Which hand to take communion with

[Love_Divine]

I was taught both how to receive on the hand and on the tongue when I went through first communion prep in 1992 ? Even though I was (and am ) a lefty I was taught to place my right hand under my left and then pick up the Eucharist with my right hand. It is really no big deal, I have to shake hands, use computer mice(?), and most scissors with my right hand so it is really just something you learn. We were taught this had the proper symbolism as others have mentioned.

I had my FC around that time too, but we were told to place our hands one on top the other. Naturally I did it the lefty way, and the priest scolded me at the altar in front of the entire congregation the day of my FC when I took it with my left. He could have been a little more discreet about it.

 

[jilly4ski]

I had my FC around that time too, but we were told to place our hands one on top the other. Naturally I did it the lefty way, and the priest scolded me at the altar in front of the entire congregation the day of my FC when I took it with my left. He could have been a little more discreet about it.

ugh, that’s terrible. Maybe he should have been more involved in the first holy communion prep and then it wouldn’t have been a problem.

 

[Love_Divine]

ugh, that’s terrible. Maybe he should have been more involved in the first holy communion prep and then it wouldn’t have been a problem.

When he transferred to our parish, the congregation, or as he liked to call us, “spectators,” got smaller and smaller. When he left, the congregation increased in size again, but he’s driven the majority of my family away from Church other than Christmas.

 

[jilly4ski]

When he transferred to our parish, the congregation, or as he liked to call us, “spectators,” got smaller and smaller. When he left, the congregation increased in size again, but he’s driven the majority of my family away from Church other than Christmas.

Indeed proper teaching and liturgy were very sporadic in those years (still is in many areas). I was lucky to grow up in a relatively orthodox church even with the praise and worship music and very charismatic priest. So while I got decent teaching and liturgy, there was still a lot of “burlap and butterflies” , felt banners (“nothing inspires like felt”), and other goofy things going on.

 

[Love_Divine]

Indeed proper teaching and liturgy were very sporadic in those years (still is in many areas). I was lucky to grow up in a relatively orthodox church even with the praise and worship music and very charismatic priest. So while I got decent teaching and liturgy, there was still a lot of “burlap and butterflies” , felt banners (“nothing inspires like felt”), and other goofy things going on.

Ahh yes, those felt banners. They still have them at the church I grew up in. They’re building a new Cathedral, which will replace that church. I wonder if they’ll bring those felt banners over.

I seem to do better with charismatic priests who aren’t overly liberal. The ones whom will actually listen to you ask questions and give you something insightful rather than, “because that’s the way it. Who are you to question the Church?” If someone is asking questions, that’s a sign of interest and wanting more information. Not necessarily that they’re trying to be sacrilegious or blasphemous.

 

[ProVobis]

I had a feeling someone was going to bring up COTT.

It’s what the Pope requires when people receive from him.

 

[jilly4ski]

Ahh yes, those felt banners. They still have them at the church I grew up in. They’re building a new Cathedral, which will replace that church. I wonder if they’ll bring those felt banners over.

I seem to do better with charismatic priests who aren’t overly liberal. The ones whom will actually listen to you ask questions and give you something insightful rather than, “because that’s the way it. Who are you to question the Church?” If someone is asking questions, that’s a sign of interest and wanting more information. Not necessarily that they’re trying to be sacrilegious or blasphemous.

The charismatic priest retired a few years ago and that church got a younger priest. He is very quiet, and orthodox (but so is the congregation for the most part), but I think he is more approachable than the other priest, maybe because he seems more human? Or maybe because I didn’t know him as a child.

 

[Love_Divine]

The charismatic priest retired a few years ago and that church got a younger priest. He is very quiet, and orthodox (but so is the congregation for the most part), but I think he is more approachable than the other priest, maybe because he seems more human? Or maybe because I didn’t know him as a child.

The priest who helped bring me back (temporarily) was very orthodox, but at the same time seemed very out-going, approachable. I have a lot of respect for him.

 

[choy]

I never touch it with my hand. It is THE Body of Christ. I have it placed on my tongue.

thanks for not answering the question

 

[choy]

It’s what the Pope requires when people receive from him.

but that is not the point of this thread. i hope people can stay on topic and not push their own agendas that are completely off topic to the thread

 

[JerrySeibert]

So, why the tounge? Seriously, I see so much discussion about this. What if that is the way I was taught for my First Communion. 35 year ago? I am currently a EMHC at my Parish and on Sundays when we have 5 Masses 3 or 4 of those with 350+ people I only give on the toungue to may 5 people. So why? No disrespect I truly don’t understand this.

 

[ProVobis]

Here’s why perhaps from another Vatican official:

catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0800606.htm

"…Archbishop Ranjith said, the introduction of the practice of receiving Communion in the hand coincides with the beginning of “a gradual and growing weakening of the attitude of reverence toward the sacred eucharistic species.”

“I think the time has come to evaluate these practices and to review them and, if necessary, to abandon the current practice,” Archbishop Ranjith said.

“Now more than ever, it is necessary to help the faithful renew a lively faith in the real presence of Christ in the eucharistic species with the aim of reinforcing the very life of the church and defending it in the midst of dangerous distortions of the faith,” the archbishop wrote…"

Also

newliturgicalmovement.org/2008/01/ranjith-on-kneeling-for-communion.html

uvcarmel.org/2008/02/21/archbishop-ranjith-communion-in-the-hand-needs-to-be-revisited/

 

[Love_Divine]

So, why the tounge? Seriously, I see so much discussion about this. What if that is the way I was taught for my First Communion. 35 year ago? I am currently a EMHC at my Parish and on Sundays when we have 5 Masses 3 or 4 of those with 350+ people I only give on the toungue to may 5 people. So why? No disrespect I truly don’t understand this.

You should be thankful you go to a Parish with so many attendees on a day other than Christmas and Easter.

• I wasn’t taught to take it on the tongue, as I took my FC in 1992.
• Until I see a vile off to the side for hand sanitizer and people using it, I don’t want anyone’s fingers near my mouth.
• I’m clumsy and would probably drop it off my tongue
• I’m a coffee drinker and paranoid of having bad breath and residue on my tongue
• If given the option between the two, I’m going to take the more sanitary way
• I prefer the Orthodox Catholic way of giving it orally

 

[ProVobis]

You should be thankful you go to a Parish with so many attendees on a day other than Christmas and Easter.

Not to judge, but there better be long confession lines for those C&E Catholics before they receive either way.

 

[JRKH]

I’m not even a Christmas and Easter Catholic anymore. I don’t get Easter Monday off from school and I go home to celebrate Easter with my family. It takes a full day to drive one way, so I have to travel on Sunday. My instructors don’t care and require me to be back on Monday for classes.

I started going back to church regularly on Sundays a couple years ago, but I just started getting frustrated with going to church and want to yell at the people there to put some clothes on, turn off their cell phones and stop texting. There’s a lot of other things that led to my great frustrations, but I just lost my zest for going to something that was once respected and is now something you just do because you’re obligated.

Obviously there are issues here that you need to deal with, like not going to mass for what others are doing and instead concentrating on what you are doing to worship God and make the mass more reverent by your presence and proper attitude.
But this is off topic here.

As for communion on the tongue, it’s not something I’m familiar with, and I’m not really fond of the idea of someone’s dirty fingers coming near my mouth. I’ve seen far too many nose pickers, and people who don’t wash their hands after using the washroom. I don’t mind the Orthodox way of taking communion by the mouth, as the alcohol in the wine kills the pathogens on the spoon.

So it is your belief that those who are trained to be eucharistic ministers are not aware of or practice proper hygiene??
Also your statement about “not washing after using the washroom” makes little sense. If this is a problem, receiving in the hand is no improvement. After all if you go to a resturant they don’t put the food in your mouth for you. You receive your food “in the hand” and put it in your mouth yourself, yet if the person handling your food is infected he/she can infect your food. Same with whoever gives you communion. on the tongue, or in the hand, they touch the host and you touch the host. Whether your hand is involved in that exchange makes no difference.

Actually, during the H1N1 over exaggeration, communion via the mouth wasn’t permitted, or chalice, nor was handshaking and the holy water at the entrances. Actually, it was shortly after that which I stopped going to church weekly again.

Yes - It was carried to the extreme in my opinion too.
I pray that you will soon be able to regain your Love for God to a degree that you desire nothing so much as to be with Him, in His House, first thing every Week.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

I was taught both how to receive on the hand and on the tongue when I went through first communion prep in 1992 ? Even though I was (and am ) a lefty I was taught to place my right hand under my left and then pick up the Eucharist with my right hand.** It is really no big deal, I have to shake hands, use computer mice(?), and most scissors with my right hand so it is really just something you learn. **We were taught this had the proper symbolism as others have mentioned.

Hey - I just noticed that the thumbsup smilie is a leftie like us!!!

 

[JRKH]

You should be thankful you go to a Parish with so many attendees on a day other than Christmas and Easter.

Agree

I wasn’t taught to take it on the tongue, as I took my FC in 1992.

This is very common.

Until I see a vile off to the side for hand sanitizer and people using it, I don’t want anyone’s fingers near my mouth.

But you have no porblem with those same fingers touching something that is going to go into your mouth - interesting.

I’m clumsy and would probably drop it off my tongue

This is highly unlikely - certainly no more likely than if you place it on your tongue. The saliva on the tongue acts to hold the host in place.

I’m a coffee drinker and paranoid of having bad breath and residue on my tongue

If you properly prepare and fast before communion this should never be a problem - as for bad breath, simply hold you breath for 3 seconds.

If given the option between the two, I’m going to take the more sanitary way

It is certainly your choice and I respect that, but I hope that I have shown by my answers above that one way is no more sanitary than the other.

I prefer the Orthodox Catholic way of giving it orally

Do you mean the little spoon with the bread tinctured and then “poured” into the mouth?
Yes I find that interesting too.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

but that is not the point of this thread. i hope people can stay on topic and not push their own agendas that are completely off topic to the thread

The question has been answered near the bottom of the first page. The instruction from Rome is that the host be placed in the left hand and taken to the mouth in the right hand.

Peace
James

 

[jilly4ski]

Hey - I just noticed that the thumbsup smilie is a leftie like us!!!

:thumbsup:
(though I must admit that I am slightly ambidextrous, don’t hate me)

I was lucky that I was taught both ways of receiving in 1992, but almost everyone in my parish including my family received on the hand so I did too, until recently. (I had a baby and holding a baby makes it very difficult to receive in the hand).

 

[JRKH]

:thumbsup:
(though I must admit that I am slightly ambidextrous, don’t hate me)

I was lucky that I was taught both ways of receiving in 1992, but almost everyone in my parish including my family received on the hand so I did too, until recently. (I had a baby and holding a baby makes it very difficult to receive in the hand).

I’ll bet that most all fefties are slightly ambidextrous - I know I am.

Peace
James