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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Papal Master of Ceremonies on receiving Communion

Andrew Leung · June 4, 2015

CTL Guido Marini WO WEEKS AGO, I made a post about the best way to receive communion. I didn’t really touch on the theological values of the posture and I would like do a little follow-up today, on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (EF).

I have been reading a book called “Liturgical Reflections of a Papal Master of Ceremonies” by Msgr. Guido Marini recently. In the book, Msgr. Marini gave his reflection on Sacred Silence, Liturgical Music, Holy Communion, the Pope’s Vestments and many other topics. He wrote briefly, in the chapter on Holy Communion, about the history of how the Church started the practice of receiving communion on the tongue while kneeling. The motivation for this practice is twofold:

(1) To avoid, as much as possible, the dropping of the Eucharistic particles;|
(2) And to increase among the faithful, devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Sacrament if the Eucharist.

St. Thomas Aquinas also affirms, in his book Summa Theologiae, that touching the Body of Christ is proper only to the ordained priest. It is for this reason that the priest’s hands are consecrated. And therefore, out of reverence toward the Blessed Sacrament, anyone else should not touch the Body of Our Lord.

He continues on talking about the posture for the sacred moment of Holy Communion, he wrote, “Kneeling indicates and promotes the adoration necessary before receiving the Eucharistic Christ.” We should approach the Lord with the greatest respect and adoration during Holy Communion.

Starting with the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in the year 2008, Pope Benedict XVI began to distribute to the faithful the Body of the Lord by placing it directly on the tongue as they remain kneeling. If you are planning on attending a Novus Ordo Mass this Sunday, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, consider taking up this practice which is the tradition for many centuries and has been passed down to us. The Church made clear in 2012 that this option is fully legitimate. And just as Pope Francis’s expectation for Cardinal Sarah (the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship), let us continue the liturgical vision of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on which source text is chosen and what each translator wants to emphasize. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Now we are aware of the fact that during recent years some artists, gravely offending against Christian piety, have dared to bring into churches works devoid of any religious inspiration and completely at variance with the right rules of art.”

— Ven. Pope Pius XII (25 December 1955)

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