Knights Of Columbus Pope Leo Council #71

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

You've driven past this Berkshires hilltop a hundred times without ever knowing what sits at the top - 350 acres, life-sized statues in the fields, and relics of saints most people never expect to find so close to home. It's open to everyone, and wandering the grounds costs nothing.

08/31/2026

HAND OR TONGUE? WHAT DOES THE VATICAN ACTUALLY PERMIT?

Imagine two Catholics approaching Holy Communion.

One receives the Host on the tongue.

The other receives it in the hand.

Then someone whispers:

“Only one of those ways is actually allowed by the Vatican.”

But is that true?

What does the Catholic Church actually permit?

1. Receiving on the Tongue Is Always Permitted.
The Church explicitly teaches that every Catholic faithful has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue.
The Vatican's Redemptionis Sacramentum states that each member of the faithful always has this right, according to his or her choice.
So receiving on the tongue is not an outdated practice that Catholics are forbidden to use.
It remains fully permitted.

2. Receiving in the Hand Is Also Permitted, Where Authorized.
This is where things become interesting.
The Vatican permits Communion in the hand in places where the local Bishops' Conference has obtained the required approval from the Holy See.
So the correct statement is not:
“The Vatican forbids Communion in the hand.”
Nor is it:
“Every Catholic everywhere has an automatic right to receive in the hand.”
The Church's discipline is more precise.

3. The Two Practices Can Coexist.
This means that in a place where Communion in the hand has been legitimately authorized, one Catholic may receive on the tongue while another receives in the hand.
Neither person should automatically assume that the other is being irreverent.
The Church recognizes both practices under the applicable liturgical norms.
In fact, the Vatican specifically says that Communion should not be denied simply because a Catholic wishes to receive kneeling or standing.

4. What About the Priest Saying, “Hand Only”?
This needs careful handling.
A priest is responsible for celebrating and distributing the Eucharist according to the Church's liturgical law.
But where Communion on the tongue is permitted, the Vatican states that the faithful retain the right to receive in that manner.
Likewise, where Communion in the hand has been legitimately authorized, the sacred Host is to be given to a communicant who chooses that option.
The Church's goal is not to turn the Communion line into an argument over personal preferences.
Reverence and obedience to legitimate liturgical norms matter.

5. If You Receive in the Hand, There Are Rules.
Receiving in the hand does not mean:
“Take the Host and walk away.”
The Vatican gives a very important instruction:
The communicant must consume the Host in the presence of the minister, so that nobody leaves carrying the Eucharistic species in their hand.
The Host should therefore be consumed immediately and reverently.
A person should never put the Host in a pocket, bag or purse.

6. You Should Never Take the Host Yourself.
This is important regardless of whether Communion is received in the hand.
The faithful are not permitted to take the Host by themselves from the sacred vessel.
Nor may they pass the Host from one person to another.
The Eucharist is given by the minister to the communicant.
So receiving in the hand does not mean treating the Eucharist as ordinary food that you simply pick up yourself.

7. The Church's Concern Is Reverence for Christ.
Why does the Church have such detailed rules?
Because Catholics believe that the Eucharist is not ordinary bread.
Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.
Therefore, whether you receive on the tongue or in the hand, the attitude should be the same:
Faith.
Reverence.
Care.
Adoration.
The Vatican has also emphasized the importance of respecting the legitimate freedom of those who prefer to continue receiving on the tongue in places where Communion in the hand has been authorized.

In simple words, hand or tongue, which one does the Vatican permit?
Both can be legitimate, but the rules are slightly different.
Receiving on the tongue is always recognized as a legitimate right of the faithful.
Receiving in the hand is permitted in places where the Bishops' Conference has obtained the required approval from the Holy See.
So Catholics should not condemn someone simply because they receive differently.
If you receive on the tongue, receive reverently.
If you receive in the hand where it is permitted, receive reverently and consume the Host immediately in the presence of the minister.
The real issue is not:
“Hand versus tongue.”
The real issue is:
“Do I recognize Whom I am receiving?”
Because whether the Host rests briefly on your tongue or in your hand,
you are approaching the Eucharistic Christ.

Now you know.

SOURCES

Sacred Scripture (Catholic Translation):
John 6:51-58
Matthew 26:26-28
Luke 22:19-20
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
1 Corinthians 11:27-29

Catechism of the Catholic Church §§1322-1419

Catechism of the Catholic Church §§1374-1377

Redemptionis Sacramentum §§90-93

St. John Paul II, Dominicae Cenae §11

General Instruction of the Roman Missal §§160-162

© Catholic Dailies
Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.

08/27/2026

Congratulations, Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly!

The Knights of Columbus Risen Christ Council 18041 proudly extends our heartfelt congratulations to Bro. Patrick E. Kelly, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, on his appointment as a Member of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

This distinguished appointment is a great honor not only for Supreme Knight Kelly, but also for the entire Knights of Columbus family around the world.

May God continue to guide and strengthen you, Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly, as you serve the Holy Father and the Church in advancing the dignity of the family, the laity, and the sanctity of human life.

Congratulations, Supreme Knight!
Your brother Knights of Risen Christ Council 18041 with the leadership of the Grand Knight Bro. Sigfred B. Hernane and Deputy Grand Knight Macario P. Lucino Jr., stand with you in prayer and gratitude.

Vivat Jesus!

08/26/2026

Pope Leo XIV appointed Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly as a member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life on Aug. 25.

Established in 2016 by Pope Francis, the dicastery promotes the vocation and mission of the lay faithful, the pastoral care of young people, the family and the elderly, and the protection of human life. Its responsibilities also include organizing World Youth Days and support for lay movements and associations throughout the Church. The dicastery is headed by Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, a former state chaplain of Texas.

Featured: Pope Leo XIV receives Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly in a private audience at the Vatican on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Vatican Media)

08/24/2026

HOMILY VS SERMON
What Is the Difference?

Many Catholics use the words “homily” and “sermon” as though they mean exactly the same thing. And in ordinary conversation, people will often understand what you mean either way.

But within Catholic liturgical language, there is an important distinction.
A homily is not simply any religious speech given by a priest. It has a particular place and purpose within the Church’s liturgy.

So what exactly makes a homily different from a sermon?

1. WHAT IS A SERMON?
The word “sermon” is a broad term for preaching or a religious discourse intended to instruct, exhort or encourage people in the faith.

A sermon may explain Scripture, teach Christian doctrine, address a moral issue, encourage conversion or develop a particular spiritual theme.

In other words, sermon describes the broader activity of preaching.
A priest, deacon or other authorised preacher may give a sermon in various circumstances outside the specific context of the homily.

This is why it is possible to speak about preaching a sermon without referring to the homily at Mass.

2. THEN WHAT IS A HOMILY?
A homily is a specific form of preaching that is connected to the liturgy.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that the homily is “part of the Liturgy” and should ordinarily explain some aspect of the Scripture readings or another liturgical text of the day, taking into account the mystery being celebrated and the needs of the listeners.

So when the priest or deacon preaches after the Gospel at Mass, he is not simply giving a religious speech.
He is preaching within the celebration of the sacred mysteries.

The Word of God that has just been proclaimed is being opened up so that the faithful can understand it more deeply and apply it to their Christian life.

3. SO IS EVERY SERMON A HOMILY?
No.
This is perhaps the simplest way to remember the distinction.

*A sermon is a broader form of preaching.
*A homily is preaching specifically connected with the liturgical celebration and its Scripture, prayers and mystery.

The Church’s Homiletic Directory makes this distinction particularly clear. It explains that the homily is not simply a sermon on an abstract topic unrelated to the particular liturgical celebration. It should arise from the Word of God and the mystery being celebrated.

Therefore, if a priest gives a talk on Christian marriage at a parish conference, that can properly be called a sermon or religious talk.
But when he preaches within the Mass and opens up the readings and mystery being celebrated, we call this a homily.

4. WHY IS THE HOMILY PART OF THE MASS?
This is where the distinction becomes especially important.
The homily belongs to the Liturgy of the Word.
The Mass does not simply consist of Scripture being read and then the priest giving an unrelated speech.

The readings proclaim God’s Word. The homily helps the faithful understand that Word in relation to the mystery being celebrated and to their lives. The Creed and Prayer of the Faithful then follow as the community responds to the Word it has received.

The Church therefore considers the homily necessary for the nourishment of Christian life and requires it at Sunday and holy-day Masses with a congregation, except for a serious reason.

That is why the homily is much more than a motivational speech inserted into the Mass.
It belongs to the liturgical action itself.

5. WHAT SHOULD A HOMILY ACTUALLY DO?
A good homily should help us encounter the Word of God as something living and relevant to the mystery being celebrated.
It can explain Scripture.
It can teach Catholic doctrine.
It can challenge our behaviour.
It can encourage conversion.
It can speak to the circumstances of the people listening.

But all of these should serve the central purpose of the homily rather than replace it.
The Homiletic Directory specifically warns against turning the homily into merely an abstract topical speech, an extended Bible lecture, a catechetical class or simply the preacher’s personal story. These things can have a place, but the homily must remain connected to the liturgical celebration.

So the question is not simply:
“Was something religious preached?”

The better question is:
“How does this preaching arise from the Word and mystery we are celebrating?”

6. WHO MAY GIVE THE HOMILY AT MASS?
There is also an important distinction here.
Under the Church’s law, the homily within the liturgy is reserved to a priest or deacon. Canon 767 §1 calls the homily a preeminent form of preaching and states that it is part of the liturgy itself.

This does not mean that lay Catholics cannot teach, evangelise, give talks or preach in circumstances where Church law permits it.

It means that the homily during the celebration of Mass has a particular liturgical character and is entrusted to an ordained minister.

7. THE SIMPLEST WAY TO REMEMBER IT
Think of it this way:
SERMON = a broad term for preaching.
HOMILY = a specific form of preaching within the liturgy, especially connected with the Scripture and mystery being celebrated.

So while people may casually use the two words interchangeably, they are not exactly interchangeable in Catholic liturgical terminology.
A homily is a form of preaching.
But not every sermon is a homily.
And the reason the distinction matters is that the homily is not merely something the priest says during Mass.
It is part of the Church’s worship.

The next time you hear the priest say, “A reading from the Holy Gospel…” and later step forward to explain what you have just heard, remember:
He is not simply giving a speech.
The Church is opening the Word of God to us within the celebration of the sacred mysteries.

SOURCES
*General Instruction of the Roman Missal, nos. 29, 55, 65–66.
*Code of Canon Law, Canon 767 §1–3.
*Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Homiletic Directory, especially nos. 1–7.

Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.
© Catholic Dailies

08/22/2026

Will you attend tomorrow? RSVP at kofcri.org. It’s a little late for rsvps but knights and their families are welcome.