Ave Maria!
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Fr. Ignatius sends this from Rome:
I was at the midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica last night with the Holy Father. I noticed during Communion a priest was giving Communion only on the tongue, then I saw another priest doing the same. Fra Jerome, who has been to other Papal ceremonies in the past 2yrs. said this is something new. Also new is that each priest carrying a ciborium was accompanied by a man dressed in a suit carrying a candle, very nice.There are rumors going around that a new document is coming out in January that will establish ad orientem as the norm for the Novus Ordo, as well as Communion on the tongue. I stress “rumor” but last night’s Communion procedure has me thinking maybe it’s true.
Yes, I believe it will be the new norm. Our Holy Father wants to emphasize the sacredness of receiving our Lord in the Eucharist. I believe that kneelers will also be part of the new norm as well. What we see at the Papal Masses and how our Holy Father distributes the sacred host (w/people coming up and kneeling and receiving on the tongue) will be the new norm. This will put the emphasis in a dramatic way on the reception of the Eucharist as the most sacred moment at the Mass. Also I think our Holy Father will ask for silence during commnion time to give people a chance to reflect on Who they are receiving and Who they just received – a chance to pray to our Lord alive within them. I think it is wonderful and an answered prayer for many of us (me personally) Our Holy Father is a gift from God – what a blessing he is for the Church.