Anno Domini 2025 July 15

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Tuesday, 15 July, in the year of our Lord 2025. Sunday, 15 July, AD 2012, was the first day that I said the Mass at Saint Matthew's. Thus, thirteen years have come and gone, since that day.

Pepper was with me, for that first visit. I'd had him about a month, at that time. He has since gone to his reward. Let us be thankful for all of the good that we've done over these years, and thoughtful about the good that we may yet do, in the years to come. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Tuesday (today): 5:30 PM, Mass, Translation of S. Swithun.
  6:30 PM, Sung Evensong.
• Wednesday: 12:10 PM, Mass, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
• Thursday: 6:30 PM, Lecture on the Prayer Book Ordinal, with Holy Communion.
  Immediately following, Soup & Supper, study of the Gospel according to Saint Luke.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, S. Camillus of Lellis, Confessor, using the Gregorian Canon.
  Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Saturday: 10:00 AM, Holy Communion, S. Vincent de Paul, Confessor.
• Sunday: 8:30 AM, Mass, Trinity V.
  10:00 AM, Mass, Trinity V, Comm. S. Margaret of Antioch.

A week from this-coming Sunday, 27 July, we will have the monthly Parish Brunch at Schooner's Grill, a few miles North on Warwick Blvd. from the Parish. We will leave here after the 10:00 Mass has concluded.

A topic that I've had in-mind for a bit is the manner in which we receive Holy Communion ~ the mechanics of it. The first step involves receiving the Host, or the Bread. There are only two ways to do this; in the hand, or on the tongue. If you wish to receive it in the hand, extend your hand before you, as you're at the Altar Rail. You may kneel or stand there, as you're best able. Kneeling is the best choice, but if one is physically unable to kneel, standing is perfectly acceptable.

You should always place your right hand over your left, palm up. Reception into the left hand is not appropriate. This derives from millennia of the right being considered stronger, thus proper, and the left as being weaker, thus questionable, among other associations.

Once the Host rests upon your palm, you've two choices. The most common is to extend your tongue, and draw the host into your mouth thereby ~ the moistened tip of your tongue will adhere to the host. The other is to wait for the Clergy to approach, at which point he will pick-up the host, dip it into the Chalice (intinction), and place it upon the tip of your tongue.

At no time is it appropriate to handle the host. Once the host is in your hand, do not pick it up with your other hand, and place it in your mouth. This is the Body of our Lord, and should never be handled; on those occasions when it must be, only hands blessed for that purpose (Clergy) should do so.

If you've chosen to receive the Host on the tongue, from the Clergy, you will next receive the precious Blood, from the Chalice. The best choice is to place your hands upon the Altar Rail, and to let the Clergy tip the Cup to your lips, that you may receive the Sacrament. If you feel the need to steady the Chalice, grasp the base of the Chalice, and tip it towards your mouth, using the Clergy's hand as the fulcrum for the motion of the cup. At no time should your hand ever touch the actual bowl, or Cup, that contains the precious Blood. Again, this is reserved for Clergy hands.

These, then, are the simple rules for the manual Reception of the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus, the Christ. The Eastern Church employs other rules, which are more restrictive, and yet likely more appropriate, for this greatest of all mysteries. I remain

in His praise,

The Rt. Rev'd T. L. Crowder

Rector, Saint Matthew's Parish