Eucharist on knees?

[Urn]

There is variation between parishes and between countries and dioceses.

In the UK where I live most people receive on the Hand. However some parishes customarily retain the traditional altar rail, with the communicants kneeling, and the priest (no EMHC’s) traversing from side to side with all communicants receiving on the tongue.

In some countries Holy COmmunion is received under both species by intinction. In this situation the priest dips a Eucharistic Host (For which a thicker bread is used than normal) into the Chalice of Precious Blood. The Chalice is held by a Deacon or EMHC. This intincted Eucharistic Host is then placed onto the communicants tongue. A platten must be used to catch any drips. Therefore an altar server is also required.
It is forbidden for the communicant to intinct (dip) themselves, or to receive in the hand for this method.

In any parish if you wish to receive on the Tongue you have the right to do so, kneeling or standing. (however at an E.F. Mass you may be expected to kneel unless you have a good reason not to).
Therefore even if most others are receiving in the hand, you have a right to receive on the Tongue. If there are lots of EMHC’s it is worth going to the Priest or Deacon to receive, as some EMHC’s are not trained in administering on the tongue in some parishes.

Distributing Holy Communion via intinction is definitely not explicitly disallowed for commissioned EMsHC. And there really is no logical reason for it to be. IF there is a true need for EMsHC and IF the decision has been made to distribute communion via intinction, an EMHC may indeed do so – but not in place of available clergy of course.

Sadly given how terribly some older priests’ hands shake, I suspect in many cases an EMHC could actually do a better and safer job – but again, not in place of available clergy of course.

 

[R_C]

but again, not in place of available clergy of course.

…which unfortunately is something that happens way too much…when decons or priests who are not celebrating could be there to distribute Holy Communion instead of lay people…

 

[pbbp14]

I firmly believe that just to know is Jesus the one coming inside of me, I will get on my knees because is the encounter with my savior. In addition, if the pastor of my second home aloows me.to do it, I will do it as well.

 

[R_C]

I firmly believe that just to know is Jesus the one coming inside of me, I will get on my knees because is the encounter with my savior. In addition, if the pastor of my second home aloows me.to do it, I will do it as well.

Thank you for this.

 

[april32010]

 

[Body43ofChrist]

I attend OF. One of our regulars receives both on the tongue and kneeling. It is not age specific either. With our young people, we are seeing more and more devotion to receive on the tongue. I myself receive that way because I do not feel ‘worthy’ to ‘touch’ the Body of Christ, let alone receiving the great gift of Him!

 

[Bergon]

Good to know, however I seen a video done by michael voris on youtube which insisted that communion’s norm in the mass was on the tongue and kneeling. He also said that B16 encouraged everyone to do the same, and that on the hand was usually an exception. But I guess it all depends.

I believe communion on the tongue whilst kneeling is the default in the Roman Rite. That being said permission has been granted in places for reception in the hand and standing. In places where this permission exists any of the options on the tongue/in the hand and standing/kneeling is licit.

 

[AdDeum]

Very true, and he can often take it too far, but still speaks more openly than most people would ever dare to do, and that is something we need - to speak openly, to not be afraid to offend! Because the humble man is never offended, and our shephers are not called to be served but to serve - and so how could they be offended by their flock whom they are called to serve? I don’t mean to start a discussion on him or his programs, but I do believe that he’s one whose remarks can be worth acknowledging, particularly when they take us out of our self-made, complacent comfort zones.

At the risk of derailing the thread, I would have to agree with this statement. He can make us sometimes uncomfortable. But, maybe that’s what we need. After all, didn’t Pope Francis ask us all to “make a mess”? At the very least, he will make us think.

 

[twf]

I assume you are talking about the Roman Rite of the Catholic Liturgy, where the Body of Christ is under the appearance of a wafer host.

I’ve only seen communion kneeling and on the tongue in the Extraordinary form of the Mass (the Tridentine Latin Mass).

In the ordinary form (usually in the vernacular), the faithful may receive communion kneeling or standing. The norm of the practice is to receive on the tongue, and, if the local bishop has an indult from the Holy See, on the tongue or in the hand.

I know of parishes whose pastors celebrate the Ordinary Form but require that all the faithful receive kneeling at the altar rail. These are parishes in Canada where unlike the US there are no nation wide norms (as far as i know) and thus it is left to the discretion of the local bishop and pastor. At my old cathedral, the faithful always had the choice to receive standing (centre aisle) or kneeling at the altar rail (left and right hand sides), and I think the majority preferred to kneel. Receiving standing isn’t necessarily intrinsic to the Ordinary Form.

 

[WD615]

Of course, you are allowed to receive kneeling or standing. And if in the United States at least, either on the tongue or in the hand.

Personally though, I recommend kneeling and on the tongue. For me, it’s the more comfortable orientation. I would just honestly feel awkward standing up to receive Our Lord.

So, I always receive that way, even if there is no altar rail. However, as another has said, it might be best to receive from the priest, since reception on the tongue isn’t as common in the United States.