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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

Communion in the hand?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 11, 2013

518 Holy Communion AVE YOU EVER heard somebody rail against receiving Communion in the hand in a very disagreeable way? I’m talking about when somebody uses an unpleasant manner of speech, not realizing that many good Catholics who love God are just doing what they have been taught.

I hope my article below does not come across in such a way. When speaking about “Communion in the hand” we should always be pastoral and sensitive.


DURING TODAY’S HOMILY our pastor described the proper way to receive Holy Communion. He said Catholics are allowed to receive on the tongue or in the hand. However, he mentioned recent legislation from the Vatican which says anyone receiving in the hand must place the Sanctissimum into his mouth in front of the priest or minister.

Full disclosure: I haven’t received Communion in the hand since the early 1990s. At the traditional Mass, all receive on the tongue, from an ordained minister. Nobody is allowed to touch the Sanctissimum except for ordained ministers. This is a wonderful tradition that came about over a period of centuries. It is beautiful and really helps everyone understand how sacred and special the Holy Eucharist is. We ought to have kept this tradition, but after the Second Vatican Council, permission was given for lay people to touch the Sanctissimum under certain circumstances.

I don’t really worry too much about those who receive Communion in the hand. They are free to do so under current Church law, although the way Cardinal Bernardin forced this upon the Church in America is disturbing. To learn more, Google the following terms: “Bernardin” + “Communion in the hand.”

DURING HIS HOMILY, I began asking myself: “Why would anybody receive Holy Communion in the hand?” For one thing, since the Sanctissimum must be placed in the mouth in front of the minister, why add the extra step? For another thing, our hands are so dirty. (Remember, my wife and I have two small children. Trust me: hands are normally dirty.) St. Thomas Aquinas was explaining some reasons for priests washing their hands at Mass. One reason given by the Angelic Doctor follows:

“We are not accustomed to handling precious objects unless the hands be washed; hence it seems indecent for anyone to approach so great a Sacrament with hands that are, even literally, unclean.”

I remember a very smart priest talking about the post-Conciliar “movement” in Germany for hand-Communion. One advocate made up a pamphlet with all the quotes from history “proving” the Sanctissimum was sometimes received in the hand by the early Church. It even had nice color pictures. This priest approached the author and said, “Your pamphlet is very nice, but you forgot something crucial. You forgot to include all the reasons this practice was abandoned, as the Church developed over the centuries.”

ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR blog entries ever (shared more than 6,000 times) was the one about kneeling for Communion. Until late 2011, priests were supposed to “catechize” Catholics who knelt for Communion. However, as of 2011, this has been changed. Catholics in the USA are now free to kneel. A very kind gentleman sent me all kinds of documentation, proving that even before 2011, Catholics could kneel for Communion. I was planning on posting all of it, but I just realized doing so would be superfluous in light of this.

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 Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for 14 September 2025, which is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. 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 spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 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 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me shall find me.”

— Proverbs 8

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