CathNews New Zealand

It’s ‘back to the future’ when receiving Holy Communion, if Head of the Congregation for Divine Worship, Spanish Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera has his way.

According to Llovera, kneeling and receiving on the tongue are the recommended ways of taking Holy Communion.

The cardinal’s remarks came in response to a question about whether Catholics should receive Communion in the hand or on the tongue.

“Receive Communion on the tongue and while kneeling” Llovera replied.

“Receiving Communion in this way is a sign of adoration that needs to be recovered. I think the entire Church needs to receive Communion while kneeling.

“In fact, if one receives while standing, a genuflection or profound bow should be made, and this is not happening,” he said.

“If we trivialise Communion, we trivialise everything and we cannot lose a moment as important as that of receiving Communion.”

Australia’s National Liturgical Council executive secretary, Peter Williams, said the responsibility for the likes of kneeling for Communion and Communion on the tongue lay with the national’s bishops’ conferences.

Sources

• CNA
• The Australian
• Image: Communio

Additional reading

• Vox Clara works on liturgical translations not included in new missal
• 114 days until new Mass translation
• Less kneeling and more standing for Scottish Catholics at Mass
• Cardinal Burke - Communion kneeling and on the Tongue

News category: World.