Saturday, February 02, 2008

Step On Up And Shake Hands With Jesus
He's our bestest buddy in the whole wide world!

God bless Archbishop Ranjith. I sure do hope that when Cardinal Arinze retires, that Pope Benedict has Abp. Ranjith on a ridiculously short list of who is to be elevated to Cardinal, and take over that particular Congregation.

And I've posted about His Excellency many times in the past. Dare I say it?? Is he possibly being groomed as the next Pontiff? Works for me.

But in the meantime, enjoy this bit of sanity coming out of Rome, courtesy of The Catholic News Agency; (emphasis mine)

Communion in hand should be revised, Vatican official says

ROME, Feb 1, 2008 / 03:32 pm (CNA).- Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith, Secretary of the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Cult and Discipline of the Sacraments has said that the policy of giving Communion in the hand should be revised.

Receiving Holy Communion in the hand "produces a growing weakening of a devout attitude toward the Most Holy Sacrament," wrote Archbishop Ranjith in the preface of a book from the Auxiliary Bishop of Kazakhstan, Bishop Athanasius Schneider.

The book's title, printed by the Vatican Editing house, is “Dominus Est: Meditations of a Bishop from Central Asia on the Sacred Eucharist." Archbishop Ranjith says in the preface that the Eucharist should be received "with reverence and an attitude of devout adoration," and claims that the practice of receiving Communion in the hand "was introduced in some places in an abusive and hurried manner."

The Archbishop also highlights that the Second Vatican Council never promoted or legitimated such practice. “I believe it is time to evaluate and reconsider such a practice, and if necessary, abandon it all together," Ranjith concludes.BTW, as I've said on more than one occasion, if we REALLY believe that Holy Communion is in fact, The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, than isn't receiving Him as such standing and in the hand tantamount to shaking hands with Him? We should fall to our knees at the awe and majesty that is The Holy Eucharist.
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3 comments:

  1. Al6:12 AM

    "I sure do hope that when Cardinal Arinze retires, that Pope Benedict has Abp. Ranjith on a ridiculously short list of who is to be elevated to Cardinal, and take over that particular Congregation."

    FROM CAVEY'S LIPS TO GOD'S EARS!!!!!

    Card. Arinze is 75 & will be retiring in a few yrs. Abp. Ranjith is 60. It would make perfect sense to elevate him to Cardinal & head f the congregation.

    As for Pope, that is up to the Holy Spirit. & many years down the road.

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  2. bobw456:29 AM

    You the man, Caveman!

    I agree with you 110%. This is one of the biggest abuses that have come about since Vat II.

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  3. Sarah8:00 PM

    Abp Ranjith is definitely thinking like some great ones before him:

    St. Thomas Aquinas: The great Doctor of the Church writes,"Out of reverence towards this Sacrament (Eucharist), nothing touches it but what is consecrated" (Summa, Pt III Q.Q2 Art. 3)


    Council of Rouen: (650 AD) "Do not put the Eucharist in the hands of any layperson, but only in their mouths."

    Pope Paul VI: In Memoriale Domini (May 29, 1969), the Pope recognized that Communion on the tongue was more conducive to faith, reverence, and humility.

    Fr. John Hardon S.J.:"Whatever you do to stop Communion in the hand will be blessed by God"

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