Has the practice of Communion in the hand really strengthened and clarified ourfaith?

[mumto5]

I’ll admit I’m not the best Catholic around here and while I do feel more comfortable receiving in the hand (was never taught how to receive on the tongue so feel awkward about it) and always receive in the hand if I don’t have a baby in my arms, I’ve been to a Latin Mass where it was received on the tongue kneeling on the bottom altar step. Also, when I was a child I once tried to receive on the tongue and my mother told me it was rude to receive on the tongue. Never quite got that since older people seemed to do it but I guess it stuck.

I do feel that receiving in the hand takes away some of the reverence and respect from something that is supposed to be so holy.

OTOH, I’ve received on the tongue from ministers who haven’t been looking at what they’ve been doing properly and touched my lip. I don’t like the thought that they might have done this to a number of people before me. The priests never have a problem with this.

So I do think it is better to receive on the tongue for spiritual reasons but my own comfort level with it makes me receive in the hand where-ever possible.

 

[Al_Masetti]

There seem to be a lot of really excellent posts here. I haven’t read them all, but very thoughtful…

I used to do Communion Services and I found that putting a Host on someone’s tongue was very difficult especially when the person is very tall. I am six feet tall, and it was difficult for me to be able to reach up and be sure I had to Host squarely on the tongue. If the person had a small mouth and the Host was off center, the Host might come off. I was always afraid of the Host dropping or not making contact with the tongue before I let go. Or the person might pull their tongue back before I had let go of the Host.

If a Communicant is kneeling, as in the “olden days”, then it was easy because the priest ( and it was always a priest) would simply lean over very slightly and there was always an altar boy with a paten to catch a falling Host, in the rare case that something went amiss with the ritual. Now there is almost never a paten.

Receiving Holy Communion standing up is a very awkward way to conduct that part of the Mass ritual. It may seem “democratic” or something… I have no idea why they went to standing instead of kneeling…

With respect to treating the Sacred Species with respect, I used to always ritually wash my hands (without attracting attention to myself) before doing the Communion Service. Admittedly, I still had to open doors, light candles, set out the books, etc. So it wasn’t so much an issue of cleanliness of my hands as it was a desire on my part of have a cleanliness of my soul.

 

[maggiec]

I use to receive in my hand until I realized that in truth I am not worthy to touch our Lord so I receive only on the tongue now. I also wish we would put the communion rails back in place. I think that would stop some of the abuse that happens when lay people gather around the alter. That has never happened in my parish but from what many have posted here there is much abuse in larger parishes.
maggiec

 

[harinkj]

How can one believe in transubstantiation and handle the host? :tsktsk:

Kathie :bowdown:

 

[MikeWM]

harinkj:

How can one believe in transubstantiation and handle the host?

Easily. I do.

Jesus has amazingly given us the gift of himself to us. How can I be worthy to touch him with my hands? Well, how can I be worthy to touch him with my tongue, or with the inside of my stomach, either?

While the Church says it is permissible to do so, I see no need to doubt it.

Mike

 

[maggiec]

MikeWM:

Easily. I do.

Jesus has amazingly given us the gift of himself to us. How can I be worthy to touch him with my hands? Well, how can I be worthy to touch him with my tongue, or with the inside of my stomach, either?

While the Church says it is permissible to do so, I see no need to doubt it.

Mike

Maybe part of the problem with people in our church today is that so many don’t feel unworthy to receive our Lord (which we all are). They feel entitled to receive and so they feel it doesn’t make any difference how they receive. Maybe if we remembered we were chosen by our Lord for this precious gift we would get back on our knees and open our mouths to receive the most wonderful sign of His love for us.
maggiec

 

[makin503]

No, I don’t believe it has. This practice more than any other has removed the awe and reverence we should experience as we receive God’s Body and Blood. So sad!

 

[HelpingHands]

I can only speak for myself in saying that I used to receive on the tongue, and now receive in my hands. I’m much more devout now than before, but I’m not sure if there’s a correlation.

I’m not sure if Catholics in the old days were actually more holy. I know that the Church had more of a cultural hold and influence on certain population groups, but I’m not sure if that meant people were more holy in their interior life or not. I’m not sure if you can measure that.

 

[pnewton]

harinkj:

How can one believe in transubstantiation and handle the host? :tsktsk:

Kathie :bowdown:

Easily. No problem. I believe in transubstantiation, receive in the hand and been strengthened in the faith by the Sacrament received.

 

[kwitz]

harinkj:

How can one believe in transubstantiation and handle the host? :tsktsk:

Kathie :bowdown:

How can one believe in transubstantiation and stick out your tongue at the priest? I know it is silly of me, but I have a difficult time seeing why the act of sticking out your tongue (which is what a pouty 5 year old does when s/he is mad) is so much more reverent. Someone needs to convince me that a tongue is inherently more acceptable to receive the host than a tongue - in truth, neither are worthy of such a blessing. I’ve said a million times, I personally commit many more sins with my tongue (and what I say) than I do with my hands.

Since both are allowed, do whichever works for you.

Kris

 

[maggiec]

kwitz:

How can one believe in transubstantiation and stick out your tongue at the priest? I know it is silly of me, but I have a difficult time seeing why the act of sticking out your tongue (which is what a pouty 5 year old does when s/he is mad) is so much more reverent. Someone needs to convince me that a tongue is inherently more acceptable to receive the host than a tongue - in truth, neither are worthy of such a blessing. I’ve said a million times, I personally commit many more sins with my tongue (and what I say) than I do with my hands.

Since both are allowed, do whichever works for you.

Kris

I am reminded of Jesus asking Peter if he loved Him and Peter after the third time said Yes Lord, You know I love You. And Jesus said: feed My sheep. And so, Peter, imho, was the 1st priest and he was told to feed us. I don’t stick my tongue out as a silly 2 year old does, I open my mouth and receive Jesus on my tongue as a sign of love for Him and humility in doing as He asked. I suppose its all in the way you perceive the action, Is it love for our Lord or pride (or shame) in the action.
God bless,
maggiec

 

[JKirkLVNV]

twiztedseraph:

The fact that people insist on popping Jesus into their mouths like a cookie is disturbing. So yes it has apostolic roots, whoopy. It worked back then, but right now I think we have to acknowledge its not only a failure, its downright blasphemous. To further this, how many of you wash hands before you eat? I’m hoping all, now how many of you wash your hands before receiving Jesus?

I take in the hand only when absolutely necessary, even then I find myself licking my palms, lest I leave even a speck behind. All in all its not only more reverent to receive on the tongue, its also less hassle.

If the Church PERMITS it, it cannot be blasphemous. And the Hosts that are made today rarely make crumbs or specks. It is your subjective opinion that receiving on the tongue is more reverent. It may be someone else’s subjective opinion that receiving in the hand is more reverent. It’s my subjective opinion that it doesn’t matter. And yes, I wash my hands before receiving the Most Holy Sacrament.