Communion on the tongue

[superamazingman]

“Displays”: the word is the problem. Displaying humility and reverence is meaningless.

Being humble and reverent, is what matters. TimothyH is right, what counts is receiving in a state of grace. That implies humility. Display is just window dressing.

I don’t mean to suggest that you aren’t humble or reverent when you display it, but what I mean to say is that inner disposition is far more important than outer display and we should focus more on inner conversion than outer display.

However, there is more to our faith than internals. We look for both. Should we act stuck up and arrogant when we receive communion, because, according to you, externals don’t matter? How about cartwheels down the isle?

 

[Stylites]

However, there is more to our faith than internals. We look for both. Should we act stuck up and arrogant when we receive communion, because, according to you, externals don’t matter? How about cartwheels down the isle?

Cartwheels up and down the isle could be a most reverent posture, indeed!

 

[OraLabora]

However, there is more to our faith than internals. We look for both. Should we act stuck up and arrogant when we receive communion, because, according to you, externals don’t matter? How about cartwheels down the isle?

Please don’t exaggerate. I never suggested that. The debate is whether to receive on the tongue or in the hand, and my point was that inner disposition is far more important than whether or not we receive on the tongue. Of course, at Mass, civility, decorum and proper respect for Who we are receiving are important.

I often wonder though, how many CAF members would feel if a homeless man in rags and who maybe has hygiene issues, showed up for Mass, went to confession before to confess about his addictions, and then walked uneasily up the aisle for communion?

Would we glare at him un-approvingly, or would we welcome him as one of Christ’s own children and invite him for the after-Mass coffee hour?