Proper ways to receive Communion

[Paul_Edwards]

people have the right to receive in the hand.

It’s not exactly a right. Redemptionis Sacramentum was published by the Holy See which states:

“Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the sacrament in the hand, in areas where the bishops” conference with the recognitio [approval] of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her.”

Whilst communion on the tongue is a right communion in the hand is not but it simply “is to be” administered that way under certain conditions, however even in those conditions the Church does not call it a right because rights come from God and are part of our human dignity.

You probably meant the same as me anyway God Bless You

 

[thewanderer]

Please kneel to receive the King of the Universe, **if he stood in front of you visibly you wouldn’t stand and if you believe in the real presence you’ll do what you’d do if you seen him visibly. **

If I did not remain standing I assure the posture I took up would not be one of kneeling, but rather a posture wherein my head touched the floor. Are you suggesting that I receive communion in this posture?

 

[Paul_Edwards]

While you are correct it is a fact that the Universal Church has given authority to the Bishops to decide what the norms for posture during reception of the Eucharist will be for those under their care. It is also a fact that the Bishops of the United States, in accordance with the permissions granted them by the Universal Church, have decided that the norm for those in the United States is to stand while receiving the Eucharist. This does not mean it is wrong to kneel or that kneeling is forbidden or that anyone can be refused Communion because they desire to receive kneeling. What it does mean is that the norm for receiving the Eucharist in the United States is standing.

Correct, I was careful not to directly write any error

 

[Paul_Edwards]

If I did not remain standing I assure the posture I took up would not be one of kneeling, but rather a posture wherein my head touched the floor. Are you suggesting that I receive communion in this posture?

I don’t know what you mean

 

[thewanderer]

I don’t know what you mean

I mean something like one of these two images.

traditioninaction.org/Cultural/images/A036_ChildrenOfHope.jpg

traditio.com/comment/com1005v.jpg

After all, such a form of prostration is a greater sign of reverence than merely kneeling. Do you not want me to show the utmost possible respect to God? If so, shouldn’t you be advising me to at least bow down until my head touched the ground before lifting it up again to receive? And then after receiving to find somewhere out of the way from other people and again bow my head down to the ground while God Himself, the Creator of the Universe, is within me?

At least, if your argument is that we ought to perform those exterior actions which are most associated with reverence then that is what you should be exhorting, not simply kneeling my friend, but full on prostration. Or isn’t the best good enough for God?

[Sorry for the snark… but even though I prefer to kneel to receive this argument always bugs and frustrates me as it just doesn’t make sense to me.]

Edit: Although I have to say I was being perfectly honest when I said that if I didn’t remain standing (with my head bowed) I would not find myself kneeling upright, but rather with my head on the floor, or at the very least with my head bowed deeply.

 

[Paul_Edwards]

I mean something like one of these two images.

traditioninaction.org/Cultural/images/A036_ChildrenOfHope.jpg

traditio.com/comment/com1005v.jpg

After all, such a form of prostration is a greater sign of reverence than merely kneeling. Do you not want me to show the utmost possible respect to God? If so, shouldn’t you be advising me to at least bow down until my head touched the ground before lifting it up again to receive? And then after receiving to find somewhere out of the way from other people and again bow my head down to the ground while God Himself, the Creator of the Universe, is within me?

At least, if your argument is that we ought to perform those exterior actions which are most associated with reverence then that is what you should be exhorting, not simply kneeling my friend, but full on prostration. Or isn’t the best good enough for God?

[Sorry for the snark… but even though I prefer to kneel to receive this argument always bugs and frustrates me as it just doesn’t make sense to me.]

Edit: Although I have to say I was being perfectly honest when I said that if I didn’t remain standing (with my head bowed) I would not find myself kneeling upright, but rather with my head on the floor, or at the very least with my head bowed deeply.

Of course

 

[CB_Catholic]

The norm is to receive on the tongue while kneeling. However, in some places, permission has been granted by the Vatican to allow receiving in the hand. The US is one of those places. Bishops and pastors of parishes have the authority to refuse to administer in the hand if there is reason to believe that the practice will cause a decrease in reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, but if no such concern exists, the faithful have the right to receive Communion in the hand (in regions where permission has been granted). However, the faithful may never be refused if they prefer to receive Holy Communion on the tongue.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI would only administer Holy Communion on the tongue while kneeling. And many others parts of the world will not allow receiving in the hand. So there is a norm established, and individual popes, bishops, and priests will have their preferences as well.
I have been learning about this a lot lately. I prefer to receive on the tongue, and I do agree it is the most reverent, but in many parishes, very few people do this, and some EMHCs are caught off guard by someone who desires to receive this way. So, for Americans at least, this is a difficult topic to work through.

The norm for the United States has been established by the Bishops, and it is to receive standing, although a person kneeling can’t be refused. Also Communion may be received either on the tongue or in the hand at the discretion of the communicant, and neither is noted as being preferred. From the USCCB website:

The General Instruction asks each country’s Conference of Bishops to determine the posture to be used for the reception of Communion and the act of reverence to be made by each person as he or she receives Communion. In the United States, the body of Bishops determined that Communion should be received standing, and that a bow is the act of reverence made by those receiving. These norms may require some adjustment on the part of those who have been used to other practices, however the significance of unity in posture and gesture as a symbol of our unity as members of the one body of Christ should be the governing factor in our own actions.
Those who receive Communion may receive either in the hand or on the tongue, and the decision should be that of the individual receiving, not of the person distributing Communion. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. The host will then be laid in the palm of the left hand and then taken by the right hand to the mouth. If one is left-handed this is reversed. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

I mean something like one of these two images.

traditioninaction.org/Cultural/images/A036_ChildrenOfHope.jpg

traditio.com/comment/com1005v.jpg

After all, such a form of prostration is a greater sign of reverence than merely kneeling. Do you not want me to show the utmost possible respect to God? If so, shouldn’t you be advising me to at least bow down until my head touched the ground before lifting it up again to receive? And then after receiving to find somewhere out of the way from other people and again bow my head down to the ground while God Himself, the Creator of the Universe, is within me?

At least, if your argument is that we ought to perform those exterior actions which are most associated with reverence then that is what you should be exhorting, not simply kneeling my friend, but full on prostration. Or isn’t the best good enough for God?

[Sorry for the snark… but even though I prefer to kneel to receive this argument always bugs and frustrates me as it just doesn’t make sense to me.]

Edit: Although I have to say I was being perfectly honest when I said that if I didn’t remain standing (with my head bowed) I would not find myself kneeling upright, but rather with my head on the floor, or at the very least with my head bowed deeply.

You picked some unusual resources to attempt to make your point. The “Children of Hope” picture from Tradition in Action was actually used in a disapproving article, to criticize what was felt to be a Muslim-inspired non-traditional Catholic approach to Eucharistic devotion.

The second picture illustrates the unique prostration that occurs in an ordination ceremony during the Litany of the Saints. Again, a special posture prescribed in a very limited setting.

 

[thewanderer]

You picked some unusual resources to attempt to make your point. The “Children of Hope” picture from Tradition in Action was actually used in a disapproving article, to criticize what was felt to be a Muslim-inspired non-traditional Catholic approach to Eucharistic devotion.

The second picture illustrates the unique prostration that occurs in an ordination ceremony during the Litany of the Saints. Again, a special posture prescribed in a very limited setting.

The fact of the matter is that full prostration is more deeply connected with reverence than simply kneeling. If you try to argue that we ought all to kneel when receiving communion because we owe God our best and should perform the most reverent action then why would you not argue that we ought to fully prostrate ourselves before Him? The extreme example helps to show the flaw in the argument. The flaw being that what is important is actual reverence, which is an internal disposition. It doesn’t really matter what posture a person takes (so long as they are following any Church disciplines on the matter currently in effect) so long as their posture is fueled by a deep and sincere reverence. Reverence does not preside in a person’s posture, but rather in their heart.

 

[Paul_Edwards]

You picked some unusual resources to attempt to make your point. The “Children of Hope” picture from Tradition in Action was actually used in a disapproving article, to criticize what was felt to be a Muslim-inspired non-traditional Catholic approach to Eucharistic devotion.

The second picture illustrates the unique prostration that occurs in an ordination ceremony during the Litany of the Saints. Again, a special posture prescribed in a very limited setting.

While that’s true it’s nice to voluntarily do it extra

 

[thewanderer]

While that’s true it’s nice to voluntarily do it extra

 

[pacomius]

Of course

I appreciate your spiritual zeal. but the point here is the liturgy and Its norms.

1. only the bishop has the authority to determine how to receive Communion in areas under his territorial jurisdiction.
2. many priests fall into the error of invention in liturgy. though it’s not ours to judge, it is ours to distinguish right from wrong. liturgy by its etymology and oncology is never a personal affair
3. it is clearly written how to receive Communion with decorum. the word PARTICULAR CHURCH does not mean a Parish, but a diocese. and even the bishop has his limits in his diocese. the church has her hierarchical structure and is very precise in her allocation of authority.
4. Jesus is the way to the Father; but we are not the way to Jesus. the more we invent rules and obstacles, the more we are like Saul who thought he was serving God zealously
5. God struck Uzziah for touching a holy object. … and you dare eat the Holy Flesh of Christ as sinful as you are? ??? I guess you have forgotten the significance of the temple veil tearing when Jesus died.

THE SUMMARY. serve God as you would serve you FATHER, not as a MASTER