Am I committing a sin when I receive the Host in my hand?

[snickerdoodle]

I am confused on the issue of receiving Holy Communion in my hand. We were always taught the the priests fingers were consecrated because they touched the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Mass. Then came the edict that we could receive Communion in our hand and put it into our mouths ourselves. I do not feel as though we should be doing that, and that we are committing a sacrilege, even though the Church has given permission to do this. Please advise as to what the Church teaches on this subject.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

The priest’s fingers are consecrated—not in order to the TOUCH the Body of Christ, but in order to CHANGE bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. In the early Church the host was placed in the hand of the faithful. There really isn’t anthing more sacred about the tongue in itself. I suspect that most people sin more often with their tongues than with any other part of their bodies.

If you prefer to receive on the tongue, fine. People who chose to receive on the tongue usually do so as an act of reverence. This is a very good thing. But we need to remember that the Church allows Communion on the hand through her Christ-given authority–and we cannot doubt that authority without doubting the One who gave it.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.