耶稣看到一切,忧伤一切,撒殚在主的注视下,把他的宝血所救赎的灵魂拖走,并予勒死。
ST. SIXTUS I (115-125). Prohibited the faithful from even touching the Sacred Vessels: "Statutum est ut sacra vasa non ab aliis quam a sacratis Dominoque dicatis contrectentur hominibus..." [It has been decreed that the Sacred Vessels are not to be handled by others than by those consecrated and dedicated to the Lord.]
POPE ST. EUTYCHIAN (275-283). Forbade the faithful from taking the Sacred Host in their hand.
ST. BASIL THE GREAT, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (330-379). "The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in time of persecution." St. Basil considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault.
COUNCIL OF SARAGOSSA (380). It was decided to punish with EXCOMMUNICATION anyone who dared to continue the practice of Holy Communion in the hand. The Synod of Toledo confirmed this decree.
POPE ST. LEO I THE GREAT (440-461). Energetically defended and required faithful obedience to the practice of administering Holy Communion on the tongue of the faithful.
SYNOD OF ROUEN (650). Condemned Communion in the hand to halt widespread abuses that occurred from this practice, and as a safeguard against sacrilege.
SIXTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, AT CONSTANTINOPLE (680-681). Forbade the faithful to take the Sacred Host in their hand, threatening the transgressors with excommunication.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (1225-1274). "Out of reverence towards this sacrament [the Holy Eucharist], nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest's hands, for touching this sacrament." (Summa Theologica, Pars III, Q. 82, Art. 3, Rep. Obj. 8)
COUNCIL OF TRENT (1545-1565). "The fact that only the priest gives Holy Communion with his consecrated hands is an Apostolic Tradition."
罗马教廷礼仪圣事部部长萨拉枢机主教(Cardinal Robert Sarah)表示,天主教徒站起来手领圣体的普遍做法,是魔鬼撒旦对教会的攻击方式之一。
枢机主教写道:“魔鬼最阴险的攻击,是试图消灭对圣体的信仰,散播错误,怂恿不妥当的领受方式。撒旦的目标是让信众忽视主耶稣在弥撒圣祭的真实临在。我们为什么要坚持手领?为何不能谦恭的领受主的身体呢?(跪着并使用舌头)更切合这件圣事的本质。我希望人们能重新振兴和发现这种美好传统在牧灵(pastoral)方面的重要性。在我看来,这是今天教会必须反思的一个重要问题。这是我们每一个人,都能向耶稣基督献上的崇拜和爱的行为。”
亚大纳削.施耐德主教关于手领圣体的发言
在我们的时代,已经历了四十年之久,在基督奥体中有一个伤口。这深处的伤口就是现今手中领受圣体的做法,一个在基本上有别于第一世纪同样的礼节中的做法,正如以上所描述的。
从以下四个令人震惊的表现,可见这现今的做法是在基督奥体内最深的伤口:
1)在朝拜和恭敬的动作上表现出一种惊人的「最低主义」(minimalism)。在现今一般用手领圣体的做法几乎欠缺任何崇拜的标记。
用舌头口领圣体的做法已有多于一千年的历史(教宗大额我略的时代已见过),不论是天主教东方教会,所有东正教会,以及古代东方教会,都是将圣体直接或用小勺子送进口里,在这些情况下,没有任何个案显示会因此而传染患病。从卫生的角度看来,沾在手上的细菌比在舌头上的更多。
我们可举出继续选择手领圣体的牧民理由,例如:信友有权作出选择。但当我们考虑到这做法目前的普及化,〔便会发现〕这权利却违反耶稣圣体的权利,祂应得到最大的虔敬和尊重。这一点就是在教会内最弱小者的权利。当我们考虑到手领圣体显出尊敬和虔敬的「最低主义」(minimalism),不小心失掉圣体碎屑的明显危险,以及圣体被偷去这种种严重的情况时,所有有利于继续采用手领圣体的理由都会失去它们的重要性。我们不能说,继续利用特准手领圣体,是牧民上的需要,因为这损害信徒的信仰和虔敬,也伤害耶稣圣体本身的权利。
手领圣体的后果,我们担当不起,让我们知错就改,请跪下口领圣体吧!
的确,直到主再来,你们每次吃这饼,喝这杯,你们就是宣告主的死亡。为此,无论谁,若不相称地吃主的饼,或喝主的杯,就是干犯主体和主血的罪人。
——格前11:26-27
“我的天主,我信奉你,我敬拜你,我仰望你,我爱慕你。请你宽恕那些不信你,不敬你,不仰望你,不爱慕你的人。
“至圣的天主圣三;圣父,圣子,圣神,我深深地钦崇你,现在我把这世界上所有圣体龛内的耶稣基督至尊至贵的圣体、圣血,灵魂与天主性呈献给你,以赔补祂所受的凌辱、亵渎和冷落。藉着祂至圣圣心和圣母无玷圣心的无限功劳,求你使可怜的罪人悔改自新。”