When our acts of Piousness become more important than our Love for our neighbor.
Last week, I came across a YouTube video of an American Bishop “denying” a man and his daughter communion on the tongue. What seems to have actually happened in the video (and I could be wrong), is that the man and his daughter approached the altar, got down on their knees, and reverently stuck out their tongues to receive the Eucharist.
The Bishop then tried to ask them to stick their hands out instead, given the fact that our world is currently in the midst of a pandemic. The instruction in that particular diocese is that Holy Communion is only to be received on the hand, at least for now. The man and his daughter refused to do so, and the Bishop then proceeded to give Communion to the rest of the congregation. The man and his daughter remained there, refusing to stick out their hands.
As you might have expected, this video caused quite a stir. Many lay people from all over the world wrote in to express their aversion towards the Bishop for doing this. For most, they simply expressed how heartbreaking it was to see this, and commended the duo for “taking one for the team”.
Others were not so charitable. Some Catholics commented that the Bishop was a disgrace to the Church, and insinuated that he ought to tender his resignation as a member of the clergy. Some wrote that the Bishop was going to suffer in Purgatory for denying Communion to the poor little girl and her father. One man even wrote that this is the reason why he stopped attending the Novus Ordo Mass, and that it’s such a disgrace to see that heretics have taken over the Church.
I know that this musing is likely going to ruffle the feathers of many. I want to assure you, dear reader, that like all my musings, this musing is not written with the intention to cause a stir or to offend anybody. I only write this with one objective in mind: to shed some light on another perspective. What I write today is based entirely on what I know, and I stand corrected if what I write in this blog is not in line with the teachings of Mother Church.
The instructions of the Liturgy make it perfectly clear that we lay people have the option of receiving the Eucharist either on the tongue, or on the hand, if the local bishop so allows. It also states in Redemptionis Sacramentum that all who come forward to receive the Sacraments should seek to receive them in a reasonable manner, and be rightly disposed.
As much as the instructions of the Church also make it perfectly clear that under normal circumstances, the Bishop would have no grounds to have “denied” Communion to the man and his daughter, we need to put things into perspective, as we are not under normal circumstances.
The world is currently facing one of the biggest pandemics in the course of history, and rules have been put in place for the safety of the people of God. Implementing such rules does not demonstrate a lack of faith in our God. In fact, us following the rules put in place for everyone’s safety is doing what faith requires. Faith demands that above all else, we are to love the Lord, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
In my humble opinion (and I know I’m going to receive a huge backlash for writing this), but as much as it is truly commendable that the man and his daughter sought to give the Eucharist Its due reverence, I do question their motives for doing what they did. While I do feel that we should not judge their hearts, I think it is also questionable as to whether or not they sought to receive the Sacrament in a reasonable manner.
The instructions from the diocese were clear with regard to the reception of Holy Communion during this time of pandemic. In most dioceses throughout the world, the current practice, at least for those who attend the Norvus Ordo Mass, is that Holy Communion should only be received on the hand, and that Communion from the chalice is to be suspended until further notice.
These instructions were made in consultation with the GIRM. Why then was there a need to go against the rules put in place for everyone’s safety? Were they claiming to know better? Was the man attempting to push an agenda?
Furthermore, the entire congregation was happy to receive the Eucharist on the hand. Was there a need to be different? For a lot of us, we think that our hands are not worthy of touching the Eucharist because of the sinful nature of our hands. I actually think the tongue can do a lot more sin than the hand. Not that it’s wrong to receive the Eucharist on the tongue.
In a way, this episode has exposed quite a few things. For one, it has exposed how poorly we treat our pastors at times. The Bishop in this case had to make a call, so as to prevent the spread of the virus. And this decision caused a great uproar from all over the world.
Whatever our clergy do out of love for their flock, we laity will always have something nasty to say. And it’s no different even here in Singapore. Some of us are very demanding towards our priests, and we get easily offended when they do not live up to our expectations. We send letters of complaints to the Bishop for the most trivial matters, and we wonder why some of our priests seem jaded and tired. This is very sad indeed.
But more than that, this episode has also exposed the title of this musing; that for many of us Catholics, our acts of piousness seem to be more important to us than our love for our neighbor. Sure, it was truly commendable that a man and his young daughter sought to give due reverence to the Eucharist. Quite frankly, I feel that we sometimes do not give due reverence to the sacraments.
However, if the Bishop had allowed the man and his daughter to receive Communion on the tongue, and this caused the virus to be passed, the people of God would have been subject to all the repercussions. Not to mention that the Churches in that diocese would likely have needed to close again, and the whole diocese would be deprived of the sacraments once again.
Jesus Himself asked His disciples to love one another as He has loved us. It seems like a simple message, but as this episode has exposed, we often fall short of living by His commandment. Jesus does not need us to receive Him on the tongue. Jesus needs us to take the Eucharist, and to allow it to transform into a verb, not merely a noun. Jesus needs us to love our pastors, and to love our neighbor. This is far more important than our acts of piousness.
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Originally published at The Barefoot Journey Home.
5 thoughts on “Charity in Communion”
You won’t get any backlash from me. Yes, I agree with you that these 3 individuals had an agenda – the 3, of course, include a strategically located cameraman I assume? I’m quickly getting tired of hearing from these Latin Mass folk – I’m sure some have good intentions, but most seem to be the blind being led by the blind (or evil). This whole Latin Mass craze can be grouped in with the Married Priest. Women Priest, etc…etc – agendas that are solely designed to create division.
Yes. the Latin Mass is valid. Fine, go to one if you prefer a Latin Mass (if you can find one). However, remember how Paul suggest we behave, “build-up not tear-down.” These 3 are tearing down the Church.
Perhaps it’s just two of them who had an agenda. The little girl was simply following what her dad taught her.
I am one who always like to have Communion on my tongue. I have received Communion in different countries,but I always preferred on the tongue everywhere. However we as faithful Catholics should heed to the instructions of our bishop and priest , specially on these days of pandemic. Insisting a particular way by a believer when the Bishop had issued an instruction , does not seem to be Christian. It is just rebellion.
Sadly, it’s going to take a long time before we Catholics fully grasp the concept of our faith not being about us and our own preferences.
I always prefer to receive Communion on my tongue. I feel that way is the best way to show respect and devotion. I could receive Communion on tongue in many countries ,though there most people receive on hand. When there are special instructions of the bishop, our insisting on a particular way is wrong and unchristian. We accept our bishop as an authority in these matters. If correction is needed, we can approach in a different way and not by rebellion or stubbornness.