First time receiving on the tongue

[phil19034]

Hey! Put your tongue on your bottom lips. It helps a lot, makes it easier for the priest to put the host on your tongue.

This ^^^ and tilt your head back if you are shorter than the priest/deacon/EMHC (or if priest/deacon/EMHC is standing on a step).

(Personally - I really wish they would all stand on the first step to the sanctuary - when the sanctuary is raised)

 

[Peeps]

At least, I wouldn´t ever want to receive in a way that makes me more likely to drop the precious Body of our Lord on the floor. Also, kneeling/receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is a great reminder of whom we receive. We receive our Lord, not just some regular food - so let´s treat it like it´s our Lord.

And I would never want to receive the Lord in a way that makes me more likely to drop Him–so I receive in my hand.

With respect, may I ask if you believe that the majority of people who receive on the hand do not realize that He is Truly Present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in the Host that they are receiving?

 

[JanetF]

Practice in front of a mirror, to make sure you open wide enough and to stick your tongue out far enough for the EM to put the host on your tongue securely.

 

[CRV]

Why not kneel in front of the priest? I’m genuinely curious as that’s what I do when attending an of mass.

Because due to health issues I couldn’t get back up!!

At this particular Church, people process up to Father in two lines to receive the Blessed Sacrament, then go to an EMHC for the Precious Blood.

There isn’t a prie dieu to use either. If there was, then I’d use it!

I need a communion rail to push myself back up to a standing position, otherwise I’d need someone (or 2) to lift me back to my feet.

 

[Horton]

Mostly because many of us would have some difficulty getting back up. If there were an altar rail I would kneel, however we don’t have one, so I receive on the tongue standing.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

With respect, may I ask if you believe that the majority of people who receive on the hand do not realize that He is Truly Present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in the Host that they are receiving?

That is what a recent poll showed. 2/3 of Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence.

If most Catholics receive in the hand and 2/3 do not believe in the Real Presence, then the majority who receive in the hand do not believe in the Real Presence.

 

[Peeps]

If most Catholics receive in the hand and 2/3 do not believe in the Real Presence, then the majority who receive in the hand do not believe in the Real Presence.

But there is no proven “cause and effect.” Receiving in the hand does not cause people to not believe in the Real Presence. And receiving on the tongue would not cause them to believe in the Real Presence.

Also, was the poll limited to Catholics who attend Mass regularly, or did it include Catholics who do NOT attend Mass regularly, or who never attend Mass?

And how about the 1/3 who DO believe in the Real Presence and receive in the hand, like me?! And lots of others here on CAF?!

What exactly did the poll ask? Is it possible that the poll asked if the bread and wine turned into actual flesh and blood of Christ? I don’t believe that, and I don’t know any Catholics who do believe that.

Do you believe that if Catholics were required to receive Holy Communion on the tongue that they would start believing in the Real Presence?

 

[HomeschoolDad]

However, the “why” you feel the need to receive on the tongue is interesting…Why?

I had to read this over a couple of times to make sure that I read it right. Why in the world would anyone question someone’s wish to receive on the tongue?

I have to think that a lot of people here weren’t around, or weren’t old enough to remember, when CITH was introduced (ca. 1980). It had to be explained to people. They distributed pamphlets. (I objected to these pamphlets and was labeled a “dissident”.) A lot of effort had to be put into explaining why, up to this point, someone not a priest (or deacon) touching the host was taboo, and now it’s not taboo anymore. It just wasn’t done; it would have never occurred to people. Nobody asked for this change. There certainly wasn’t a grassroots, “from the ground up” clamor for it. Rather, it was introduced by “experts” who, we were assured, knew more about it than we did. The introduction of EMHCs was received, and managed, in exactly the same way.

A personal anecdote from a couple of years before CITH was introduced: we were having a youth retreat with a fairly “progressive” priest. Home-baked communion loaves were used — my mother was the one who baked them! The communion bread, as I learned later, was of doubtful validity — whole wheat, with honey and oil as ingredients (cinnamon too, IIRC). But never mind that part. The priest distributed communion to the students. One girl received and a crumb fell down onto her clothes. She just froze. She was petrified. Her eyes got as big as saucers. Either the priest retrieved it, or she retrieved it herself, I don’t recall (this was in the days before CITH or EMHCs). Nobody there had to be told that this was a major, major thing, and that this crumb had to be handled as though It were the Body of Our Lord Itself — which, unless the bread was invalid matter (and we were not sophisticated enough to question this), It most certainly was. And we are talking some very, very crumbly bread.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Do you believe that if Catholics were required to receive Holy Communion on the tongue that they would start believing in the Real Presence?

Couldn’t hurt.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

I have no idea of all the specifics of the poll. I know our bishop was very disturbed by it and has asked for greater catechesis.

Do you believe that if Catholics were required to receive Holy Communion on the tongue that they would start believing in the Real Presence?

I think that those who are returning to receiving on the tongue are doing it because they are coming to believe more strongly in the Real Presence.

I also think that if priests and bishops wanted the faithful to receive on the tongue and began to explain why they were wanting that, it would be a great opportunity for catechesis.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

I think that those who are returning to receiving on the tongue are doing it because they are coming to realize the Real Presence.

Let’s just put it this way: nobody is returning to receiving on the tongue because they do NOT believe in the Real Presence.

 

[IdaCatholic]

Was this covered in your sacramental prep? If not why not?

 

[Peeps]

I think that those who are returning to receiving on the tongue are doing it because they are coming to realize the Real Presence.

I also think that if priests and bishops began to explain why they were wanting people to receive on the tonque it would be a great opportunity for catechesis.

But the theology is all wrong! People claim that only consecrated hands may touch the Sacred Host, but this isn’t true. If it were true, than the Church in the U.S. has been for years, and is still committing most grave sacrilege for allowing people to receive the Lord in their hands!

Thankfully Holy Mother Church is NOT in the wrong! We are, for teaching flawed theology.

Certainly the bishops can state their personal opinion about the merits of receiving Holy Communion on the tongue or in the hand and I believe that they are permitted to require that Catholics in their diocese must receive Holy Communion on the tongue. (Please correct me if I am wrong about this.)

But as far as I know, Holy Mother Church is NOT declaring an end to Communion in the hand in the locations where it is permitted; in fact, videos of the Pope’s Masses (and of previous popes; St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict) make it clear that the Holy Father doesn’t try to stop people from receiving Communion in their hand.

To continue to harangue against a practice that Holy Mother Church allows is to create an atmosphere of doubt and distrust of Holy Mother Church, which, IMO, has the potential to do more harm to the Gospel and the Truth of the True Presence of Jesus in Holy Communion than people continuing a practice which has been allowed BY HOLY MOTHER CHURCH for several decades.

St. Paul has the strongest admonitions against sowing doubts and divisions in the Church. Over 500 years ago, Martin Luther, a Catholic monk, managed to split the Church of Jesus Christ and the results have been horrific.

It would be best, IMO, to submit to the teachings and proclamations of Holy Mother Church, and stop spreading doubt and distrust of something that Holy Mother Church has approved in the United States. Our beloved and holy Church is led by Jesus Christ Himself, and surely He is wiser than we are.

Rather than disparaging Holy Communion in the hand, why not instead get involved with the catechesis programs offered by your parishes? Also, the best way to demonstrate the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Communion is to allow Jesus to LIVE through us in our daily lives among those who do not believe in Him and who insult and mock Him.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

People claim that only consecrated hands may touch the Sacred Host, but this isn’t true. If it were true, than the Church in the U.S. has been for years, and is still committing most grave sacrilege for allowing people to receive the Lord in their hands!

CITH was granted under Pope Paul VI because at that time some countries were already allowing it and at that time it was considered an abuse.

He then agreed to allow it with certain principles attached. One that it does not cause the faithful to lose faith in the Real Presence.

Did communion in the hand over the years lead to the lack of belief as shown in the polls. I don’t have the answer to that and I did not say that it did.

But as far as I know, Holy Mother Church is NOT declaring an end to Communion in the hand

So I did not mean to cause you any panic. No Holy Mother Church has not declared an end to CITH, though there is an increase in those who are returning to receiving on the tongue.

To continue to harangue against a practice that Holy Mother Church allows is to create an atmosphere of doubt and distrust of Holy Mother Church, which, IMO, has the potential to do more harm to the Gospel and the Truth of the True Presence of Jesus in Holy Communion than people continuing a practice which has been allowed BY HOLY MOTHER CHURCH for several decades.

No one is haranguing that I know of or creating an atmosphere of doubt and distrust in Holy Mother Church but rather just the opposite, trusting that as we have a crisis of faith right now the Holy Spirit will lead the Church and the faithful.

St. Paul has the strongest admonitions against sowing doubts and divisions in the Church. Over 500 years ago, Martin Luther, a Catholic monk, managed to split the Church of Jesus Christ and the results have been horrific

No one is sowing doubts in Holy Mother church and I apologize if it caused you to doubt the Church. We just need to know the history and the why of communion in the hand and that there were conditions attached to the indult. If for some reason the Church should remove the indult, which as far as I know it has no intention of doing that, it should not cause doubt but trust. Trust that the Holy Spirit is still leading us.

.And yes, I have seen the very horrors caused by Martin Luther. No one is doing that.

Rather than disparaging Holy Communion in the hand, why not instead get involved with the catechesis programs offered by your parishes?

I am involved in my parish. I do agree that is very important.

Also, the best way to demonstrate the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Communion is to allow Jesus to LIVE through us in our daily lives

I definitely agree that the way we live our lives shows Jesus to those around us but it is reverence of the Eucharist and good strong catechesis that is going to bring back the many who lost belief inthe Real Presence.

God bless.

 

[Bluebright]

As you go up to receive pray to your guardian angel and ask him to help your receive reverently and with any of your other worries such as dropping the host.

 

[paperwight]

No Holy Mother Church has not declared an end to CITH, though there is an increase in those who are returning to receiving on the tongue.

May I ask on what you base this claim? It certainly isn’t the case in our parish. Has there been a survey done to provide evidence?

 

[MagdalenaRita]

Has there been a survey done to provide evidence?

In all charity, we don’t always need surveys to see what is happening around us and hear what is being spoken around us.

God bless

 

[paperwight]

paperwight:

Has there been a survey done to provide evidence?

In all charity, we don’t always need surveys to see what is happening around us and hear what is being spoken around us.

God bless

So I gather that it’s the case in your parish. However, it isn’t the case in ours. Not enough evidence to assert that ‘more and more people are receiving on the tongue’.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

So I gather that it’s the case in your parish. However, it isn’t the case in ours. Not enough evidence to assert that ‘more and more people are receiving on the tongue’.

Again, in all charity, I am not trying to state something as absolute fact, nor interested in a debate about statistics but one can see what is going on around them and one does read. I’m sorry it is not the case in your parish.

Again, God bless.

 

[Michael_Anthony]

At least in the US, with the prevalence of reception on the hand, and the well formed wafers, the risk of dropping a host or crumbs is very small, so I imagine many parishes decided that the expense of having and maintaining the additional patens (aside from the one Father uses to hold the presider’s host which is placed on top of the chalice) was unnecessary. Also, in the new translation “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord” isn’t one of the dismissals, the nearest form is “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life”, which for some reason priests seem to not like as much as “Go in peace.”