Taking Communion....

[Rebecca_Pslm91]

Just curious…

Just about each time I take Communion, it basically moves me to tears. Not sad tears, just tears almost always come to my eyes. Then I will look around, and I know it’s wrong, but I am almost embarrassed, so I simply wipe my tears aside, so no one will see. But at the same point, it almost makes me a little upset sometimes, because when that is the Body of Christ, and should not we all be moved, then I get upset w/myself that I should even care what anyone else thinks when I take Communion. This truly gets to me when we do full Communion, the Host and Wine.

But does it ever bother you that so many just take communion as if it is not big deal? Think about it, if we all truly believed that was Christ before us, we should fall down to our knees and worship Him. Communion to me is the most powerful thing we have, and just feel as if alot of times ppl take it for granted.

How does taking Communion move you, just curious. Would love to read some of the responses… I love it, and I just wish that I could just let the tears flow and not care what everyone else thought… For it is the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes wonder if that must hurt Him, or anger Him, that some just take Communion as if were nothing important…

 

[Catholicben]

Think about it, if we all truly believed that was Christ before us,** we should fall down to our knees** and worship Him.

Not a bad idea. I do it myself!

(Kneeling, on the tongue is the general norm through out the world, so you know…us Americans like to make up our own rules.)

 

[Bob4BVM]

Do not worry about what others think.
Do not be afraid to let your feelings show if that is how you feel.
Believe me, there are plenty of people who may NEED to see someone so obviously in love with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist !!! You may be helping them more than you even know.

I have the same reactions as you very often when I receive. I too used to hide it if i could… Then something happened in my life, that i knew I could no longer deny my Lord and Our Lady’s presence in my life.
After that, I did not care what people thought of me, I would not be afraid or try to cover up my feelings for the Eucharist. I’ve never looked back once, or cared what ‘people think’. Go ahead and cry if you have to, He will not hold it against you.
We should all be on our faces before Him in the Holy Eucharist !

 

[The_Reginator]

Rebecca,
Don’t worry about other people.
It seems to me that you are on your way to saint-hood (as we all should be). Please pray that we all we worship our Lord with due respect each time we receive Him.

 

[JerseyCatholic]

Wow, I applaud your love of our Savior and your awareness of the Real Presence! As for me, I can’t say that I have ever cried upon receiving the Eucharist, but whenever I do receive I always feel this sense of peace. It is always humbling for me to realize that I am receiving the body, blood, soul, and divinity of my Lord and Savior. I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but I do notice feeling much closer to Christ when I receive on my tongue as opposed to my hand.

To your point, OP, do not worry about what other people feel. Rather, offer up a prayer when you feel the way you do that all will see that the Real Presence is indeed real.

 

[choy]

we don’t TAKE communion

we RECEIVE it

 

[MarkThompson]

we don’t TAKE communion

we RECEIVE it

Some people insist that there’s this huge difference; I don’t particularly see it. In one sense, yes, we can’t grab Jesus for ourselves, he must freely offer himself to us. In another sense, Jesus offers himself to us, but does not compel our actions; we can take or leave him.

“Take” also has a well-recognized meaning of “to receive into one’s body (as by swallowing, drinking, or inhaling) ,” which is exactly what we do with the Eucharist.

 

[choy]

its not just the act of receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus
but using the word “receive” means we acknowledge that Jesus GAVE HIMSELF to us. taking can have several meanings, some would suggest that Jesus gave, some would suggest we forced to get Jesus. receive has only one meaning in this case. since Jesus is the giver, we are the receiver

 

[paperwight]

Not a bad idea. I do it myself!

(Kneeling, on the tongue is the general norm through out the world, so you know…us Americans like to make up our own rules.)

On paper, kneeling, on the tongue, is the official ‘norm’, but in reality, CITH is the usual practice.

Can you quote in which countries it is general to receive kneeling ott? Whereever I have travelled, the vast majority receive CITH.

 

[MarkThompson]

its not just the act of receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus
but using the word “receive” means we acknowledge that Jesus GAVE HIMSELF to us. taking can have several meanings, some would suggest that Jesus gave, some would suggest we forced to get Jesus. receive has only one meaning in this case. since Jesus is the giver, we are the receiver

All very true. On the other hand, the word “receive” has a passivity that could be seen as denying the the very active choice that we must make – something, by the way, that many Protestant denominations would deny. We can “receive” plenty of things without so choosing: junk mail, a punch to the stomach, etc.

I don’t deny that there are elements of both taking and receiving in the physical act of Communion. I do deny that there’s much difference in the terminology, or that one term is “more Catholic” than the other. Most of the hyperventilation over this question, I think comes from people (I don’t mean you, obviously, Choy) who see “taking” Communion as implying Communion in the hand (since we use our fingers) and “receiving” Communion as corresponding only to Communion on the tongue (since we don’t touch it at all with our hands). Thus, by insisting that “taking” something is arrogant, presumptuous, and rude, while “receiving” something is humble, reverent, and respectful, they hope chiefly to promote COTT and denigrate CITH.

That’s just my working theory about this issue, though.

 

[choy]

All very true. On the other hand, the word “receive” has a passivity that could be seen as denying the the very active choice that we must make – something, by the way, that many Protestant denominations would deny. We can “receive” plenty of things without so choosing: junk mail, a punch to the stomach, etc.

I don’t deny that there are elements of both taking and receiving in the physical act of Communion. I do deny that there’s much difference in the terminology, or that one term is “more Catholic” than the other. Most of the hyperventilation over this question, I think comes from people (I don’t mean you, obviously, Choy) who see “taking” Communion as implying Communion in the hand (since we use our fingers) and “receiving” Communion as corresponding only to Communion on the tongue (since we don’t touch it at all with our hands). Thus, by insisting that “taking” something is arrogant, presumptuous, and rude, while “receiving” something is humble, reverent, and respectful, they hope chiefly to promote COTT and denigrate CITH.

That’s just my working theory about this issue, though.

i would have thought Protestants would use “take” because thats whats in the Bible

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 26:26[/BIBLEDRB]

 

[Catholicben]

On paper, kneeling, on the tongue, is the official ‘norm’, but in reality, CITH is the usual practice.

Can you quote in which countries it is general to receive kneeling ott? Whereever I have travelled, the vast majority receive CITH.

Can someone help me here?

 

[Catholic_Wife]

On paper, kneeling, on the tongue, is the official ‘norm’, but in reality, CITH is the usual practice.

Can you quote in which countries it is general to receive kneeling ott? Whereever I have travelled, the vast majority receive CITH.

When I go to Mass with my family in Germany, it’s CITH while standing. I was told that COTT and kneeling just aren’t done there - period. And they have set EMHC . . . .

To the OP, there have been times that I have been moved to tears by receiving Communion. Not every time, but at least once a month (could be hormonal).

 

[Cathryn]

We most humbly beseech thee, almighty God, to command that these things be borne by the hands of thy holy angel to thine altar On high, in the sight of thy divine majesty, that as many of us (he kisses the altar) as, at this altar, shall partake of and receive the most holy Body ������and ������Blood of thy Son (he makes the sign of the cross on himself), may be filled with every heavenly blessing and grace (he joins his hands together). Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 1962 Missale Romanum

Traditionally at Mass we “partake of and receive the most holy Body and Blood”.

 

[benedictgal]

Some people insist that there’s this huge difference; I don’t particularly see it. In one sense, yes, we can’t grab Jesus for ourselves, he must freely offer himself to us. In another sense, Jesus offers himself to us, but does not compel our actions; we can take or leave him.

“Take” also has a well-recognized meaning of “to receive into one’s body (as by swallowing, drinking, or inhaling) ,” which is exactly what we do with the Eucharist.

Actually, the proper term to use is receive. We receive gifts; we don’t take them. In the case of Adam and Eve, they took the fruit from the forbidden tree. When Jesus says to the Apostles “take and eat”, he is referring to a priestly action, as the priest is the only one who takes and eats and takes and drinks the Sacred Species. The faithful do not take, they do not snatch the Body of Christ; they receive.

 

[baltobetsy]

But does it ever bother you that so many just take communion as if it is not big deal?

I would caution you against comparing your experience with the gift of tears to others who may respond to receiving the Lord in a more subtle way.

It’s wonderful that you have been given the gift to respond in this way. Be careful not to assume that the emotional reaction is the most important thing. What really matters is that you respond with the way you live your life, trying to do everything in accord with God’s will for you.

There may come a time when you do not have the same reaction to receiving the Eucharist. If that happens, it means that God wants you to grow in faith, not that He no longer loves you.

God bless you - keep loving Him more every day!

Betsy

 

[Bob_Aliano]

It’s wonderful that you have such a deep spiritual reaction to the Eucharist. May I suggest though that we all return to the concept of receiving the Holy Eucharist rather than taking communion.

 

[Cathryn]

It is traditional language to use the expression to “take Communion”. I was at Latin Mass this morning and the priest and us prayed:

Grant of Lord that what we take on our tongue we may receive with a clean heart.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The chalice of benediction, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ? And the bread, which we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord ?

We partake of the Eucharist. To take doesn’t mean reach for or grab. It is a participation a “partaking”. What we take with our tongue we receive in our heart.

 

[Stephentlig]

**Just curious…

Just about each time I take Communion, it basically moves me to tears. Not sad tears, just tears almost always come to my eyes. Then I will look around, and I know it’s wrong, but I am almost embarrassed, so I simply wipe my tears aside, so no one will see. But at the same point, it almost makes me a little upset sometimes, because when that is the Body of Christ, and should not we all be moved, then I get upset w/myself that I should even care what anyone else thinks when I take Communion. This truly gets to me when we do full Communion, the Host and Wine. **

But does it ever bother you that so many just take communion as if it is not big deal? Think about it, if we all truly believed that was Christ before us, we should fall down to our knees and worship Him. Communion to me is the most powerful thing we have, and just feel as if alot of times ppl take it for granted.

How does taking Communion move you, just curious. Would love to read some of the responses… I love it, and I just wish that I could just let the tears flow and not care what everyone else thought… For it is the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes wonder if that must hurt Him, or anger Him, that some just take Communion as if were nothing important…

It seems clear to me at the moment, that you are suffering from whats known as a Spiritual imperfection, let me explain…First of all I’ve experienced the tears too, this is a Grace you are receiving from the Lord, a Grace which moves us to repentence, ( metanoia ) on the other hand, your assuming and becoming concerned with the idea of ‘‘why cant everyone be like me and be so moved also?’’ and this is a spiritual imperfection, Only God knows the hearts of people and how they show him reverence after communion, but we on the other hand do not.

We must only ever look at ourselves and be concerned with our own reverence therefore when we feel we have been given the Grace of tears we must respond with ‘‘Lord thank you for this grace, I do not merit it and it is undeserved, I wish I could show you more reverence than I actually do, and consider myself the Chief of irreverence, please help me to be more reverent than I actually am.’’

The Soul who is in a complete undiluted state of Humility considers other people to be a lot more Holier than itself.

For affirmation of what I am talking about please read St.John of the Cross ‘‘The Dark night of the soul.’’

Pax Christi
Stephen <3

 

[Cathryn]

From the Canon of the Mass before Vatican II:

*He receives the precious blood with the particle. Then, if there are any communicants, he should give them communion before purifying. Afterwards he says: *

Quod ore súmpsimus, Dómine, pura mente capiámus; et de múnere temporáli fiat nobis remédium sempitérnum.

Grant, Lord, that what we have taken with our mouth we may receive with a pure mind; and that from a temporal gift it may become for us an eternal remedy.

I hope we never lose this concept. I love it too much to have it be lost.