Views from the Choir Loft

Papal Master of Ceremonies on receiving Communion

Andrew Leung · June 4, 2015

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.

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).

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed