Observations on receiving on Tongue or in hand

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JRKH

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Let me declare first and foremost that I am NOT adverse to communion in the hand and this thread is not to discuss the merits of each.

Because of health issues My Wife and I sit in the first pew and receive there. Because of this “front row seat” I have observed things that most of us don’t see on a regular basis and perhaps don’t think about. That is - circumstances where - regardless of one’s normal preference, receiving on the tongue is better and safer. Two were seen just this week.
  1. A parent carrying a small child or infant. In
  2. Person leaning on a cane, crutches, or walker.
  3. A parent coming up with a toddler and really needing to keep their hands “on the kids”.
In each case I watched as the person struggled to get their hands up to receive. In one case a woman with a cane and very unsteady, nearly dropped the host. In another a man, carrying a sleeping child (maybe 10-12 months) really struggled to receive in the hand.

In all of these cases receiving on the tongue should be seen as easier, quicker and preferable to receiving in the hand.

As I said above - I’m not against receiving in the hand…This is not about that.
It is just an observation that I thought I’d pass along for the consideration of others who might have to deal with these kinds of things or know others who do.

Peace
James
 
These are good points James that had not occurred to me. Thanks.
 
I have seen, either as a rule or maybe just an appeal to common sense, that one should not receive in the hand unless one has both hands free.
 
I have always received in the hand and my wife has always received on the tongue but since I became a dad, when carrying one of our babies I receive on the tongue.

I still receive the Blood of Christ as I can do this easily with one of my giant hands.
 
If I had my arms around a sleeping infant, or was using a cane/walker, I would receive on the tongue & open my mouth in a way to indicate that is the way I wish to receive.

I’ve done EMHC duty at my mother’s parish in the past, and those who wanted it on the tongue I would make sure they got it that way. The few taller men would bend down for me as I am short.
 
MissRose73 said:
If I had my arms around a sleeping infant, or was using a cane/walker, I would receive on the tongue & open my mouth in a way to indicate that is the way I wish to receive.

I’ve done EMHC duty at my mother’s parish in the past, and those who wanted it on the tongue I would make sure they got it that way. The few taller men would bend down for me as I am short.
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I have never run into a problem with receiving on the tongue though I have seen a EMHC “stutter” just a bit as they are not use to it…🤷

Yes I’ve even gone to a kneeling position to accommodate a shorter EMHC (I’m 6 ft tall)
Of course now I always receive kneeling since we use the handicap pew.

Peace
James
 
As a thought on this matter, I wonder if the priest or EMHC when seeing someone in such circumstances could - and maybe should - give an indication to place the host on the tongue for these people…
Certainly if we can signal our preference, they can signal that they are willing to be flexable too…
I dunno - probably not workable for most.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
Let me declare first and foremost that I am NOT adverse to communion in the hand and this thread is not to discuss the merits of each.

Because of health issues My Wife and I sit in the first pew and receive there. Because of this “front row seat” I have observed things that most of us don’t see on a regular basis and perhaps don’t think about. That is - circumstances where - regardless of one’s normal preference, receiving on the tongue is better and safer. Two were seen just this week.
  1. A parent carrying a small child or infant. In
  2. Person leaning on a cane, crutches, or walker.
  3. A parent coming up with a toddler and really needing to keep their hands “on the kids”.
In each case I watched as the person struggled to get their hands up to receive. In one case a woman with a cane and very unsteady, nearly dropped the host. In another a man, carrying a sleeping child (maybe 10-12 months) really struggled to receive in the hand.

In all of these cases receiving on the tongue should be seen as easier, quicker and preferable to receiving in the hand.

As I said above - I’m not against receiving in the hand…This is not about that.
It is just an observation that I thought I’d pass along for the consideration of others who might have to deal with these kinds of things or know others who do.

Peace
James
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Good observations. I have noticed those circumstances also and always wonder why they don’t just receive on their tongue.
Joe_Kelley said:
I have seen, either as a rule or maybe just an appeal to common sense, that one should not receive in the hand unless one has both hands free.
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Yes, I completely agree. I always think it looks so nonchalant when a person just puts out one hand then flips the host into his mouth like a tic-tac.
I wish there was a rule about this.
 
Fidelia said:
Good observations. I have noticed those circumstances also and always wonder why they don’t just receive on their tongue.
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Thank you.
Yes, I completely agree. I always think it looks so nonchalant when a person just puts out one hand then flips the host into his mouth like a tic-tac.
I wish there was a rule about this.
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Actually there ARE rules about this. The proper method of receiving in the hand is clearly laid out and this really should be sufficient.
The problem I think comes in with the fact that few are taught that communion on the tongue is an acceptable and viable option. Even if they see others receiving on the tongue, they are so use to “how they were taught” that they just don’t think about it any other way…🤷
This is especially true where a person wouldn’t regularly be impaired - like a parent carrying a small child.
We are all creatures of habit after all.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
Thank you.

Actually there ARE rules about this. The proper method of receiving in the hand is clearly laid out and this really should be sufficient.
The problem I think comes in with the fact that few are taught that communion on the tongue is an acceptable and viable option. Even if they see others receiving on the tongue, they are so use to “how they were taught” that they just don’t think about it any other way…🤷
This is especially true where a person wouldn’t regularly be impaired - like a parent carrying a small child.
We are all creatures of habit after all.

Peace
James
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Interesting, how specific are the rules? Do you have a link or citation to what you are thinking of?
 
I have been carrying a child up to communion for close to 3 years now and it is what spurred me to receive on the tongue rather than the hands. I have short arms so I have difficultly having both arms in a clear enough position to receive in the hands. Also my hands get nasty dealing with drooling, snotty children. Sounds a lot more unsanitary than receiving on the tongue. 😛

So when I go up, I hold the child and with the opposite arm I hold the child’s hands down. (I had a child reach for the priest and ciborium) and receive on the tongue. Some benefits to this, is I can control the child, so they don’t grab at the host or the priest, and it clearly indicates to the minister of communion that I am going to receive on the tongue and there is not that awkward pause while the Minister registers that you are sticking your tongue out not your hands. :cool:
 
jilly4ski said:
I have been carrying a child up to communion for close to 3 years now and it is what spurred me to receive on the tongue rather than the hands. I have short arms so I have difficultly having both arms in a clear enough position to receive in the hands. Also my hands get nasty dealing with drooling, snotty children. Sounds a lot more unsanitary than receiving on the tongue. 😛
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This is actually one of the reasons I went back to receiving on the tongue regularly. Most all of us are going about our normal daily routine and then come to church. Yes we wash up and such but just how clean are our hands where we are to lay our Lord?
I can just imagine how it is with little ones…:eek:
So when I go up, I hold the child and with the opposite arm I hold the child’s hands down. (I had a child reach for the priest and ciborium) and receive on the tongue. Some benefits to this, is I can control the child, so they don’t grab at the host or the priest, and it clearly indicates to the minister of communion that I am going to receive on the tongue and there is not that awkward pause while the Minister registers that you are sticking your tongue out not your hands. :cool:
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Thank you for that wonderful description. I had thought about a child reaching for the host in the parent’s hand, I had not considered the possibility that they might reach out to the priest or ciborium. That is an excellent point.

Peace
James
 
Fidelia said:
Interesting, how specific are the rules? Do you have a link or citation to what you are thinking of?
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I can’t find a specific document but I did find this from an article…

In 1969, Pope Paul VI granted permission to receive the wafer in the hand, echoing the ancient instructions of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who wrote around the year 350 A.D.: “When you approach Holy Communion, make the left hand into a throne for the right, which will receive the King. Then with your lower hand, take the consecrated Host and place it in your mouth.”

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
In each case I watched as the person struggled to get their hands up to receive. In one case a woman with a cane and very unsteady, nearly dropped the host. In another a man, carrying a sleeping child (maybe 10-12 months) really struggled to receive in the hand.

In all of these cases receiving on the tongue should be seen as easier, quicker and preferable to receiving in the hand.
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Ironically, today at Mass when I was at the altar rail ready to receive on the tongue as I always do, the Host slipped from Father’s hand, bounced off of my chin, then the paten and landed on the padded kneeler between the cushion and the marble rail. It was very difficult to retrieve and even though it was an honest accident it still made me feel terrible. On the way home I thought of CAF and the back and forth of CITH vs. COTT and decided that there is no merit in either argument. Perhaps it wouldn’t have happened if I had received in the hand. Yet, on the tongue is the “traditional” way of the Church through the centuries. The sad fact is that things can occur beyond our control and our intention and CITH or COTT is irrelevant when they do.
 
Timothysis said:
Ironically, today at Mass when I was at the altar rail ready to receive on the tongue as I always do, the Host slipped from Father’s hand, bounced off of my chin, then the paten and landed on the padded kneeler between the cushion and the marble rail. It was very difficult to retrieve and even though it was an honest accident it still made me feel terrible. On the way home I thought of CAF and the back and forth of CITH vs. COTT and decided that there is no merit in either argument. Perhaps it wouldn’t have happened if I had received in the hand. Yet, on the tongue is the “traditional” way of the Church through the centuries. The sad fact is that things can occur beyond our control and our intention and CITH or COTT is irrelevant when they do.
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Thank you for sharing this. You are absolutely right. That is why I made the point that this thread is not about which is better in any general or overall sense.
As for the possibility of accident - in the normal course of things I’d say that neither method is any more or less prone to accidents beyond our control.
However - there are circumstances where there ARE things we can control and that is what this discussion is about.

In your case all of the proper steps were taken, AND there were no extraneous problems or possible interferences. Unfortunately the accident occurred. Not really much to be done in such a case. That you felt so bad is merely a function of the great Love and reverence that you feel for Our Lord. This will only make the Love between you and Him all the stronger.

In the cases that I have mentioned, the proper steps are impeded in some way and/or there is a greater possibility of extraneous problem or interference. Under these circumstances it strikes me that the the prudent thing to do is to receive on the tongue as this gives the fewest possibilities in that specific circumstance for an accident to occur.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
Let1) A
In all of these cases receiving on the tongue should be seen as easier, quicker and preferable to receiving in the hand.

Peace
James
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in all such cases when the person’s hands, or even one hand, is occupied or filled in any way they MUST receive on the tongue.
 
puzzleannie said:
in all such cases when the person’s hands, or even one hand, is occupied or filled in any way they MUST receive on the tongue.
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Right. People carrying kids here always receive on the tongue, and most of them don’t partake of the chalice.
 
I know a priest who’s quite strict and by-the-book. He’s not opposed to CITH but under the circumstances listed by the OP, he has publicly said that he will never give CITH. So unless you have both hands free and follow the proper rubrics, you cannot receive CITH from him.
 
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