Priest says no Kneeling, prefer no receiving Communion on tongue

[Brendan_64]

Perhaps it’s just that they’re being taught the way that is primarily used in their parishes, and there is no grand conspiracy.

I’m not indicating a grand conspiracy, but why not teach children how to receive on the tongue? Are we supposed to be teaching them about their Catholic faith, or are we just teaching them about what most (but not all) people choose to do in that particular parish? It’s not exactly a difficult concept for children to understand that Communion can also be received on the tongue, and then teach them how to do this. Why do catechists not teach them this?

 

[Denise1957]

I think a very big issue here is the instruction that is given to children making their first Holy Communion. How are they taught to receive? I suspect that most parishes universally teach the children how to receive Communion in the hand, but that few parishes actually teach them how to receive Communion on the tongue. If they are not taught how to receive on the tongue, then when the child (later in life) decides that they are going to start receiving on the tongue how can he be blamed for receiving clumsily on the tongue.

Personally I believe that to teach the children how to receive in the hand, but not on the tongue is very bad catechesis, (possibly even catechesis with an agenda). Why are children not taught this? Is it viewed (incorrectly) that receiving on the tongue is not really an appropriate way for children to receive?

You bring up a good point here. I also wonder if priests are trained in seminary as to how to give communion on the tongue. It’s possible that they don’t have any instruction, or if they were ordained before the late 1960’s (before the new missal) perhaps they don’t remember how to go about it, or they’re worried that they’ll drop the host, or something like that. I wonder, too, if the USCCB has provided all the U.S. dioceses with instructions on how to give on the tongue.

 

[maryjk]

I think a very big issue here is the instruction that is given to children making their first Holy Communion. How are they taught to receive? I suspect that most parishes universally teach the children how to receive Communion in the hand, but that few parishes actually teach them how to receive Communion on the tongue. If they are not taught how to receive on the tongue, then when the child (later in life) decides that they are going to start receiving on the tongue how can he be blamed for receiving clumsily on the tongue.

Personally I believe that to teach the children how to receive in the hand, but not on the tongue is very bad catechesis, (possibly even catechesis with an agenda). Why are children not taught this? Is it viewed (incorrectly) that receiving on the tongue is not really an appropriate way for children to receive?

I know that at my current parish and my previous parish they ware taught both. In fact, I taught at our previous parish and I KNOW I taught both.

Each child received both ways, at least twice, during practice. Then at their first Communion, they were allowed to choose which way to receive.

I can tell you that, in my class, every child chose to receive in the hand. And in the US, that is their option.

 

[seaton2005]

We have an old priest who says one of the weekend masses. He told people that they could not receive communion kneeling down, that it is not written anywhere that this is allowed. All it does is mess up the communion line and causes the person behind you to trip over your feet. He also said that receiving on the tongue was disgusting and unsanitary because he invariably got saliva all over his fingers and then had to dig in for another host. The saliva ends up on the next person’s host. He says it also increases the chance of dropping the host. (I haven’t noticed any difference. I’ve seen him drop hosts several times for people who receive in the hand, too.) He says that there is no reason to receive communion on the tongue.

His last words in mass were that if you couldn’t hear what he had to say, you might as well have stayed in bed.

I know that Jimmy Aikins has said that a person can kneel for communion. He said it was in the 2010 GIRM, but I can’t find it anywhere. Can anyone recommend a source?

Good points made regarding communion on tongue. My parish does not allow it either (on tongue) due to sanitary issues. It’s always placed in our hand. Also, we are instructed to stand not kneel during communion.

 

[pensmama87]

I know that at my current parish and my previous parish they ware taught both. In fact, I taught at our previous parish and I KNOW I taught both.

Each child received both ways, at least twice, during practice. Then at their first Communion, they were allowed to choose which way to receive.

I can tell you that, in my class, every child chose to receive in the hand. And in the US, that is their option.

I don’t know what my children will learn in religious ed on how to receive, but I’m not surprised that given the choice most children choose to receive in the hand, because that’s probably what they see their parents do. And in the US it is a legit option.

I wouldn’t require my children to receive on the tongue, though both their father and I do, but I would point out that they could and how to do it. But I’d say probably around 15-20% of the communicants on any given Sunday receive on the tongue at our parish, so it’s not uncommon.

 

[Regina7]

Because we have tincture on First Communion, we teach the kids to receive on the tongue and on their knees. All this is per Father’s request, and I am only too happy to oblige.

 

[Brendan_64]

I know that at my current parish and my previous parish they ware taught both. In fact, I taught at our previous parish and I KNOW I taught both.

Each child received both ways, at least twice, during practice. Then at their first Communion, they were allowed to choose which way to receive.

Your parishes are to be applauded for that.

Good points made regarding communion on tongue. My parish does not allow it either (on tongue) due to sanitary issues. It’s always placed in our hand. Also, we are instructed to stand not kneel during communion.

Your parish priest is in no position to forbid Communion on the tongue. He has absolutely no authority to do so, he is in breach of Church law and denying people their rights. If a person wishes to receive Communion on the tongue, or kneeling then no priest has the right to deny this. A letter to his bishop would be appropriate if a person was denied this right.

 

[mamlukman]

This thread is a good example of what I’ve found here on Catholic Answers–a lot of criticism of others, and a few thoughtful cool heads who jump in and quote the Vatican documents, which are invariably a codification of common sense and logic.

I’m all for doing what the Vatican says–they say it’s a choice, it’s a choice. If you don’t like other people’s choices, that’s your problem, not theirs. Recognize their right to choose.

All this also shows why the Church was hesitant for years about giving such choices–it causes needless division and argument.

 

[mek42]

First, thank you for this thread, it inspired me to learn that (US Fed. Law) 29CFR1975 exempts religious processes from OSHA regulations, including (as relates to this thread) 29CFR1910.1030 (bloodborne pathogens). If it was a nurse directly placing food into a patients mouth (not a religious act) the nurse is required to wear gloves to prevent contact with the patient’s saliva. In the case of giving the sacrament, there is no such requirement, since this is a religious process.

If a priest is concerned about bloodborne pathogen exposure during the Eucharist act, may he volutarily wear gloves while offering the host?