Why do we use only the right hand?

[Mag_Uidhir]

Someone here in my Parish lost his arm, yes the right one, so he offers the sign of peace with his left hand, and obviously Blesses himself with it as well, so he has no choice. (no he’s not evil)

I’ve heard the term left hand of the devil, well right handed people usually have left hands, so that’s baloney for starters.

Anyway here in Ireland superstition abounds from centuries long ago, right up to this present day, probably from the Druids and New Age culture, if I told you some of the practices you wouldn’t believe them.

Plus by passing them on you leave a certain amount of doubt and fear In the person on the receiving end.
They then start to wonder if it could be true and so won’t tempt fate.

So the left handed thing is superstitious, like many things from the middle ages, I know a few left handed Priests, yes they give out Communion with it.

I’m ambidextrous, so where does that leave me ?

 

[THutch04]

When receiving Communion on the hand, both hands touch the Body of Christ. First, the Host is placed on the “throne” you form with one hand over the other, then you use the other hand to place the Host in your mouth. Taking your money out of your wallet with either hand will not make that hand unfit for receiving Communion any more than touching a doornob or steering wheel with that hand.

Well…not if you’re a former Anglican and can’t break the habit of receiving the way you were always taught, where you DON’T use both hands (or maybe I’m just too stubborn to do so).

Somewhat related to the topic: I definitely remember kids who would start to make the sign of the cross with their left hand, but were immediately told to stop and do it with their right. And I know of kids who are left-handed but were taught to receive Communion in the hand with their right. I guess the belief that left is bad still hasn’t completely left society…

 

[Leopard]

Well…not if you’re a former Anglican and can’t break the habit of receiving the way you were always taught, where you DON’T use both hands (or maybe I’m just too stubborn to do so)…

Interesting. I didn’t know this. How do Anglicans communicate with one hand?