Do you receive communion on the tongue or by hand?

[workingman]

I receive on the tongue. Nothing wrong with in the hand. Just not my preference. I also would prefer to kneel it seems more reverent to me. (when I was in the LCMS we had a communion rail. I thought of it like a baby bird beging to be fed. Kind of a bad analogy.) but not wanting to stand out in my parish I do not.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

I’ve always said “Amen” before receiving, whether in the hand or on the tongue (seems like the priest or EMHC waits for the “Amen” first anyhow). So this is confusing to me. I do make the Sign of the Cross afterwards (stepping sideways, and facing the altar, before turning to go back to my seat, but I had not heard that this was “required” in any way.)

yeah me too!

 

[Paxvobis]

I receive on the tongue while kneeling.

By the way, this article says you are not supposed to say “amen” when receiving by tongue:

“Open your mouth wide enough and stick out your tongue far enough to easily receive the Sacrament (once received, don’t respond “Amen” as is done in the Novus Ordo Rite). Many priests recommend closing your eyes when receiving so that you’re not tempted to follow his hand; it’s best to not move at all. And, of course, don’t close your mouth until the Host is safely on your tongue and the priest’s hand is out of the way! Make the Sign of the Cross after receiving Communion, then return to your pew and kneel in thanksgiving (many people cover their faces with their hands or veils at this time to increase a sense of intimacy).” FROM:
fisheaters.com/holycommunion.html

Is this correct?

You’re only not supposed to say “Amen” when you’re at the Traditional Latin Mass. There, the priest says the Amen for you when he says “Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen.”

In the new rite of Mass, you say “Amen” to show your agreement with the Priest’s statement that the host is “The Body of Christ.” ‘Amen’ means in Hebrew ‘so be it.’

 

[CHRISTINE77]

I receive on the tongue while kneeling.

You’re only not supposed to say “Amen” when you’re at the Traditional Latin Mass. There, the priest says the Amen for you when he says “Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen.”

In the new rite of Mass, you say “Amen” to show your agreement with the Priest’s statement that the host is “The Body of Christ.” ‘Amen’ means in Hebrew ‘so be it.’

thank your for clearing that up!

 

[cccw2009]

When I was able to receive, I took by hand and when I can receive again, it will be by hand. Just my preference.

 

[TrueLight]

I couldn’t quite answer the poll because I don’t yet receive communion at all.

But when I do, it will be on the tongue for me.

Why? Because it is the flesh of the Living God.

 

[Timothysis]

I couldn’t quite answer the poll because I don’t yet receive communion at all.

But when I do, it will be on the tongue for me.

Why? Because it is the flesh of the Living God.

What does that have to do with receiving in the hand or on the tongue, especially since both are allowed as legitimate by the Church?

 

[TrueLight]

What does that have to do with receiving in the hand or on the tongue, especially since both are allowed as legitimate by the Church?

This is the way I would feel comfortable receiving God in the flesh.

It could be that you feel comfortable receiving God in the hand.

As the saying goes, “You do you and I’ll do me.”

 

[Pilgrim1701]

I said I would prefer the Church allowed one method. Either or, I don’t mind. I think unity in worship is important.

 

[GloriousOrder]

I receive Holy Communion both ways: tongue on Sunday and hand on weekdays. Though my conviction veers toward reception on the tongue, there is a personal reason for the variation.

As I have lived, I have grown to have a low opinion of humanity. This habit of thinking has become second nature, and it is one of my biggest stumbling blocks. Dualism, Gnosticism, Calvinism, and Jansenism appeal to me because of the rotten things they say about our humanity. What a harsh addiction of thought to fight against every day, but what better way to combat it than by receiving Communion on the hand? Since days other than Sunday are penitential days, on them I offer the Eucharist standing and on the hand (“we thank you for allowing us to stand in your presence”), to remind myself that our seemingly crude flesh is intimately tied to our luminous souls.

It is incredibly moving to know that God Almighty has deigned us worthy, by His Incarnation, to be touched, held, embraced, and worshiped bodily by us. Had the Incarnation not happened and divinity not united to humanity, I would only receive on the tongue. Now, though, my hands have been made indescribably luminous by the Advent of God, who has marvelously cleansed us entire.

Sunday is the day of ease, rejoicing, and victory. I offer Communion on the tongue on this holy day because I prefer it on the tongue. The rest of the week is a constant penitential battle to remind myself of what dignity our redeemed species is invited to. I invite all to take Communion on the hand just once in their entire lives and look at the Host for a brief, split second. See: as God allowed Himself to be held in the arms of a frail, humble creature in the stable, so even we imperfect saints have been allowed to stand and hold Him, if veiled. Are our tongues not of the same flesh as the hand? How glorious!

 

[Bbigam]

Always on the tongue, no exceptions for me. At my parish we use Communion patens. I also like to kneel to receive but that’s frowned upon most places outside of the Extraordinary Form and I’m not the type to “fight for my rights.”

I’ve only touched the Sacred Species one time - a small piece of Host fell to the ground (past the paten) and our elderly pastor asked me to pick it up. I was nervous and was careful with those two fingers until I could wash them in the ablutions bowl.

 

[Melchior_1]

I receive on the tongue, standing. Unless the blind Priest is around, then I feel safer receiving in my hand for some reason (although you can guide his hand towards your mouth to receive on the tongue if you wanted to).

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

I used to receive it by the tongue but I’ve switched to the hand. I really don’t remember why I decided to change.

 

[karoleck]

I normally receive “The Bread Of Angels” on my tongue and the reasons are as follows;

I believe that old saying “familiarity breeds contempt”-so it reminds me that what I receiving is something(and SOMEONE–The Lord of Lords and The King of Kings) holy.

By receiving on the tongue I am being fed–not something to helping myself with.

Whilst The Congregation of The Divine Worship has given approval of receiving on the hands to individual Conference of Bishops in countries around the world.The Holy Father of Rome has given His witness of what is His preference is —communion on the tongue whilst kneeling!

A few years back I was asked by the parish priest to become an extraorginary minister of the Eucharist.When I do this function I always receive on the tongue ,even though I later distribute The Host through my hands.I believe it is a silent witness to those who might be shy in some cases or “bullied” into receiving on the hand ,rather their prefered way.

I receive communion on the tongue because it is my right to do so!

I know some person might made a comment like "is it not great to be holding “little Jesus” in my hands.That might be a nice pious saying ,but it is not the full truth of our faith.This person receives the full six foot person of Jesus Christ,body & soul who comes into their souls–under the appearance of bread—not some version of the “little people”.

And yes,there are some clergy & extraordinary lay ministers who do not approve of some communicants receiving on the tongue and every now and then,they take it on themselves to refuse , embarrass or humiliate those receiving on the tongue.This cross is worth every penny of it ,in my view --a small price to pay!

 

[RaphaelJ]

Hmm… I really prefer to receive it on the tongue. I think the reason I prefer it this way is because it reminds me of the necessity of the Eucharist in the enrichment of spiritual life. The way I see it, it’s as if the priest is feeding us because we’re so hungry for it. That, and also because I can imagine that Jesus is giving it to me more easily. It puts me in that proper mindset.

 

[MissRose73]

On tongue and kneeling at EF Masses, Standing and in the hand at OF Masses…

 

[Brendan]

On the tounge.

In fact, in our parish, the Eucharist is offered intincted by the priest, so if one desires to recieve both species, reception on the toungue is mandatory.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I said I would prefer the Church allowed one method. Either or, I don’t mind. I think unity in worship is important.

I agree with this. I said it in another thread, its not up to me to decide which posture the Church imposes, but I do hope that they choose a universal norm and not let any other posture be used. If its standing, then its standing everywhere. If its kneeling, its kneeling everywhere.

 

[LPS]

I receive by hand.

As I’ve read scripture, I observe the Israelites picking up “the bread from heaven” from off the ground; at the last supper, I see Jesus breaking the bread and giving it to His disciples. He said, "This is my body … " so I believe it was then, as it is now. I believe He handed it to them, in the hand.

I don’t think either way is “more” right than the other; I just feel a certain connection to receiving hand-to-hand … from Jesus to the disciples to the priest to the people, all in the one body of Christ.

 

[Brendan]

I I see Jesus breaking the bread and giving it to His disciples. He said, "This is my body … " so I believe it was then, as it is now. I believe He handed it to them, in the hand.

FYI, the Apostles at the Last Supper were bishops, and as such always self commune. Jesus stated so when He said “Take and eat”

We, the laity, do not self commune, we do not ‘take’ the Eucharist, we recieve it.

So the experiences of the Apostles at the Last Supper are not directly comparable to we the laity, but are more closely aligned with the clergy.

We can see this again in the the command of Christ to “Do this in memory of me”. That is the command to the priesthood to offer Mass, thus transforming the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Clearly, we cannot do that as laity, that command is only for the clergy.

I am not saying that it is incorrect to recieve in the hand, only that your use of that Scripture to support it is on shakey ground.