Monday, February 25, 2008

Take my hand...

Vatican to 'review' taking of Communion in the hand

Rome - The Vatican is poised to introduce stricter norms on Roman Catholic mass, including halting the taking of communion in the hand and setting a time limit for homilies, an Italian newspaper reported Monday. Turin-based daily La Stampa quoted senior Vatican official, Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don saying the move was necessary to eliminate "extravagancies" that have crept into Mass celebrations.

Provisions include restricting to 10 minutes homilies and sermons and ensuring that they be exclusively based on the Gospel readings, said Ranjith who is Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship.

The practice of allowing the faithful to receive Communion - the bread host which Catholics believe represents the body of Christ - in their hands would also be "urgently reviewed", Ranjith was quoted as saying.

The Vatican wants the host "placed directly into the mouths of the faithful so they don't touch it (with their hands)... because many don't even realize they are receiving Christ and do this with scant concentration and respect," Ranjith said.
Boy, this sure sounds good at face value. I have learned however, not to get my hopes up too high on these things. The Motu was exciting until it turns out many bishops are not budging on the issue and there are still many "exceptions". And the recent "more sensitive" changes to the traditional prayers.

Besides what good is prohibiting communion in the hand when you still have a platoon of divorced ordinary Extraordinary Ministers fumbling around in the tabernacle during the fraction rite, standing during the second elevation, and giving out public blessings to children?

Let's watch and see what happens.

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