Why is CIH so popular?

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ElToro

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Last Sunday at Mass someone was saying to me that based on the Pope’s personal preferences CIH will one day be abolished. I disagreed and said the great popularity of CIH would most likely preclude it from being abolished anytime soon – it ever.

That set them off and they asked me why I felt CIH was so popular? I said in my own opinion it was a number of things – some people ashamed at the condition of their mouths, the dislike of opening their mouths and sticking out their tongues to others (even priests), having the insides of their mouths touched by others’ fingers, elderly clergy who don’t have steady enough hands to “hit the mark”, etc. I like some also prefer the more ancient means of receiving Holy Communion.

The person freaked-out and said it was because COT was (or is) discouraged in some places by catechists. I looked around at that Mass and couldn’t see anyone less than 50 years old except myself so I found their comment ridiculous.

What do you think?
 
It’s more prevalent, I think, in the younger generation because thats how they have been catechized. But I’m not sure about those who grew up attending the EF Mass and how they changed their practice of receiving once the NO Mass arrived. Maybe they had heard about it and thought they’d try it out and have been doing it ever since. 🤷
 
Some Catholic school teachers actively discourage anything but

When my son was making his First Holy Communion, he ( and I ) wished him to recieve COTT, but the teacher made a big stink about it.

It had to go up to the pastor, ( who, of course, agreed that it was my son’s right to recieve COTT)

So when you have Catholic school teachers who are teaching nothing but COTH, it’s doesn’t surprise me that it’s ‘popular’.
 
I don’t think that’s the reason. In my diocese they make a big deal out of the fact that both methods are approved and that it’s up to the individual communicant.

This one aspect of the CIH/COT debate is fascinating to me.
 
FAH said:
It’s more prevalent, I think, in the younger generation because thats how they have been catechized. But I’m not sure about those who grew up attending the EF Mass and how they changed their practice of receiving once the NO Mass arrived. Maybe they had heard about it and thought they’d try it out and have been doing it ever since. 🤷
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You actuallly use “EF” (fine) and “NO” (invective) instead of “EF” and “OF”? How terribly sad.
 
When I switched from COTT to CITH, its because the priest keeps hitting my teeth or touching my tongue. Some priests also prefer the communicant to receive CITH because they get bitten, a lot.
 
ConstantineTG said:
When I switched from COTT to CITH, its because the priest keeps hitting my teeth or touching my tongue. Some priests also prefer the communicant to receive CITH because they get bitten, a lot.
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Oh shuks. Now I’m going to start obsessing about how wide I open my mouth when the time comes.
 
TrueLight said:
Oh shuks. Now I’m going to start obsessing about how wide I open my mouth when the time comes.
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Just be sure to OPEN your mouth and stick your tongue out! The majority of those I distribute COT to barely open their mouths (probably because of the aformentioned reasons) making it very difficult at times.
 
ElToro said:
Just be sure to OPEN your mouth and stick your tongue out! The majority of those I distribute COT to barely open their mouths (probably because of the aformentioned reasons) making it very difficult at times.
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I won’t ask anymore questions on that because the last post on how to stick out your tongue was closed by the moderator for silliness. :rotfl:
 
ConstantineTG said:
When I switched from COTT to CITH, its because the priest keeps hitting my teeth or touching my tongue. Some priests also prefer the communicant to receive CITH because they get bitten, a lot.
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I have very steady hands but sometimes communicants jerk their heads (often it seems in an attempt to accelerate the process of communion) which often results in contact with the tongue and/or lips.

I always question whether I should wipe my finger(s) before the next communicant?
 
I think most Catholics don’t think about this issue nearly as much as we do. 😛

I think for most CIH seems logistically easier (both distributing and receiving). Other than that, I doubt many give it much thought. It’s just a go with the flow kind of thing.

I recall my 1st Communion prep (back in the mid-80s) and I know my teacher explained both methods of receiving and said both were fine. But the majority received CIH because that’s what everyone else was doing. That’s the way my parents received, too, so that’s what I did. 🤷
 
ElToro said:
I have very steady hands but sometimes communicants jerk their heads (often it seems in an attempt to accelerate the process of communion) which often results in contact with the tongue and/or lips.

I always question whether I should wipe my finger(s) before the next communicant?
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Ever end up with lipstick on your fingers?
 
Joe_5859 said:
I think most Catholics don’t think about this issue nearly as much as we do. 😛

I think for most CIH seems logistically easier (both distributing and receiving). Other than that, I doubt many give it much thought. It’s just a go with the flow kind of thing.

I recall my 1st Communion prep (back in the mid-80s) and I know my teacher explained both methods of receiving and said both were fine. But the majority received CIH because that’s what everyone else was doing. That’s the way my parents received, too, so that’s what I did. 🤷
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Very good point that I had not considered.
 
Joe_5859 said:
I think most Catholics don’t think about this issue nearly as much as we do. 😛

I think for most CIH seems logistically easier (both distributing and receiving). Other than that, I doubt many give it much thought. It’s just a go with the flow kind of thing.

I recall my 1st Communion prep (back in the mid-80s) and I know my teacher explained both methods of receiving and said both were fine. But the majority received CIH because that’s what everyone else was doing. That’s the way my parents received, too, so that’s what I did. 🤷
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I know that in my parish they are not taught how to receive on the tongue. I don’t think there is any nefarious reason for that, most of the teachers have only ever received that way and I’m pretty sure they think the Church did away with COTT and only the old guy from Portugal does that any more.
 
TrueLight said:
Ever end up with lipstick on your fingers?
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Oh yes, many, many times…

That’s one area where some Orthodox State churches have the Catholic Church beat – they forbid the wearing of lipstick by anyone presenting themselves for Holy Communion.
 
Both methods of receiving Christ in the Eucharist are found in Church history. Just because the Council of Trent made on the tongue the norm, doesn’t mean it’s “Traditional” or the only right way. When I’m at an EF Mass or an OF Mass where the parish uses the rail it seems proper to receive on the tongue. But at a normal Mass, especially when an Extraordinary Minister is distributing I do what St. Cyril of Jerusalem taught in the 4th century “placing thy left hand as a throne for thy right, which is to receive so great a King, and in the hollow of the palm receive the body of Christ, saying, Amen.” (Fifth Mystagogical Catechesis, 21)

When Pope Paul VI decided to restore the option of following the ancient practice of receiving in the hand he said “The practice must remain the option of the communicant. The priest or minister of Communion does not make the decision as to the manner of reception of Communion. It is the communicant’s personal choice.”

“In the church, when the priest gives the portion, the recipient takes it with complete power over it, and so lifts it to his lips with his own hand.” (St. Basil the Great: Letter 93)
 
ElToro said:
I have very steady hands but sometimes communicants jerk their heads (often it seems in an attempt to accelerate the process of communion) which often results in contact with the tongue and/or lips.

I always question whether I should wipe my finger(s) before the next communicant?
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I used to try to wipe my fingers secretly on my jacket, and then I got squeamish (and a bit resentful) about having to wash the spit off my jacket later.

So now I change hands and use my ‘wrong’ hand for a while until my fingers have dried off and I can pick up a Host without it sticking to my fingers.

I sometimes think it would be useful if everyone had a go at giving COTT (but with unconsecrated altar-breads, obviously! ) to show how difficult some people make it for the EMHC/priest.
 
MisterCorduroy said:
Both methods of receiving Christ in the Eucharist are found in Church history. Just because the Council of Trent made on the tongue the norm, doesn’t mean it’s “Traditional” or the only right way. When I’m at an EF Mass or an OF Mass where the parish uses the rail it seems proper to receive on the tongue. But at a normal Mass, especially when an Extraordinary Minister is distributing I do what St. Cyril of Jerusalem taught in the 4th century “placing thy left hand as a throne for thy right, which is to receive so great a King, and in the hollow of the palm receive the body of Christ, saying, Amen.” (Fifth Mystagogical Catechesis, 21)

When Pope Paul VI decided to restore the option of following the ancient practice of receiving in the hand he said “The practice must remain the option of the communicant. The priest or minister of Communion does not make the decision as to the manner of reception of Communion. It is the communicant’s personal choice.”

“In the church, when the priest gives the portion, the recipient takes it with complete power over it, and so lifts it to his lips with his own hand.” (St. Basil the Great: Letter 93)
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That’s really a well-crafted posting. Thanks. 👍
 
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