Joshua Bennett
Communion in the hand was the common practice of the Church in both East and West for the first 800 years of Christianity. In the fourth century, St. Cyril of Jerusalem instructed those preparing for Baptism that when they received Holy Communion, they should place their left hand on top of their right hand (palms up) to make a throne to receive the King. By 900 A.D., receiving Communion on the tongue had become universal in the West. The practice of Communion in the hand was revived in the Western Church in the early 1970s. Today, those who receive Communion in the hand have their right hand under their left, and the priest places the host in the communicant's left hand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When did Catholics start receiving communion by hand? | Communion in the hand was the common practice of the Church in both East and West for the first 800 years of Christianity. |
| Communion by hand was revived in the Western Church in the early 1970s. | |
| In the fourth century, St. Cyril of Jerusalem instructed those preparing for Baptism to place their hands in a certain way to "receive the King". | |
| In 878, reception on the tongue was mandated by a local council at Rouen. | |
| In the modern practice of communion in the hand, the priest places the host in the communicant's left hand, and the communicant transfers the host to their mouth with their right hand. |
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What You'll Learn
Communion in the hand is an ancient custom
Communion in the hand is a custom that has been practised by Catholics for centuries. While the specifics of liturgical practices in the early centuries of the Church's life are difficult to ascertain, there is evidence to suggest that receiving Communion in the hand was once a common tradition.
One of the most well-known pieces of evidence cited in support of this ancient custom is a fourth-century quotation from St. Cyril of Jerusalem. In his famous passage, Mystagogicae Catecheses 5,21, St. Cyril describes the practice of his time and place:
> "Coming up to receive, therefore, do not approach with your wrists extended or your fingers splayed, but making your left hand a throne for the right (for it is about to receive a King) and cupping your palm, so receive the body of Christ, and answer, 'Amen.' Carefully hallow your eyes by the touch of the sacred body, and then partake, taking care to lose no part of it."
This description, however, differs from the modern practice of receiving Communion in the hand. Today, the host is typically placed in the left hand, and then transferred to the mouth with the right hand. In St. Cyril's description, the host is placed directly into the right hand, which is then lifted to the mouth. Additionally, St. Cyril notes the curious practice of the communicant touching their eyes with the host, which is not done today.
Despite these differences, some adherents insist that St. Cyril's testimony roots the practice in antiquity and adds a layer of respectability to Communion in the hand. They argue that the early Christians, including the Fathers, considered receiving Communion in the hand to be a reverent act, and that this mode of Communion is not associated with lay involvement or a denial of the priest's role.
In 1969, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) formally requested permission from the Pope to distribute Holy Communion in the hand, citing the growing participation in the Eucharist and the desire to re-establish the venerable custom. While the Pope expressed concern about changing the old discipline for the entire Church, he allowed individual national conferences of bishops to make their own decisions on the matter.
In conclusion, while the specifics of the ancient practice may differ from modern Communion in the hand, it is clear that receiving Communion in this manner has a long history within the Catholic Church.
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St. Cyril of Jerusalem's fourth-century instructions
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, born around 313 AD, was a bishop of Jerusalem in the middle of the fourth century. He is considered to be one of the most important sources for how the early church celebrated the sacraments and liturgy during this time. St. Cyril instructed new Christians in the days before and after their initiation into the Church at the Easter Vigil. His instructions, known as the Jerusalem Catecheses, are the only surviving documents by St. Cyril.
In his instructions, St. Cyril of Jerusalem describes the practice of receiving communion in his time and place. He instructs Christians to approach without their wrists extended or fingers spread, but with their left hand serving as a throne for the right, which is about to receive a King. The right palm is cupped to receive the body of Christ, and then the recipient says "Amen". After this, the recipient touches their eyes with the sacred body and partakes of it, being careful not to lose any portion.
This passage from St. Cyril's instructions is often cited as evidence for the antiquity of communion in the hand. However, some argue that the practice described by St. Cyril differs from modern communion in the hand. In the modern practice, the priest places the host in the communicant's left hand, and the communicant then transfers the host to their mouth with their right hand. In St. Cyril's description, the host is placed directly into the right hand, which is then lifted to the mouth.
It is important to note that while communion in the hand was the common practice in the Church for the first 800 years of Christianity, the specific practice described by St. Cyril may not have been widespread even in his time.
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The modern practice differs from Cyril's description
In the fourth century, St. Cyril of Jerusalem described the practice of receiving Holy Communion in a famous passage. According to Cyril, the left hand should be used as a "throne" for the right hand, which is placed underneath to receive the host. The palms should be cupped, and the host placed directly into the right hand, which is then lifted to the mouth. Notably, Cyril mentions that the fingers should not be used to pick up the host, and he also describes the curious practice of touching the eyes with the host.
The modern practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand differs from Cyril's description in several ways. Firstly, the position of the hands is reversed, with the right hand placed under the left. Secondly, the host is placed in the communicant's left hand, and they then use their right hand to transfer the host to their mouth. This differs from Cyril's description, where the host is placed directly into the right hand. Additionally, in modern practice, the fingers are used to pick up the host, whereas Cyril instructed against this. Furthermore, the practice of touching the eyes with the host, mentioned by Cyril, is not observed in modern times.
While some may use Cyril's description to defend the antiquity of Communion in the hand, it is important to recognize that his description differs significantly from modern practices. The differences between ancient and modern practices are notable, and it is worth acknowledging that the practice Cyril describes may not have been widespread even in his time.
The re-emergence of Communion in the hand in the Western Church in the 1960s and 1970s was met with some resistance. Some attributed the change to a sense of prideful entitlement, arguing that it empowered the laity to touch the host with their bare hands. Others pointed to the early Church traditions, arguing that there was no need to replace them with new ones. However, it is worth noting that receiving Communion in the hand was considered reverent by the Fathers and was the common practice for the first 800 years of Christianity.
In conclusion, while St. Cyril of Jerusalem's fourth-century description of Communion in the hand is often cited, it does differ from modern practices in several significant ways. The differences between ancient and modern practices highlight the evolution of liturgical practices over time.
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Communion in the hand was re-introduced in the 1960s/70s
Communion in the hand was re-introduced in the Western Church in the 1960s/70s. This ancient custom was considered the norm in the first centuries of Christianity, but by 900 AD, receiving Communion on the tongue had become universal in the West.
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many dioceses mandated that Communion be received in the hand, and this practice has since been continued in some places.
The re-introduction of Communion in the hand in the 20th century was not without controversy. Some saw it as a way to empower the laity, allowing them to touch the host in their bare hands, which would have once been considered sacrilegious. Others pointed to the differences between the ancient practice and the modern one. For example, St. Cyril of Jerusalem instructed those preparing for Baptism to place their hands in the form of a cross when receiving Communion, with the left hand acting as a "throne" for the right, which was to receive the King. In the modern practice, the priest places the host in the communicant's left hand, and the communicant then transfers the host to their mouth using their right hand.
Despite these differences, some have used St. Cyril's quotation to defend the antiquity of Communion in the hand. However, others argue that his description does not align with the modern practice and that there is no evidence that this practice was widespread even in his time.
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The debate around the practice
The practice of receiving Communion by hand has been a topic of debate among Catholics. While some argue that it is an ancient custom, dating back to the first 800 years of Christianity, others claim that it was introduced by 16th-century Anglicans to deny Catholic dogmas.
Those in favour of the practice cite early Church scholars such as St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who in the fourth century, instructed those preparing for Baptism to place their hands in a specific manner to "receive the King". This quote has been used to defend the antiquity of Communion in the hand. However, critics argue that St. Cyril's description differs from the modern practice, where the right hand is placed under the left to receive the host.
Another argument in favour of Communion by hand is the belief that it shows greater reverence and respect for the Eucharist. This is supported by early Church Fathers, who emphasised taking extreme caution to prevent any part of the Eucharist from falling to the ground. Additionally, they stressed the importance of communicants being free from serious sin and quarrels with other Christians.
On the other hand, critics of Communion by hand attribute its re-emergence in the 1960s and 1970s to a sense of prideful entitlement, empowering the laity to touch the host with their bare hands. They argue that this practice creates more problems and does not solve any existing issues. Some traditionalists claim that receiving Communion on the tongue shows greater reverence and that this practice became universal in the West around 900 A.D.
Overall, the debate around the practice of Communion by hand centres on its historical accuracy, reverence, and the role of tradition in the Catholic Church. While some embrace the practice as an ancient and respectful custom, others view it as a deviation from long-standing traditions and express concerns about the motivations behind its reintroduction.
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Frequently asked questions
Communion in the hand was the common practice of the Church in both East and West for the first 800 years of Christianity. It was revived in the Western Church in the early 1970s.
In the fourth century, St. Cyril of Jerusalem instructed those preparing for Baptism that, when they received Holy Communion, they should place their left hand as a throne for their right hand (for it is about to receive a King) and cup their palm to receive the body of Christ.
In the modern practice of Communion in the hand, the priest places the host in the communicant's left hand, and the communicant transfers the host from their left hand to their mouth using their right hand.
The revival of Communion in the hand in the 1960s and 1970s was seen as empowering for the laity, allowing them to touch the host in their bare hands. Some also point to a little-known papal document from 1969 that may have provided early support for the practice.
