, say “Amen” loudly enough for the minister to hear it, and then extend the tongue sufficiently to receive the host. The minister should not have to put his or her fingers in the communicant’s mouth. Then the communicant returns to his or her pew and offers a prayer of thanksgiving.
There is no place for any kind of ostentatious display of personal piety, which can be interpreted as a sign of spiritual pride or showiness. In the United States, the bishops, I reiterate again, have decreed that Communion is normally received standing, and the proper sign of reverence is a slight bow before receiving the host. As you approach the minister (preferably while the communicant in front of you receives Communion) you may genuflect, but it is not encouraged. Nor should one do so if he or she is physically unable to do so in a graceful manner.
I have heard that some will not receive Communion in the hand because the hands are sinful. In response to that reasoning, I can only say that we sin with our tongues far more often than we ever do with our hands, so such reasoning is nonsensical to me.
Please plan to come next Sunday afternoon to Father Callahan Hall at St. Agnes to say goodbye to Father Lijo, who will be leaving us next week. There will be a meet and greet reception between 1:00 and 3:00 PM. I personally want to thank Father Lijo for the assistance that he has rendered to me these past five and one-half years, and I wish him every blessing and success as he begins a new chapter in his life and priestly ministry.
Have a good week