Eucharist on the tongue

[AngelicDoctor]

Maybe it is more reverent to fold your hands below your chin, but I just clasp my hands in prayer at my waste level and look the minister of communion right in the eye… that way, they figure out that I wish to receive on the tongue because my hands are no where in sight.
Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable… it is your right to receive on the tongue. If someone does not know that, they should not be distributing Holy Communion (in other words, its there problem).

 

[johnstown_johnn]

Maybe it is more reverent to fold your hands below your chin, but I just clasp my hands in prayer at my waste level and look the minister of communion right in the eye… that way, they figure out that I wish to receive on the tongue because my hands are no where in sight.
Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable… it is your right to receive on the tongue. If someone does not know that, they should not be distributing Holy Communion (in other words, its there problem).

It is a sin to NOT tell the children that they have the option of receiving on the tongue. Not only TELL but the instructors are dutybound to SHOW as well.

 

[nana3]

It is a sin to NOT tell the children that they have the option of receiving on the tongue. Not only TELL but the instructors are dutybound to SHOW as well.

My dd just recently received her First Communion. They only taught in the hands. They never mentioned receiving on the tongue until I asked if they had the option to receive on the tongue. The DRE looked at me as if I was strange and said they are teaching on the hands, but I asked if they had the option again and she said that she would have to okay it with the Pastor. She didn’t know what else to say. The pastor, of course, said that both ways should be taught and that is when they taught that they had the option. But, it is true, not all churches teach the children that they do have an option. At our parish most people receive on the hand.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

My dd just recently received her First Communion. They only taught in the hands. They never mentioned receiving on the tongue until I asked if they had the option to receive on the tongue. The DRE looked at me as if I was strange and said they are teaching on the hands, but I asked if they had the option again and she said that she would have to okay it with the Pastor. She didn’t know what else to say. The pastor, of course, said that both ways should be taught and that is when they taught that they had the option. But, it is true, not all churches teach the children that they do have an option. At our parish most people receive on the hand.

Those churches that do NOT teach the option of “on the tongue” are in error. They are derelict in their conformity with the True Church.

 

[Dorothy_Vining]

We never see the pope giving Communion in the hand…that says it all.

Pope does. Jesus didn’t.

I suspect that how the Pope gives communion depends on whether you stick out your tongue or your hand.

 

[LilyM]

Pope does. Jesus didn’t.

And you know this how, precisely?

I suspect that how the Pope gives communion depends on whether you stick out your tongue or your hand.

Sounds eminently more sensible than requiring everyone do one or the other, which’d be why this is the case!

 

[AngelicDoctor]

My dd just recently received her First Communion. They only taught in the hands. They never mentioned receiving on the tongue until I asked if they had the option to receive on the tongue. The DRE looked at me as if I was strange and said they are teaching on the hands, but I asked if they had the option again and she said that she would have to okay it with the Pastor. She didn’t know what else to say. The pastor, of course, said that both ways should be taught and that is when they taught that they had the option. But, it is true, not all churches teach the children that they do have an option. At our parish most people receive on the hand.

I prepared the children from our parish for First Communion this year. I taught that both the hand and tongue were acceptable means. I taught about reception on the tongue first and I tried to teach the reason why some receive on the tongue (our of reverence), but I instructed the kids on how to receive in both manners. Of course, all the kids received in the hand as I would estimate at least 95% of the parish does. One parish I was at in the past actually mandated the kids receive their First Communion on the tongue. I understand where the pastor is coming from and sympathize with his intentions, but I don’t think someone could justify such a measure seeing as how the legitimate option exists. At any rate, my current pastor would never insist on such a measure so it was a moot point for me.

 

[down_under]

No disrespect intended against Grochel but having studied enough atomic and molecular physics, I would say that it’s pretty tough not to drop any particles, especially when moving the hands when millions of molecules are actually thrown around. Don’t believe me?

That’s why we use the paten underneath the chin at the TLM.

you are not arguing with grochel you are arguing with early church fathers that grochel quoted.

 

[KatholikosMercy]

So outside of the US, the standards are different? If I went to Mass in Italy, for example, would everyone be expected to receive on the tongue, and kneel?

Also, I genuflected before receiving the Host. Am I to do the same when receiving the precious blood? Thanks again to all who replied.

In Pax Christi
Andrew

Standards are sometimes different outside the US however in Rome you can recieve also by indult in the hands. Mass is frequently televised from Rome on EWTN and you can watch Pope Benedict 16 passing communion both on the tongue and in the hand.

The norm actually recommends a bow before recieving either species of communion. Many people are unaware of this and do what makes them feel most comfortable such as the sign of the cross. I used to kneel to show extra reverance at the host but also feel called to recieve the cup though I did not wish to kneel there as it felt less comfortable with others passing by should I stumble. That created some conflict for me so now I just bow at both and feel most comfortable that way. What counts is that you feel and show reverance if you can. For some the most they can manage is to say Amen and that is perfectly acceptable.

I recieve on the tongue because its the norm and not the indult though the majority take the indult. I cannot disagree with the indult. I am an EMHC and feel its good for the layity to be involved and that its a correct interpretation of Vat2. I can see reason to take issue with communion in the hand from a traditional viewpoint and how the indult came about but in the end prefer to submit to the reasoning of the Bishops as the prudent course of action.

 

[MikeDunphy]

Read father Grochels book about the Eucharist and you will find one of the early fathers saying “make a throne of your hands the left over the right so as not to drop a single particle.”

Fr. Groeschel didn’t really write that, did he? The current common method of receiving Holy Communion is not what was recommended by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, who exhorted the faithful to receive the Eucharist in the right hand, with the left hand supporting it underneath:

In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?

Like the traditional methods of receiving Holy Communion in the east and west, St. Cyril’s method includes internal and external expressions of reverence for Our Lord, and special care is taken to avoid losing even a small particle of the Eucharist.

From what I have observed, most Catholics today do not so much as nod their heads before receiving our Lord in the left hand, and once in the hand, He is taken and consumed in a manner hardly distinguishable from the way a potato chip might be eaten.

 

[dkoinzan]

Amen MikeDunphy! For this we are called to make reparation so I recieve Jesus on my tongue while I am kneeling.

 

[laudamus_te]

Fr. Groeschel didn’t really write that, did he? The current common method of receiving Holy Communion is not what was recommended by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, who exhorted the faithful to receive the Eucharist in the right hand, with the left hand supporting it underneath:

In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?

Like the traditional methods of receiving Holy Communion in the east and west, St. Cyril’s method includes internal and external expressions of reverence for Our Lord, and special care is taken to avoid losing even a small particle of the Eucharist.

From what I have observed, most Catholics today do not so much as nod their heads before receiving our Lord in the left hand, and once in the hand, He is taken and consumed in a manner hardly distinguishable from the way a potato chip might be eaten.

Thank you for posting the rest of St. Cyril’s quote. As you say, it does emphasize the extreme reverence which is due but which is so lacking in today’s Church. And now we have the liberal, modernist bishops who demand that Communion be received standing, so is it any wonder that the Church is falling to ruin? Many may deny that it is falling to ruin, but I believe it is, and that Communion in the hand is a big part of it. Communion in the hand should be abolished. It has led to irreverence and lack of belief on a large scale. I hate to think of Our Lady’s tears that are shed daily at the sight of Our Lord being handled without due reverence, and even worse being stepped upon!

 

[johnstown_johnn]

Thank you for posting the rest of St. Cyril’s quote. As you say, it does emphasize the extreme reverence which is due but which is so lacking in today’s Church. And now we have the liberal, modernist bishops who demand that Communion be received standing, so is it any wonder that the Church is falling to ruin? Many may deny that it is falling to ruin, but I believe it is, and that Communion in the hand is a big part of it. Communion in the hand should be abolished. It has led to irreverence and lack of belief on a large scale. I hate to think of Our Lady’s tears that are shed daily at the sight of Our Lord being handled without due reverence, and even worse being stepped upon!

It just occurred to me after reading comments on this topic and the Latin Mass that we should prepare ourselves for a schism.

Both of these topics will be the catalysts for separation; we know that is coming and our numbers will be decimated…we are in those days.

Every individual should examine their hearts on which way serves God best.

 

[viktor_aleksndr]

Fr. Groeschel didn’t really write that, did he? The current common method of receiving Holy Communion is not what was recommended by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, who exhorted the faithful to receive the Eucharist in the right hand, with the left hand supporting it underneath:

In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?

Like the traditional methods of receiving Holy Communion in the east and west, St. Cyril’s method includes internal and external expressions of reverence for Our Lord, and special care is taken to avoid losing even a small particle of the Eucharist.

From what I have observed, most Catholics today do not so much as nod their heads before receiving our Lord in the left hand, and once in the hand, He is taken and consumed in a manner hardly distinguishable from the way a potato chip might be eaten.

Fr. Bing Arellano said in his program in EWTN that there are some historians that believe that the above qoute on St. Cyril’s was not really a writing of the saint. It was believe that it was written by Patriarch John, the successor of St Cyril which is a heretic.

I believe on what Fr. Arellano said while qouting in Pope JP and Benedict that there is no excess on adoration of the Eucharist and that the more we recieve it in the strictest way the better.

I believe that recieving it on tongue while kneeling is the most reverent and respectful manner.

 

[KatholikosMercy]

I believe that recieving it on tongue while kneeling is the most reverent and respectful manner.

Only seen on TV. I have been to many different parishes (dozens) and never seen this outside of the TV. I wonder why?

 

[dkoinzan]

Only seen on TV. I have been to many different parishes (dozens) and never seen this outside of the TV. I wonder why?

Go to St. Agnes in St. Puaul MN. The entire parish kneels to recieve on the tongue. In my parish there are at least fifty of us who receive on the tongue while kneeling.

 

[laudamus_te]

Only seen on TV. I have been to many different parishes (dozens) and never seen this outside of the TV. I wonder why?

Maybe you’re going to the wrong churches.

 

[KatholikosMercy]

Go to St. Agnes in St. Puaul MN. The entire parish kneels to recieve on the tongue. In my parish there are at least fifty of us who receive on the tongue while kneeling.

Awesome! I would love to visit that Parish but alas have not the means to go that far. Should I ever find myself there I’ll make a point of visiting St. Agnes though.

I think its safe to say from my experience though sadly that kneeling before or when recieving communion is not the norm.

 

[KatholikosMercy]

Maybe you’re going to the wrong churches.

I go to the nearest one where I happen to be. Over the last decade there have been dozens as I say and I can’t recall having witnessed a single kneeler while recieving. Of course I could have missed it. I wasn’t actually looking for it.

 

[laudamus_te]

I go to the nearest one where I happen to be. Over the last decade there have been dozens as I say and I can’t recall having witnessed a single kneeler while recieving. Of course I could have missed it. I wasn’t actually looking for it.

Why don’t you start a new trend? I think it’s very sad that a Catholic can say that they have never personally witnessed someone kneeling for Communion!