Genuflection and the Eucharist

[AngelRose81]

Its your friendly RCIA Candidate again with another question!!!

So here goes…

We were discussion how to properly recieve the Eucharist the other day during RCIA and I want to make sure this is right because I see one thing and then get told another so I like to have lots of opinions!

Anyway…we were told that this is the order of what you should do before during and after receiving the Eucharist.

1. When you are walking up in the line, keep your hands together in front of you (like you were praying) until you reach the priest, don’t look around and talk, etc.
2. While the person in front of you is recieving, you bow to show reverence but you do not genuflect (I thought you could do either until I was told otherwise)
3. Also, we were told that it is proper to make the sign of the cross BEFORE you recieve not after. (I’ve seen both at my parish)
4. When you are ready to recieve once the priest says " The Body of Christ" you say Amen and then he either places it on your tongue or in your hand (which if it is on your tongue you keep your hands folded in front of you, and if it is the hand you put your hands together in a way that you can consume properly, what I mean by this is if you are right handed, the right goes under the left and you pick up the host out of your left hand with your right) Clear as mud, I know.
5. Anyway going on…once you recieve the body, blood, or both, you go back to your pew and pray/reflect on the Eucharist.

Ok. I know that was really really long but this is something I want to make sure is done correctly and I’ve not gotten a bad answer yet from CAF!

Thanks!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Its your friendly RCIA Candidate again with another question!!!

So here goes…

We were discussion how to properly recieve the Eucharist the other day during RCIA and I want to make sure this is right because I see one thing and then get told another so I like to have lots of opinions!

Anyway…we were told that this is the order of what you should do before during and after receiving the Eucharist.

1. When you are walking up in the line, keep your hands together in front of you (like you were praying) until you reach the priest, don’t look around and talk, etc.
2. While the person in front of you is recieving, you bow to show reverence but you do not genuflect (I thought you could do either until I was told otherwise)
3. Also, we were told that it is proper to make the sign of the cross BEFORE you recieve not after. (I’ve seen both at my parish)
4. When you are ready to recieve once the priest says " The Body of Christ" you say Amen and then he either places it on your tongue or in your hand (which if it is on your tongue you keep your hands folded in front of you, and if it is the hand you put your hands together in a way that you can consume properly, what I mean by this is if you are right handed, the right goes under the left and you pick up the host out of your left hand with your right) Clear as mud, I know.
5. Anyway going on…once you recieve the body, blood, or both, you go back to your pew and pray/reflect on the Eucharist.

Ok. I know that was really really long but this is something I want to make sure is done correctly and I’ve not gotten a bad answer yet from CAF!

Thanks!

1. While the person in front of you is recieving, you bow to show reverence but you do not genuflect (I thought you could do either until I was told otherwise)

Do not bow or genuflect, The proper sign requested by the Bishops is a “bow of the head” only. And not to the back of the person in front of you, wait until you are ready to receive and the minister hold up the Host for you to see. You then make the bow of the head to the Host as you say Amen.

1. Also, we were told that it is proper to make the sign of the cross BEFORE you recieve not after. (I’ve seen both at my parish)

Neither is required in the GIRM. However most Catholics make the sign of the Cross after receiving.

 

[Corki]

Not sure which part you are asking about.

When you receive for the first time upon becoming fully Catholic , there is probably a desire for more uniformity than you need to observe thereafter. Same thing goes for things like school Masses, KOC events etc. There is a heightened regard for the horizontal “community” aspect.

The Vatican has made it pretty clear that the important thing is appropriate reverence for the Sacrament and that strictly regulating posture is not intended.

There is to be a sign of reverence before receiving. What it is is determined by the Bishop. Where I live, it is a bow before receiving (usually when ‘next in line’). Sounds like in your area it is a bow and the sign of the cross? Many people genuflect but it isn’t a specified option (at least not in my diocese). That doesn’t mean that you aren’t supposed to though if you feel called to but I would probably not initiate it (out of prudence) the very first time.

There are lots of different descriptions offered for how to receive in the hand. The way you were told sounds fine. If you receive on the tongue, tip your head back a little and open wide, extending your tongue.

There is nothing wrong with making the sign of the cross after receiving, it seems to be more cultural. It is particularly popular, in my own observation, to make it right after receiving where there is a large Hispanic population. When I was little, we were taught to make the Sign of the Cross when we had completely swallowed the Host (usually back at our seats).

I hope I haven’t confused you more.

 

[TexRose]

Hmm? For number 4…We were told that if we are to receive by hand, that our right hand should be under the left and then use right hand to put host in our mouth. We were told that everything should be done with the right hand, like the sign of the Cross and also receiving Eucharist.

 

[AngelRose81]

Thanks for your answers. That clears up a lot of my questions!! Thanks again!

 

[cue]

It might be helpful to take a look at the big picture. Universally, the norm for receiving Holy Communion is kneeling. The American bishops stated that the norm in America was to receive standing therefore opening up another option. It would be a misguided reading to understand this “norm” as binding or excluding the universal (‘catholic’) norm of kneeling as is made clear in this letter from the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacraments. The sign of reverence is required only for those who receive standing. While a bow of the head is the minimum sign of reverence required, there is nothing wrong with surpassing it. See these Dubia.

 

[John_Lilburne]

It might be helpful to take a look at the big picture. Universally, the norm for receiving Holy Communion is kneeling. The American bishops stated that the norm in America was to receive standing therefore opening up another option. It would be a misguided reading to understand this “norm” as binding or excluding the universal (‘catholic’) norm of kneeling as is made clear in this letter from the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacraments. The sign of reverence is required only for those who receive standing. While a bow of the head is the minimum sign of reverence required, there is nothing wrong with surpassing it. See these Dubia.

I disagree that “Universally, the norm for receiving Holy Communion is kneeling.” From the 2002 General Instruction to the Roman Missal approved for England and Wales:
“160. … The faithful communicate either kneeling or standing, as determined by the Conference of Bishops. When they communicate standing, however, it is recommended that they make an appropriate sign of reverence, as determined in the same norms, before receiving the Sacrament.”
This is closer to the Latin text than what it has in the 2002 USA GIRM. The Latin has:
“160. … Fideles communicant genuflexi vel stantes, prout Conferentia Episcoporum statuerit.”

The 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum has:
“[90.] “The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined”, with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. “However, if they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that they give due reverence before the reception of the Sacrament, as set forth in the same norms”.
[footnote 176: Cf. Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 160.]
[91.] In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that “sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them”.
[footnote 177: Code of Canon Law, can. 843 § 1; cf. can. 915. ]
Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.”

To explain n. 91. If someone is not following the direction of the Conference of Bishops they are not following canon 846 of the Code of Canon Law: “The liturgical books, approved by the competent authority, are to faithfully followed in the celebration of the sacraments. …” (The Code of Canon Law: New revised English Translation, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 000599375X.). The Church’s tribunal system can be used to give them a penalty for this. But n. 91 is highlighting that this is the sort of process that needs to be followed. The minister of communion does not have the authority to impose the “on the spot” penalty of interdict or excommunication.

There seems to be the suggestion that genuflection is OK, with “While a bow of the head is the minimum sign of reverence required, there is nothing wrong with surpassing it.” Again, following the 2002 GIRM n. 160 (quoted above) it depends on the decision of the Conference of Bishops. I would be surprised if they decided, or received approval for, a genuflection during the Communion procession. This would seem to contradict 2002 GIRM n. 274:
“Otherwise all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession.”
(This can be accessed from can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html ).

 

[cue]

John,
When I said "universally’ I was not describing the practice throughout the world, but was refering to the universal law. You mentioned several particular laws (standing) which supplement the universal law (kneeling).

Your quotation of the General Instruction on genuflection before communion can only apply if we make the leap to say that Communion is received in a procession. No 160 states the communicants “approach” in a procession. It may seem like I’m splitting hairs but, despite the fact that the Church does not say that the procession continues after the approach to communion, the Church would not prohibit a genuflection when she supplies the option of kneeling.

The revision of the Missal in 1970 was just that, a revision. To simply look at the Missal at one point in time can lead to misinterpretations because such an approach neglects the heritage and assumptions that have developed and shaped the Missal. I guess I am saying that the General Instruction gives us the letter of the law, however, the Church gives us the spirit of the law. To approach the General Instruction without knowledge of the history and teaching of the Church can cause erroneous readings. We can therefore see why the Church (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments) does not support those who try to destroy traditional customs and pious practices (kneeling, altar boys, etc.). The Church does change and revise liturgical prescriptions from time to time, but she does not up and decide that everything done previously was completely wrong. So she will not say that kneeling is wrong for communion or that girls need to be added to servers. She does allow for these options but the driving force of pressure to adopt these opions to the detriment of the older customs is the voice of the culture, which anti-Christian to say the least.

 

[gvogt4]

1. While the person in front of you is recieving, you bow to show reverence but you do not genuflect (I thought you could do either until I was told otherwise)
2. Also, we were told that it is proper to make the sign of the cross BEFORE you recieve not after. (I’ve seen both at my parish)
3. When you are ready to recieve once the priest says " The Body of Christ" you say Amen and then he either places it on your tongue or in your hand (which if it is on your tongue you keep your hands folded in front of you, and if it is the hand you put your hands together in a way that you can consume properly, what I mean by this is if you are right handed, the right goes under the left and you pick up the host out of your left hand with your right) Clear as mud, I know.

#2 - the “norm” will be what your bishop states is the norm.
#3 - I’ve got no idea where this comes from
#4 - receiving on the tongue, make sure you give your priest a good “target” (not trying to sound irreverant) and think of your tongue as a pillow on which he is to place our Lord.

 - receiving in the hand, your right hand should be under your left hand (not sure about the lefty/righty thing).  You should cup your left hand (which will prevent dropping) thinking of it as a "temple" in which the priest will place our Lord.  Be sure to hold your hands at a level which will shorten the distance which our Lord will be administered from the priest's hand to your hand and from your hand to your tongue.

1. Anyway going on…once you recieve the body, blood, or both, you go back to your pew and pray/reflect on the Eucharist.

This may very well be a slip on your part, but just in case, please understand that when we receive under either species, we receive all of our Lord, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Hope that helps.

 

[AngelRose81]

#2 - the “norm” will be what your bishop states is the norm.
#3 - I’ve got no idea where this comes from
#4 - receiving on the tongue, make sure you give your priest a good “target” (not trying to sound irreverant) and think of your tongue as a pillow on which he is to place our Lord.

• receiving in the hand, your right hand should be under your left hand (not sure about the lefty/righty thing). You should cup your left hand (which will prevent dropping) thinking of it as a “temple” in which the priest will place our Lord. Be sure to hold your hands at a level which will shorten the distance which our Lord will be administered from the priest’s hand to your hand and from your hand to your tongue.

This may very well be a slip on your part, but just in case, please understand that when we receive under either species, we receive all of our Lord, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Hope that helps.

Yes it was just a slip up, I probably should have worded that a little better. Forgive me, I was in a hurry typing!

 

[puzzleannie]

1. Also, we were told that it is proper to make the sign of the cross BEFORE you recieve not after. (I’ve seen both at my parish)

Neither is required in the GIRM. However most Catholics make the sign of the Cross after receiving.

if you do it before you will only confuse the minister, who is looking at you for a cue on how you wish to receive–with mouth open and head tilted slightly back, or with hands cupped and raised left over right (if you are right handed, because you will pick up the host with your right hand).
consume the host before you start walking, or at least close your mouth, sign of the cross is optional. Do not under any account walk away with the host in your hand.

if instructions you receive in RCIA differ from what you read here, just do what they tell you, they know the rules for their diocese.

 

[tee_eff_em]

When I said "universally’ I was not describing the practice throughout the world, but was refering to the universal law. You mentioned several particular laws (standing) which supplement the universal law (kneeling).

I don’t understand? The quoted law refers to “kneeling or standing”. Are you saying there some other law that prescribes kneeling to the exclusion of standing? I don’t know what could be more universal than the current GIRM (since the OP appears to be referring to the current Roman Missal)?

Otherwise, I would say it is incomplete to say “Universally, the norm for receiving Holy Communion is kneeling”

tee

 

[BloodStaindRose]

May I suggest recieving the Eucharist on your tongue. I find it quite disrespectful when someone recieves the body of Christ in his/her hand. Your hands are not divine and do not have the right to come into contact with the Eucharist (only the hands of a priest do)!

You can also recieve Communion on your knees out of a sign of respect!

God Bless!

 

[OhioBob]

May I suggest recieving the Eucharist on your tongue. I find it quite disrespectful when someone recieves the body of Christ in his/her hand. Your hands are not divine and do not have the right to come into contact with the Eucharist (only the hands of a priest do)!

You can also recieve Communion on your knees out of a sign of respect!

God Bless!

Respectfully, I suggest that the hands of the priest are not divine either. He may act in persona Cristi when he confects the Eucharist, and through his ordination he may be sealed in a manner different from the laity, but his hands are hands, just like yours and mine. The apostles “received” the body and blood of the lord in their hands, and they got it from Christ himself.

Personally, I find it more pious to receive on the tongue as well, but I don’t take offense to those who receive in the hand (and I often do myself at my home parish) as long as they do it reverently.

However, I don’t disagree with your suggestion to receive on the tongue.

 

[gvogt4]

I receive on the tongue as well, but not for the “divine hand” reason, (the tongue can be the most treacherous body part) but because there is (in my mind) less of a chance for an accident.

 

[Titus]

May I suggest recieving the Eucharist on your tongue. I find it quite disrespectful when someone recieves the body of Christ in his/her hand. Your hands are not divine and do not have the right to come into contact with the Eucharist (only the hands of a priest do)!

You can also recieve Communion on your knees out of a sign of respect!

God Bless!

Please note that since the Church allows both the norm (on the tongue) and through indult the hand. Therefore this person is free to choose whichever they find more appropriate. But I do agree that receiving on the tongue seems to me more reverent.

 

[LeahInancsi]

Hmm? For number 4…We were told that if we are to receive by hand, that our right hand should be under the left and then use right hand to put host in our mouth. We were told that everything should be done with the right hand, like the sign of the Cross and also receiving Eucharist.

The dominant hand should be under the other hand. This way you can use your dominant hand to take the Eucharist out of the other hand and put it in your mouth. This should lessen the chances that you might drop the Eucharist with you non-dominant hand.

Leftys would put their left hand under their right and the priest would put the Eucharist in their right hand.

 

[LeahInancsi]

You can also recieve Communion on your knees out of a sign of respect!

I don’t recommend this. It may seem repectful, but someone could get hurt if there are a lot of people receiving.

 

[kangnamdragon]

You may genuflect before receiving an nobody may stop you. There is nothing wrong with showing more reverence. You can kneel if you want.