How does one walk up to communion?

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gracynad

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can someone please tell me how to hold one’s hands while on the line to receive communion? are your thumbs crossed left over right or right over left
 
I don’t think that matters a bit. I have my hands together, fingers interlaced.
 
I hope it doesn’t matter, as long as the attitude of the heart is reverent. I do think that people should seek not to call attention to themselves while walking forward.

I used to walk forward to receive Holy Communion with my hands folded in prayer.

I had ankle surgery in March. (I’m 50 years old.) Now, even though the surgery was successful and my ankle is much less painful than it used to be, I have occasional problems with balance.

Several times, I have nearly fallen as I walk with hands folded. Last week, I walked with my hands folded, and when I received the Lord, I nearly fell because my feet were in an awkward position.

So I think I need to be a little more careful to use my arms to balance myself as I walk forward.

My ankle/balance problem isn’t obviously apparent to anyone who sees me. I don’t wear a brace anymore, or walk with crutches, and since I’m only 50, I look pretty spry.

So I’m afraid people who can’t see my disability will think that I am being a slacker.

I’m sure others are in the same boat as me, especially the elderly. At least we expect the elderly to be a little wobbly, so hopefully no one will judge them harshly if they walk “funny” as they go to receive Communion.

Sometimes even a teenager may have an injury or a hidden condition that makes their walk a little “funny.”

I hope that no one will judge me or other people as irreverent because we don’t fold our hands. I would if I could.
 
ok, I have searched; the CCC, the GIRM, and the Canon…quickly and came up only with this:

located at this site:
adoremus.org/0701postures.html

In this article:
Postures of the People at Mass
  1. Distribution of Holy Communion
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The faithful come forward in procession to receive Holy Communion. The posture for the reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Each communicant bows his or her head before the sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives Holy Communion from the minister. The consecrated Host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand at the discretion of each communicant. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is made before receiving both the Body and the Blood of Christ.
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I’ll keep looking…
 
My question is probably worded wrong. All I want to know is when you fold your hands in prayer (picture a pair of praying hands), do you cross your left thumb over your right thumb or visa versa. Or does it even matter?
 
gracynad said:
My question is probably worded wrong. All I want to know is when you fold your hands in prayer (picture a pair of praying hands), do you cross your left thumb over your right thumb or visa versa. Or does it even matter?
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Years ago Sister Mary Edmund taught us how to fold our hands in prayer - there was a significance in each part of the gesture. We were to put our palms together with our fingers touching and pointing upwards, our right thumb was to cross our left thumb. Our fingers pointing up was to show the direction our prayers were going, “up to God”, our thumbs crossed was a sign of the cross upon which Jesus died for our sins. I learned this over 43 years ago when I was in First Grade!

Now having said this, it must be noted that this is a private devotional posture. As a left handed person I tend to cross my left thumb over my right when I do so, other wise I just interlace my fingers in prayer.

Brenda V.
 
Thank you so much for your answer. I also was taught the same exact thing from Sister Margaret Mary, but I just couldn’t remember the right way. I am going to be a confirmation sponsor for my neice and I didn’t want to do it wrong. As it turns out, I was doing it right all along, but I wanted to make sure. When you’re in mass you see so many people holding their hands differently, and it has become acceptable I guess, but I wanted to make sure. Thanks, I really appreciate the info.

Have a wonderful day,
Grace.
 
…But is how you fold your hands as a confirmation sponsor the same as when you walk up to communion? :hmmm:

:rolleyes:
tee
FTR: tee is kidding
 
tee_eff_em said:
…But is how you fold your hands as a confirmation sponsor the same as when you walk up to communion? :hmmm:

:rolleyes:
tee
FTR: tee is kidding
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Talk about straining at gnats! As if there’s a ‘right’ way to fold the hands in prayer or any other time!

Much as I love the good sisters who’ve taught so many generations of Catholics (myself included), I’m glad that mine had information of a little more substance that they taught us - about the faith and other topics - and not minutiae like hand position.
 
gracynad said:
My question is probably worded wrong. All I want to know is when you fold your hands in prayer (picture a pair of praying hands), do you cross your left thumb over your right thumb or visa versa. Or does it even matter?
Click to expand...
It matters not at all…generally easier one way for righties, one for lefties. I’m right-handed and crossing the left over the right thumb feels weird…
 
All part of the nuns’ master plan to make the world right handed. Then we will have peace. 😛
 
dixieagle said:
It matters not at all…generally easier one way for righties, one for lefties. I’m right-handed and crossing the left over the right thumb feels weird…
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I’m a righty and crossing the R over the L feels weird! 😛

But really now, what if I had only one hand? (I know of an amputee). Or what if one arm was a stump? (In 9th grade there was a girl whose left arm was only half as long as it should have been.) Or what if I have muscular distrophy and can’t put my hands in a folded position? (We’ve all seen these people.) Or what if I’m using one hand to drive my electric wheelchair? (We’ve all seen them too.) Or what if I’m walking on crutches? (That was me a few years ago!)

Are you really going to tell me in these situations that my hands are not in the “correct” position? I’m thankful that I even have hands that work! :eek:

For those of us with working hands there’s Isaiah chapter 1, and Hosea 6:6, and Micah 6:6-8, etc. Bad hearts can fake the hand position. God doesn’t regulate how you hold your hands at the communion table. He cares care about the attitude in your heart at the communion table.
 
dixieagle said:
It matters not at all…generally easier one way for righties, one for lefties. I’m right-handed and crossing the left over the right thumb feels weird…
Click to expand...
Ha ha…this is weird, I know about this only because one of my little cousins did a science fair project about genetics last year. Which finger is on top when you fold your hands has nothing to do with which hand is your dominant. It’s a seperate genetic trait.

I’m right handed and I fold my left thumb over the top.

So fold your hands the way God made 'em! 😛
 
scottm said:
I’m a righty and crossing the R over the L feels weird! 😛

But really now, what if I had only one hand? (I know of an amputee). Or what if one arm was a stump? (In 9th grade there was a girl whose left arm was only half as long as it should have been.) Or what if I have muscular distrophy and can’t put my hands in a folded position? (We’ve all seen these people.) Or what if I’m using one hand to drive my electric wheelchair? (We’ve all seen them too.) Or what if I’m walking on crutches? (That was me a few years ago!)

Are you really going to tell me in these situations that my hands are not in the “correct” position? I’m thankful that I even have hands that work! :eek:

For those of us with working hands there’s Isaiah chapter 1, and Hosea 6:6, and Micah 6:6-8, etc. Bad hearts can fake the hand position. God doesn’t regulate how you hold your hands at the communion table. He cares care about the attitude in your heart at the communion table.
Click to expand...
Scottm:

Amen

The Position my hands are in matter a LOT LESS than the Position my Heart and Soul are in. When God looks at me kneeling at the Communion Rail, He isn’t looking at my hands - He’s looking at my Heart and my Soul.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael
 
Brenda_V said:
Years ago Sister Mary Edmund taught us how to fold our hands in prayer - there was a significance in each part of the gesture. We were to put our palms together with our fingers touching and pointing upwards, our right thumb was to cross our left thumb. Our fingers pointing up was to show the direction our prayers were going, “up to God”, our thumbs crossed was a sign of the cross upon which Jesus died for our sins. I learned this over 43 years ago when I was in First Grade!

Now having said this, it must be noted that this is a private devotional posture. As a left handed person I tend to cross my left thumb over my right when I do so, other wise I just interlace my fingers in prayer.

Brenda V.
Click to expand...
Thanks for reminding us what the nuns taught! I agree it’s a private devotional posture, and not something to obsess over. Most people like to hold their hands in a prayerful position as they approach communion. I see all kinds. I like what the nuns taught because I like being reminded that our hearts and minds are directed toward God, and the cross (doesn’t matter which thumb is up) is another reminder too. This is also how every traditional priest I have seen hold their hands.
 
gracynad said:
My question is probably worded wrong. All I want to know is when you fold your hands in prayer (picture a pair of praying hands), do you cross your left thumb over your right thumb or visa versa. Or does it even matter?
Click to expand...
Too much concern of your posture? Don’t think about it. As long is your heart is pure Jesus our Lord will be much more happy to be in you by receiving Him in the communion. People can only see your outward action but God sees your heart and He knows your intentions.

God loves you,

tony
 
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