Dominus Est: It Is the Lord: Reflections of a Bishop of Central Asia on Holy Communion

by Athanasius Schneider

Explores the best interior attitude of the faithful Christian toward the Holy receptivity, humility, and spiritual childhood.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Theology, Prayer, Christianity, Devotional, Nonfiction

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Athanasius Schneider, O.R.C. is a Catholic prelate, serving as the Auxiliary Bishop of Astana in Kazakhstan. He is a member of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Coimbra. (Wikipedia)

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gift from my sister. Bishop Schneider reflects on the historical origins, liturgical abuses and extreme devotion re: the Body of Christ. He draws from the personal experiences of his own mother and other "Eucharistic" Women who risked their lives to provide and protect the sacred species to those in the Soviet Underground.

A reminder that when we go to Holy Communion, we are receiving Our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ and not some thing and we should always receive Him with the utmost reverence, preferably if possible kneeling and on the tongue. Tricky reading this now with SO many other things to consider ... so I go back to the first part ... we should always receive Him with the utmost reverence! I am not sure getting into a debate or upset about HOW we receive Jesus, or spending all our time at Mass — which could be spent praying — thinking about how we are going to receive Him (as I was doing for awhile) is advantageous ... but then I could be wrong as I frequently am.

Whatever conclusion you come to, it is a quick and inspirational read!

[Conor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book that makes a compelling case that the Latin Rite should return to the venerable practice of having her communicants receive communion kneeling and on the tongue. The book could be better organized but it really is great and has some wonderful quotations.

[Lucas Frantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the process of the liturgical changes initiated by Vatican II, many parishes changed the tradition of receiving the Eucharist on the tongue, kneeling, to receiving communion in the hand, standing. This change was never formally allowed but was begun illicitly and became widely accepted nonetheless. In this little book, Rev. Athanasius Schneider, a priest in Kazakhstan, argues for the traditional communion ritual. He outlines the development of practices of reverence for the Eucharistic in the patristic era and explains the theological and scriptural motives for it. In tone, he is respectful and informative rather than polemical. This book will be helpful for Catholics and non-Catholics alike who want to encounter the heart of the Church’s teaching on the Divine Presence in the Eucharist.

Rev. Schneider mentions quite a few things regarding the Church’s traditional understanding of the Eucharist that were new and interesting to me. There is a domestic tradition in the Middle East continuing from before Christ to the present in which the head of the household places a piece of bread directly into each person’s mouth. Especially striking is the Old Testament imagery used by early Christian teachers to develop their understanding of the Eucharist. Several known liturgies of early churches contain a reference to the coal from the altar that an angel touched to Isaiah’s lips when he was in the presence of the Lord. This coal was from the sacrificial altar of which Christ is the perfect fulfillment, and its effect was to cleanse from sin, because Isaiah had cried, “Woe unto me, for I am a man of unclean lips, from a people of unclean lips.” Another ancient reference is to the honey-flavored scroll an angel placed into Ezekiel’s mouth.

This ingestion of the written word has the same radical incongruity as has Christ’s own declaration: “Except you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you.” How does eating something heal my sinfulness? What does eating a book give me (except a stomachache)? Perhaps the question beneath the other questions is, “What is the meaning of incarnation, of the union in humanity of spirit and body, and the union in the Sacraments of Divinity and body?” To this question I will not hazard an answer, but I suggest that a glimpse of the reality to which this question points is a key which would unlock doors now closed and obscured to many people.

In his concluding remarks, Schneider says that “The gesture of receiving the body of the Lord in the mouth and kneeling could be a visible testimony to the faith of the Church in the Eucharistic Mystery and even something that heals and teaches our modern culture, for which kneeling and spiritual childhood are completely foreign phenomena.” Yes, yes, in some ways we have grown over old in our endless analysis and explanations, but in other ways we are a culture of charming but satiated children who would be far happier if only we attended less to pleasing ourselves and more to pleasing our Lord.

[Judgemental Toast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting. What an excellent book! I’m giving my copy to a young Novus Ordo priest I know! And the bumbling Usccb are talking about a Year of the Eucharist!?? For starters, excommunicate Catholic public figures in public mortal sin / refuse them communion and RAIN COPIES OF THIS BOOK DOWN ON EVERY PARISH! ❤️ THIS will bring about an actual Eucharistic Revival! Take notes USCCB. 🤡

[Jennifer Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the presence of Our Eucharistic Lord and it was even more beautiful. Take this book to adoration and reflect on how you can help return reverence for His True Presence to the Church by your own actions and by fostering reverence in your children and families.

[Sean Wieszczek · Rating 5 out of 5]

“For the faithful, this (Holy Communion) is the culminating point of the encounter and of personal union with Christ, really and substantially present under the humble veil of the Eucharistic species.”

In light of the incomprehensible mystery of the real presence in the Blessed Sacrament, Bishop Schneider offers a beautiful reflection animated by the writings of the Church Fathers, the practices of the early Church, and the teachings of the Magisterium, on how we are to respond to this reality. Any Catholic who desires to deepen their understanding of the Eucharist and ultimately their love for Christ in the Blessed Sacrament ought to read this book, a brief 51 pages.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve not time to read Christus Vincit by Bishop Schneider, then take an hour and read this extremely short (49 page) reflection on the Eucharist.

The Sacred Host is not some thing but some ONE. Dominus Est! It is the Lord!

“Those lay faithful who are prepared to receive the Sacred Mysteries, after the exclamation of the clergy must approach with fear of God; because they are approaching fire, they must approach with faith in the Sacrament and with love for Christ. Each one must prostrate on the ground, adoring Christ truly present in the Sacred Mysteries.”

Read this book, and I would bet you’d never dare to receive the Lord in any other way than in the tradition of two thousand years of receiving (not taking and feeding ourselves): on your tongue and on your knees and also never be a Eucharistic minister (unless you’re ordained) since you’ll never touch the Eucharist with your hands ever again. Read it and see with the eyes of faith.

It IS the Lord.

[Bob Tunney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical and spiritual reflections on the Body of Christ are bookended by 20th-century examples of "Eucharistic" women meant to inflame our hearts toward a deeper relationship with the sacrament of Holy Communion. Rev. Schneider uses biblical roots and core tenets of Church teachings to frame the Eucharistic in the appropriate context of tradition. Through such applications, contemporary readers are able to draw parallels to their present-day spiritual practices toward the reception of Holy Communion.

[Anna Claxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is only 63 pages, yet it is packed full of wisdom. Bishop Athanasius Schneider is devout and firm in his reverence for the Eucharist. Here he has gathered a solid, well supported argument for how the Eucharist must be reverenced. My hope is that we’re starting to see a return to reverence for the Eucharist in our churches due to great resources like this little book.

[Toomas Nigola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lühike kuid oluline meenutus sellest, kuidas meie kehahoiakud väljendavad ja kujundavad meie usku.

[Leila Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most excellent.

[Edith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very repetitive

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every Catholic especially those in RCIA. Never stop learning about your faith.

[Kathleen Kirchner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good essay

[Corrie Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Clear concise and convicting defense on why it is critical the Catholic laity return to receiving the Eucharist on the tongue and kneeling. Beautiful defense.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good history of the relatively new allowance of receiving the Holy Eucharist in the hand.

[Ce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear explanation on why we should receive Communion in the mouth and kneeling. It is the Lord! why on earth people think they have a chance to be standing and receive Him in their hands?. Cardinal Schneider has an inheritance to deeply love the Eucharist, thanks to his grandmother, aunt and mother.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, concise, drawing heavily on Patristic writings, Church documents, and saints' writings on the Eucharist, Bishop Schneider makes an excellent and thorough case for receiving the Blessed Sacrament on the tongue and on the knees/in prostration.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discussion on the history of methods of receiving communion. Very short and concise. Interesting and easy to read. Still not sure of the "right" method of receiving. Made me think about reverence but havent drawn any conclusions yet....

[Elizabeth Mcnally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, concise, and filled with historical references, this book should be read by anyone interested in Church history. Bishop Schneider himself is an historical figure, and a fearless defender of Christ.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would that this were given to all pastors and faithful of the Church (and then read, digested, and acted upon). an excellent and concise presentation of the historical, magisterial, ecumenical, theological, and liturgical cases for communion on the tongue (and kneeling) in the Roman Rite.