QUAERITUR: promoting reverence at Communion

From a priest reader:

Quick question with regard to GIRM #281. "Holy Communion has a more complete as a sign when it is received under both kinds. For in this manner of reception a fuller light shines on the sign of the Eucharist banquet." I want to promote reverence for the Holy Eucharist through such things as receiving communion on the tongue at the altar rail with the use of a communion plate. I realize people may receive standing on the hand but nevertheless I am encouraging them to receive kneeling and on the tongue and most do so. Should I be working to offer communion under both species?

I am of two minds on this. First, when you involve both kinds you increase dramatically the possibility of unintentional profanation of the Eucharist. From that point of view, I would say no. On the other hand, the GIRM is right. Communion under both kinds is a more complete sign. Over the centuries, however, it was not necessary to use both kinds because people were properly catechized. Frankly, I don’t see the need for this with great frequency or with large numbers. I suspect that in some places, both kinds were introduced precisely to be able to get large numbers of lay people "doing things". If you decide you would want to use both kind and also promote kneeling and eliminating Communion in the hand, perhaps you can introduce Communion by intinction. This automatically eliminates Communion in the hand and also uses both kinds. Practically speaking this might be a problem if your parish has no other clerics for the distribution of Communion. If you want to introduce kneeling for intincted Communion, which sounds like a great idea to me, a Communion rail would be really helpful. I know a few priests who have introduced Communion under both kinds with intinction so as to get rid of Communion in the hand and provide the fuller sign. They have had good results. Perhaps people at parishes with Communion under both kinds using intinction can chime in here with information about how it is handled. I suspect there was an extended period of parish-wide catechesis before this was introduced.

By Fr. John Zuhlsdorf