Recieving communion

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slywakka250

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I am interested in the proper way to recieve communion on the hand. Please don’t turn this into yet another thread debating recieving on the hand or the tounge; for those who recieve on the hand there should be a proper way to do so with reverence, even if it is not the normative way.

my question is in regard to the particles I have recently noticed are left on my hands after recieving. They are small and though it is likely, I can not even be sure they come from the Host. I have tried to consume them by putting my hand to my mouth, but cannot have full confidence that no visible particle is dropped. how scrupulous do we need to be on this? must we examine our hands for several minutes after Mass??

this is the first time I have noticed this, and I’m really worried about what to do, or is this just being scrupulous??
 
The host is made in a manner to minimize the likelihood of particles / crumbs falling off. In the off chance that they do anyway, I believe you are only responsible for those which are readily apparent. You may want to consume the host and then hold your hands together in fingers flat against one another, palms touching prayer position. If you don’t feel any crumbs, pray to Christ that you notice any of his body which requires your attention, but to give you peace of mind if there is none. Then relax and receive the peace he gives you. Beyond this and I think you may be risking being scrupulous.

But this is more my humble opinion than any specific teaching (beyond, I think learning that it has to be a large enough crumb to be apparent to count).

Hope this helps. And God Bless you for caring,

CARose
 
thanks, another thing I have noticed is that different parishes I have been to use different breads that crumble more easily than others.
 
If a particle is too small to be seen, then Christ is not present in the particle. Do not worry. Look at your hand and consume any particle that is clearly from the host. Do not worry about pieces of dust, lint, sweat, or whatever else may be there. Only concern yourself with what actually looks like a small particle of bread (it isn’t bread, though).

As I understand it, you could wet a tip of your finger, touch your finger to the particle, and then transfer the particle to your tongue. Hold your hand underneath your finger as you do this.

If you are worrying to any substantial extent, talk to the priest so he can help you. You do not want to become scrupulous!
 
I know you did not want this to become a receiving on the tongue vs. receiving in the hand debate, and this is not what I’m trying to do, but if the particles you are finding on your hand after receiving communion bother you, you can always receive on the tongue. There would be no question there on whether you had particles on your hand if you did that :D.

matthew
 
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CARose:
The host is made in a manner to minimize the likelihood of particles / crumbs falling off. In the off chance that they do anyway, I believe you are only responsible for those which are readily apparent.
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CARose could be right. I would make sure your hands are free and clean before receiving. If the hosts you use truly does shed particles, talk to your priest. Wafers are available that do not have this problem.
 
if you have anything in your hand, kleenex, cast on your arm, missal, carrying a child, you may not receive in the hand, you must receive on the tongue. Make a throne for the Lord by placing the left hand on top of the right, cupping your left hand like a cradle. The priest says “Body of Christ” and places the Host in your left hand. You say “Amen”, take the host between the thumb and first finger of your right hand and immediately place it in your mouth. You may let it dissolve, or chew if necessary. Please swallow before taking the Precious Blood. You may make any gesture of reverence before receiving, genuflection or a bow of the head, you may make the sign of the Cross afterward. Since in the US we are properly kneeling just before we process, no genuflection is strictly necessary.

If you prefer to receive on the tongue, approach the priest with your hands folded, stand close enough that he can comfortably reach your mouth, say your “Amen” bend your head back and look up, at the crucifix if there is one hanging over the altar, opening your mouth as if to say “ah” for the doctor (don’t speak, of course). Receive the Host and proceed as above.
 
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puzzleannie:
if you have anything in your hand, kleenex, cast on your arm, missal, carrying a child, you may not receive in the hand, you must receive on the tongue.
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I did not know that. Do you know if this is written anywhere or was it the way you were taught? The first time I had to carry a baby at Mass, I took it as a common sense thing to do, but was unaware of any requirement.
 
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puzzleannie:
You may make any gesture of reverence before receiving, genuflection or a bow of the head, you may make the sign of the Cross afterward.
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It is proper to do a profound bow at the waist before receiving instead of the bow at the head, or one as mentioned can genuflect or make the sign of the cross.

matthew
 
When I raise my hands to receive the Sacred Host, I am raising them as a beggar to a generous King … I then walk to the side and raise my eyes to the crucifix above the altar with my back to the congregation facing the crucifix over the altar and receive the Sacred Host looking at the crucifix as I say silently in my mind “With You”. I then move to the side of the Church and receive The Blood of Christ and as the Eucharist Minister says “The Blood of Christ” and in affirmation I reply “Amen” I am acknowledging my share in the redemptive sufferings of Christ as I did when I received His Body a moment earlier. I am also aware that my own redemption was in the Blood of Christ. On returning to my seat, my first act is to give Thanksgiving and Praise to God that I am called to be Catholic and to receive The Body and Blood of His Son and to share in His Redemptive Sufferings before proceeding with silent prayer.
On walking up to the altar to Holy Communion I sing silently in my mind the hymn"Soul of My Saviour" or perhaps recite the prayer “Come Holy Spirit Come”. Or if there is being a hymn sung by the congregation that I particularly like I may join in.

I see all this as my act of reverence on receiving Holy Communion…altho perhaps not particularly observable by others. It is a quite personal matter, but outward shows of reverence and piety make me feel uneasy… not relaxed and self conscious. I much prefer inward recollection without exterior acts…just me!

Barb
 
Since in the US we are properly kneeling just before we process, no genuflection is strictly necessary.
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As a point of interest in Australia we are usually kneeling as well in accord with the liturgy of The Mass.

Barb
 
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pnewton:
I did not know that. Do you know if this is written anywhere or was it the way you were taught? The first time I had to carry a baby at Mass, I took it as a common sense thing to do, but was unaware of any requirement.
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I am not in my office, on vacation, but will try to find source for you, but it is common sense if you cannot use both hands, keeping them empty for the Lord, you cannot therefore receive in the hand.

The profound bow is one of the recommended signs of reverence, not the only one. I personally cannot do it because of vertigo (I have fallen twice and pastor ordered me not to bow).
 
Since the Body and Blood of Christ is fully present under both species, why do so many people feel they must receive both or for that matter want to receive both? I have never fully :confused: understood this concept.
 
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palmas85:
Since the Body and Blood of Christ is fully present under both species, why do so many people feel they must receive both or for that matter want to receive both? I have never fully :confused: understood this concept.
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I receive under both. I do not think it is a matter that we** must** receive this way, though. Why do so many not receive under both that have the opportunity? Why should I care either way?
 
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pnewton:
I receive under both. I do not think it is a matter that we** must** receive this way, though. Why do so many not receive under both that have the opportunity? Why should I care either way?
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As I said, since the Body and Blood is fully present under both why recieve under both? You receive the full benefit from either. I just don’t understand. By receiving under both it almost seems to say that one or the other is not sufficient or you receive double the grace from receiving both. Neither of which seems likely. Never having received under both, I honestly don’t understand it.
 
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palmas85:
As I said, since the Body and Blood is fully present under both why recieve under both?
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Rather than just respond with the equally valid question, “why not?” I will say like the man who climbs the mountain, “Because it is there.”

We must never assume that we get “double grace” or that both are needed. Just the host is fine. I like the symbolism of both in a devotional sense.
 
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pnewton:
Rather than just respond with the equally valid question, “why not?” I will say like the man who climbs the mountain, “Because it is there.”

We must never assume that we get “double grace” or that both are needed. Just the host is fine. I like the symbolism of both in a devotional sense.
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Well, thats a valid answer. I know that for centuries only the Priest received under both species, and it seems a little curious to me that now so many people want to receive under both. No offense intended, I just didn’t understand, thats all…
 
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palmas85:
As I said, since the Body and Blood is fully present under both why recieve under both? You receive the full benefit from either. I just don’t understand. By receiving under both it almost seems to say that one or the other is not sufficient or you receive double the grace from receiving both. Neither of which seems likely. Never having received under both, I honestly don’t understan d it.
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Hello there palmas85…here is what The Catholic Catechism has to say: (Page 351)

**1390 **Since Christ is sacramentally present under each of the species, communion under the species of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace. For pastoral reasons this manner of receiving communion has been legitimately established as the most common form in the Latin rite. But "the sign of communion is more complete when given under both kinds, since in that form the sign of the **Eucharistic meal **appears more clearly."222 This is the usual form of receiving communion in the Eastern rites.

What happened at The Last Supper was Jesus consecrated the bread and wine into his body (bread) and wine (blood) and then the apostles received under both species. Hence to receive under both species becomes a more accurate SIGN of the Eurcharistic Meal or Last Supper.

My own personal reasons for receiving under both species…is firstly in obedience to The Church’s teaching receiving under both species separately is a more ACCURATE SIGN that Holy Communion signifies The Last Supper or the first Eucharistic Meal. That is to say Holy Communion becomes a witness.

Secondly I have drawn my personal reasons from Teilhard de Chardin:
At The Offetory Procession I offer to God the bread as a sign of all the goodness in this world and I offer the wine as a sign of all that is negative and the suffering in this world … both to be offered to Him for uniting with His Son. (the negatives and sufferings in this world I offer to Him for His Infinite Mercy).
Prior to processing to Holy Communion I ask Jesus to take any good that may be in me and in the whole world (all accomplished by His Gratiutiousness alone) to be united into Him. Thanksgiving and Praise.
And all my own sins and sufferings and those of this whole world to be washed in His Blood and Infinite Loving Mercy. Petition.

Mostly I am conscious as I receive The Body of Christ and then His Blood of my personal reasons (above) for receiving under both species.

I think it is important we understand our reasons for receiving under both species, or not. If people ask us why, then we need to have reasons…especially if non catholics or potential enquirers into Catholicism ask us. We need to understand why we believe whatever we do believe!

Regards Barb
 
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