Communion on the tongue discouraged?

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Cor_ad_Cor said:
You know it could have zero to do with you (unless it’s in your head). When I’ve distributed Communion in the past and someone presented themselves for reception by tongue, I’m sure I probably contorted my face, too — not in disapproval, but because that’s what I tend to do when I’m making a more focused, concentrated effort on a task like slipping a small Host into a very narrow opening like someone’s mouth that’s slightly open with tongue barely protruding. 🤷‍♂️ That happened far more than those who seemed like they knew how to properly receive on the tongue.
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That is absolutely so, Cor_ad_Cor. I don’t think people realise how much alertness is needed on the part of the EMHCs. It’s easy to get thrown by another phenomenon too, that of people having their hands clasped in front of them, and only putting them the CITH position at the last minute, while the EMHC is holding the Host, not knowing whether to ‘go high’ or’ low’.

To be fair, I think some of the COTT folk find it difficult to say ‘Amen’ and then put their tongue out immediately afterwards.
 
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paperwight said:
To be fair, I think some of the COTT folk find it difficult to say ‘Amen’ and then put their tongue out immediately afterwards.
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Completely agree. I don’t receive by tongue most of the time (fear of dropping the host being a big part of it), but when I do, it all feels very awkward and uncoordinated.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
I am concentrating on getting my mouth open wide enough and tongue out etc.
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I think I must look crazy to people around me. I’ve got TMJ, so I have to do a little stretching/maneuvering to get my mouth open wide enough.

I’m definitely concentrating on this and Jesus. OP, I would not let this stop you. Focus on Jesus, instead.
 
paperwight said:
Just a thought, though. As a EMHC, I am sure I sometimes involuntarily show unease, even disgust ,when administering to some tongue-receivers, when I get breath or worse, saliva on my fingers, due to the way they have their tongue not fully out. I have had to wipe my fingers on my jacket before now, and temporarily change to my other hand to give my fingers a chance to dry out.

Could that be the case here? Not so much the choice to receive on the tongue, but the way it is being done?
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This is a good point. I occasionally serve as an EMHC and have run into this problem as well. I’m perfectly fine with administering on the tongue (I receive on the tongue anyway). However, you occasionally get someone who doesn’t stick out their tongue and only barely opens their mouth. It’s like, what am I supposed to do with this???
 
I’m actually glad I came across this post as it’s something I was thinking about the other day. I receive while kneeling on the tongue. I’ve never gotten any bad looks, just a confused priest as to whether or not I’m receiving or kneeling for a blessing. But as I visit other parishes, I always think, “Oh, what if someone tells me something?” When truly, this isn’t something we should be worrying about. Receiving of the Eucharist is an extremely personal thing and is between you, and Christ. I receive in the manner I do because I feel it is the most reverent. Each person should do the same (receive in the manner they believe is the most reverent).
Stay strong in your own traditions and practices!!

EDIT: I admit, I must start opening my mouth wider and sticking my tongue out a little because they other day the priest jammed the Host into my tooth 😂
 
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Ouch! Stop kneeling on your tongue! 😂 Sorry, just an awkwardly worded sentence.
 
Hi Paul,

Welcome to Catholic Answers!
I too have had many of the “looks” from EMHCs that you referenced - I think sometimes they’re just surprised because people usually receive in the hand. However, it doesn’t matter, just focus on receiving Our Lord, which is of course, the most important thing! ❤️ Also, I typically find that if you receive Holy Communion from a priest, they are less fazed/not fazed at all.
May the peace of Christ be with you!
God bless.
 
I think it is innapropriate to show disgust or displeasure or to mock someone who presents themselves for Holy Communion because you personally dislike the manner in which they wish to recieve Our Lord.
 
If you feel that receiving Communion on the tongue is the most spiritual for you, then you should continue to do it. Although, I would add that I only receive on the tongue from the priest. If I go to an EM, then I just receive in the hand.

May God bless you all! 🙂
 
Lol, you know that’s not the case. It’s just a fact that some EMHCs do not like distributing the Host on the tongue, perhaps for ideological reasons or they just don’t like to do it. And, of course, we hear about priests not wanting to do it also. I have experienced it myself to the point where I stood with my mouth open and nothing. I had to point to my mouth to indicate that’s how I want to receive and , of course, I got the look. People would like nothing better than to focus on Jesus in the Eucharist so the EMHC’s that have a problem with COTT should honor that.

This stuff happens and we should not just ignore the op’s concerns. I would go to the priest and let him know what is going on.
 
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Paul72 said:
Greetings in Christ,

I go to the Ordinary Form of the Mass and I reccieve Communion on the tounge. I am going to stop, however. The reason is because almsot every time I do, the Extraordinary Ministers give me nasty looks and even one of the priests makes a face at me.
I just want to know if you’d stop receiving on the tounge too. While I perfer to receive on the tongue, the ministers are making me feel very uncomfortable. I feel very awkard receiving from them in this way.

Thank you and God bless.
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Receiving Holy Communion directly on the tongue “should be discouraged” during flu season, according to The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (Ireland).

The Catholic Church in Portland (ABC 13 News)
Other specific guidance calls for priests to place the host into worshipers’ hands instead of on their tongues during communion, and to use hand sanitizer before and after communion.
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In the US, USCCB wrote:

What measures should be taken in Roman Catholic liturgies in the United States of America during flu season?​

Priests, deacons, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion should be especially reminded of the need to practice good hygiene. Ministers of Holy Communion should always wash their hands before Mass begins; a further precaution suggests using an alcohol-based anti-bacterial solution before and after distributing Holy Communion. The faithful should be instructed not to receive from the chalice if they feel ill.
 
poche said:
I think it is innapropriate to show disgust or displeasure or to mock someone who presents themselves for Holy Communion because you personally dislike the manner in which they wish to recieve Our Lord.
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Perhaps you missed the part where I said ‘‘involuntarily’’?

As a matter of interest, where has anyone ‘mocked’ anyone on this thread?
 
From my own experience I stopped going in the line where EM where and went in the line for the priest because of your exact problem. The ‘he looked funny or making faces’ and feeling awkward is very real. Most priests are fine, I did have the a particular priest would get confused/make odd facial features and sometimes in concentration of getting it on my tonge and there would be a awkward pause before I received communion. One priest must have had a torn rotor cuff and couldn’t lift his arm very high, so I had to almost kneel to receive communion. No matter what is does take away the sanctity of receiving.

Try lining up in the priests line, it may be a pain as I often have to excuse me when joining into the line and it often takes ages to get to my seat. This is what I did. It is worth it in the end.

Having said that, at TLM once I didn’t poke my tongue out far enough - poor priest got sloppered with my saliva. His reaction (exaggerated flouncing and wiping his fingers on his vestments with a ohh yuk expression on his face) was comical and rather embarrassing at the same time! I wasn’t the only one, but totally understand the priest.

Lesson learnt!
 
You should speak to your parish priest about your concerns.

Also, maybe look for a parish that the PRIEST (no lay ministets) distributes the Holy Mystery of The Eucharist to the fsithful on the tongue.
 
Around here, communion in the tongue is fairly common, so this type of thing never happens. But when we visit family in the Midwest, we are the exception. I would say the reaction that is not uncommon by emhc is surprise.
 
As an EMHC, I don’t care how you receive. However, the person receiving communion has to cooperate.
If you want to reveive on the tongue, open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue out. Give me a “landing spot” not a “coin slot”.
If you receive in the hand, allow me to place the host in your hand, don’t grab the host from me.
I take my role as an EMHC very seriously. I have spoken to my priest about what I see when serving, and he has been very attentive to adding extra catechesis on the mechanics of receiving the Eucharist. Something we all would do well to think about from time to time.
 
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Never let someone else’s hangups or issues interfere with your relationship with Christ. The preferred way to receive is on the tongue - receiving in the hand is an exception granted by the bishops. No one is to interfere with your reception of Christ’s body. Whether in the hand or on the tongue and kneeling or not - this is a choice for YOU to make.
 
Yesterday at morning mass a sign on the door said that due to the potential of influenza we are asked not to partake of the cup, especially if we are sick or showing signs of becoming so. To refrain from any handshaking when giving the sign of peace. Also to please take communion on the hand and not on the tongue.

At todays mass they did not even have the chalice out as an option for receiving the cup.
 
Christ is truly and fully present in both species. It is not necessary to receive the Precious Blood to have fully received the Eucharist.

Suspending distribution of the Precious Blood is common when there are lots of parishioners with illness especially when you consider what I said above.
 
To to receive in the hands is a little bit difficult for me due to a disability that I have and when we were practicing how to receive it just didn’t feel right for me to receive in the hands so I receive on the tongue and I also receive from the priest when I can.
 
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