Eucharist crumb explosion!

[revelations]

I’m new to the church since easter. I’m about 5 months into my journey, and am on about my 15th communion. I received my first time on the tongue…then some other people made a big deal about it and asked all sorts of questions so i just stopped.

I felt for a while like people might think i was trying to “stand out”, or make a statement by receiving on the tongue. Also, i was worried about biting the priest…dont laugh, lol, so i just started receiving in the hand like everyone else.

Today i received a 1/4 piece of the big host with the jagged edges, and little bits of Jesus exploded all over my hand! I was freaking out thinking if only i had received in my mouth…

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Has anyone else ever felt pressure to just do what everyone else does?

 

[tee_eff_em]

I’m new to the church since easter. I’m about 5 months into my journey, and am on about my 15th communion. I received my first time on the tongue…then some other people made a big deal about it and asked all sorts of questions so i just stopped.

I felt for a while like people might think i was trying to “stand out”, or make a statement by receiving on the tongue. Also, i was worried about biting the priest…dont laugh, lol, so i just started receiving in the hand like everyone else.

Today i received a 1/4 piece of the big host with the jagged edges, and little bits of Jesus exploded all over my hand! I was freaking out thinking if only i had received in my mouth…

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Has anyone else ever felt pressure to just do what everyone else does?

Yeah, but I got over it.

If you wish to receive on the tongue, and others make a big deal and ask questions, the only answer you need make is: Reception on the tongue is the normative manner of receiving, and every communicant has the right to receive on the tongue, or in the hand where that is allowed, at the communicant’s choice.

tee

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m new to the church since easter. I’m about 5 months into my journey, and am on about my 15th communion. I received my first time on the tongue…then some other people made a big deal about it and asked all sorts of questions so i just stopped.

I felt for a while like people might think i was trying to “stand out”, or make a statement by receiving on the tongue. Also, i was worried about biting the priest…dont laugh, lol, so i just started receiving in the hand like everyone else.

Today i received a 1/4 piece of the big host with the jagged edges, and little bits of Jesus exploded all over my hand! I was freaking out thinking if only i had received in my mouth…

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Has anyone else ever felt pressure to just do what everyone else does?

I’m sure other have, but you should do what you want, and not worry what others think. Worry only about what Christ thinks!

 

[aurora77]

It actually took me about four months before I worked up the courage to recieve on the tongue. I’d been really feeling called to do that, but was concerned about seeming “holier than thou” or standing out. I finally did it and am so glad I did. It gets easier.

 

[Crepusculum]

If they wish to believe that striving to be holy is some sort of competition they need to keep up with or drag you back from, then that is their problem and they need to examine themselves. We have people at my church who grumble about the women who choose to wear headscarves because: “they’re trying to undermine me”. It happens when people want to sit up front at mass when their friends want to sit at the back too. As long as you are doing it for the right reasons, then keep doing it. Remember what John Paul II said about peer pressure: “Wrong is wrong even if everyone’s doing it; right is right even if noone is doing it.”

 

[idrum677]

If they wish to believe that striving to be holy is some sort of competition they need to keep up with or drag you back from, then that is their problem and they need to examine themselves. ** We have people at my church who grumble about the women who choose to wear headscarves because: “they’re trying to undermine me”. It happens when people want to sit up front at mass when their friends want to sit at the back too. ** As long as you are doing it for the right reasons, then keep doing it. Remember what John Paul II said about peer pressure: “Wrong is wrong even if everyone’s doing it; right is right even if noone is doing it.”

These are the same people that turn around to look at you because you dare bring young children to Mass, or heaven forbid, you sit closer to the front so they can see what’s going on. then they politely suggest that you and your wife may want to attend seperately in order to leave the kids at home. As it is, families don;t get to spend enought time together. Am I showing off because I want to attend Mass with all my family?

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Today i received a 1/4 piece of the big host with the jagged edges, and little bits of Jesus exploded all over my hand! I was freaking out thinking if only i had received in my mouth…

Take comfort in knowing it the ‘explosion’ was contained in your hand - it could have left bits of Jesus all over your face and chest if you had received on the tongue.

 

[rinnie]

Dont worry about what people say, receive it how you are confortable with. If people comment on it just say oh, I never pay attention to what other people do, i thought Church was one and one time to spend with God, not to watch others.

 

[japhy]

I received my first time on the tongue…then some other people made a big deal about it and asked all sorts of questions so i just stopped.

What problem did they have with you receiving on the tongue? It is the right of every Catholic in the Roman Rite. Seriously, what did they say/do that pressured you out of receiving on the tongue?

Today i received a 1/4 piece of the big host with the jagged edges, and little bits of Jesus exploded all over my hand! I was freaking out thinking if only i had received in my mouth… Has this ever happened to anyone else? Has anyone else ever felt pressure to just do what everyone else does?

That was the last straw for me: I started noticing, especially when receiving from the larger Host that is broken during the Fraction Rite, that there were pieces of the Host (visible and large enough to see a foot or so away – the distance my hands would be from my eyes when I received in the hand) that had broken off. After delicately picking up and consuming the Host, I went about consuming the fragments on my hand. From then on, I resolved to receive on the tongue (first time, last year on Holy Thursday).

Since then, I’ve received in the hand… twice. Once was early into the practice, just after an accident when the Host fell from my tongue (and I was a bit shaken up, so I received another Host into my hand). The other was only a month or so ago, because it was an elderly priest who is shorter than I am and I did not want to make things difficult for him.

I don’t get self-conscious about receiving on the tongue; I’d be way more self-conscious about being seen “kissing” my hand (to collect the fragments of the Host that broke off).

 

[scylla]

Be assured that you are not the only one who has felt like they are being “too pious” in receiving on the tongue.

For some crazy reason being too Catholic is frowned upon and if you try to be faithful some people find ways to try to insult and attack these actions. I had a lady visibly angry because they dared to use some Latin at a Mass.

Don’t let anything get you down, seek what is good and respectful to do for Christ first.

I used to be the only one in my family who received on the tongue, knowing what I know and the reasons for the practice, it would be quite sinful for me personally to receive otherwise.
I had people ask about it and when I gave the reasons no one could ever give a good reason not to, so I continue trying to give and do the best for God.

I might not always succeed, I might make mistakes but I am trying, and a good rule is to do the most you can in every way for God.

In Christ
Scylla

 

[Carolinagirl411]

I haven’t had any crumbs of Jesus yet…I would be horrified. I recently joined the church, so my first communion experience was this Easter Vigil…I also happened to get a section of the larger wafer…it was too big to fit into my mouth…(I have a small mouth) so I was walking to my place in front of the church ( I play handbells) looking like a chipmunk using both hands to keep the wafer in my mouth with my cheeks all stuck out. It was very embarrassing but at least it didn’t fall out. Since then I have only gotten the little circles. I have this fear that the priest will put it in my hand and i’ll knock it out or drop it or something…i’m still not brave enough to take it by mouth yet…

 

[Belle10]

I receive on the tongue because my two-year-old is either in my arms or I’m holding her hands as she walks with me. I don’t notice anyone looking at me funny, but even if they do, they shouldn’t be. Communion is a time for us to be focused on Jesus, not each other.

 

[IrishAm]

I’m sure other have, but you should do what you want, and not worry what others think. Worry only about what Christ thinks!

“We wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of us if we knew how seldom they do.”

Most people really don’t notice how others receive Communion unless it in some way draws undo attention to themselves. Receiving on the tongue does not fall into that catagory.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

I’m new to the church since easter. I’m about 5 months into my journey, and am on about my 15th communion. I received my first time on the tongue…then some other people made a big deal about it and asked all sorts of questions so i just stopped.

I felt for a while like people might think i was trying to “stand out”, or make a statement by receiving on the tongue. Also, i was worried about biting the priest…dont laugh, lol, so i just started receiving in the hand like everyone else.

Today i received a 1/4 piece of the big host with the jagged edges, and little bits of Jesus exploded all over my hand! I was freaking out thinking if only i had received in my mouth…

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Has anyone else ever felt pressure to just do what everyone else does?

1. If you want to receive on the tongue, please do so, don’t let anyone change your mind.
2. I too, one time had the same thing happen. I quickly consumed the larger part. I then clenched my fist, went to the pew and licked my palm. I know that is odd…I didn’t know what the correct thing to do was, so I improvised. I didn’t want to lose any particles.
3. I think altar servers should have patens (sp?) again, so when we do chose to receive on the tongue, we don’t need to worry about it falling.

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

I receive on the tongue because my two-year-old is either in my arms or I’m holding her hands as she walks with me. I don’t notice anyone looking at me funny, but even if they do, they shouldn’t be. Communion is a time for us to be focused on Jesus, not each other.

Me too! This may be the only time where having a two-year old makes part of Mass easier.

 

[jonnyws]

I feel I would like to recieve on the tounge but I just don’t have the courage. I know that my Priest hates it (doesn’t like the saliva) and he’s quite a good friend and I don’t want to upset him, even though he’d never ask me not to recieve on the tounge if I decided to.

Having said that as he uses one of those huge Altar breads that you get thirty pieces out of I do end up licking my hand pretty much every Mass, it’s not something I like doing at all.

 

[latinmasslover]

I’m new to the church since easter. I’m about 5 months into my journey, and am on about my 15th communion. I received my first time on the tongue…then some other people made a big deal about it and asked all sorts of questions so i just stopped.

I felt for a while like people might think i was trying to “stand out”, or make a statement by receiving on the tongue. Also, i was worried about biting the priest…dont laugh, lol, so i just started receiving in the hand like everyone else.

Today i received a 1/4 piece of the big host with the jagged edges, and little bits of Jesus exploded all over my hand! I was freaking out thinking if only i had received in my mouth…

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Has anyone else ever felt pressure to just do what everyone else does?

1. Welcome!:hug1:
2. Don’t worry about “standing out.” If anyone makes any issue whatsoever of you receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, it’s likely nothing more than their guilty conscience tugging at them. People who don’t do what they know they should (and this goes for *any *area in life) often nag others to follow their own bad example. “Misery loves company.” I used to worry about biting the priest. We’re supposed to stick our tongue partly out and he sets the Holy Eucharist on our tongue so he’s not putting his fingers in our mouth. It’s awkward, yes, until you get used to it.
3. I have to ask, if the Eucharist broke so easily, is the matter valid? You may want to ask the priest what the hosts are made of, just to be sure.
4. When I first began covering my head for Mass, I stopped because of pressure. I prayed for the grace to overcome this, and now it’s no big deal, I don’t really even think about it. Also, my brother and I, when attending the Novus Ordo, genuflect right before receiving. He actually was good enough to kneel to receive, but the head pastor eventually told him that he was being disobedient by doing that so he stopped. We both stopped genuflecting in the beginning due to pressure, but now, like the head covering for me, there’s no question about doing it. In fact, since I started to cover my head, and my brother and I began the genuflections, others have joined. There’s even one man at our parish who goes to receive while carrying his four-five year old daughter, and he genuflects without setting her down. It could be that others want to do what you want to do, but are waiting for somebody to start and keep it up.

Keep it in prayer, ask Him for strength and courage to set a holy example. God Bless.

 

[latinmasslover]

I feel I would like to recieve on the tounge but I just don’t have the courage. I know that my Priest hates it (doesn’t like the saliva) and he’s quite a good friend and I don’t want to upset him, even though he’d never ask me not to recieve on the tounge if I decided to.

Having said that as he uses one of those huge Altar breads that you get thirty pieces out of I do end up licking my hand pretty much every Mass, it’s not something I like doing at all.

I’m so sorry.:console: Keep it in prayer, He knows your heart and will give you the courage when it’s time. Peace.

 

[lisa238]

Although i’ve never found fragments of the host on my hands, in the last few months i have begun to recieve on the tounge, but I have to say there aren’t many people who do. Last week at mass, when i approached the eucharistic minister, she tried to force the host into my (tightly folded) hands instead of placing it in my mouth. I wasn’t even sure what to do in that situation. It seems that in a lot of parishes that i’ve been to, Communion on the tounge is discouraged.

 

[revelations]

Although i’ve never found fragments of the host on my hands, in the last few months i have begun to recieve on the tounge, but I have to say there aren’t many people who do. Last week at mass, when i approached the eucharistic minister, she tried to force the host into my (tightly folded) hands instead of placing it in my mouth. I wasn’t even sure what to do in that situation. It seems that in a lot of parishes that i’ve been to, Communion on the tounge is discouraged.

This is what i am most worried about…the other people be damned, i’ve gotten over them. But when i get up to the front and i see the look of confusion in the ministers eye while i have my tongue hanging out, it is all so awkward. Also, i’m 6’4 so that’s no help, lol.

I went today and took a leap of faith. After yesterday’s debacle there is no way i could in good conscience ever receive in the hand again, poor Jesus all over the floor…

Thanks all for the responses, glad to know i’m not the only one