MANILA: The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has restored the giving of communion to the faithful through the tongue.
In a circular containing "liturgical guidelines" issued on Thursday, Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the measure which was suspended for nearly three years due to the coronavirus pandemic has been restored.
He also asked the public to put down their face masks when they fall in line to receive communion or at least before facing the ministers giving these.
“This is to insure that both hands are totally free to receive the Body of Christ. The incidents of accidentally dropping the Host on the floor have become frequent due to the double preoccupation of the hands with the Host and the face mask at the time of reception,” he added.
At the same time, the Mass presider, lectors and commentators are no longer required to wear face masks when proclaiming the Word of God or reading the intercession during the Mass.
He also allowed Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to receive the Host before giving Holy Communion to the churchgoers, which was a pre-pandemic practice.
“They must receive the ciborium from the priest and not take the vessels with the Hosts by themselves,” Villegas added.
He said the guidelines are in consonance with the “wise counsel” of experts in moral theology and liturgy and those in the health sectors
Source: Philippines News Agency
