Receiving on the tongue

[Michael_Welter]

gez722:

I couldn’t agree more! I was just thinking about that today. I want to feel humble when I receive my Savior in Holy Communion.

Is it possible to feel humble while standing? More importantly, is it possible to BE humble without FEELING humble? What’s more important, actual humility, or feeling humble? Was Jesus more humble when kneeling? Or did he ALWAYS have perfect humility?

 

[gez722]

Michael Welter:

Is it possible to feel humble while standing? More importantly, is it possible to BE humble without FEELING humble? What’s more important, actual humility, or feeling humble? Was Jesus more humble when kneeling? Or did he ALWAYS have perfect humility?

Michael,

It really depends on the individual. For me, receiving on the tongue is my expression of reverence for Our Lord. Receiving on the tongue is my personal gesture of humility. I don’t kneel when I receive (for practical reasons), but I respect the piety of those that do.

As for being humble without feeling humble, I imagine it’s possible but I’m not there yet. I’m still working on increasing my humility, so these small gestures are of benefit to me.

God Bless,
Gary

 

[otm]

Lux_et_veritas:

• Actually it has nothing to do with “feeling” humble, but being humble. As a priest once explained, the straight knee is a sign of strength. But a knee that is bent is a sign of humility.
• Please point me to the document from the USCCB that states the “norm” for the US is to “stand”. I would like to read this.

Lets make sure we are not confusing an official, written norm, for the “everyone else is doing it” norm. The latter is meaningless. In the US, we make this mistake frequently. The only way to navigate the issue is with official documents from the Holy See and from the USCCB.

try the GIRM, for starters, which has more authority than a statement from the USCCB. The norm is standing.

 

[otm]

EJ79:

God bless you for your faith and your humility. It really moved me and made me reflect at how unfair and judgemental I am at times towards some people who receive in the hand.

Please feel welcome to receive Christ in the manner you are most comfortable receiving Him in - if it is in the traditional manner on the tongue…then don’t let your situation with your jaw impede you from receiving Him this way. No priest can deny communion to anyone just because they have trouble saying “Amen,” or because they are taking a few seconds more in front of the priest - I would gladly wait a few seconds more, or as long as it took, behind someone who obviously loves Christ in the Eucharist as much as you, to take their time to receive with dignity and decorum. But if you truly feel more at ease receiving in the hand, then by all means do so, you are doing absolutely nothing wrong and you shouldn’t feel the least bit guilty - in fact, if everyone who received in the hand would have the faith and concern that you do, there wouldn’t be any problems with regards to irreverence.

This whole business of expediting the Communion line, as if it were an assembly line in a factory or a line in a fast food joint is really wrong. I’ve heard priests and laity say how glad they are that the Bishops have discouraged genuflecting before receiving, mainly because it “held up the line.” Now I bow and sign myself before receiving out of obedience to the bishops, but I sure miss genuflecting or kneeling.

Actually, going up one by one and receiving takes more time than having everyone kneel at an altar rail.

 

[otm]

AGirone:

**Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing". (RS 91)
**

Which is to say, the canonical penalty of withholding Communion for kneeling is an improper imposition of a serious canonical penalty.

It does not, therefore, flow from that, that where the norm is standing, kneeling is a perfectly permissible option. As the GIRM states, the one who kneels is to be “counseled”.

 

[Sixtus]

As a Blessed Sacrament priest once told me, familiarity breeds contempt.

Amen. As an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, I refuse to touch His Sacred Body. I am content to minister the Challice. Though find it a very emotional experience.