The practice of receiving communion in the hand has a complex history and wasn't simply "allowed" at a single point. Here's a breakdown of how it evolved:
* Early Church Practice: Some evidence suggests that in the early Church (the first few centuries), receiving communion in the hand was a common practice. Worshippers would receive the consecrated bread in their open hands, often covered with a cloth, and then consume it immediately. There are writings from early Church Fathers like Cyril of Jerusalem that seem to describe this practice.
* Shift Towards Receiving on the Tongue: Over time, especially from around the 6th century onwards, the practice of receiving communion on the tongue began to become more prevalent in the Western Church. This shift was driven by a number of factors:
* Increased Reverence: A growing sense of the sacredness of the Eucharist led to a desire to handle it with utmost care and reverence. Receiving on the tongue was seen as a way to minimize the risk of dropping or mishandling the consecrated bread.
* Combating Heresy: There were concerns about people taking the consecrated bread and using it for superstitious or even heretical purposes. Receiving on the tongue made it harder for individuals to secretly pocket or misuse the Eucharist.
* Symbolism of Dependence: Receiving on the tongue emphasized the dependence of the communicant on the priest as the minister of the sacrament. It was seen as a sign of humility and submission to the authority of the Church.
* Hygiene Concerns: While perhaps less of a primary factor initially, concerns about hygiene and the spread of illness also contributed to the shift.
* The Practice in the Middle Ages and Onward: By the Middle Ages, receiving communion on the tongue had become the standard practice in the Western (Latin) Church. It remained the norm for centuries.
* Vatican II and the Reintroduction of Communion in the Hand: The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) addressed many aspects of Church life, including the liturgy. While the Council documents themselves didn't explicitly mandate or authorize communion in the hand, they opened the door to liturgical reforms.
* Experimentation and Indults: After Vatican II, some regions began to experiment with the practice of communion in the hand. In 1969, Pope Paul VI issued an instruction called *Memoriale Domini*. This document acknowledged the ancient practice of communion in the hand but also reaffirmed the traditional practice of receiving on the tongue. It allowed bishops' conferences, with the approval of the Holy See, to introduce communion in the hand in their regions if it was desired by the faithful and if proper precautions were taken to ensure reverence and avoid abuses.
* Gradual Acceptance: Over the following decades, many bishops' conferences petitioned the Holy See for permission to allow communion in the hand. Gradually, the practice became more widespread in many parts of the world.
* Current Status: Today, the Church permits communion in the hand in most countries, but the faithful are generally given the option of receiving either in the hand or on the tongue. The specific regulations and guidelines for communion in the hand may vary from diocese to diocese.
In Summary:
The Church didn't suddenly "allow" communion in the hand. It was an ancient practice that gradually faded in the West. Vatican II created an environment where liturgical reforms were possible, and this led to the reintroduction of communion in the hand in many regions, with the approval of the Holy See and under specific guidelines to ensure reverence for the Eucharist.