The Editor, Sir:

Vatican Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith should be commended for expressing his recent desire that Catholics "abandon" the practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand. Numerous priests have complained about finding 'sacred hosts' under pews and in prayer books due to abuses of this practice. At present, the practice of receiving Holy Communion directly from the priest on the tongue is the church norm, though it is widely rejected. St Thomas Aquinas and Pope John Paul II have both stated that only the priest, who stands as an intermediary between God and the people, should touch the sacred host, because only his hands are espe-cially anointed for this task at his ordination.

Immanent spirit

Communion in the hand reflects an immanent spirit of paltry familiarity with our Lord. This is in keeping with a secular mentality that hails the ordinariness of 'going along with the crowd' a priority because it allows one the convenience of not having to defend any principles or risk losing any self-esteem. One needs only to blend in with the masses like sheep. In his poem 'The Hollow Men', T.S. Eliot describes this insignificance of humanity as "shape without form, shade without color, paralysed force, gesture without motion". Such a life may provide one with a safe and comfortable existence, but it is for this very reason that it cannot be the motivating principle behind the Church's pastoral initiatives and commitment to evangelisation, which requires true disciples of Christ to go against the grain imposed by false modernity.

Communion in the hand is one such concession to modernity. It does not reflect authentic individuality or diversity, but rather, was introduced "abusively and hurriedly" as an ecumenical gesture to Protestants and others who do not believe in the "Real Presence".

In light of the theological implications and all the many serious abuses that have occurred with the sacred host, I hope Catholic bishops, priests, and laity will follow the Vatican's new initiative in making the practice of Communion in the hand a thing of the past.

I am, etc.,

PAUL KOKOSKI

pkokoski@mountaincable.net