Hand or tongue, with Precious Blood or without

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Tomorrow morning, I will receive Holy Communion for the first time in over 40 years.
But since the last time I received communion, the distribution has changed quite a bit.
Back when I last received the sacrament, you could only receive it by having the priest place it on your tongue.
Now, you can the sacrament on your tongue or have it placed in your hand, and then you place it in your mouth.
Also, you can have wine now.
Though I am ready to receive the communion, I have not decided what I will do. I may just wait for the spirit to move me at the moment.
But should I go old school or try a different way?
How do you, my CAF sisters and brothers receive communion?
I am happy to have the choices. I am happy to receive communion for the first time in a long time.
Thanks to my CAF brothers and sisters for your prayers and encouragement!
 
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This is a topic that is sure to turn ugly, unfortunately.

The Church allows you to recieve either on the tongue or in the hand. Some people feel one way is more reverent than the other but the Church allows both so it is completely your choice.

Not all parishes distribute the Precious Blood (a term preferred to calling it simply wine). In my area it is common but I’ve heard people in other places say it is rare. Again, you have the choice. It’s a fuller sign of the Lord’s command to “take and eat…take and drink” but some people, for hygiene and other reasons, prefer not to receive from the cup.

See how the Holy Spirit moves you. Mostly, welcome home!
 
I find receiving on the tongue to be expedient and convenient.
 
I meant no offense. The body and blood, whether it be in bread along or bread and wind, is sacred to me.
 
Either way, taken my tongue or by hand, bread alone or bread and wine, it is sacred to me.
It has been over 40 years since I last received the sacrament, it is just different today than it was back then.
I am just joyful to have the opportunity.
 
Trust me, no offense taken. It’s been a pleasure to watch your journey online and I have no doubt of your good intentions. My comment was meant as information only.
 
Welcome home! I’m so happy for you!

I don’t have a real preference so it’s “when in Rome” for me. Sunday Mass, I just receive Him in the form of the host and by hand. Daily Mass during the week, I receive by hand and take both forms. Daily Mass on Saturday, I receive on the tongue. These are three different locations and I follow their norm. Again, welcome back! Continued prayers 🙏
 
Recieve Communion the way that you feel is most appropriate considering who you are receiving. Do not consider how others around you may view how you receive.
 
YourNameHere said:
Tomorrow morning, I will receive Holy Communion for the first time in over 40 years.

But since the last time I received communion, the distribution has changed quite a bit.

Back when I last received the sacrament, you could only receive it by having the priest place it on your tongue.

Now, you can the sacrament on your tongue or have it placed in your hand, and then you place it in your mouth.

Also, you can have wine now.

Though I am ready to receive the communion, I have not decided what I will do. I may just wait for the spirit to move me at the moment.

But should I go old school or try a different way?

How do you, my CAF sisters and brothers receive communion?

I am happy to have the choices. I am happy to receive communion for the first time in a long time.

Thanks to my CAF brothers and sisters for your prayers and encouragement!
Click to expand...
I receive it on my tongue, and don’t take wine. Those options aren’t even in my parish. I believe doing it the Traditional way is more reverent.
 
I used to receive in the hand but now on the tongue. Reason? I feel so unworthy to hold Jesus in my hands. But, having said that, our mouths can spout sin very easily too!
 
I used to receive in the hand. That’s just how I was taught and no other options were given. I now receive on the tongue due to physical limitations with my hands and wrists ( can’t flatten my hands or get my hands to turn completely around) making it harder to properly give the Lord a throne on my hands and the possibility of the host sliding off.

When approaching the priest I always genuflect, though my bishop has only said that some form of a sign of reverence and acknowledgement of Who you are approaching is necessary. I genuflect, but if my knees or ankles are bad I simply make a profound bow because I don’t want to hold up the procession. I used to simply think of the procession as a “line for the host” but as I’ve gotten older knowing that it really is me willingly journeying to my Lord and presenting myself to Him with the rest of the Church I try to remind myself I’m not just simply standing in a line like I would be for a ticket, a cash register, or a lunch line.

The Precious Blood is not offered normally at my church. We do have it offered during Easter and Christmas though.

If you do receive in the hand just a word on how I was taught as a child since you said it was unfamiliar:

Present both of your hands flat and up presenting them as a throne for the Lord. Your body is a temple, your hands at that moment are His throne.

Your dominant hand should be under your non-dominant hand. That way, once you have received the host you can bring your dominant hand up from under your other hand and use that to bring the host to your mouth. The thought is since it’s your dominant hand you’ll have better control and less chance of fumbling or dropping the host. Also, check for crumbs before putting your hands down and eat them if found.

Partaking of the Precious Blood is pretty simple, I just make sure that I firmly have a grip on the chalice when I receive the cup and that the person who handed it to me has a firm hold of it before I let go.
 
Once again, welcome home. Receiving either on the tongue or in the hand are acceptable. Do what seeps right to you at the time. Sometimes one method is more prominent or a priest may have stated a preference; don’t dwell on that.
 
I must say I was surprised to see so many references on this thread to “wine”. I thought Catholics believed in transubstantiation?
 
I always received on the hand, when I carried my children as babies I would receive on the tongue, when I am in Poland there is no choice but to receive on the tongue, at home it is in the hand.

Either way I feel blessed and unworthy at the same time.
 
Either way is fine. Get into that line
and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you.

Congratulations again!

I returned after decades and now receive in the hand. We have the Precious Blood in some churches.

Please don’t get caught up in discourse over which is more pleasing to God. Both ways are extremely pleasing to God
 
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I’m a “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” communicant. If most people are receiving in the hand, I do hand. If most or all people are receiving on the tongue (for example at a TLM or a Spanish Mass in USA), I do that. I can do either one easily and it keeps the priest or EMHC from being thrown off.

I’d suggest just doing what you see others do.
 
I went old school.
I received the sacrament on my tongue. But I did genuflect before I received the sacrament. Most in the line to Holy Communion bowed prior to received the sacrament.
 
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