Emotional pre-conversion wobble

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JoyToTheWhirled

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I’m aware that as Easter approaches, a lot of what is on my mind is very emotional in content. I am long past the stage of curiosity about an all male priesthood, or contraception and all those other things which generate endless threads on CAF and elsewhere.
So do forgive me if I am coming across as the spiritual equivalent of a needy teenager, it’s just the realities of conversion are starting to smack me round the head and I am really feeling it.

I actually cried at Mass on Saturday evening, as it truly dawned on me that I would be receiving Christ in less than two weeks. I realized I had become so used to sitting in my seat at communion time that I hadn’t really registered that my fallow period was nearly over. And the thought genuinely brought me to tears.
Which then led on to a complete emotional wobble about going up there are at all. I mean, I don’t know how to receive on the tongue, and what if I am an emotional mess when I do receive? It suddenly seems like something I am going to fail at, and I know that’s ridiculous, but this is absolutely the crux of why I am becoming Catholic and I guess I am extremely emotionally invested in it.
 
I can’t help with the emotional part but for the receiving part mouth open wide and tongue well out. You may ask for a practice session with unconsecrated hosts. It was done when I first received as a child and you may find they are willing. Receiving in your hand may be permitted if you are very nervous.
 
I was an emotional mess in the weeks before the Vigil. I wouldn’t be too worried about it. Remember too that as you draw even closer to God, this is when Satan will redouble his efforts to pull you away and make you doubt and question - keep your eyes fixed on God. He will bring you to the truth.

As for receiving on the tongue, try speaking to your sponsor. I receive in the hand, so it wasn’t an issue for me.
 
It’s actually kind of sweet that you are so moved to tears by receiving Our Lord.

Do you have to receive on the tongue? Is it required? I agree with you that doing so requires a bit of concentration and coordination. But I’m also sure if this is a priest who regularly distributes on the tongue, he will know how to go about it when people are a little wobbly.

I’m sure it will all be fine. Just try to take a nap or something before you go to the Vigil, so you aren’t tired doing all what you have to do.
 
I don’t receive on the tongue. I’m more comfortable in the hand. But either is just fine and becomes natural very quickly.
Preconversion jitters-jitters before any big event, especially involving emotions–is 100% common. Remember that Jesus can’t wait Himself and is very gentle, kind, gracious–it will be like a huge embrace with a dear, dear friend! Take time to enjoy and feast in his presence!
 
RCIA was good tonight, if a little rushed. Father C wanted us to become familiar with the unconsecrated hosts, and to discuss how we were going to receive, which was very helpful and reassuring.
 
Hang in there. I’ve been praying for you. The Easter Vigil was the best night of my life. You’ll do fine.
 
JoyToTheWhirled said:
It suddenly seems like something I am going to fail at, and I know that’s ridiculous, but this is absolutely the crux of why I am becoming Catholic and I guess I am extremely emotionally invested in it.
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You cannot fail at it. If you’re worried about receiving on the tongue, don’t be. Just keep your mouth open, stick your tongue out far and tilt your head slightly back.

The fact that you are worried about this shows that you are becoming a Catholic for the right reason. The Eucharist is the core of our faith, the core of our being, our salvation, our all. To witness Christ’s sacrifice on the altar followed by his resurrection and then to become united with Christ, to effectively become part of the Eucharist through receiving Holy Communion, should he regatded as awesome. It’s good that you are nervous, I think it would be good if more Catholics felt like you do.

Welcome home!
 
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Dear Sister in Christ…first, congratulations and blessings on your upcoming conversion, and welcome to our Catholic faith! ❤️ Second, as a convert of 25 years this year, I can relate all too well to that “wobble”, and am pretty sure we’re both in good company!

It should be okay to receive Communion in the hand, but if you’d rather receive on the tongue, you could talk to someone in your RCIA group or even your priest about walking you through that. Whichever way you receive, you won’t fail, fear not.

May Our Lord, His Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and your patron saint give you peace and joy this week and this Easter weekend. You’ll be fine. 🙂

"All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.” ~St. Julian of Norwich
 
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