Stricter rules for Mass including disallowing taking Communion in the hand and time limits on homilies may soon be initiated by the Vatican.Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don was quoted in Italian newspaper La Stampa saying that the moves were necessary to eliminate "extravagances".
Provisions include restricting to 10 minutes homilies and ensuring they be exclusively based on the Gospel readings.
Archbishop Ranjith was also quoted as saying the practice of allowing the faithful to receive Communion in their hands would be "urgently reviewed".
"The Vatican wants the host placed directly into the mouths of the faithful so they don't touch it (with their hands)because many don't even realize they are receiving Christ and do this with scant concentration and respect," Archbishop Ranjith said.
The distribution of communion on the hands has been widespread since Vatican II.
However, Ranjith said the practice was "illegally and hastily introduced by certain elements of the Church immediately after the Council".
"Some people keep hosts with them as a sort of souvenir, others sell them while in some cases the hosts have been taken away to be used in blasphemous Satanic rituals," he said.
Ranjith said the measures to bring back "dignity and decorum" to Mass celebrations were in line with Pope Benedict's wishes.
Since the release of the article on Monday, Archbishop Ranjith denied the report by La Stampa saying on Vatican Radio that no new Mass regulations were envisaged.
"The article published on Monday by Turin daily La Stampa contained a collage of phrases citing him (Ranjith) that led to conclusions which were out of place," a Vatican Radio broadcaster said.
Archbishop Ranjith has now denied any plans are afoot, saying instead on Vatican Radio "the hope is that the existing norms will be regularly applied and that the Eucharist be celebrated with devotion, seriousness and nobility."
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