Eucharist on the tongue

[sphilomena]

As with so many discussions, there are a couple of aspects: what the Church teaches and how our spiritual journey (or growth) has proceeded. It would take hours to show the paper trail from Rome and all the documents (even farther back than Pius XII) calling for reverence for the Eucharist and spelling out the reception of Communion, and how the norms changed. (The original vote by bishops was not to allow reception in the hand.) I was one of the sheep who never thought about any options I had, and started receiving in the hand.

About 16 years ago, after renewing my childhood consecration to the Blessed Mother, amazing things began to happen to me spiritually. I wanted to fall on my face before the tabernacle, my reverence grew tremendously, I returned to receiving on the tongue, gave up being an EMHC, etc. Reading de Montfort’s “True Devotion To Mary” was a life-changing experience. I have also felt driven to study documents and encyclicals from Rome. The truth starts at the top; we must do research.

God bless you all!

 

[down_under]

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 printing the rest of the quote, but it proves what I said. It is very possible to recieve revertly in the hand. It is common excepted practice to recieve in the hand. It should be done respectfully as you have seen in the picture posted of the pope dispensing the euchrsit. But the point is in the hand is a valid way to receive. It should be done revrently with respect, but it is totally valid. Not one of us is worthy to be interpenitrated by the divine being anyway compared to that the way you receive him before being interpenitrated is really a small thing.

 

[laudamus_te]

thank you for printing the rest of the quote, but it proves what I said. It is very possible to recieve revertly in the hand. It is common excepted practice to recieve in the hand. It should be done respectfully as you have seen in the picture posted of the pope dispensing the euchrsit. But the point is in the hand is a valid way to receive. It should be done revrently with respect, but it is totally valid. Not one of us is worthy to be interpenitrated by the divine being anyway compared to that the way you receive him before being interpenitrated is really a small thing.

Of course it is a valid practice, no one is disputing that fact. But how did it become valid? That is a question to consider. And yes, it is certainly possible to receive in the hand in a reverent and respectful manner. No one is disputing that fact. But it is not always done so, you must admit, and I would venture to guess that a large majority of in-the-hand communicants do not receive in the reverent manner as described. If you really think about it, it is not the optimum manner to receive Our Lord, is it? Or do you deny (or just dismiss thinking about) the reality of the fragments which are dropped? Or does that not matter to you?

 

[Renton405]

I was told off for trying to recieve on the tongue.

I think maybe the Priest is worried about transfering bacteria from someones mouth to another person?? I always take the host in my hand because I feel kinda embarassed doing it the other way for some reason…

They do it at my parish with no problem. But I go to the Cathedral which is very traditional…

 

[Walking_Home]

I think maybe the Priest is worried about transfering bacteria from someones mouth to another person?? I always take the host in my hand because I feel kinda embarassed doing it the other way for some reason…

They do it at my parish with no problem. But I go to the Cathedral which is very traditional…

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If done correctly—transfer would not be a problem. Seems—it may have more to do with with trying to suppress communion on the tongue.

 

[laudamus_te]

If done correctly—transfer would not be a problem. Seems—it may have more to do with with trying to suppress communion on the tongue.

That would be my guess.

 

[KatholikosMercy]

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!

I’m not a trend setter. I’d rather feel included in the communion of the majority. Let the Bishop start the trend.

 

[laudamus_te]

I’m not a trend setter. I’d rather feel included in the communion of the majority. Let the Bishop start the trend.

I only said that in jest! Communion on the tongue while kneeling is not and should not be a trend. The Bishop is not supposed to “start trends!” He is supposed to uphold the teachings of the Church. The Bishop **IS FORBIDDEN TO REFUSE **Communion on the tongue while kneeling.

Your sentiments of wishing to feel included are a weakness. What is more important than the feeling of acceptance among your fellow man is the feeling of doing what is most pleasing to God. Receiving the Body of Christ is worthy of the utmost outward signs of humility and unworthiness which kneeling signifies.

 

[Icarus210]

In between the 2 washing of his fingers, which never part, a priests tips of his fingers are sanctified to sinnlessly touch our Lord. Christ Feeds us as is He Promised. That is the whole point of our Mass. It’s His sacrifice which is repeated bloodlessly everytime we have a valid Mass.

Anything other than from Christ via sanctified fingers to the tongue can really never be Christ feeding His flock. But I am sure you will keep believing otherwise.

Love in Christ and Mary
Iccy

 

[otjm]

Through Man’s reasoning one can justify just about any argument for and against anything… as this question has proved…

HOWEVER

The truth is

A priest’s hands have been sanctified and given the authority to touch God… YES GOD…

That is the Truth…Because the Priest is as Christ! Christ is at the Altar, and Christ FEEDS YOU.

NoOne but a properly ordained PRIEST should ever consider touching the Host.

And I could NEVER accept the Host off any other person.

Iccy
Now I feel better…

Interestingly, the Church says differently. And since an article of faith is that the Holy Spirit guides the Church in faith and morals, it would seem that maybe one should at least heed what the Church teaches.

 

[viktor_aleksndr]

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

Well maybe because many people thought that kneeling and in tongue was a practice in TLM and was changed in NO. Which is a misconception that must be corrected. I think the people must know that recieving in hand and standing was an option given when NO was introduced.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

I think maybe the Priest is worried about transfering bacteria from someones mouth to another person?? I always take the host in my hand because I feel kinda embarassed doing it the other way for some reason…

They do it at my parish with no problem. But I go to the Cathedral which is very traditional…

Worried about bacteria? How much “worry” when drinking from the chalice?

 

[KatholikosMercy]

I only said that in jest! Communion on the tongue while kneeling is not and should not be a trend. The Bishop is not supposed to “start trends!” He is supposed to uphold the teachings of the Church. The Bishop **IS FORBIDDEN TO REFUSE **Communion on the tongue while kneeling.

Your sentiments of wishing to feel included are a weakness. What is more important than the feeling of acceptance among your fellow man is the feeling of doing what is most pleasing to God. Receiving the Body of Christ is worthy of the utmost outward signs of humility and unworthiness which kneeling signifies.

Making communion a trend is nothing to jest about.

For me its not about what Jesus is worthy of. You will not get a disagreement with me there.

The rite of the Roman missal only requires a bow. That is the norm of the Bishop. If you want to show more reverance because you feel love and gratitude for the Lord then fine and great, no one will stop you. Why don’t you lay prostrate then?

If your only doing it to “set a trend” for all to see then your presumptuous and possibly overly scrupulous.

Mat 6:27 But who of you by being anxious is able to add one cubit onto his stature?

Anxiety can be a sin you know?

For some its a pride issue. For “trend setters” who have there focus really on the speck in their brothers eye and control issues wanting them to do what they feel they should.

Your right the Bishop doesn’t set trends. He does much more than that. Right now he says you can recieve anyway you like. If you don’t think I am reverent enough I understand and ask you to pray for me for more faith. If someone insinuates I am blasphemous for not feeling like kneeling they would be wrong because I am within obedience to the church for following the norm. I will not be shamed into kneeling.

 

[Walking_Home]

Making communion a trend is nothing to jest about.

For me its not about what Jesus is worthy of. You will not get a disagreement with me there.

The rite of the Roman missal only requires a bow. That is the norm of the Bishop. If you want to show more reverance because you feel love and gratitude for the Lord then fine and great, no one will stop you. Why don’t you lay prostrate then?

If your only doing it to “set a trend” for all to see then your presumptuous and possibly overly scrupulous.

Mat 6:27 But who of you by being anxious is able to add one cubit onto his stature?

Anxiety can be a sin you know?

For some its a pride issue. For “trend setters” who have there focus really on the speck in their brothers eye and control issues wanting them to do what they feel they should.

Your right the Bishop doesn’t set trends. He does much more than that. Right now he says you can recieve anyway you like. If you don’t think I am reverent enough I understand and ask you to pray for me for more faith. If someone insinuates I am blasphemous for not feeling like kneeling they would be wrong because I am within obedience to the church for following the norm. I will not be shamed into kneeling.

---

Communion on the tongue while kneeling is still the universal norm for the Latin rite. Communion in the hand—standing is by indult. Now—if you want to bring “pride” into this discussion—what can be more “prideful”—then for a priest/bishop to deny Holy Communion to someone who follows the universal norms.

 

[AlexV]

I was in grammar school in the 1980s. I remember being disciplined for trying to receive Communion on the tongue. I remember being told it was “not allowed”, “forbidden”, “the old way”, “not what the Church wanted”.

Such was only one of several issues about which I was told lies in the 1980s, and beyond.

Communion in the hand may be permitted by indult, but it has a questionable history since the late 1960s. For some reason it seemed to require lies about reception on the tongue as part of its package.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

---

Communion on the tongue while kneeling is still the universal norm for the Latin rite. Communion in the hand—standing is by indult. Now—if you want to bring “pride” into this discussion—what can be more “prideful”—then for a priest/bishop to deny Holy Communion to someone who follows the universal norms.

I honestly do believe Communion on the tongue while kneeling will be restored. This will be a sign of the Mystical Body of Christ that the realization of Eternal Life is given to all of us in Holy Communion.

There will be those that will not accept this including some priests, bishops and even cardinals.

We read prophecies that the Church will go “underground” for a time in the Last days (Apocalypse) when the Church will be overcome by the anti-Christ and his false pope.

But the Church will survive until the Last day. We can be assured of that.

Since Holy Communion is the centerpiece of the Faith It will be honored as It should be. The days are coming and not very far away in time.

 

[laudamus_te]

Making communion a trend is nothing to jest about.

For me its not about what Jesus is worthy of. You will not get a disagreement with me there.

The rite of the Roman missal only requires a bow. That is the norm of the Bishop. If you want to show more reverance because you feel love and gratitude for the Lord then fine and great, no one will stop you. Why don’t you lay prostrate then?

If your only doing it to “set a trend” for all to see then your presumptuous and possibly overly scrupulous.

Who said I was doing so to set a trend? I receive as I do out of respect for God. Laying prostrate has never been a prescribed method of reception of communion, to my knowledge.

For some its a pride issue. For “trend setters” who have there focus really on the speck in their brothers eye and control issues wanting them to do what they feel they should.

Yes, I’m sure there are people like that. It’s also pride to need to be accepted by the community - i.e. to do something “because everyone else is doing it.”

Your right the Bishop doesn’t set trends. He does much more than that. Right now he says you can recieve anyway you like. If you don’t think I am reverent enough I understand and ask you to pray for me for more faith. If someone insinuates I am blasphemous for not feeling like kneeling they would be wrong because I am within obedience to the church for following the norm. I will not be shamed into kneeling.

I don’t know why you take such offense at my defense of kneeling for Communion. Did I say you were “blasphemous” or disobedient? No. I am not trying to shame you or anyone. I have never called into question your reverence. I just find it extremely sad that a Catholic can say that they have never witnessed other Catholics kneeling for Communion! That is just another indication of the deplorable state of our Church.

By the way, keep in mind that the devil has no knees.

 

[laudamus_te]

I was in grammar school in the 1980s. I remember being disciplined for trying to receive Communion on the tongue. I remember being told it was “not allowed”, “forbidden”, “the old way”, “not what the Church wanted”.

Such was only one of several issues about which I was told lies in the 1980s, and beyond.

Communion in the hand may be permitted by indult, but it has a questionable history since the late 1960s. For some reason it seemed to require lies about reception on the tongue as part of its package.

Yours is an only too-common story. We were lied to, pure and simple. People are still being lied to. And the effects of those lies are there for all to see who are willing to see.

 

[laudamus_te]

I honestly do believe Communion on the tongue while kneeling will be restored. This will be a sign of the Mystical Body of Christ that the realization of Eternal Life is given to all of us in Holy Communion.

There will be those that will not accept this including some priests, bishops and even cardinals.

We read prophecies that the Church will go “underground” for a time in the Last days (Apocalypse) when the Church will be overcome by the anti-Christ and his false pope.

But the Church will survive until the Last day. We can be assured of that.

Since Holy Communion is the centerpiece of the Faith It will be honored as It should be. The days are coming and not very far away in time.

I agree with you. And I believe there will be a schism and we can see the beginnings of that schism now. The Pope needs our prayers now more than ever.

 

[AlexV]

The problem on this issue, as with so many others, is we don’t live in fantasy land. We live in an all too real world.

How many places actually use, say, the Missal of 2002, in Latin?

Most in the USA use a 1985 English translation that would get a failing grade in any Latin class.

Whether it’s permitted or not is not the point. The point is that bad translation, 20+ years out of date (talk about renewal), has been accompanied in more than a few places by lies and deception on any number of liturgical issues.

It’s amazing how the “renewal” seemed to require so many lies in order to be introduced.

Throw in banal music and you have a thoroughly unsavory liturgical experience.