Have you had problems recieving on the Tongue?

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I for one have never had a problem with this. Then again, I receive on the hand more often than not. On those times I have taken on the tongue, it was from a priest.

I was once (summer 2004) denied the option of communion in the hand by a diocesan priest in the United States, as were all others at the mass. He informed everyone in advance, and said that he had his reasons and would be willing to discuss it privately after mass if anyone had a legitimate interest in why.

That was the first time I had ever received on the tongue, and I was really somewhat terrified since I didn’t really know what to do. However, I was able to just follow along after everyone else and it all worked out reasonably well.

The parish I sometimes attend daily mass at, most receive on the tongue. Initially I tried doing so a few times, but I couldn’t seem to get the hang of it. It seemed to be a bit awkward for both the priest and me.

I think reception on the tongue is a great practice, but it is not currently very practical for me personally. I remember considerable time was spent back in 2nd grade explaining how to receive on the hand, but not a moment was given to on the tongue. It seems to me the basics of both are needed.

On another note, I have been drafted into serving as an extraordinary minister of holy communion on a couple of occasions. Thankfully, it was always with the cup. However, had it been the host, and had someone wanted to receive on the tongue, I have no idea what I would have done.
 
StephanieC said:
Just double-check yourself to see if your mouth is open as wide as you think it is; it might not be, in which case, when you are in the communion line, try to remember to open a bit wider, with your tongue extended.
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Thanks again here too! I have only recently started receiving on the tongue (and loving it) and while I have never been refused there has been some awkwardness. As a child it was drilled into me how rude it is to have your mouth open, tongue out 😛 Likely this is the source of the awkwardness. I was never taught how to receive on the tongue so I’ve had to figure it out for myself.
 
I wouldn’t say ‘problems’.

Our pastor seems uncomfortable, so out of deference to him, I receive on the hand when in his line.

We have a number of either old & shaky or very short EM’s, so I receive on the hand from them because I fear what might happen if I don’t. (I’m tall 🙂

In other situations, I receive on the tongue. —KCT
 
st_lucy said:
I have experienced this many times but I have not gone back to receiving on the hand. My daughter sometimes is not even given Our Lord but she has never done it any other way.

I have been forced to receive in the hand. That was just awkward for both me and the EMHC but I think more so for him.
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Instruction on the Eucharist, Redemptionis Sacramentum, Chapter IV, paragraph number 92: Although each of the faithful always **has the right to receive **Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the **Bishop’s Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See **has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.

So you see, the “Norm” is on the tongue, when approved by the Bishop, with recognitio of the Apostolic See, on the hand is permissible.
 
I recieve on the hand, but my dad recieves on the tongue - he’s never had any problems as far as I know. The priests and EMHCs at my church all seem to be used to people recieving on the tongue, and I’ve noticed that the priest gives the eucharist to the altar servers in this way because they have to hold patens(?).

I did recieve on the tongue once, it was at an old church which still used altar rails.
 
Since I left the ultra "L" word Newman Center, I have received only on the tongue and only from a priest.
We do have EHMCs at my church but I always sit where I know I will be in the ‘priest line’.
If I were refused Communion on my tongue, I would immediately call the bishop’s office.
 
I usually have a child in my arms… so I tend to receive on the tounge often… I’ve never had a problem!
 
CRW said:
Instruction on the Eucharist, Redemptionis Sacramentum, Chapter IV, paragraph number 92: Although each of the faithful always **has the right to receive **Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the **Bishop’s Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See **has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.

So you see, the “Norm” is on the tongue, when approved by the Bishop, with recognitio of the Apostolic See, on the hand is permissible.
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Hello CRW,

I total agree with the above, I hope you didn’t miss understand me.
 
No, but I usually try to recieve from the priest if I know the EM is inexperienced or has trouble with placement on the tongue. One friend I have, says she hates to do it on the tongue because she always messes up and touches the tongue. Because of this, I won’t recieve from her, or if I feel I “have” to (only in my own mind, not pressure from her or anyone else), I will recieve in the hand.

I am very uncomfortable though recieving in the hand now though. I used to all time since I knew our old priest prefered to do it that way. Our new priest (2 years) has no problems with hand or mouth and insists that the children are taught BOTH ways to recieve whereas the old priest only wanted the kids to be taught by hand.

But I have never been denied communion by tongue, nor had any hesitations of those giving it. Less than “expert”? Yes. Hesitations or denial? No.
 
I said yes, but it only happened once. I just did not unclasp my hands, and after several seconds, the EMHC sighed and placed the Host on my tongue.
 
Caesar said:
Yes. If I think that recieving on the tongue, from a priest, is far more reverant and traditional why would I go and touch the host with my hands? What if I let particles drop to the floor?

No, it is better to recieve once a month and be reverant then every Sunday in an irreverant manner.
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I totally agree with you, I would never recieve Communion in the Hand. I think you should go to some other Church in the London, Canada area. I know there are many. Keep recieving in the proper manner. I know it is allowed but I agree that Communion in the hand is irreverent.

As for my problems, I have had the host fall out of my mouth while it was given to me on the tongue. Once when I knelt for communion, the host fell out. There was no paten so I had to pick it up myself in every case of this happening. So, basically that was my bad experience with Communion in the Tongue.
 
I am an EMHC, and I was trained in how to give Holy Communion on the tongue as part of the instructions. I always pay close attention to everybody and never would think of not respecting how they wish to receive. In fact, it was sort of sad that a lady said “Amen” received on the tongue and then told me “thank you”. My guess is that she had problems receiving on the tongue since she said thank you.
 
I receive on the hand because the tongue is harder to do with dignity.

This wouldn’t concern a normal person, but my brain doesn’t make enough seratonin, and I have an anxiety disorder because of it. I’m prone to social anxiety, among other things. Simply putting the hands out is simpler than getting the position of my tongue right, so it’s one less thing I have to worry about.
 
No I am an EMHC and in our parish I would say that about a third of the people receive on the tongue now.
 
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