I
Irene
Guest
Hello,
My name is Irené, and I’m a 17-year-old student at a Catholic high school. I have a mild disability, a type of cerebral palsy called hemiplegia. In my case, the muscles on the left side of my body, but especially those of my left hand, are very spastic and tight. I have little “fine motor control”, as it’s called, and so I struggle with cutting with scissors, typing (which I do single-handedly with my right hand), and receiving Communion. I was taught in CCD classes- since I attended public school for early elementary-the “normal method” of receiving Communion in the hand for right-handed people. I never trusted myself to have the dexterity to handle the Host with my left hand, though, so I’ve always done a modified receive-and-pick-up motion with my right hand.
Every time in the Communion time is nerve-straining, though, especially since I once dropped the Host! I can be so nervous that I never reach up properly, and the poor eucharistic minister improvises by giving me Communion on the tongue. Should I routinely receive Communion this way? Does anything in canon law pertain to my situation? I apologize for the length of this post, but I felt it was important for an understanding of the issue’s background. I’d appreciate any insight you can provide!
In Christ’s Peace,
Irené
My name is Irené, and I’m a 17-year-old student at a Catholic high school. I have a mild disability, a type of cerebral palsy called hemiplegia. In my case, the muscles on the left side of my body, but especially those of my left hand, are very spastic and tight. I have little “fine motor control”, as it’s called, and so I struggle with cutting with scissors, typing (which I do single-handedly with my right hand), and receiving Communion. I was taught in CCD classes- since I attended public school for early elementary-the “normal method” of receiving Communion in the hand for right-handed people. I never trusted myself to have the dexterity to handle the Host with my left hand, though, so I’ve always done a modified receive-and-pick-up motion with my right hand.
Every time in the Communion time is nerve-straining, though, especially since I once dropped the Host! I can be so nervous that I never reach up properly, and the poor eucharistic minister improvises by giving me Communion on the tongue. Should I routinely receive Communion this way? Does anything in canon law pertain to my situation? I apologize for the length of this post, but I felt it was important for an understanding of the issue’s background. I’d appreciate any insight you can provide!
In Christ’s Peace,
Irené