Reasons to receive the Eucharist on the tongue?

[jbelokur]

Firstly, I would just like to state that while I both believe that communion on the tongue is the more appropriate way to recieve Holy Communion, and that I would like to see the indult for communion in the hand removed, I know many faithful Catholics who recieve in the hand who have extensive devotion to Our Lord in the most Blessed Sacrament. They are more reverent toward the Eucharist than 99% of Catholics I know. So please don’t think that (hopefully) anyone thinks less of you for recieving in the hand.

I keep reading this forum over and over and so far it seems that the reception of the Eucharist on the tongue is preferred because.
1. Less chance of loss of any particle.
2. Less chance of its being stolen.
3. Less casual walking up to take something that is being handed out and sticking it in your mouth while you walk through the church, like a piece of chewing gum. I hate that. When I receive on the palm, I make a small side step face the altar, carefully pick up the host and place it on my tongue, make the sign of the cross, and move on. Oh, sorry…
3. again. Less casual.
4. More respect for Holy Orders, the priesthood, the anointed hands

I love all this stuff!!!

I would say that your analisis is correct, though I would add that the Church still also maintains its testimony that communion on the tongue should be the normal mode of reception.

B U T

I am an extraordinary eucharistic minister. And…
Some people who want to receive on the tongue barely open their mouths.
Some don’t stick out their tongues. It’s hard to get the host in there without getting spittal on your finger or thumb. What about germs?

Do the best you can, and make sure that you have an altar server hold a patten just in case. Also, I would say think ahead. Try to memorize who recieves on the tongue and be prepared for it. I know that in my parish, the EMHC’s are constantly “surprised” when I get there and there have been several times that they just seem to freak out for a second. I think that this is the fault of my priest for not training them well and because we are one of two families who recieve on the tongue.

 

[brotherhrolf]

I am an extraordinary eucharistic minister. And…
Some people who want to receive on the tongue barely open their mouths.
Some don’t stick out their tongues. It’s hard to get the host in there without getting spittal on your finger or thumb. What about germs?

Well over fifteen hundred years Latin Rite Catholics received on the tongue. It only changed 40 years ago or less. It is within my memory and I’m not dead yet nor do I consider myself elderly. Forty years ago there were no EMHCs. (But that is another subject). Kids need to be taught how to receive Communion on the tongue. They need to practice (See the Necco Wafers mentioned above).

All that has happened is that we have thrown the baby out with the bathwater. We’ve lost our institutional memory that we had for over fifteen hundred years. There is no risk of germs if one had been trained to a) receive on the tongue and b) administer communion.

I get the impression that most of you posting are younger than me and think that receiving on the tongue is “yucky”. God bless the good sisters who taught me back in the dark ages. “Open your mouth! Wide! Stick out your tongue! Johnny! I said stick out your tongue!” Did I tell you that nuns wore habits back then and were amongst God’s most fearsome creatures? Did I tell you that Father visited the classroom dressed in a cassock with a biretta upon his head? Did I tell you that the brothers wore belted cassocks and wore a pectoral cross and had a huge rosary slung about their waists?

Forty years is not such a long time in HMC’s memory. Out there in your parishes there are people who, gasp!, grew up before Vatican II. They’re not dead yet! They’re feeling better! I daresay it would be very easy to gather sufficient subject matter experts in your parishes to have a little instruction before Mass on how to receive on the tongue. It’s not rocket science. It’s how our ancestors for the last 1500 years received Communion.

 

[Lainey63]

Your hands have a lot more germs than the inside of your mouth. Think about it…when was the last time the pews or seats were washed, doorknobs, one the places that has the most germs are steering wheels in our vehicles. So if you are an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister, you are also touching the hands of the communicant when you place the host in their hand and the person after that also so in essence if you really think about it I guess then germs are just be spread all over the place to everyone. Come on, how far do you want to run with this? It seems that I have read more complaints from Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers which only convinces me more to receive only from the Priest I don’t feel like I’m being judged because I receive on the tongue…and can receive Jesus with peace & love in my heart. If one is sceeved by communicants receiving on the tongue, then there is a serious problem. Which is why some are opposed to the use of laypeople distributing Holy Communion.

 

[ainjell]

OH MY GOSH! you are so right!

I do carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my purse for use before distributing the Eucharist, but you’re right,Lanie, I don’t stay clean.

Brotherolf, I’m 68 years old. I do fondly remember the old days of silence, reverence, latin chant, altar rails. I wish it had never changed. I hope the indult is removed. Actually, I think I read somewhere that it expired and the US bishops applied for an extension and it was denied but that they decided to continue it anyway. Wonder whether there’s any truth to that?

After mass our family went straight home and my mom gave out glasses of water to each of us to make sure no particle remained in our mouths. Also she said it was more respectful that plain water be the first thing to touch your tongue after Jesus.