I realize this may all be too little, too late, but I’m planning on writing a letter to my archdiocese, requesting for the right to receive Communion on the tongue. I’ll attach a copy of the letter from Congregation of Divine Worship issued during the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, which states that the laity always have the right to receive Communion on the tongue. I plan on phrasing the letter as a question dubia-style, does anyone have any advice on how to do it, and what I should say?
Okay here's what I've written down, please let me know what you all think: Dear Archbishop Michael Miller, and all those of Archdiocese of Vancouver who are of expertise in this area, I have a question about your recent rules regarding Holy Communion being received only in the hand and not on the tongue. I have discovered on the web, a letter from the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, a copy of which I have included in this letter. The letter states that the lay faithful “always [have] the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue,” and that it is “not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful” except on the usual grounds, such as excommunication, scandal &c. This letter was sent as a response to a question from a lay person during the H1N1 outbreak back in 2009, in which apparently, some members of the clergy were denying Communion on the tongue, as a way to manage the spread of H1N1. I would like to ask, if the lay faithful still retain this right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue? I also want to ask if the Archdiocese of Vancouver, or any archdiocese, diocese, or any other ecclesial authority below that of the Congregation of Divine Worship, have the authority to suspend these rights? And has the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, changed the rule in question since the H1N1 outbreak back in 2009? Please clarify things and let me know, and please also provide me with any additional information I need to know. Thank you. Glory to God and Hail Mary! and Our Lady Health of the Sick, pray for us! -[Full name here]
RW, have you read Archbishop Miller’s letter for this weekend’s Masses? From what I understand, he is not prohibiting us from receiving Holy Communion on the tongue. Rather, he is directing that those who wish to receive on the tongue, should come up last and that one Priest/Deacon or EM be assigned to distribute to those individuals.
Really, well then, I’ll see what happens tomorrow morning at my parish, whether things are done as the bishop ordered. Thanks for letting me know.
So today at mass, I think they read the latest update from the archbishop which lacked the part about the rights to receive Communion on the tongue, and how that’s supposed to be carried out in this archdiocese. I had brought with me a print out of the archbishop’s letter and a copy of the H1N1 letter and left them in the narthex beside the parish priest’s office on the way out. I’m considering what to do next, should I email the archbishop and let him know his orders were omitted, or should I contact my own bishop instead?
