How do you receive Communion?

  • Thread starter Thread starter HobbitShoe
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
H

HobbitShoe

Guest
Does anyone have information on how to receive Communion? Our RCIA class breezed through that lesson. Since I am about to be received into the Church, I need to know precisely what to do. Just to be clear, I’m not asking for the theology of the Eucharist. I am asking what specific actions one performs when receiving communion.
  1. What is the normal way to receive communion?
  2. How do I let the priest know I want to receive on the tongue?
Thank you.
 
I’m not sure what you mean by the “normal way” to receive communion. There are options available and they’re all normal.

First, when you approach the priest or minister to receive communion, you make a sign of reverence. In the US the norm is to bow your head (see the GIRM 160).

You can receive the Host either in the hand or on the tongue. Depending on the parish/diocese, you may have the option of receiving the Precious Blood. (In my area it is common to offer both but I understand it is less common in other places.)

If you are receiving communion in the hand, make a throne of your hands – one on top of the other – to receive the Host. If you are receiving on the tongue, stick your tongue out and allow the priest to place the Host on it. If you are receiving from the cup, move to the minister with the cup, make a sign of reverence, take a sip of the Precious Blood and carefully hand the chalice back to the minister.
 
HobbitShoe said:
Does anyone have information on how to receive Communion? Our RCIA class breezed through that lesson. Since I am about to be received into the Church, I need to know precisely what to do. Just to be clear, I’m not asking for the theology of the Eucharist. I am asking what specific actions one performs when receiving communion.
  1. What is the normal way to receive communion?
  2. How do I let the priest know I want to receive on the tongue?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
This video is a good one for learning how to receive communion. The normal way is to receive on the tongue AND in the hand. Both are right. Receiving on the tongue is a learned skill if you haven’t been doing since childhood. I would recommend receiving in the hand until you get used to receiving the Eucharist. Neither is more pious than the other nor is one more appropriate.
youtube.com/watch?v=qdGkTdv4Dt4
 
I have been part of the RCIA team in my parish for about 20+ years. Normally we go over this during the Holy Saturday morning retreat, but I do not know what your parish does.

As to how to receive Communion on the tongue, a few pointers:
  1. Stick your tongue out. I don’t mean put the tip of the tongue out, I mean stick it out. No matter whether you receive from a priest, a deacon or an EMHC, they all have the same problem putting the Host on your tongue if you only stick the tip out.
When I was an altar server in the 1950’s, more than once I heard the priest say “Stick your tongue out”. The number one cause of the communicant losing the Host was that they did not stick their tongue out far enough to get the whole Host on the tongue; sticking part of it out leaves the Host liable to fall off.

2 - Open your mouth and keep it open as you take the tongue and Host back into your mouth. This is the second cause of losing the Host. That is because if you do not keep your mouth open, the Host is likely to hit the tip of your upper teeth and be flicked off. It may seem awkward, but it is more awkward to receive the Eucharist in a Byzantine Rite where the Eucharist is delivered by a small spoon.

It may seem awkward at first, but if you simply follow the above, you will receive without any problem.
 
If by hand,

Bow close to top of line, before reaching Priest

Left hand over right hand,
extend hands to Priest
Priest says ’ The Body of Christ’
you say ’ Amen’
Communion wafer is placed in your hand
Step to side, put wafer in mouth,
cross yourself,

Are you doing blood of Christ too?
 
Roseeurekacross said:
Are you doing blood of Christ too?
Click to expand...
Yes, body and blood.

Thanks for the help, everyone. I think I need to speak with our priest; some of the things here conflict with what I learned in RCIA. Our catechist actually said not to do some of the things in that GIRM reference. Is the GIRM the best source for double-checking this stuff?
 
What is it your catechist said that conflicts with the GIRM?

It’s hard to say without knowing what the differences are. In general, I think if something is common practice in your parish that’s probably the way to do it. If it’s something outstandingly different you may want to ask the pastor about it.
 
Roseeurekacross said:
If by hand,

Bow close to top of line, before reaching Priest

Left hand over right hand,
extend hands to Priest
Priest says ’ The Body of Christ’
you say ’ Amen’
Communion wafer is placed in your hand
Step to side, put wafer in mouth,
cross yourself,

Are you doing blood of Christ too?
Click to expand...
As a FYI - please do not call Body of Christ a “communion wafer.” That is offensive to many Catholics. Please refer to the Body of Christ as either a host or the Body of Christ.

God Bless
 
HobbitShoe said:
Yes, body and blood.

Thanks for the help, everyone. I think I need to speak with our priest; some of the things here conflict with what I learned in RCIA. Our catechist actually said not to do some of the things in that GIRM reference. Is the GIRM the best source for double-checking this stuff?
Click to expand...
What did the Catachist say not to do? Please provide some examples so we can help. Thanks
 
You kneel down, close your eyes and stick out your tongue. The priest will place the Host on your tongue.

You should NOT be receiving Communion in the hand. This was an abuse that was later permitted by the Church when it should never have been. St Thomas Aquinas wrote:

Out of reverence towards this Sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest’s hands, for touching this Sacrament. Hence, it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground, or else in some other case of urgency” (Summa Theologiae, III, 82, 3).

Your hands are not consecrated like the priest’s, so you should not be touching the Sacrament.
 
otjm said:
I have been part of the RCIA team in my parish for about 20+ years. Normally we go over this during the Holy Saturday morning retreat, but I do not know what your parish does.

As to how to receive Communion on the tongue, a few pointers:
  1. Stick your tongue out. I don’t mean put the tip of the tongue out, I mean stick it out. No matter whether you receive from a priest, a deacon or an EMHC, they all have the same problem putting the Host on your tongue if you only stick the tip out.
When I was an altar server in the 1950’s, more than once I heard the priest say “Stick your tongue out”. The number one cause of the communicant losing the Host was that they did not stick their tongue out far enough to get the whole Host on the tongue; sticking part of it out leaves the Host liable to fall off.

2 - Open your mouth and keep it open as you take the tongue and Host back into your mouth. This is the second cause of losing the Host. That is because if you do not keep your mouth open, the Host is likely to hit the tip of your upper teeth and be flicked off. It may seem awkward, but it is more awkward to receive the Eucharist in a Byzantine Rite where the Eucharist is delivered by a small spoon.

It may seem awkward at first, but if you simply follow the above, you will receive without any problem.
Click to expand...
THIS times 1000.
One of the biggest issues we have with the Hispanic First COmmunicants is that their mothers all want them to receive on the tongue, but NONE of them want to stick their tongue out far enough. I think they believe it either looks weird or offends the priest. It doesn’t.
STICK it way out and carefully back in.
 
Michael85 said:
You kneel down, close your eyes and stick out your tongue. The priest will place the Host on your tongue.

You should NOT be receiving Communion in the hand. This was an abuse that was later permitted by the Church when it should never have been. St Thomas Aquinas wrote:

Out of reverence towards this Sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest’s hands, for touching this Sacrament. Hence, it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground, or else in some other case of urgency” (Summa Theologiae, III, 82, 3).

Your hands are not consecrated like the priest’s, so you should not be touching the Sacrament.
Click to expand...
Thank you but I’m trying to learn what the Church teaches. Though Communion in the hand was granted by indult, it is what the Church teaches. Please do not make up rules. It is dishonest and a rebellion against Church authority.
 
HobbitShoe said:
Thank you but I’m trying to learn what the Church teaches. Though Communion in the hand was granted by indult, it is what the Church teaches. Please do not make up rules. It is dishonest and a rebellion against Church authority.
Click to expand...
Good for you!
 
To those asking what the catechist said, I’m not entirely sure. She spent much of the lesson berating me, so I found it hard to concentrate. Clearly there are other issues here. She also said we are not allowed to kneel. I’m just going to talk to the priest, but thank you again for the help. This has at least provided much-needed context.
 
Michael85 said:
You kneel down, close your eyes and stick out your tongue. The priest will place the Host on your tongue.

You should NOT be receiving Communion in the hand. This was an abuse that was later permitted by the Church when it should never have been. St Thomas Aquinas wrote:

Out of reverence towards this Sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest’s hands, for touching this Sacrament. Hence, it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground, or else in some other case of urgency” (Summa Theologiae, III, 82, 3).

Your hands are not consecrated like the priest’s, so you should not be touching the Sacrament.
Click to expand...
FYI, your opinion is not Church teaching AND I receive on the tongue. You’re dogmatizing a discipline.
 
phil19034 said:
As a FYI - please do not call Body of Christ a “communion wafer.” That is offensive to many Catholics. Please refer to the Body of Christ as either a host or the Body of Christ.

God Bless
Click to expand...
No worries. I do know it is the Body of Christ,
Did not mean to offend fellow Catholics.

I do want to mention to you Hobbitshoe that the Body of Christ Host will be given to you either as a complete round Host or as part of that which the Priest divided, as a more triangle shaped Host.
 
HobbitShoe said:
To those asking what the catechist said, I’m not entirely sure. She spent much of the lesson berating me, so I found it hard to concentrate. Clearly there are other issues here. She also said we are not allowed to kneel. I’m just going to talk to the priest, but thank you again for the help. This has at least provided much-needed context.
Click to expand...
Its time to speak to your Priest about this Catechist. Their job is not to berate you guys.
I have seen people kneel, especially different ethnic groups, and especially before the Bishop.
 
Michael85 said:
You kneel down, close your eyes and stick out your tongue. The priest will place the Host on your tongue.

You should NOT be receiving Communion in the hand. This was an abuse that was later permitted by the Church when it should never have been. St Thomas Aquinas wrote:

Out of reverence towards this Sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest’s hands, for touching this Sacrament. Hence, it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground, or else in some other case of urgency” (Summa Theologiae, III, 82, 3).

Your hands are not consecrated like the priest’s, so you should not be touching the Sacrament.
Click to expand...
Yes, an indult was granted by Rome in 1977 (under dubious circumstances) for those in the United Sates wishing to receive in the hand . The preferred way to receive the blessed sacrament is on the touge while kneeling. This according to Cardinal Sarah prefect of the congregation for divine worship and the discipline of the sacraments.

There is much information on this subject for anyone who cares to research it.
 
HobbitShoe said:
Does anyone have information on how to receive Communion? Our RCIA class breezed through that lesson. Since I am about to be received into the Church, I need to know precisely what to do. Just to be clear, I’m not asking for the theology of the Eucharist. I am asking what specific actions one performs when receiving communion.
  1. What is the normal way to receive communion?
  2. How do I let the priest know I want to receive on the tongue?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
  1. Usually, it is standing and on the tongue. There are certain extra requirements if you want to receive on the hand (like checking for fragments that may break off from the Host, making sure your hands are clean (you better skip the sign of peace then, and avoid touching the money at the offertory), ect.
  2. You can hold your hands behind your back, tilt your neck upwards, and hold out your tongue like a flat surface so the Sacred Host can safely be administered to you
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top