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MindNight
Guest
Does one have to receive communion on their knees and tongue or it doesn’t matter?
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PLAT
Guest
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’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.
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MindNight
Guest
Correct, I live in western europe therefore there are not many eastern catholic churches. I am not really familiar with the other customs so much (although am eager to learn about them). But I really grew up knowing mostly the roman catholic rite. I do find the other traditions of the CC interesting though. I haven’t been going to churches in general for a very long time, therefore am a bit of a newbie
Ok. Thank you.
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Netty1
Guest
In England, on the knees is usually only seen in the Tridentine Mass. Otherwise, it’s in the hand or on the tongue standing. In my parish it’s about 50-50 between the two.
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MindNight
Guest
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.
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anruari
Guest
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.
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.
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Netty1
Guest
I would LOVE for that to be the norm in ordinary form Mass! I’ve never seen it here in an ordinary form Mass (I live in London), just in the Tridentine Mass. But perhaps that is because most of the churches now have no altar rail.
I’m a bit of a dinosaur on this matter. Speaking purely personally here, I would be very uncomfortable receiving the body of Our Lord in my hand.
What if I dropped Him!!
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TimothyH
Guest
Michael Voris does not speak for the Church, nor for the vast majority of her members. His views are highly biased.
Just be careful where you get your informaiton. Voris is neither an accurate nor an official source for authentic Catholic teaching.
Ask the pastor at your parish and do what he says. Your parish pastor is the shepherd of your soul. Listen to him. That is the bottom line.
-Tim-
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MindNight
Guest
Tim, how is Michael Voris biased???
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Big_Feet
Guest
Oh, boy… When one continually ‘slams’ various bishops (successors to the Apostles) without many kind words for them… Without proper respect for the office they have been ordained to… With unfiltered personal opinion, One is clearly biased. I listen to Michael Voris every day, but I do so with him similar to the way I listen to the MSM…with a heavy personal filter. I glean the important stuff, but disregard his biased and reactionary opinions that are over the top and often uncharitable.
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Joe_5859
Guest
Michale Voris has strong opinions. And sometimes the way he shares those opinions makes it appear that there is no other acceptable opinion for Catholics to have. That’s where you need to be careful.
For example, Benedict XVI made it a requirement for people receiving Communion from him at papal Masses to receive on the tongue and kneeling. This is one limited scenario where he made this a requirement. One might infer that Benedict was trying to lead by example with regards to the posture for receiving Communion. But no where did he issue any sort of statement that such is the preferred way for reception in all instances.
Sure, I think it’s more reverent, too. But as the Church (generally) allows either kneeling or standing and either on the tongue or in the hand, then it’s not really up to us to say what other Catholics have to do. Our own opinions on the matter should not lead us to require things of others that the Church Herself does not require.
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MindNight
Guest
Thank You Guys Brilliant responses!
Brilliant responses!
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BobDanners
Guest
So it is up to you to receive in the hand or tongue. Some people wish to receive in the hand, but if you watch a Papal Mass, you will see people be asked to receive on the tongue.
The purpose of kneeling is that we are supposed to kneel for reverence for Christ. However sometimes there are just too many people and thus standing is necessary to avoid a needlessly long Mass.
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anruari
Guest
There really is no reason to restrict this type of Tradition to the Extraordianry Form of the Mass.
See if your Parish Priest, or the head of your local Deanery would be able to point you in the direction of a parish which already does this or would be open to encouraging it at one or more masses.
Especially look for any parishes which restrict the use of EMHC’s to “Only when necessary to prevent an undue delay in the distribution of Holy Communion due to very large attendance at Mass”. or not at all. The automatic use of Lay Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion was never intended by the vatican, and has been strongly criticised.
St. Pancras gets a congregation of 300 - 500 per week. The priest has never used an EMHC during mass. only another priest or deacon will distribute Holy Communion. and it does not cause any real delay.
He now has help from a 2nd retired priest, and using the traditional altar rail, distribution of Holy communion takes no more than 5 minutes, even with a full church.
Now I know that in many parishes holy communion is routinely distributed under the form of both Bread and Wine, and in that situation you do need an extra minister or extraordinary minister to assist… however you don’t need 3 EMHC’s (or far more in some parishes) plus the priest to distribute to a small congregation.
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Rich_C
Guest
Seems like people already answered your question.
Just wanted to add that I have never encountered any problems kneeling and receiving on the tongue at any parish, in either form of the Roman Mass. If you want to, you’re allowed, no questions asked.
Just wanted to add that I have never encountered any problems kneeling and receiving on the tongue at any parish, in either form of the Roman Mass. If you want to, you’re allowed, no questions asked.
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corsair
Guest
I would take issue with TimothyH but this is not the place for it. Opinions are just that opinions. Lets let it be.
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R_C
Guest
The ordinary form to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church is on the tongue, kneeling.
In the territory of the United States, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal specifies that one is to receive Holy Communion standing or, if preferred, kneeling. As for the mode of reception, on the tongue or, if preferred and if allowed, in the hand.
Reception of Holy Communion in the hands standing (in the United States and other countries where allowed by special dispensation of the Holy See) is licit, but still is a major departure from what the Church has done for hundreds of years. You may learn more about this in the Instruction Memoriale Domini of Pope Paul VI.
Reception on the tongue and kneeling is very straightforward: when the priest raises the Blessed Sacrament in front of the person before you and says “The Body of Christ”, you bow moderately to the Lord. As the person receives Communion and moves away, you gently kneel, place your hands on the chest, raise your head, (you may close your eyes), respond “Amen” to the priest, then “open your mouth gently and moderately, and raise your head as much as is needed for the priest to see conveniently what he is doing”. You may sign yourself as you stand and walk away.
(The part in quotes is from “Introduction to the Devout Life” of St. Francis de Sales)
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rayne89
Guest
It most places in the US people receive in the hand and are standing. A person can kneel and can not be refused communion for doing so.
Our parish is not tridentine but we do receive kneeling and the majority on the tongue. Priests at our parish use intinction (dipping the host in the precious blood) which means this method requires receiving on the tongue. EMHCs (used when necessary) while distributing communion obviously can not use this method. In this case one could recieve in the hand. Also while most kneel to receive, some can not or do not do so, they receive standing.
In the US either is acceptable. I usually do not receive on the tongue in other parishes because I’ve have encountered more often than not EMHC’s who are not comfortable/not been trained how to distribute on the tongue and on more than one occasion dropped the host trying. Its simply not worth the risk. I also do not receive kneeling at parishes when this is not the norm. I do not wish to be a distraction to others while they are receiving the body of Christ. I do kneel during the consecration even when others stand or sit at other parishes, even when there are no kneelers because I know that is what is prescribed and is not optional unless you are physically unable to do so.
Our parish is not tridentine but we do receive kneeling and the majority on the tongue. Priests at our parish use intinction (dipping the host in the precious blood) which means this method requires receiving on the tongue. EMHCs (used when necessary) while distributing communion obviously can not use this method. In this case one could recieve in the hand. Also while most kneel to receive, some can not or do not do so, they receive standing.
In the US either is acceptable. I usually do not receive on the tongue in other parishes because I’ve have encountered more often than not EMHC’s who are not comfortable/not been trained how to distribute on the tongue and on more than one occasion dropped the host trying. Its simply not worth the risk. I also do not receive kneeling at parishes when this is not the norm. I do not wish to be a distraction to others while they are receiving the body of Christ. I do kneel during the consecration even when others stand or sit at other parishes, even when there are no kneelers because I know that is what is prescribed and is not optional unless you are physically unable to do so.
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otjm
Guest
Michael Voris does not speak for the Church. He was requested (others might say “directed” to change the name of his program to reflect that it is not an official Catholic program, but rather his personal program.
He is correct that universally the norm is reception on the tongue.
He has his agenda, and unless you are fairly well educated about the faith, you might be drawn in to assume that his opinion is correct in all points.
As it is his opinion, he may have emphasized something more than the Church would, or less.
I find him entertaining, and I often agree with him; but he can be a bit of a pompous twit. I also know enough about what the Church teaches to sort out what is his opinion.
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R_C
Guest
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.
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