11 Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions | May 2020
ON RECEIVING IN THE HAND
I believe there has always been a certain amount of liturgical practice praeter ius (apart from the law) and contra ius (contrary to law).
It would be my opinion that practices contrary to the law should not take place without a clearly justifiable reason. I think the present pandemic is a very justifiable reason to require Holy Communion in the hand if the local ordinary determines that will be the practice in his jurisdiction.
No one has the right to endanger the life of another even unknowingly by demanding Communion on the tongue when the persons following could be exposed to a virus of which the oral recipient is not yet aware.
There is a great tradition in our faith of “sacrifice.” I make the sacrifice to receive in a way that protects the whole community. Moreover, how does one respect the Sacred Species if one is willing to burden it with the possibility of contagion?
Fr. Mike Nolan, JCL, DMin
Office of Worship, Wichita, KS
