How do YOU recieve Communion?

[Nicea325]

He does, in order to take communion to places where he cannot be present. The priest is my spiritual father and is standing in the person of Christ. The EMHC is not. It is a blessing that more people are able to partake of the Sacrament because of the work of EMHCs, but it should be clear to any Catholic (as it is the clear teaching of the Church) that the faithful should receive from the priest whenever possible.

Understood.

 

[grasscutter]

That would be false humility. True humility is to recognize the truth about oneself and act accordingly. And therefore, in humility, one should do as much as one can to give homage to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

On what basis do you presume that those who are not present at Mass and must receive Communion from an EMHC outside of Mass do so on the hand?

On your second question - the experience of my elderly parents and while I don’t know for sure the manner in which they receive (not having been present at the time), it is not done by a priest, but rather a female EMHC. (Which in all fairness, has been strenuously addressed here. E.G. skipping the line in order to receive from a priest)

To your first question - I’m not sure. Maybe the perceived truth of oneself could possibly be false? How would I know, not being psychic? However, if one truly desires to receive in the way another can not, it would be a lovely sacrifice to also do so in solidarity.

 

[IesumPerMariam]

However, if one truly desires to receive in the way another can not, it would be a lovely sacrifice to also do so in solidarity.

No. It would not. To refuse to follow the simple practice expected by the Universal Church in reverence of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and instead follow the lax standard which is allowed only by indult would definitely not be a lovely sacrifice, nor would it be an act of humility properly understood.

 

[grasscutter]

No. It would not. To refuse to follow the simple practice expected by the Universal Church in reverence of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and instead follow the lax standard which is allowed only by indult would definitely not be a lovely sacrifice, nor would it be an act of humility properly understood.

So… are you saying that people in hospitals/nursing homes cannot be assured of having truly received the Sacrament of Holy Communion? That they only have the privilege of receiving due to an indult? (And I am aware, quite personally - hopefully you’ll be spared life threatening and disabling illness ), that priests do visit and administer the Sacrament - and they don’t have the resources to always do so.)

And since when is it not reverent and lax(!) to receive from an EMHC? Has it not been consecrated?

And yes. It would be a lovely sacrifice of pride for the love of Our Saviour.

 

[IesumPerMariam]

So… are you saying that people in hospitals/nursing homes cannot be assured of having truly received the Sacrament of Holy Communion? That they only have the privilege of receiving due to an indult? (And I am aware, quite personally - hopefully you’ll be spared life threatening and disabling illness ), that priests do visit and administer the Sacrament - and they don’t have the resources to always do so.)

Not at all. That is an extraordinary situation. The norm of the Universal Church is to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, while kneeling, during Mass. Whenever we are able, we should follow this norm. Someone who is severely ill is unable to.

And the graces of the Sacrament is not affected by the minister. Sacramental theologians call this ex opere operato.

And since when is it not reverent and lax(!) to receive from an EMHC?

The allowance of this practice is lax and less reverent, allowed only by indult, and not the norm of the Universal Church.

Has it not been consecrated?

The Eucharist is the same, but the hands holding it have not been consecrated. At Ordination, the priest’s hands are blessed and anointed with Sacred Chrism explicitly for the purpose of handling the Blessed Sacrament. No one else has had this consecration.

And yes. It would be a lovely sacrifice of pride for the love of Our Saviour.

No, it would not. That’s like saying it would be a “lovely sacrifice” to eat a sandwich in the narthex 15 minutes before Mass begins just so I haven’t fasted a minute more than an hour when I receive Holy Communion. The Church always encourages us to do more than the bare minimum when we are able.

 

[Greg_N]

Cue the Protestant double entendre.

Haha

Maybe the perceived truth of oneself could possibly be false?

You’ve just thrown out rationalism; in which case your entire argument would be incoherent.

So… are you saying that people in hospitals/nursing homes cannot be assured of having truly received the Sacrament of Holy Communion?

No, no one said that.

That they only have the privilege of receiving due to an indult?

Umm, yes? An indult is not invalid.

And yes. It would be a lovely sacrifice of pride for the love of Our Saviour.

No, no it wouldn’t.

 

[Mike30]

In the hand like the Twelve Apostles during the Last Supper and the first eight centuries of the Mass.

Finally an eyewitness!!!:dancing: Who would have thought any were still around!!

This Forum gets better every day!!!

 

[grasscutter]

I guess I don’t quite get it. I hope that you can explain it to me. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is less reverent and lax when one receives by an EMHC in a hospital setting? And if the answer is no, then how does it follow that receiving in such a way at Mass in a Church is lax and irreverent? Please help me, I’m totally confused and I don’t know what to tell my parents. And I truly apologize to the OP for derailing this thread, I am just seeking clarification.

 

[IesumPerMariam]

I guess I don’t quite get it. I hope that you can explain it to me. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is less reverent and lax when one receives by an EMHC in a hospital setting? And if the answer is no, then how does it follow that receiving in such a way at Mass in a Church is lax and irreverent? Please help me, I’m totally confused and I don’t know what to tell my parents. And I truly apologize to the OP for derailing this thread, I am just seeking clarification.

The difference is what is possible. We should always show as much reverence for the Blessed Sacrament as possible.

When someone is in the hospital, the option no longer exists for them to receive Communion in the normal way at Mass. Ideally, we would have enough priests, deacons, and other clerics to bring Communion to the sick, but again, this is literally impossible at this point. In many cases, the only possibility for a hospitalized person to receive Communion is from an EMHC. There is nothing irreverent or lax about this, because it is the most reverent method of receiving the Eucharist possible.

When we are at Mass, there is always at the very least one priest present. It is possible to receive directly from his consecrated hands.

 

[grasscutter]

The difference is what is possible. We should always show as much reverence for the Blessed Sacrament as possible.

When someone is in the hospital, the option no longer exists for them to receive Communion in the normal way at Mass. Ideally, we would have enough priests, deacons, and other clerics to bring Communion to the sick, but again, this is literally impossible at this point. In many cases, the only possibility for a hospitalized person to receive Communion is from an EMHC. There is nothing irreverent or lax about this, because it is the most reverent method of receiving the Eucharist possible.

When we are at Mass, there is always at the very least one priest present. It is possible to receive directly from his consecrated hands.

Thank you! I was getting concerned that my parents weren’t actually receiving the true Sacrament of Holy Communion. However (even though I generally receive on the tongue by a Priest), I think I will give up what I feel I get spiritually from that so as to be in unity and solidarity with my parents and the many others who cannot access that rare privilege. Thank you for your clarification and I’m sorry if I’ve been a bit of a bother.

 

[Greg_N]

I guess I don’t quite get it. I hope that you can explain it to me. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is less reverent and lax when one receives by an EMHC in a hospital setting? And if the answer is no,

The answer is yes.

think I will give up what I feel I get spiritually from that so as to be in unity and solidarity with my parents and the many others who cannot access that rare privilege.

Matthew 10:37: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.”

How about a little ‘unity and solidarity’ with God Himself?

 

[agnes_therese]

The allowance of this practice is lax and less reverent, allowed only by indult, and not the norm of the Universal Church.

If the allowance of the practice is “lax and less reverent,” then it follows you feel the same about those who made the allowance.

 

[grasscutter]

The answer is yes.

Matthew 10:37: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,”

How about a little ‘unity and solidarity’ with God Himself?

Oh, (ouch!) I guess I wasn’t expecting to hear that my behaviour was contrary to my worthiness for Jesus. I was well intentioned, thank you for correcting me. And totally timely considering this is the feast day of St. Colette when it is good to ask if one is being oversensitive to criticism and wondering if one continues to defend their opinion even when it’s wrong.

 

[mlz]

When I first came to Catholic Answers as a potestant I tub ought this was a silly argue
Ent. After receiving in the hand as all do in my parish,I changed and am I think the only one receiving on the tongue. I was moved to change after going to a Marian conference and hearing about some horrible abuses made in many parishes, But the real change was after hearing if a holy Catholic priest serving in a predominantly Muslim community ask why that which Catholics consider Most Holy(Eucharist) is held in your hand like common food. I could see this more clearly and although I don’t look down on those choosing to receive in the hand God has made it clear to me I must receive on the tongue only.
Mlz

 

[CaptBell800]

In the hand. It’s what most people in my church do. I don’t want to start a ruckus, and I really don’t see the difference.

 

[IesumPerMariam]

Thank you! I was getting concerned that my parents weren’t actually receiving the true Sacrament of Holy Communion. However (even though I generally receive on the tongue by a Priest), I think I will give up what I feel I get spiritually from that so as to be in unity and solidarity with my parents and the many others who cannot access that rare privilege. Thank you for your clarification and I’m sorry if I’ve been a bit of a bother.

As long as we’re appealing to the lowest common denominator, how about just not going to Mass at all on Sundays in solidarity with those who are unable to?

 

[Greg_N]

Oh, (ouch!) I guess I wasn’t expecting to hear that my behaviour was contrary to my worthiness for Jesus. I was well intentioned, thank you for correcting me. And totally timely considering this is the feast day of St. Colette when it is good to ask if one is being oversensitive to criticism and wondering if one continues to defend their opinion even when it’s wrong.

Pray and meditate on it my friend.
(I’ll keep you in my Rosary)

God bless

 

[grasscutter]

Pray and meditate on it my friend.
(I’ll keep you in my Rosary)

God bless

Thank you so much for your prayers! I’m, as always, grateful that CAF members guide me toward the right path.

And I know that they do because of what Jesus said about the place for people who provide a stumbling block for those who seek Him.

And I also give thanks for Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and The Magesterium. Usually, that’s where I go for serious things… but the members on CAF are still valuable(!) so hopefully I haven’t made it seem that I take what you all say with a grain of salt.

 

[Mark121359]

St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us, with respect to Communion in the hand, that reverence demands that only what has been consecrated should touch the Blessed Sacrament. He writes:

The dispensing of Christ’s body belongs to the priest for three reasons.*** First, because . . . he consecrates in the person of Christ ***. . . Secondly, because the priest is the appointed intermediary between God and the people, hence as it belongs to him to offer the people’s gifts to God, so it belongs to him to deliver the consecrated gifts to the people. Thirdly, because out of reverence toward 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.

So for me on the tongue and preferably kneeling. Who the heck am I to argue with a Doctor of the Church!

 

[CaptBell800]

The Church says it is okay to take in the hand.