Receiving on the tongue for EMHC's

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Vittorio23

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I’m just curious if anyone else feels slightly… uncomfortable, receiving on the tongue from EMHC’s. I only receive on the tongue and I try to make sure that I am seated in a way which I can receive from the priest. Most people here receive in the hand and I feel awkward when I go to receive from EMHC, because they seem to feel awkward about giving to someone receiving on the tongue.

Does anyone else have this same problem?
 
No. Regardless of who is distributing Holy Communion, I receive via the tongue.

In Austin, it used to “weird” some of the EMHC’s out (and we were fellow EMHC’s), but, that didn’t change my practice. Oddly enough, from what I understand, the norm of choice as far as the instruction is concerned, is for the First Communicants to receive via the hand. It’s kind of sad because something is lost.

But, as for the OP, I receive via the tongue.
 
I serve as an EMHC both at Mass and with the homebound. I do receive on the tongue and I am happy to distribute Communion to people that want to receive on the tongue. When I receive the Host I always expect the minister to be capable to distribute with both manners.
 
I also receive on the tongue. We do also seat ourselves in a section that is usually served by the priest, and all the priests who are at the parish (physically present) come to distribute communion for each Mass so there is always more than one. But we also have EMHCs at the most crowded Masses.

Our EMHCs are trained to distribute to those who prefer to receive on the tongue and our First Communion classes are taught to receive on the tongue. The RCIA classes are urged to receive this way also. The altar boys are also asked to receive on the tongue and they always receive kneeling.

I would say that more than half of the parish receives on the tongue. I do try not to notice how anyone else receives, but occasionally my mind wanders and I begin watching…
 
I am an EMHC and do not feel akward giving the host on the tongue. We have recieved instructions on how to distribute in both ways. The only problem that I have is some comunicants do not know how to recieve communion properly, like someone just opening their mouth. Like the other poster I likewise receive on the tongue and have not had anyone distribute incorrectly.
 
The one I can’t figure out is when someone comes up to receive and extends *both *their tongue and their hands?! Is the priest/EMHC supposed to break the Host in half and give both ways?😉

Then there are the “snatchers,” who like to *take *the Host rather than *receive *it.
 
PhilotheaZ said:
Then there are the “snatchers,” who like to *take *the Host rather than *receive *it.
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Yes, those are the ones slowing down the line because you have to wait and keep an eye on them to see if they are going to consume it or not.😦
 
Never tought about it.I never received on the tongue until I recently injured my left hand. Yesterday I did not stick mr tongue out far enough and I could feel the priest’s nuckle hit my tooth. Ooops
 
Cristiano said:
Yes, those are the ones slowing down the line because you have to wait and keep an eye on them to see if they are going to consume it or not.😦
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not to mention the fact that its extrimely disrespectful. the Eucharist is supposed to be a gift. that was the symbolism behind recieving on the tongue while kneeling. i personally feel that recieving on the hand reduces this symbolism (in addition to having practical problems) but it is still somewhat salvaged by the fact that you are still recieving. to reach out and take the host just screams of arrogance and selfishness. i know that many people who do it probibly dont have this in mind when they do, but one cant help but wonder why they choose to do it this way rather than just doing what they are supposed to.
 
I forgot that five years ago when I was in RCIAwe had class on the Eucharists and how to properly receive it. Well I failed - I grabbed it. I was swiftly corrected and made an example for the whole class of how not to receive. And then I had to stand at end of the line to practise receiving correctly. Five years later I still pracise putting my left hand on top of my right hand as I walk up to receive. Until I injured my left hand three weeks ago and now have it braced - now I must receive it on the tongue and learn how to do that the best way.
 
There are several priests from whom I will receive on my tongue. All others, I receive on my hand. When people feel uncomfortable placing it on someone’s tongue, there is more chance of them dropping the host, and I prefer not to take that chance.

Should all priests and EMHC’s learn to distribute on the tongue? Sure, but I’m not going to chance it by forcing someone who is not prepared. —KCT
 
hilde_the_dog said:
Until I injured my left hand three weeks ago and now have it braced - now I must receive it on the tongue and learn how to do that the best way.
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Interesting, that is the reason why I started to receive on the tongue again. I had both my wrists in braces. 🙂
 
hilde_the_dog said:
Never tought about it.I never received on the tongue until I recently injured my left hand. Yesterday I did not stick mr tongue out far enough and I could feel the priest’s nuckle hit my tooth. Ooops
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When I serve as an EMHC, I try to be vigilant in making sure that I don’t put the host too close to the edge of the person’s tongue. In doing so, I’ve accidentally touched either their tongue or side of their mouth. Once in awhile, my finger is wet. Ugh. But I offer it up to God.
 
I remember one of the last times I went to mass at the Cathedral in my diocese and about 3 young priests were helping at the mass and several seminarians were serving the mass, it was really nice. But when I went up to recieve the Eucharist, I ended up recieving from one of the new Priests who was obviously uncomfertable with me recieving on the tounge, i noticed that many of the people behind me also recieved it on the tounge and it seemed the young priest got more comfertable about it as it went on. really i was just happy to see a priest who wasnt 30 years older then me, just like 6 or 7.

I don’t know if this has ever happened where you have seen it, but I have noticed that it seems like often very few people will recieve on the tounge, but once one person does it seems like alot of people who had their hands out infront of them as they are walking up, will drop their hands and recieve it on the tounge. Maybe I am just imagining the effect, but it seems to me that having one person recieve on the tounge can lead to others doing it too. I’m probably just being hopeful that it is really this contagious, but I hope that more people will it really would be great to return to that tradition.
 
Vittorio23 said:
I’m just curious if anyone else feels slightly… uncomfortable, receiving on the tongue from EMHC’s. I only receive on the tongue and I try to make sure that I am seated in a way which I can receive from the priest. Most people here receive in the hand and I feel awkward when I go to receive from EMHC, because they seem to feel awkward about giving to someone receiving on the tongue.

Does anyone else have this same problem?
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I only recieve on my tongue. I only recieve from the priest. I will go to a different aisle if need be. I won’t try to cause a scene, and since the Church allows these practices, I do not think less of anyone who receives in the hand or who is an EMHC (I will avoid watching them though), but I personally do not like those practices at all.
 
Vittorio23 said:
I’m just curious if anyone else feels slightly… uncomfortable, receiving on the tongue from EMHC’s. I only receive on the tongue and I try to make sure that I am seated in a way which I can receive from the priest. Most people here receive in the hand and I feel awkward when I go to receive from EMHC, because they seem to feel awkward about giving to someone receiving on the tongue.

Does anyone else have this same problem?
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As an EMHC, I have no problem giving people the Eucharist on the tongue. The biggest problem I have is that so many people will not open their mouths wide enough to slip the waffer in. I’ve mentioned this previously on this forum and someone said they had a small mouth and could not open their mouth wide. The width I’m referring to is so small that if they can’t open their mouth wider, they would most likely starve to death.
 
I am an EMHC, and I do not have any problem distributing Communion in the way that a communicant wishes to receive. If someone wishes to receive on the tongue, that is how I give them Communion. Once I had a woman say “thank you” after I gave her Communion on the tongue. I was thinking that she may have had difficulty in the past since she thanked me, but I never thought twice to give her Communion the way that she wished to receive.
 
I receive from the priest on the tongue only. If from a EMHC, in the HAND. They are no different from me. I much prefer a priest.
 
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