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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

“Hand-Communion?” • Provocative Quotes

Jeff Ostrowski · September 7, 2021

Y FRIEND EARNED his doctorate in Theology from a German university during the 1970s. At that time, the Germans were pushing “Communion in the hand,” and they put together a brochure which tried to convince people this was an ancient practice. My friend said: “This is a beautiful brochure—with vibrant colors and splendid fonts—but you forgot to mention all the reasons the Church decided to abandon Communion in the hand…”

Loyalty Means Rejection? Much has been made recently about finding out whether Catholics “accept Vatican II.” This is a tricky subject because “accepting Vatican II” seems to mean deliberately and knowingly contradicting the documents promulgated by Vatican II—such as Sacrosanctum Concilium §36 and §116. We are supposed to ignore and denigrate the documents of Vatican II—and that somehow means we accept Vatican II. (Like I said, it’s confusing.) By the way, shouldn’t we accept all the councils? If someone asks you whether you accept Vatican II, perhaps the best response would be: “I accept all the councils of the Catholic Church; not just some of them.”

Communion in the hand: In 1965, Pope Saint Paul VI sent a survey to the bishops, asking: “Do you think a postive response should be given to the request to all the rite of receiving communion in the hand?” The results were as follows: (a) 1,253 were opposed; (b) 567 were in favor.

Not An Expert: Below are some interesting quotes regarding the reception of Communion in the hand. For the record, I’m not an expert on this subject—so I have ordered “Communion in the Hand” by Bishop Juan Rodolfo Laise to educate myself.

The Council of Saragossa (380AD) declared “anathema” anyone who dared continue receiving Communion in the hand.

The Synod of Toledo (589AD) declared likewise.

The Sixth Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (680AD) forbade the faithful from placing the Host in their hands, threatening transgressors with excommunication.

The Synod of Rouen (650AD) condemned Communion in the hand to halt widespread abuses that occurred through this practice, and as a safeguard against sacrilege. Furthermore, this same synod decreed: “Do not put the Eucharist in the hands of any layman or laywoman, but only in their mouths.”

Pope Saint Sixtus I (d. 125AD) said about the practice: “It is prohibited for the faithful to even touch the sacred vessels, or receive in the hand.”

Saint Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274) said: “Out of reverence towards this Sacrament [the Holy Eucharist], nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest’s hands, for touching this Sacrament.” (Summa Theologica, Part III, Question 82)

Pope Saint John Paul II said: “To touch the sacred species and to distribute them with their own hands is a privilege of the ordained.” (Dominicae Cenae, February 1980)

Pope Saint Paul VI (1963-1978) said: “This method of distributing holy communion [on the tongue] must be retained, taking the present situation of the Church in the entire world into account, not merely because it has many centuries of-tradition behind it, but especially because it expresses the faithful’s reverence for the Eucharist” (Memoriale Domini, 29 May 1969)

Speaking for myself: I cannot speak for anyone but myself. Personally, I believe laymen should never touch the Holy Eucharist, since that privilege belongs to priests (and deacons), who have consecrated their lives to God, pray the Divine Office daily under pain of mortal sin, and so forth. I am not comfortable “handling” the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Furthermore, reception of Communion in the hand (again, in my personal view) is bad—because our hands are dirty. Moreover, tiny particles might fall on the ground.

Being Consistent: From what I can tell, when hand-communion was allowed in the primitive church, the women were required to cover their hands with a white cloth. For instance, St. Caesarius of Arles (d. 542), noted 1 that men received Holy Communion on the hand, and women, on their hands covered with a veil (Sermon 227). If we desire to adopt “antiquarianism” (as Pope Pius XII put it), why don’t we require women to cover their hands with a white cloth? It strikes me as quite inconsistent.

Pope Saint Sixtus I, 115AD stated: “The Sacred Vessels are not to be handled by others than those consecrated to the Lord.” That would mean that only ordained priests and bishops should handle the Sacred Vessels or their contents.

St. Basil the Great, 330-379 stated, “The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in times of persecution.” This statement may very well have been made in response to St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 348 AD

The Council of Saragossa, 380, excommunicated anyone who dared continue to receive Holy Communion in the hand.

The Synod of Rouen, 650, condemned Communion in the hand to halt wide-spread abuses that occurred from this practice.

Sixth Ecumenical Council at Constantinople, 680-681, forbade the faithful to take the Sacred Host in their hand, threatening those who continued with excommunication.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274, In Summa Theologica, Part III, Q. 82, Art. 3, Rep. Obj. 8, he says “Out of reverence toward this sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest’s hands, for touching this sacrament.”
The Council of Trent, 1545-1565, “The fact that only the priest gives Holy Communion with his consecrated hands is an Apostolic Tradition.

Pope Saint Paul VI, in Memoriale Domini, he says, “This method (on the tongue) must be retained.”

Pope Saint John Paul II, in Dominicae Cenae, he says, “To touch the sacred species and to distribute them with their own hands is a privilege of the ordained.”


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Omnes viri, quando communicare desiderant, lavant manus suas; et omnes mulieres nitida exhibeant linteamina, ubi corpus Christi accipiant. (“All men wash their hands before going to the altar, and all women hold a pure cloth on which they receive the Body of Christ.”)

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

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Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Pope Paul VI Communion In The Hand, Traditionis Custodes Motu Proprio Last Updated: September 30, 2024

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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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President’s Corner

    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music; Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do precisely that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 23rd (Ordinary Time)
    This coming Sunday, 7 September 2025, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). You can download the “Entrance Chant,” conveniently located at the feasts website. I also recorded a rehearsal video for it (freely available at the same website). The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in FAUXBOURDON. I attempted to create a rehearsal video for it, and it’s been posted at the feasts website, called by some: “church music’s best kept secret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • 3 September
    According to the MISSALE RECENS, the Feast of Saint Gregory the Great occurs on 3 September (the date Gregory became pope). Formerly, his feast was celebrated during Lent, on 12 March (the day Gregory died). In Latin, the feast is: Die 3 Septembris: S. Gregorii Magni, papæ et Ecclesiæ doctoris. you can download the Latin Introit, the Latin Offertory, as well as the Communion with gorgeous fauxbordon in English. Abbat Joseph Pothier—along with Dom André Mocquereau, Bishop Laurent Janssens, Father De Santi, and other Gregorian superstars—sang with a choir of 1,210 voices (from 36 different Roman colleges) under the direction of Monsignor Antonio Rella. That Mass included the “Alma cohors,” a special SEQUENCE for Saint Gregory…much to the dismay of those who believe in strict adherence to rubrics. The Mass on 11 April 1904 was celebrated by Pope Saint Pius X, at the great GREGORIAN CONGRESS held in Rome “to mark the 13th Centenary of the death of Saint Gregory the Great.” Someday, there’s much I’d love to say about this congress. We even have recordings (!) from it (made in 1904 by the Gramophone Company) with choirs conducted by Dom Pothier, Dom Mocquereau, Dom Janssens, Monsignor Rella, Baron Kanzler, and others.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    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

Random Quote

“When we force a boy to be a mediocrity in a dozen subjects we destroy his standards, perhaps for life.”

— C. S. Lewis

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