Danger of taking Communion in the hand

[Teelynn]

I have recently been haggling with myself over communion in the hand or on the tongue. (maybe the Holy Spirit “working” with me) I have recently begun taking it on the tongue, however at the last second decided to take it in the hand today. When I looked up to receive the Host after bowing and saying “Amen” I noticed the Eucharistic Minister only had half a Host to give me. (I presumed they were running low on Hosts) When he placed it in my hand it cracked again in half and there were tiny fragments all over the palm of my hand. I managed to get it all into my mouth and eventually had to lick the palm of my hand to make sure I had all the minute pieces. It unnerved me a bit and I kept looking at my palm to make sure I got it all. I don’t know the experience any of you have had, but the Eucharistic Ministers, the Deacons and even a Priests in my Parish would rather give the Host in the hand. Have heard them complain about being licked, bitten, etc.

Anyone ever had a similar experience? I think I have decided no matter how much they don’t like it I will take the Host on my tongue from now on.:yup: Personally, I would like to see even more reverence for the Eucharist. Wonder why they actually went to the extent of even taking OUT the Communion Rails and Kneelers in front of the altar? (on the other hand in my particular parish they would only serve about a third to half of us as the rest are elderly and most of them stay in their pews and have the Eucharist “delivered” )

Tee

 

[Chris-WA]

I have recently been haggling with myself over communion in the hand or on the tongue. (maybe the Holy Spirit “working” with me) I have recently begun taking it on the tongue, however at the last second decided to take it in the hand today. When I looked up to receive the Host after bowing and saying “Amen” I noticed the Eucharistic Minister only had half a Host to give me. (I presumed they were running low on Hosts) When he placed it in my hand it cracked again in half and there were tiny fragments all over the palm of my hand. I managed to get it all into my mouth and eventually had to lick the palm of my hand to make sure I had all the minute pieces. It unnerved me a bit and I kept looking at my palm to make sure I got it all. I don’t know the experience any of you have had, but the Eucharistic Ministers, the Deacons and even a Priests in my Parish would rather give the Host in the hand. Have heard them complain about being licked, bitten, etc.

Anyone ever had a similar experience? I think I have decided no matter how much they don’t like it I will take the Host on my tongue from now on.:yup: Personally, I would like to see even more reverence for the Eucharist. Wonder why they actually went to the extent of even taking OUT the Communion Rails and Kneelers in front of the altar? (on the other hand in my particular parish they would only serve about a third to half of us as the rest are elderly and most of them stay in their pews and have the Eucharist “delivered” )

Tee

Since the Church allows taking communion either in the hand or on the tongue, that should be enough for you. It doesn’t matter either way. Also it doesn’t matter whether you receive a full host or a microscopic piece–either contains the full body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.

 

[wannabee]

I think the original poster was worried - not so much over the breaking of the Host but the fact that when placed into her hand there was further damage resulting in crumbs

When I looked up to receive the Host after bowing and saying “Amen” I noticed the Eucharistic Minister only had half a Host to give me. (I presumed they were running low on Hosts) When he placed it in my hand it cracked again in half and there were tiny fragments all over the palm of my hand. I managed to get it all into my mouth and eventually had to lick the palm of my hand to make sure I had all the minute pieces. It unnerved me a bit and I kept looking at my palm to make sure I got it all.

I have ‘bolded’ the parts of the post that refer to this. It struck me that in these circumstances Teelynn was quite right to be concerned about the practice of Communion in the hand

 

[LilyM]

I think the original poster was worried - not so much over the breaking of the Host but the fact that when placed into her hand there was further damage resulting in crumbs

I have ‘bolded’ the parts of the post that refer to this. It struck me that in these circumstances Teelynn was quite right to be concerned about the practice of Communion in the hand

What’s to be concerned with? If there are visible crumbs one consumes them. No problem. I do the same. Lick the tip of the second finger of the hand you don’t receive in, collect the crumbs from the opposite hand and consume them.

It is perfectly appropriate to do so and shows great respect for the Eucharist. It may look a little odd, but some of the things priests and EMHCs do might look a bit funny too - covering droped hosts or spilled Precious Blood with the corporal cloth, or picking up dropped hosts from the floor and consuming them blecch.

I read a story on these forums where a priest was distributing communion at a retirement home. One of the residents apparently, after receiving, had a fit in their chair and the half consumed host fell out of their mouth. The priest, in an absolutely heroic act of respect for the Body of our Lord, proceeded to consume it himself :bigyikes:

 

[tee_eff_em]

I have recently been haggling with myself over communion in the hand or on the tongue. … I don’t know the experience any of you have had, but the Eucharistic Ministers, the Deacons and even a Priests in my Parish would rather give the Host in the hand. Have heard them complain about being licked, bitten, etc.

Anyone ever had a similar experience? I think I have decided no matter how much they don’t like it I will take the Host on my tongue from now on.:yup:

Please don’t be troubled about this decision – No matter how the ministers (ordinary or extraordinary) may try to intimidate you, the decision to receive on the tongue or in the hand is yours, not theirs. GIRM #160 states: “The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand, at the discretion of each communicant.” GIRM #161: "The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed and if the communicant so chooses, in the hand."

That said, please do receive respectfully – Open wide and hold still to avoid licking or biting the minister. ( :twocents: Myself, as I am taller than the typical minister in my parish, I find it helps if I stoop a bit, so they don’t have to reach up. (Yes, this would be eased by kneeling, but the US bishops have established the norm to stand and I don’t mind following the norm))

Tee

*<ahem> *:ehh:

tee

PS:

 

[Reepicheep]

For a long time I would receive in the hand, simply because that was how we did it and I didn’t think about it.

I decided to receive on the tongue out of respect for the Body of our Lord, and to avoid the danger of dropped Hosts or fragments.

 

[Chancellare]

All the above problems were not there when people received the host while kneeling along the communion rail.

 

[JButky]

It is interesting that you bring this up at this time. Last week Olive Dawson spoke at our church. (She has lived with only the Eucharist as her sole source of nourishment for the last 8 years)

One of the things she spoke of was all the potential problems inherent with the practice. It is allowed however, but it is deeply disturbing to her. She told of being witness to exactly the types of concerns you experienced and how she can no longer keep her eyes open during the communion procession as a result. It is a suffering she bears in obedience.

Given that even the smallest crumb contains the full potency of Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, there are many unfortunate problems that can occur. She pointed out many stories of churches she had visited and pointed out how many times she had gathered the small tiny bits of the Eucharist to be returned to the priest and the tabernacle. She even mentioned finding small pieces with boot marks on them where Our Lord had been stepped on. She spoke of even greater atrocities as well that stem from the practice.

So, if it bothers you, you are not crazy. But since it is allowed by the Church, you must pray that someday this practice will end.

Joe B

 

[pumpkinbeast]

Just a thought, I don’t know if anyone else has pointed this out: if the OP had received on the tounge(sp?), the Host could have broken in such a way that the crumbs fell to the floor, instead of their hand. It seems it was quite fortunate that the OP received in the hand that day. They were able to save the tiny fragments in their hand, rather than have them scatter on the floor.

Personally, which ever way you feel you can be reverent in receiving is great. They’ve both been approved by the Church.

 

[guanophore]

I have recently been haggling with myself over communion in the hand or on the tongue. (maybe the Holy Spirit “working” with me) I have recently begun taking it on the tongue, however at the last second decided to take it in the hand today. When I looked up to receive the Host after bowing and saying “Amen” I noticed the Eucharistic Minister only had half a Host to give me. (I presumed they were running low on Hosts) When he placed it in my hand it cracked again in half and there were tiny fragments all over the palm of my hand. I managed to get it all into my mouth and eventually had to lick the palm of my hand to make sure I had all the minute pieces. It unnerved me a bit and I kept looking at my palm to make sure I got it all. I don’t know the experience any of you have had, but the Eucharistic Ministers, the Deacons and even a Priests in my Parish would rather give the Host in the hand. Have heard them complain about being licked, bitten, etc.

Anyone ever had a similar experience? I think I have decided no matter how much they don’t like it I will take the Host on my tongue from now on.:yup: Personally, I would like to see even more reverence for the Eucharist. Wonder why they actually went to the extent of even taking OUT the Communion Rails and Kneelers in front of the altar? (on the other hand in my particular parish they would only serve about a third to half of us as the rest are elderly and most of them stay in their pews and have the Eucharist “delivered” )

Tee

Your reverence and concern is commendable. If the ministers do not support such piety by giving the host in the mouth, they should step down! That being said, I have been wondering recently…Jesus took the unleavened flat bread used during the Passover. I cannot imagine that there were not crumbs produced when he consecrated and broke it, then passed it. Were the disciples scrambling around looking for crumbs like we do? I don’t mean to be irreverant, but it is hard to imagine that.

 

[KCT]

At my parish, we have many older, shaky EM’s. I’m 5’ 10" and many of the EM’s are short.

I often receive on the hand because I fear what could happen if I didn’t. The EM might not be tall enough to reach or their shaky hands could get worse trying to place the Host on my tongue.

It’s a judgement call depending on which line I’m in! —KCT

 

[Teelynn]

Sorry tee, I will remember to sign with my whole signature “Teelynn” as to avoid confusion. Seems like there is enough of that to go around. I guess if you really explore the pitfalls of receiving the Host, there are many, even when receiving on the tongue. Of course I realize that the main goal here is to try to have the utmost respect for the precious body and blood of Our Lord. I guess in all my years of receiving communion, I have never once had a misshap, unbelievable as it sounds. I of course took the 2 pieces and placed them in my mouth, but when I looked again at my hand I had all these crumbs. I wasn’t really concerned about how strange it looked to be licking the palm of my hand at the time, all I was concerned about was getting all the crumbs in my mouth, but now that you mentioned it, it probably was a little strange to see someone do that if you didn’t know what was going on.:whacky:

Blessings,
Teelynn

 

[Al_Masetti]

I have been criticized in the past for what I am about to write now, but here goes.

With communion on the tongue with the communicant STANDING and no alter server with a paten, there is a serious danger of the Host rolling off and falling to the floor.

In my opinion, the only way Communion on the tongue will work is if the communicant is KNEELING.

That way the priest or extraordinary minister of the Eucharist can easily see where on the tongue they are placing the Host. The worst thing is to have to “guess” where to place the Host when the standing communicant is two feet taller than the person distributing Holy Communion.

With Communion in the hand, it is much less likely that the Host will fall to the floor.

 

[LilyM]

I’d like some proper investigation done - comparing similar parishes, for example, where one only has communion on the tongue and the other allows communion in the hand as well - and see what the difference is, if any, in terms of crumbs.

I rather suspect that even if patens are used, and people kneel, small fragments of host are light enought that if they fall they may end up well away from the area of distribution altogether. Anyone who’s ever dropped something small and had to look for it will know what I mean - things travel!

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I’d like some proper investigation done - comparing similar parishes, for example, where one only has communion on the tongue and the other allows communion in the hand as well - and see what the difference is, if any, in terms of crumbs.

I rather suspect that even if patens are used, and people kneel, small fragments of host are light enought that if they fall they may end up well away from the area of distribution altogether. Anyone who’s ever dropped something small and had to look for it will know what I mean - things travel!

I would agree with you, and use even contact lenses as an example, not to mention straight pins, safety pins, screws from eye glasses, etc. The crumbs discussed here are much smaller than those things.

I would also caution those who look for confirmation of “tongue vs. hand” via visions or those humans of possibly supernatural gifts, or voices of the those who have gone before us: Check with the local diocese and the diocese where these folks originated, even if the meeting or talk or speech is on parish or church property; even if it was on Catholic radio. I am thinking of a particular instance where a visionary was welcomed at a certain local parish (not mine), even endorsed by the pastor- and that apparition had not been approved by the diocese in question. It was also not approved by the Vatican.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Sorry tee, I will remember to sign with my whole signature “Teelynn” as to avoid confusion. Seems like there is enough of that to go around.

S’okay, I was joking – If you want, you can be Upper Case Tee, and I shall remain lower case tee.

BTW in the old days with the rails, the altar servers would follow the priest and have the*** Patton*** held under your chin for misshaps.
Anyone remember that or am I giving away my age

Hey, I used to *be *one of those altar servers! We did not stop administering the paten when the faithful began to communicate standing nor in the hand. Rather, I suspect the administration of the paten was discontinued because there was not a “small army” of altar servers to accompany each of the EMsHC. :twocents:

tee

 

[otjm]

For a long time I would receive in the hand, simply because that was how we did it and I didn’t think about it.
Then I read a book about the Holy Souls, in which the issue came up. It seems the Holy Souls strongly disapprove of Communion in the hand.

After that I decided to receive on the tongue out of respect for the Body of our Lord, and to avoid the danger of dropped Hosts or fragments.

One needs to distinguish between the Holy Souls - who may or may not have been consulted - and the writer who writes saying that the Holy Souls Strongly disapprove.

Rome has said that it is permissible; it was what was done in the early Church.

Has Rome spoken about the alleged intercession by the Holy Souls on this matter? Was it by locution or by apparition? Has the local bishop spoken about this locution or apparition? Was there more than one Holy Soul who intervened in this matter? If so, how many Holy Souls chimed in on it? Was there a poll taken among the Holy Souls, and do we know the polling degree of error to be expected in the poll?

 

[Teelynn]

S’okay, I was joking – If you want, you can be Upper Case Tee, and I shall remain lower case tee.

I

suspect you’d have to ask the pastor – It is certainly not universal to have removed the altar rails. I can count 5 churches in my diocesan neck of the woods that have rails and can only think of 2 that have removed them (each as part of a larger renovation/wreckovation, as you prefer). I can also count one chapel of recent construction (1994) that has a rail.

I know in my area, all the communion rails in all the older churches were removed. In one parish in particular, (and this was in another diocese before I moved 2 hours north) the parishioners complained big time as it was a very expensive operation, and there was really no further renovation that the parish was undertaking at the time. And the reason for this was??? No one was really able to get a concrete answer. Guess the Pastor didn’t like the looks of it???

I read somewhere that the Blessed Mother in one of her visits to someone in New York (not yet been approved by the Church) complained about receiving in the hand. Something about the hand not being clean enough. That really does not make any sense to me though, because the human tongue is cleaner???:bigyikes: :nope: Like I said this one has not been approved thus far, so for now I will take that one with a grain of salt. I would, however, like to see more reverence for the Eucharist in general.

BTW, you can pretty much call me anything, just don’t call me late for dinner!

Tee(lynn)

 

[Marian_Carroll]

**GENERAL CLARIFICATION NOTICE
**
This thread has been heavily edited due to the number of posts referring to unapproved locutions/apparitions/seers. For those posters, it may be helpful to review:

Post 6 – Banned Topics
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=17511

Item 22. Promoting unapproved revelations and apparitions (i.e., those that have not been approved by the Church for private or public devotion) or alleged private locutions

Each of the forums at CAF is slightly different and for those who are unfamiliar or not yet aware, we do host a Traditional Catholic Forum:
forums.catholic-questions.org/forumdisplay.php?f=102 for those who prefer Catholic liturgy and practice pre Vatican Council II.

It will be very helpful to us all to carefully choose placement of your initiated threads and discussions.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[mary_tim]

i too receive on the tongue(kneeling where possible) . in the old days a paten collected the fragments. (remember the sermon on the mount. fragments were diligently gathered.) now adays the hosts or particles just drop on the floor rescued 3 fragments of approximately 1/6 the size of the hosts on 3 separate occasions last year and this year another lady gathered on all roughly the same size. she told me of picking up whole Hosts as well some of those were probaly from people who received so as not to be thought to be sinners but who hid them under their seats when they got to their seats. the ones i saw were dropped at the place where Communion was being distributed. obviously the hosts were rather fragile that they should be breaking off like that.