Question Concerning Communion in the Hand
by Holy See
UTRUM IN DIOECESIBUS, UBI VALET COMMUNIONEM DISTRIBUI IN MANIBUS FIDELIUM, LICEAT SACERDOTI SIVE EXTRAORDINARIIS SACRAE COMMUNIONIS MINISTRIS OBLIGATIONE ADSTRINGERE COMMUNICANTES, UT HOSTIAM TANTUMMODO IN MANIBUS ACCIPIANT, NON AUTEM SUPER LINGUAM.
R. Certo patet ex ipsis documentis Sanctae Sedis ut in dioece sibus, ubi panis eucharisticus ponitur in manibus fidelium, integrum tamen eis manet ius super linguam eum recipiendi. Contra normas ideo agunt sive qui communicantes obiigatione adstringunt ad sacram communionem tantummodo in manibus recipiendam, sive qui renuunt christifidelibus Communionem in manu recipiendi in dioecesibus, quae hoc indulto gaudent. Attentis normis de sacra Communionc distribuenda, pecuiiari modo curent ministri ordinarii et cxtraordinarii, ut statim hostia a christifidelibus sumatur, ita ut nemo discedat cum speciebus euchari sticis in manu. Meminerint tamen omnes saecularem traditionem esse hostiam super linguam accipere. Sacerdos celebrans, si adsit sacrilegii peri culum, Communionem in manu fidelibus non tradat, et certiores faciat eos de fundamento huius procedendi modi.
Private Translation: WHETHER IN DIOCESES WHERE IT IS ALLOWED TO DISTRIBUTE COMMUNION IN THE HANDS OF THE FAITHFUL, A PRIEST OR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION MAY RESTRICT COMMUNICANTS TO RECEIVE COMMUNION ONLY IN THEIR HANDS, BUT NOT ON THE TONGUE.
R. Certainly it is clear for the very documents of the Holy See that in dioceses, where the eucharistic bread is put in the hands of the faithful, the right to recieve the eucharistic bread on the tongue still remains intact to the faithful. Therefore, those who restrict communicants to receive Holy Communion only on in the hands are acting against the norms, as are those who refuse to Christ's faithful [the right] to receive Communion in the hand in dioceses which enjoy this indult. With attention to the norms concerning the distribution of Holy Communion, ordinary and extraordinary ministers should take care in a particular way that the host is comsumed at once by Christ's faithful, so that no one goes away with the eucharistic species in his hand. However, let all all remember that the time-honoured tradition is to receive the host on the tongue. The celebrant priest, if there is a present danger of sacrilege, should not give the faithful Communion in the hand, and he should make them aware of the reason for way of proceeding.
This item 4545 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org
