Letters

Receiving Communion

Charles Haber

Contents - May 2008 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Re-evangelising young unchurched Catholics - Michael Gilchrist Two changes: Bishop Jarrett explains upcoming Mass changes - Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett News: The Church Around the World Summorum Pontificum: Benedict XVI's Latin Mass document: a parish priest's response - Fr Andrew Wise Interview: Positive impact of Pope's decree on the Latin Mass - Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos Green sisters: New-look US religious: Al Gore's latest 'eco-justice' disciples - AD2000 REPORT Ballarat: Children's Spirituality Conference at ACU: not to be confused with religion! - Michael Gilchrist FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH: What are the basics of Catholic belief and practice? - Lucy Tucker Magisterium: When is it infallible? - John Young Youth: Eucharistic devotions: revival in Melbourne - Br Barry Coldrey Letters: Church architecture - Terry Parkhouse Letters: AIDS Prevention - Dr Arnold Jago Letters: Altar rails - John Murray Letters: Receiving Communion - Charles Haber Letters: Stations of the Cross - John D. Wightman Letters: Brisbane - Franklin J. Wood Letters: Cosmic Liturgy - Grahame Fallon Books: Irish journalist exposes 'Kathy's Story' book and movie as fabrications - Gary Brady (reviewer) Books: NEWMAN'S APPROACH TO KNOWLEDGE by Laurence Richardson - Philip Trower (reviewer) Books: THE REALM: An Unfashionable Essay on Converting England, Aidan Nichols OP - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: Books available from AD2000 Books Reflection: How to recover a sense of the sacred at Mass - Bishop Arthur Serratelli

The option of receiving Communion in the hand remains open to abuse.

A few days ago, while serving at Mass (I am an altar server) I noticed an individual acting suspiciously after taking the Host in his hand and proceeding to leave the church.

I followed him to the exit, while at the same time a woman who had also noticed what took place stopped him at the door and made him consume the Host.

When I questioned him, I learned that he was not a Catholic and informed him that he was not to receive Holy Communion in future. I do not know how long he had been doing this.

This matter was reported to the priest offering Mass at the time and he said it was difficult to watch everyone. I also informed the parish priest.

Such an abuse was not possible when Communion was received while kneeling at the altar rails when the Host had to be consumed there and then. It is a pity that even now beautiful altar rails are still being removed.

CHARLES HABER
Aireys Inlet, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 21 No 4 (May 2008), p. 14