Communion in hand/ on tongue

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All my life (age seven until just about a month ago at forty-two now) I’ve received Communion in my hands. Recently, I’ve started taking it on my tongue, because I read somewhere that it is considered a desecration to take in hand. Also, I read Mother Teresa’s own words that Communion in the hand hurt her more than anything. I read the Virgin Mary has also said Communion in hand is sacrilege. Before I recently read any of this, I thought it could be either, there was no right or wrong. Apparently, from this, there is a difference. I don’t know what to really and truly believe about this. I suppose it shouldn’t matter. I’ll just take it on my tongue from now on. Certainly no harm. I just wondered what the truth on this really is, if it’s known.
 
The Church is the guardian of the faith and holder of truth. Authors of books, regardless of whom they purport to quote, are only believable insomuch as they don’t violate Church teaching. The Church allows both and doesn’t allow or participate in sacrilege. I would be much more concerned about where these authors get their information and their fidelity to the Church.
 
Crown_of_Stars said:
All my life (age seven until just about a month ago at forty-two now) I’ve received Communion in my hands. Recently, I’ve started taking it on my tongue, because I read somewhere that it is considered a desecration to take in hand. Also, I read Mother Teresa’s own words that Communion in the hand hurt her more than anything. I read the Virgin Mary has also said Communion in hand is sacrilege. Before I recently read any of this, I thought it could be either, there was no right or wrong. Apparently, from this, there is a difference. I don’t know what to really and truly believe about this. I suppose it shouldn’t matter. I’ll just take it on my tongue from now on. Certainly no harm. I just wondered what the truth on this really is, if it’s known.
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Mother Teresa preferred to receive Communion on the tongue and if you do so because you wish to follow her example, that is a lovely thing.

However, the Church permits the option of Communion either in the hand or on the tongue. The Church, in doing so, does not and would not permit what would be a desecration. You are free to continue to receive in the hand or you are free to receive on the tongue.

The most recent apparitions of the Blessed Virgin approved by the Holy See were in Belgium, ending in 1934…long before the Church gave permission to receive Communion in the hand. There have been a few reported apparitions since Banneux that have received an approbation from the local bishop…and others where the determination has negative. I am not sure where it is purported that Our Lady says Communion in the hand is a sacrilege but I am sure that such an apparition is not approved.
 
The Church is currently allowing both. OK. However, as I recall it began as an aberrance in Europe and was pushed through somehow or another. This makes me uneasy as bullying usually does, particularly in Church matters. The other thing that bothers me I guess I would call not wanting, oh, “God dust” on my hands. The way I’ve heard communion in the hand described in earlier times included using a white cloth and/or rinsing with water into a bowl of some sort. Not the distributing-ticket-like way it is done now. My 2 cents.
 
katy said:
The Church is currently allowing both. OK. However, as I recall it began as an aberrance in Europe and was pushed through somehow or another. This makes me uneasy as bullying usually does, particularly in Church matters. The other thing that bothers me I guess I would call not wanting, oh, “God dust” on my hands. The way I’ve heard communion in the hand described in earlier times included using a white cloth and/or rinsing with water into a bowl of some sort. Not the distributing-ticket-like way it is done now. My 2 cents.
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If one were to follow your line of thought, nothing the Church does could be trusted because anything a person disagrees with could be claimed to be the result of bullying.
 
I used to always receive it in my hand until last year when I read that was descecration. I’ve received it on my tongue ever time since then.
 
Revival said:
I used to always receive it in my hand until last year when I read that was descecration. I’ve received it on my tongue ever time since then.
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WHERE are people getting this idea? Where did you read that, because it sure wasn’t in any Church document.
 
As a Catholic, I will follow the Church, which says it is perfectly okay either way.
If you prefer to have it on your tongue, that is perfectly okay–it is your decision to make.
 
1ke said:
WHERE are people getting this idea? Where did you read that, because it sure wasn’t in any Church document.
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yeah, I was wondering the same thing

ok, seriously, and everyone on caf can vouch for me, stay away from questionable sites that may or may not be in line with church teaching

the mental evergy you will need to dispense to try and figure out what’s correct and what isn’t is a type of torture you do not need to subject your soul to. in fact, that’s the magisterium’s job to figure that sort of stuff out. trust them
 
There is a difference, but your sources seem to be off. I do not know of any Church approved apparition that condemned Communion in the hand, and Blessed Mother Teresa did not actually say the quote you read. Nevertheless, the traditional form of receiving Holy Communion in the Latin Rite is kneeling and on the tongue, and it is obviously much more reverent than Communion in the hand. The Church may allow Communion in the hand, but that doesn’t mean it is equal to Communion on the tongue. Receiving Holy Communion in the hand lacks the reverence and humility that is present when we kneel and receive on the tongue.
 
I found this on another website but it quotes a Church document on the subject.

*In the authoritative document **Redemptionis Sacramentum 92 **we read:

Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.]*

There are many discussions dealing with the risk of profanation when offering on the hand. I have personally witnessed on 4 occasions during Mass where the recipient dropped the Host by accident. So I understand the OP’s concern and question on this subject.
 
Confiteor_Deo said:
There is a difference, but your sources seem to be off. I do not know of any Church approved apparition that condemned Communion in the hand, and Blessed Mother Teresa did not actually say the quote you read. Nevertheless, the traditional form of receiving Holy Communion in the Latin Rite is kneeling and on the tongue, and it is obviously much more reverent than Communion in the hand. The Church may allow Communion in the hand, but that doesn’t mean it is equal to Communion on the tongue. Receiving Holy Communion in the hand lacks the reverence and humility that is present when we kneel and receive on the tongue.
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I have given Communion thousands of times and I do not agree that one posture is more reverent than the other. I have seen deep reverence with both. I have also, frankly, seen irreverence with both. The one receiving should use the posture normative for where they are receiving. They should use the method of receiving they prefer.

In any event, among the most reverent and touching receptions of Communion I remember are where the person is neither standing or kneeling. It is when they are in a hospital bed or propped up in a chair and are receiving the Lord for one of the last – if not the very last – time in this life. That is deeply touching for its reverence. May we all have that grace of Viaticum before departing this life…whether we can kneel, stand or even sit.

And, yes, there is always need for care. The Host can fall as It is passed from minister to communicant or as the communicant places It in his/her mouth…It can also fall if either the minister does not place it in proper contact with the tongue, or It does not adhere to the tongue or the communicant takes not the necessary care in retracting their tongue and closing their mouth. All of these have happened to me.
 
Obviously not Catholic, but my 2 cents, FWIW:

A lot of churches no longer have Communion rails, so people are receiving Communion standing. I have noticed that people sometimes are moving as they are putting the host in their mouth, if they are receiving in the hand. Therefore, there is a chance to drop it.

With receiving on the tongue, there isn’t the worry about transferring it from the hand to mouth.

If the church went back to Communion rails, I think this problem would be solved. Never once in all my years in taking Communion in TEC did I ever drop the host, since there is a Communion rail where everyone kneels and you are stationary and not moving (walking) when receiving.
 
Crown_of_Stars said:
All my life (age seven until just about a month ago at forty-two now) I’ve received Communion in my hands. Recently, I’ve started taking it on my tongue, because I read somewhere that it is considered a desecration to take in hand. Also, I read Mother Teresa’s own words that Communion in the hand hurt her more than anything. I read the Virgin Mary has also said Communion in hand is sacrilege. Before I recently read any of this, I thought it could be either, there was no right or wrong. Apparently, from this, there is a difference. I don’t know what to really and truly believe about this. I suppose it shouldn’t matter. I’ll just take it on my tongue from now on. Certainly no harm. I just wondered what the truth on this really is, if it’s known.
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Sacrilege and desecration of the Eucharist is a very, very serious thing. If receiving Communion in the hand is a desecration or sacrilege, then the Church would never allow it.
But the Church does allow it, and Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary never said anything about it being sacrilege. The quote from Mother Teresa is a false quote and Mary has never said anything against communion in the hand (except in apparitions that have been condemned by the Church).
You have the choice to receive in the hand or on the tongue. For the record, I generally receive on the tongue and I have many reasons for doing so, but believing that receiving on the hand is desecration/ less reverent is* not* one of them. But don’t make the switch just because you are afraid it might be wrong-- Jesus gave us the Church and we can trust her teachings. God loves us, and He wants us to be at peace, not worry about accidentally offending Him by not believing some untrustworthy sources.
God bless 🙂
 
One of the parishes I attend allows communion in the hand. I once watched a person receive in the hand and walk back to his pew with it. He eventually did consume it, I watched him to make sure he was not planning to desecrate Out Lord’s Body and was extremely distracted in making my thanksgiving after Holy Communion. I spoke to a priest and he made the following recommendation: if I’m in an environment where communion in the hand is occurring, sit several rows back so I can’t see it happening, and then as I approach the altar simply keep my head down and watch the shoes of the person in front of me so I know where to go, and then quickly retire to my pew to make my thanksgiving.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
I have given Communion thousands of times and I do not agree that one posture is more reverent than the other. I have seen deep reverence with both. I have also, frankly, seen irreverence with both. The one receiving should use the posture normative for where they are receiving. They should use the method of receiving they prefer.

In any event, among the most reverent and touching receptions of Communion I remember are where the person is neither standing or kneeling. It is when they are in a hospital bed or propped up in a chair and are receiving the Lord for one of the last – if not the very last – time in this life. That is deeply touching for its reverence. May we all have that grace of Viaticum before departing this life…whether we can kneel, stand or even sit.

And, yes, there is always need for care. The Host can fall as It is passed from minister to communicant or as the communicant places It in his/her mouth…It can also fall if either the minister does not place it in proper contact with the tongue, or It does not adhere to the tongue or the communicant takes not the necessary care in retracting their tongue and closing their mouth. All of these have happened to me.
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Father, I cannot see how standing and receiving in the hand is just as reverent as kneeling and receiving on the tongue. If it was, I don’t know why the Church would care about our posture.
 
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