Communion - Approach During High Health-Risk
Dear Friends of Jesus and His Church,
With the onset of the coronavirus, there are a lot of concerns regarding how Communion should be received by those who are promised in Apostoli Viae. Those who are promised or who have been around for a while know that we are very committed to participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in a way that is reverent and that reflects a deep love and awe for the reality of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. A key principle we follow is that when there are options regarding liturgical actions or participation, as in the Novus Ordo liturgy, we will always pursue those that are most reverent and humble (it goes without saying that this is a non-issue in the Extraordinary Form).
Thus, when we receive Holy Communion in a Novus Ordo Mass, we strongly recommend that we do so on our knees and on the tongue. Because of the virus issue and cyclical issues related to other well-known public health-risks, several have contacted me to ask what they should do when priests or dioceses refuse to allow for this approach. A number have referenced Bishop Athanasius Schneider’s recent reflection (offered below). While I agree with Bishop Schneider, the question still remains how should we respond when confronted with the issue at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?
The answer is exactly what Stephanie and I did this morning at Mass in Denver when the priest stated that distribution of Communion should be received on the hand in light of this health issue. I simply noted to Stephanie that we should go forward, kneel as normal. We did so, and extended our hands (left on top of right) and then received by bringing our mouths to the Eucharist and consuming on our knees and without an extra action of taking the Eucharist between thumb and forefinger and “feeding ourselves” which results in a greater danger of fragments and mishandling etc.
Given this situation we have several options:
- We can receive as I specified above.
- We can attend an Extraordinary Form Mass or another Novus Ordo parish where this will not likely be an issue.
- We can simply participate in the Mass and choose to make a Spiritual Communion. This is my least favorite option though I am sympathetic to the arguments for it.
Regardless, all should be done in peace, reverence, and respect for our priests and bishops, even when we don’t agree. We also should avoid criticism when we don’t agree (publicly or privately) as this has no redemptive value and can be very sinful and destructive to the Body of Christ. Instead, we must be a people of joy and confidence in the storm. We don’t waste time cursing the darkness, instead, we use our energy to light the Way. We must strive to peacefully and respectfully help others understand the options and pray and sacrifice for the restoration of reverence as I recently called for in the article entitled, “Reparation for Liturgical Abuse.”
Here is the reflection referenced regarding Bishop Athanasius Schneider’s perspective.
February 28, 2020 - Nobody can force us to receive the Body of Christ in a way that constitutes a risk of the loss of the fragments, and a decrease in reverence, as is the way of receiving Communion in the hand. Although it is true that one could receive Communion on a small white and clean handkerchief (purificator, small corporal) directly in the mouth, this way is not always practicable and even refused by some priests.
In these cases, it is better to make a Spiritual Communion, which fills the soul with special graces. In times of persecution, many Catholics were unable to receive Holy Communion in a sacramental way for long periods of time, but they made a Spiritual Communion with much spiritual benefit.
Communion in the hand is no more hygienic than Communion in the mouth. Indeed, it can be dangerous for contagion. From a hygienic point of view, the hand carries a huge amount of bacteria. Many pathogens are transmitted through the hands. Whether by shaking other people's hands or frequently touching objects, such as door handles or handrails and grab bars in public transport, germs can quickly pass from hand to hand; and with these unhygienic hands and fingers people then touch often their nose and mouth. Also, germs can sometimes survive on the surface of the touched objects for days. According to a 2006 study, published in the journal "BMC Infectious Diseases", influenza viruses and similar viruses can persist on inanimate surfaces, such as e.g. door handles or handrails and handles in transport and public buildings for a few days.
Many people who come to church and then receive Holy Communion in their hands have first touched door handles or handrails and grab bars in public transport or other buildings. Thus, viruses are imprinted on the palm and fingers of their hands. And then during Holy Mass with these hands and fingers they are sometimes touching their nose or mouth. With these hands and fingers they touch the consecrated host, thus impressing the virus also on the host, thus transporting the viruses through the host into their mouth.
Communion in the mouth is certainly less dangerous and more hygienic compared to Communion in the hand. In fact, the palm and the fingers of the hand, without intense washing, undeniably contain an accumulation of viruses.
The ban on Communion in the mouth is unfounded compared to the great health risks of Communion in the hand in the time of a pandemic. Such a ban constitutes an abuse of authority. Furthermore it seems, that some Church authorities are using the situation of an epidemic as a pretext. It seems also that some of them have a kind of cynical joy to spread more and more the process of trivialization and de-sacralization of the Most Holy and Divine Body of Christ in the Eucharistic sacrament, exposing the Body of the Lord himself to the real dangers of irreverence (loss of fragments) and sacrileges (theft of consecrated hosts).
Then there is also the fact that during the Church's 2,000-year history there were no proven cases of contagion due to the reception of Holy Communion. In the Byzantine Church the priest gives Communion to the faithful even with a spoon, the same spoon for everyone. And then, the priest or deacon drinks the wine and water with which he purified the spoon, which was sometimes even touched with the tongue of a faithful during the reception of Holy Communion. Many faithful of the Eastern churches are scandalized, when they see the lack of faith of bishops and priests of the Latin Rite, as they introduce the ban on receiving Communion in the mouth, a ban made ultimately for lack of faith in the sacred and Divine character of the Body and Blood of the Eucharistic Christ.
If the Church in our day does not endeavor again with the utmost zeal to increase the faith, reverence and security measures for the Body of Christ, all security measures for humans will be in vain. If the Church in our day will not convert and turn to Christ, giving primacy to Jesus, and namely to Eucharistic Jesus, God will show the truth of His Word which says: “Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watches in vain that keeps it” (Psalm 126:1-2).
The following prayer for making a Spiritual Communion is recommended:
At Thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself, and I offer Thee the repentance of my contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in Thy holy presence. I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love, the ineffable Eucharist. I desire to receive Thee into the poor dwelling that my heart offers Thee. While waiting for the happiness of sacramental Communion, I wish to possess Thee in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I, for my part, am coming to Thee! The love embrace my whole being in life and in death. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee. Amen
+ Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of St. Mary in Astana
This article appeared in Rorate Caeli.
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