We have just received some guidelines from the Archdiocese on receiving Holy Communion in the light of coronavirus. Sensible precautions such as:
• It is strongly advised that the shaking of hands at the sign of peace during Mass should be suspended.
• Holy Communion under both kinds should be suspended.
• The faithful should be encouraged to receive the sacred host in the hand rather than on the tongue.
• Priests should sanitise their hands before Mass and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion should wash / sanitise their hands discreetly before Communion.
• Priests and extraordinary ministers should also wash / sanitise their hands after Mass.
Of course, most of these injunctions may already be the normative pratice in some parishes. The option of the lay exchange of the sign of peace is not usually exercised here and Holy Communion is administered under one kind only.
Traditionally (and sensibly) the priest always washed his hands in the sacristy just before Mass - there is even a prayer to accompany it for those who might still use the vesting prayers. A few sacristies even have separate drying towels for before and after Mass - pre and post Missam.
Perhaps these precautions became popular during outbreaks of the Black Death and the like over the years...
However, I do take exception on a practical level to the idea that it might be more hygenic to administer the host onto the hand than the tongue. From my own experience, I find that it is a much more frequent ocurance to brush against someone's hand than to actually touch their tongue or lips with my fingers. Apart from which, we might note that placing a host on someone's hand means placing it on a hand that has probably touched the doorhandle of the church after another hundred people have done so that morning and thus the said hand might well be full of germs!
Anyway, most of what I thought of saying - and much more - has now been addressed by Bishop Athanasius Schneider in the article accessible here:
3 comments:
Dear Father,
I hope all is well. I'm just curious whether you will be following the directive to distribute Communion on the hand despite your misgivings with it.
Mass has been cancelled for a couple of months now here in Shanghai. We're safe and well though.
I hope you and your parishioners are taking all the necessary precautions. This outbreak is no joke, especially given the age of many of the parishioners.
Praying for you, the parish and your mother too - I was sorry to read about that.
Best wishes
Luke
I have to agree Fr Simon re Communion on the tongue. We in H&N are continuing as normal at EF Masses but I do know that at OF Masses (at LSP for example) this is no longer allowed. I may say that only once in my 81 years have I EVER touched the Sacred Host & that was when the priest dropped it & couldn't get down to pick it up. It upset me quite badly!
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU FR. HENRY FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE, WHO RECEIVE ON THE TONGUE ONLY ARE CLASSED AS UNCHARITABLE FOR DOING SO, IT IS SAID THAT WE ARE PUTTING OTHERS AT RISK.
LORD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL.
WE WILL NOT GIVE IN TO PRESSURE FROM FAITHLESS PEOPLE AND REFUSE TO RECEIVE OUR BLESSED LORD IN THE HAND.
AS BISHOP ATHANASIUS SCHNEIDER SAYS, WE WILL GAIN BLESSINGS BY MAKING A SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. WE REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THEIR AGENDA..
I WISH I COULD BUY AND DISTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF BISHOP SNEIDERS LATEST BOOK, CHRISTUS VINCIT TO HELP PEOPLE REALIZE THE DREADFUL OFFENCE THEY ARE COMMITTING TO OUR DEAR SAVIOUR BY RECEIVING IN THE HAND.
THIS WONDERFUL BOOK IS EDIFYING AND INSPIRATIONAL IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS HELP TO MANY WHO ARE PREPARED TO LISTEN TO SUCH A HOLY BISHOP.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FR. HENRY FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD, HOLY AND TRUE PRIEST OF JESUS CHRIST.
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