COTT- an act of vulnerability?

[Oneofthewomen]

I have always had a problem with allowing myself to be vulnerable. It is something that has been especially hard since I returned to the faith,
because I had always believed that I was in control of everything in my life, not God.

The past couple of years, my life has been transformed by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
I work with a spiritual director, who also happens to be my confessor.
During our session yesterday, some things came up that reinforce the fact that I have still not yet really learned how to let go of my need for control,
and that allowing myself to be vulnerable is something that I need a lot more practice at.

I have been thinking about some simple things that I could do that may help me in this area of my life,
and one of the things that came to me tonight is the idea of changing how I receive communion.
I was taught to, and always have, received CITH. For a long time, I never really thought about it, and was glad that I had the option,
because having anyone’s hands near my mouth makes me very uncomfortable (just another reason for me to hate the dentist! ).

One of the things that really bothered me when I first came to CAF
is the argument that CITH is part of what is wrong with the Church today,
and is responsible for the lack of belief in the *“Real Presence”. *
For me, receiving in the hand is very special because for a moment,
I am actually embracing God.
That said, I starting thinking that by moving out of my comfort zone,
and receiving communion on the tongue,
I will, in a small way become more “vulnerable”.

I brought this up with some friends from Church tonight,
and everyone looked at me like I had 3 heads!
Some even suggested that I am becoming “too Catholic”, whatever that means!

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Has anyone here gone from receiving CITH to COTT? Why?

*Please, I do not want this thread to turn into another argument over which is “better”, I am just looking for some thoughts and experiences from people who have who have made the change from CITH to COTT. *

 

[ConstantineTG]

Has anyone here gone from receiving CITH to COTT? Why?

I always make sure that there are no crumbs left on my hand. I realized our parish changed hosts and the new ones seem to crumble more easily. So I started receiving COTT. A few months later, I moved to a Byzantine parish where there’s no other way to receive but in the mouth via the golden spoon.

 

[GloriousOrder]

Dear sister , vulnerability is exactly what our blessed Lord wants from us. He is the Alpha and the Omega; when you face Him, all is well. The old phrase ‘offer it up’ is suited for this situation. You are supposed to do that which is uncomfortable in life. God wants each human being to move outside the area of comfort which he or she inhabits. Jesus Christ being true God and true man is really far outside my “comfort zone”, but I believe it because I have faith in God’s mercy.

If you truly believe Jesus is the Lord, and that every knee must bend at His Name, then you ought to kneel for “the body of CHRIST” , no matter how vulnerable it makes you feel. Vulnerability is something difficult for women to grasp at, and I can understand why, with all the childish lust that we men have! Regardless of us, you have a duty to be vulnerable in the face of Christ our Lord. He wants to lead you, but cannot do it if you refuse Him. Free will is essential, and your choice is what God respects. Go forth and do what is hard, not what makes you feel holy.

 

[joanofarc2008]

You know I think I remember when you first came on one of your first threads was on obedience. When we have choices that God offers we can do what makes us comfortable. When the Magisterium commands we must understand that they are the representatives of left of Christ - with the head being the representative of Christ on this earth and we obey.

 

[Cat]

I changed from receiving Communion in my hand to on my tongue a few years ago after I had ankle surgery and used crutches. (I didn’t have hands-free.)

It really hasn’t made any impact on my life or spirit. No angel choirs. No special “feelings.” No greater reverence.

I apologize if I sound a little world-weary, but honestly, the way some people on this board go on about “CITT,” you would think it is The Answer to all the problems that plague mankind.

My tongue is just another body part that is capable of transferring Jesus into my body.

Both my tongue and my hands are sinful, but my tongue is more sinful, so IMO, receiving in my hand would be much more honoring to Jesus. But the Church says both ways are fine and that the issue of the sinfulness of our hands vs. our tongue is a non-issue when it comes to receiving Holy Communion. So I believe the Church and don’t try to make up my own theology as I go along.

When it comes to vulnerability, I think you’ll find that after a few Masses during which you receive Our Lord on your tongue, you won’t think anything about it. It will seem normal and routine to you.

The one thing I struggle with receiving on the tongue is the feeling of pride in how “traditional” I am. For this reason, I have often considered going back to receiving our Lord in my hand, but I’m in the habit now of receiving Him on my tongue, and it seems strange to go back to the hand. I continue to seek the Lord’s will on this issue, as pride is the sin that caused the angels to fall from heaven, and I don’t really want to be guilty of this sin. I just try not to think about myself at all during Holy Communion, but to concentrate on Jesus and His Love for me and all mankind.

 

[zab]

Dear sister , vulnerability is exactly what our blessed Lord wants from us. He is the Alpha and the Omega; when you face Him, all is well. The old phrase ‘offer it up’ is suited for this situation. You are supposed to do that which is uncomfortable in life. God wants each human being to move outside the area of comfort which he or she inhabits. Jesus Christ being true God and true man is really far outside my “comfort zone”, but I believe it because I have faith in God’s mercy.

If you truly believe Jesus is the Lord, and that every knee must bend at His Name, then you ought to kneel for “the body of CHRIST” , no matter how vulnerable it makes you feel. Vulnerability is something difficult for women to grasp at, and I can understand why, with all the childish lust that we men have! Regardless of us, you have a duty to be vulnerable in the face of Christ our Lord. He wants to lead you, but cannot do it if you refuse Him. Free will is essential, and your choice is what God respects. Go forth and do what is hard, not what makes you feel holy.

Are you insinuating that those who follow the norm set by our bishops to stand for reception of Holy Communion do not truly believe that Jesus is the Lord?

 

[InspiritCarol]

Some even suggested that I am becoming “too Catholic”, whatever that means!

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Has anyone here gone from receiving CITH to COTT? Why?

*Please, I do not want this thread to turn into another argument over which is “better”, I am just looking for some thoughts and experiences from people who have who have made the change from CITH to COTT. *

Yep. Waaay too Catholic. Next you’ll be thinking about God every day or something crazy like that. Or even (~gasp~) go so far as to *pray *outside of Church!
~sigh~

K, so my :twocents: COTT is no big deal as long as you warn the Eucharistic minister or priest ahead of time. It’s no big deal otherwise, but you stand to make a scene if the person distributing does not understand what you are wanting of them. Seriously, I have seen this happen: the communicant walks up, sticks out their tongue, and the EM stares at them waiting for them to stick their hands out. It’s not that the EM wouldn’t do give it on the tongue, but for some of them it is a very overwhelming experience and they are very focused on expecting certain things. They don’t want to “mess up”. Go outside that realm of expectation and you may as well be invisible.

IDK… It works either way for me, but I’m happy I don’t have to wonder that that EM with the shaking hands is going to knock my tongue the same way he did the tongue in front of me … ew. ~lol~

Gosh, try it. Maybe COTT will be life changing for you and that is awesome, just be kind to the EMs. It’s not easy for many of them to get up there and then vary from the routine. K?

 

[CB_Catholic]

Well, (and I will probably get flamed for this), I changed from receiving CITH to COTT after reading these forums and convincing myself that maybe it was more reverent, because others kept saying it. I even went so far as to start attending a church in the summer that has an altar rail and where about half of the people receive on the tongue and things were a bit more traditional. However, the ushers literally shooed the people up to the communion rail, communion was distributed very quickly, and then you were hurried back to your pew. It was very rushed and less reverent than what I am used to. There is no sense of hurry in my parish–it takes as long as it takes…

I have discovered that it has not made a difference to me at all in terms of reverence or my feelings toward the Eucharist. I did have more fear of the host being dropped when I received on the tongue because we do not use patens and the priest is not used to distributing that way (although no objections have ever been made and no one has ever said anything to me.) Today I received in the hand because we had a visiting elderly and rather shaky priest. I looked down at Jesus in my hand and had an unexpected moment of awe that I was holding Christ Himself and He was gracious enough to permit it and to allow me to partake of Him. It was a sacred moment for me.

So to me, I have concluded that reverence is in the heart. I have seen and experienced both ways (and I am 62 years old, so I grew up receiving on the tongue). This however is my experience, others have their own. Either way that you receive Him, if the heart reverence is not there, it is not there, even though outwardly we may look very reverent. I know, been there and done that. Before I had a conversion experience I would go to Mass and the Eucharist would mean little to me, either way I received it, although I professed my belief in it. I refuse to pass any sort of judgment on others when it comes to receiving Communion. I realize I cannot always trust my perception of things when it comes to others. I have to take care of my own soul first.

So I believe you have to figure out, in your own soul, what is best for you. I think I am going to switch back to receiving in the hand, which is really going to confuse my Pastor. Jesus seems to have spoken to me this morning as I held Him.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Are you insinuating that those who follow the norm set by our bishops to stand for reception of Holy Communion do not truly believe that Jesus is the Lord?

Add to that the number of Eastern Christians who never kneel to receive. That verse on “every knee should bend” has been misused a lot like only a Sola Scripturist Evangelical would.

 

[GloriousOrder]

Are you insinuating that those who follow the norm set by our bishops to stand for reception of Holy Communion do not truly believe that Jesus is the Lord?

It is my strong impression that people who prefer to stand and receive the Eucharist in their hands are not convinced that Christ is really present. I have not judged them, but simply observed human nature. There’s a difference between standing in a line and reaching out your hands, to kneeling on both knees as a sign of total subjugation. Standing has always been a metaphor, in history, for resistance and glorification of man. Phrases like “last stand” come to mind… and these apply in all cultures.

Sorry… I have no ill will toward anyone who wishes to receive Christ standing, but my impressions are very strong in this matter. All humans have acknowledged that we first must “know” ourselves. I know in my heart that I would feel arrogant receiving God standing; thus knowing myself, it is logical to imprint my knowledge of my humanity on to other human beings, they being like me in sin. Wasn’t it Ghandi who is supposed to have said “if I believed my God was really present in a building, I’d come in on my face if I could”? The absence of kneeling appears to have been a central cause of the effect of chatty churches and noisy naves.

 

[paperwight66]

It is my strong impression that people who prefer to stand and receive the Eucharist in their hands are not convinced that Christ is really present. I have not judged them, but simply observed human nature. There’s a difference between standing in a line and reaching out your hands, to kneeling on both knees as a sign of total subjugation. Standing has always been a metaphor, in history, for resistance and glorification of man. Phrases like “last stand” come to mind… and these apply in all cultures.

Sorry… I have no ill will toward anyone who wishes to receive Christ standing, but my impressions are very strong in this matter. All humans have acknowledged that we first must “know” ourselves. I know in my heart that I would feel arrogant receiving God standing. Wasn’t it Ghandi who is supposed to have said “if I believed my God was really present in a building, I’d come in on my face if I could”? The absence of kneeling appears to have been a central cause of the effect of chatty churches and noisy naves.

How wonderful to be able to see inside people’s souls like that.

I see you are a catechumen. My memory of COTT was a nerve-wracking calculation of when to rush forward to take a place at the rail, then having the Host almost shoved in my mouth as the priest hurried up and down, followed by a quick getting-up to make room for the next person breathing down my neck. Whereas now, CITH and standing, means a gentle moving forward, a slow receiving, and a gentle walk back to my place.

I know which is more reverent for me!

Try praying this prayer of St. Elizabeth Seton’s.

‘If I am right, then grant the grace
Within the right to stay.
if I am wrong, then teach my heart
To find the better way’.

I can only say that. for me, raising the hands to receive Him means ‘Lord, welcome! If only I could clasp Your hands in mine!’ and also ’ Lord, I accept whatever cross You send me’.

You may or may not be right about the cause of noise in the church - it bothers me, too. But then I remind myself that it is a sign of a vibrant, alive congregation.

 

[Cat]

It is my strong impression that people who prefer to stand and receive the Eucharist in their hands are not convinced that Christ is really present. I have not judged them, but simply observed human nature. There’s a difference between standing in a line and reaching out your hands, to kneeling on both knees as a sign of total subjugation. Standing has always been a metaphor, in history, for resistance and glorification of man. Phrases like “last stand” come to mind… and these apply in all cultures.

Sorry… I have no ill will toward anyone who wishes to receive Christ standing, but my impressions are very strong in this matter. All humans have acknowledged that we first must “know” ourselves. I know in my heart that I would feel arrogant receiving God standing; thus knowing myself, it is logical to imprint my knowledge of my humanity on to other human beings, they being like me in sin. Wasn’t it Ghandi who is supposed to have said “if I believed my God was really present in a building, I’d come in on my face if I could”? The absence of kneeling appears to have been a central cause of the effect of chatty churches and noisy naves.

In any given Mass at our parish, there are around 500 people who come forward to receive Holy Communion.

How many people are in your parish? Do you personally KNOW all of them? If not, you are really reaching to rely on your “very strong impressions.” I find your post upsetting.

I know several dozen people in my parish, although I’m always trying to meet more people and get to know them. And I know that the people in my circle of acquaintances are reverent, faithful, and devoted to the Catholic Church and to Jesus Christ. These are people who helped me and my husband make the decision to convert from evangelical Protestantism to Catholism. These people are fully cognizant of the True Presence of Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in the Blessed Sacrament.

Just because you “feel” a certain way does not mean that others share your “feelings.” There are plenty of people, as you can see in this thread, who receive Holy Communion in their hand, and are very aware of the august and adorable Person of Jesus Christ Truly Present.

I think you should think very hard about this, and go back to your parish and get to know many dozens more of the people that you are accusing in your mind. I believe your accusations are unjust and uncharitable.

As for noise–I can go along with you if you’re talking about raucous Superbowl conversations in the nave. But remember, anytime you put 500 people in a small space with a high ceiling, there will be noise. If every one one of those people whispers, “Excuse me” or “thank you” just once during the five minutes of exiting the nave, it will result in a tremendous amount of noise. Think of all the legitimate talking (non-Superbowl) that goes on in a nave after Mass; e.g., a small child asking Mommy if he/she can get a drink of water now, or an elderly person asking if his/her spouse needs an arm to help them stand up from their pew, or a woman with a baby asking her husband if he can please hold the baby so she can put her coat on. All of these legitimate conversation bites will create a “din,” and yet, no one can say charitably that these conversations are 'irreverent." These are human beings being alive in real time on a real earth. No matter how you “feel” after Mass, the fact is, we are not glorified while we still live on this earth. We are flesh, and have to accept that fact and do those things that fleshly people must do to maintain our aliveness. That’s not irreverence.

Being a human is not a silent thing; even though we attend Mass to participate in “heaven come to earth,” yet BEFORE and AFTER Mass, we are “back on earth” again, and therefore, we have to deal with the “stuff” of everyday human life on this material earth. Often dealing with this “human stuff” involves speaking. Jesus does not despise our humanity, but took on humanity Himself. He understands when we need to say, “Thank you” or “See ya tonight” to our human brothers and sisters.

 

[laszlo]

Are you insinuating that those who follow the norm set by our bishops to stand for reception of Holy Communion do not truly believe that Jesus is the Lord?

I agree 100% but Jesus Christ is the same regardless what we do. We, our actions, our reverence does not changes Him. We can change only ourselves and our relationship to Him.

I changed from communion to hand to communion to tongue because I changed church. Not for the way of the communion, but for the overall attitude on the Mass, it is the worship of God and not the acknowledgment of the human success. In the new Church only those take the communion to hand who want to stand out from the community. I believe that the Mass is the prayer of the community, we gather, learn, offer what we have, and participate in Christ’s sacrifice, meal and mission. We, not I against the others.

 

[zab]

I agree 100% but Jesus Christ is the same regardless what we do. We, our actions, our reverence does not changes Him. We can change only ourselves and our relationship to Him.

I changed from communion to hand to communion to tongue because I changed church. Not for the way of the communion, but for the overall attitude on the Mass, it is the worship of God and not the acknowledgment of the human success. In the new Church only those take the communion to hand who want to stand out from the community. I believe that the Mass is the prayer of the community, we gather, learn, offer what we have, and participate in Christ’s sacrifice, meal and mission. We, not I against the others.

I was taught to receive Communion on the tongue and I never changed. To receive Communion in the hand was not my choice and besides, I usually had an infant or a small child in my arms for many years. I never felt comfortable receiving Communion any other way. However, I never denied that those who chose to receive Communion in the hand were given that option nor did I ever make such a bold claim that those who received in the hand do not truly believe in the Real Presence. And yet I do feel that there is some reason to believe that the reception of Communion in the hand has led to a growing lack of respect for Jesus in the Eucharist. When it comes to standing to receive-- that is the norm that has been set by our bishops. And I have no problem doing as we have been instructed to do. I believe that there is a growing ignorance of the virtue of obedience. We see it in the followers of certain unapproved apparitions when it comes to obeying the local ordinary. And we also see it in following the directives set by our bishops.

 

[laszlo]

And yet I do feel that there is some reason to believe that the reception of Communion in the hand has led to a growing lack of respect for Jesus in the Eucharist. When it comes to standing to receive-- that is the norm that has been set by our bishops.

My opinion is that the lack of respect is damaged more by the fact that everyone is ‘herded’ to communion, and that Jesus Christ resents much more the unclean hearts than the hands.

Receiving the Eucharist to hands as option was approved the the Apostolic See

ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_in_hand.htm

In Hungary is was not introduced until the nineties.

 

[jilly4ski]

I switched to receiving on the tongue, but mostly because I had a small child in my arms. I have short arms and find it difficult to carefully and respectfully receive with both hands while holding a child. And receiving on the tongue means I don’t have to worry about all the baby drool, spit-up, booggers, and other bodily functions that make it on to my hands in 45minutes of holding a baby. (Of course I still have to watch what the baby gets in his own hair, because the priest insists on touching the baby’s head to give a “blessing.”

I don’t particularly find it any more reverent to receive on the tongue, or at least not much more, but I was always very particular about receiving in the hands. (Hands together, a bow, then hands opened to receive, a step to the side and a sign of the cross, hands together to go back to the pew). That said, our outward motions can indeed shape our spiritual realities. So if you think it will help you with this particular virtue you are trying to develop, then go for it.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

The one thing I struggle with receiving on the tongue is the feeling of pride in how “traditional” I am. For this reason, I have often considered going back to receiving our Lord in my hand, but I’m in the habit now of receiving Him on my tongue, and it seems strange to go back to the hand. I continue to seek the Lord’s will on this issue, as pride is the sin that caused the angels to fall from heaven, and I don’t really want to be guilty of this sin. I just try not to think about myself at all during Holy Communion, but to concentrate on Jesus and His Love for me and all mankind.

Cat-
Thanks for this!
This is one of the things that I am a little concerned about!!

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Yep. Waaay too Catholic. Next you’ll be thinking about God every day or something crazy like that. Or even (~gasp~) go so far as to *pray *outside of Church!
~sigh~

Thanks for making me smile!!

And thanks for the reminder about EM’sHC. As a EMHC myself, I practiced with a priest friend in giving COTT, as most of my duties are in nursing homes, where 90% of the people receive on the tongue. But it is very easy to forget, especially if you don’t have to do it that often.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Well, (and I will probably get flamed for this), I changed from receiving CITH to COTT after reading these forums and convincing myself that maybe it was more reverent, because others kept saying it. I even went so far as to start attending a church in the summer that has an altar rail and where about half of the people receive on the tongue and things were a bit more traditional. However, the ushers literally shooed the people up to the communion rail, communion was distributed very quickly, and then you were hurried back to your pew. It was very rushed and less reverent than what I am used to. There is no sense of hurry in my parish–it takes as long as it takes…

I have discovered that it has not made a difference to me at all in terms of reverence or my feelings toward the Eucharist. I did have more fear of the host being dropped when I received on the tongue because we do not use patens and the priest is not used to distributing that way (although no objections have ever been made and no one has ever said anything to me.) Today I received in the hand because we had a visiting elderly and rather shaky priest. I looked down at Jesus in my hand and had an unexpected moment of awe that I was holding Christ Himself and He was gracious enough to permit it and to allow me to partake of Him. It was a sacred moment for me.

So to me, I have concluded that reverence is in the heart. I have seen and experienced both ways (and I am 62 years old, so I grew up receiving on the tongue). This however is my experience, others have their own. Either way that you receive Him, if the heart reverence is not there, it is not there, even though outwardly we may look very reverent. I know, been there and done that. Before I had a conversion experience I would go to Mass and the Eucharist would mean little to me, either way I received it, although I professed my belief in it. I refuse to pass any sort of judgment on others when it comes to receiving Communion. I realize I cannot always trust my perception of things when it comes to others. I have to take care of my own soul first.

So I believe you have to figure out, in your own soul, what is best for you. I think I am going to switch back to receiving in the hand, which is really going to confuse my Pastor. Jesus seems to have spoken to me this morning as I held Him.

Carolyn-
This is awesome!!
And exactly the kind of reply I was hoping for!
You have given me some wonderful things to think about, thank you!

 

[Oneofthewomen]

How wonderful to be able to see inside people’s souls like that.

I see you are a catechumen. My memory of COTT was a nerve-wracking calculation of when to rush forward to take a place at the rail, then having the Host almost shoved in my mouth as the priest hurried up and down, followed by a quick getting-up to make room for the next person breathing down my neck. Whereas now, CITH and standing, means a gentle moving forward, a slow receiving, and a gentle walk back to my place.

I know which is more reverent for me!

Try praying this prayer of St. Elizabeth Seton’s.

‘If I am right, then grant the grace
Within the right to stay.
if I am wrong, then teach my heart
To find the better way’.

I can only say that. for me, raising the hands to receive Him means ‘Lord, welcome! If only I could clasp Your hands in mine!’ and also ’ Lord, I accept whatever cross You send me’.

You may or may not be right about the cause of noise in the church - it bothers me, too. But then I remind myself that it is a sign of a vibrant, alive congregation.

Love this prayer!!
Very wise words from both you & St. Elizabeth Ann Seton!
Thanks!