Why Is CITH So Popular?

[surritter]

Despite the many theological musings about all this, I still maintain that CITH has become popular mainly because it’s physically easier. You say Amen, hold out your hands in a certain position, and then put the host in your own mouth.
With COTT, you have to say Amen and then quickly open your mouth at the right angle, stick out your tongue far enough, then worry about not moving too much, etc.

So that is my opinion of why it’s become popular. Anyone else agree?

 

[bmadamsberry]

Despite the many theological musings about all this, I still maintain that CITH has become popular mainly because it’s physically easier. You say Amen, hold out your hands in a certain position, and then put the host in your own mouth.
With COTT, you have to say Amen and then quickly open your mouth at the right angle, stick out your tongue far enough, then worry about not moving too much, etc.

So that is my opinion of why it’s become popular. Anyone else agree?

I think that you are right, that that is another contributing factor. I know that more often than not, I feel rushed by the priest to quickly say Amen and then stick out my tongue. The Parish I attend has a smart priest, who moves the ciborium underneath my mouth in case the host misses (because they don’t have a need for a paten with a handle).

I would also link it being easier to recieve on the hand with why so many confirmation classes teach/allow their students to only recieve on the hand. Like it my girlfriend’s parish and in my girlfriend’s mother’s parish, they were told to only recieve on the hand because of the fear of the children dropping the host (a logical concern).

 

[japhy]

…they were told to only recieve on the hand because of the fear of the children dropping the host (a logical concern).

Well, that’s one reason the Communion paten was (and still is, in some places!) used, to catch the Host if it should fall for any reason. It’s even used when Communion is received in the hand.

 

[surritter]

I think that you are right, that that is another contributing factor. I know that more often than not, I feel rushed by the priest to quickly say Amen and then stick out my tongue. The Parish I attend has a smart priest, who moves the ciborium underneath my mouth in case the host misses (because they don’t have a need for a paten with a handle).

I would also link it being easier to recieve on the hand with why so many confirmation classes teach/allow their students to only recieve on the hand. Like it my girlfriend’s parish and in my girlfriend’s mother’s parish, they were told to only recieve on the hand because of the fear of the children dropping the host (a logical concern).

I see the logic, but what that parish is doing is flat-out wrong. They should be instructed in the options, but never told that CITH is the only way.

 

[bmadamsberry]

I see the logic, but what that parish is doing is flat-out wrong. They should be instructed in the options, but never told that CITH is the only way.

Oh yes, indeed. It wasn’t just a matter of only being told that there is one way to recieve, but that they were only allowed to recieve on the hand (one little girl, however, still recieved on the tongue. I assume because her parents told her she could).

 

[EasterJoy]

I think that you are right, that that is another contributing factor. I know that more often than not, I feel rushed by the priest to quickly say Amen and then stick out my tongue. The Parish I attend has a smart priest, who moves the ciborium underneath my mouth in case the host misses (because they don’t have a need for a paten with a handle).

I would also link it being easier to recieve on the hand with why so many confirmation classes teach/allow their students to only recieve on the hand. Like it my girlfriend’s parish and in my girlfriend’s mother’s parish, they were told to only recieve on the hand because of the fear of the children dropping the host (a logical concern).

Why is that a logical concern? Where is the evidence that one method or another is less safe? Who has investigated and found that any particular age group is more careless than another? Over the centuries that children received Holy Communion on the tongue how often was the Blessed Sacrament dropped? I don’t think those data have ever been collected. I think people just invent these assumptions out of nowhere, without a decent set of facts to back them up.

If dropping the Blessed Sacrament is such a concern, who got rid of the long-handled patens? If we can find enough people to assist the priest as EMsHC, surely we can find some people to man the patens.

I also do not believe that CITH is faster, if it is done correctly. By that, I mean that you cannot turn your attention to the next communicant until you are sure that the last one has consumed. In our parish at least, if the priest, deacon, or EMHC doesn’t see the communicant consume, he has to stop the line and follow them, if necessary, until he sees that they do. Besides, this is not an assembly line interaction we are talking about. It is really very intimate, no matter how it is done, and it should not be rushed. The priest, deacon, or EMHC can cool his jets, then. It is not as if he can place a host on a closed mouth or on hands that are not there yet.

Mind you, I receive CITH most of the time. If pressed, I guess I feel a little exposed opening my mouth for someone like that. It’s bad enough that the dentist gets such an intimate look at the inside of my mouth. Having said that, I just don’t cope well with false arguments against one way or the other. I think accomodating differing ideas of reverence is very important, when possible, because I don’t think there is evidence that one way is safer than the other.

 

[bmadamsberry]

Why is that a logical concern? Where is the evidence that one method or another is less safe? Who has investigated and found that any particular age group is more careless than another? Over the centuries that children received Holy Communion on the tongue how often was the Blessed Sacrament dropped? I don’t think those data have ever been collected. I think people just invent these assumptions out of nowhere, without a decent set of facts to back them up.

In reference to the logic of asking kids to receive in the hand (asking is different than forcing. The parish I was talking about was forcing), I said that it was a logical concern. It is a logical concern/worry. I would be concerned about the kids dropping the Host, because it is possible (however unlikely). A logical concern would be a worry/concern that could happen, or could logically happen. So, because they are kids and are moveing all over the place, it is possible that the Host could be dropped.

If dropping the Blessed Sacrament is such a concern, who got rid of the long-handled patens? If we can find enough people to assist the priest as EMsHC, surely we can find some people to man the patens.

I think that many parishes got rid of it because there isn’t a widespread use for it.

I also do not believe that CITH is faster, if it is done correctly. By that, I mean that you cannot turn your attention to the next communicant until you are sure that the last one has consumed. In our parish at least, if the priest, deacon, or EMHC doesn’t see the communicant consume, he has to stop the line and follow them, if necessary, until he sees that they do. Besides, this is not an assembly line interaction we are talking about. It is really very intimate, no matter how it is done, and it should not be rushed. The priest, deacon, or EMHC can cool his jets, then. It is not as if he can place a host on a closed mouth or on hands that are not there yet.

At my parish, the priest doesn’t pay attention to if someone consumes the Host or not because he uses the acolytes, stationed in the Sanctuary, to watch people. It’s their duty, at least at my parish (I know others do it differently).

Mind you, I receive CITH most of the time. If pressed, I guess I feel a little exposed opening my mouth for someone like that. It’s bad enough that the dentist gets such an intimate look at the inside of my mouth. Having said that, I just don’t cope well with false arguments against one way or the other. I think accomodating differing ideas of reverence is very important, when possible, because I don’t think there is evidence that one way is safer than the other.

Okay. Sorry if I made you angry. It makes sense in my mind why someone might be concerned with children receiving on the tongue and dropping it. I haven’t seen any statistics to disprove that children that receive on the tongue are more likely to drop it.

 

[surritter]

Why is that a logical concern? Where is the evidence that one method or another is less safe? Who has investigated and found that any particular age group is more careless than another? Over the centuries that children received Holy Communion on the tongue how often was the Blessed Sacrament dropped? I don’t think those data have ever been collected. I think people just invent these assumptions out of nowhere, without a decent set of facts to back them up.

If dropping the Blessed Sacrament is such a concern, who got rid of the long-handled patens? If we can find enough people to assist the priest as EMsHC, surely we can find some people to man the patens.

I also do not believe that CITH is faster, if it is done correctly. By that, I mean that you cannot turn your attention to the next communicant until you are sure that the last one has consumed. In our parish at least, if the priest, deacon, or EMHC doesn’t see the communicant consume, he has to stop the line and follow them, if necessary, until he sees that they do. Besides, this is not an assembly line interaction we are talking about. It is really very intimate, no matter how it is done, and it should not be rushed. The priest, deacon, or EMHC can cool his jets, then. It is not as if he can place a host on a closed mouth or on hands that are not there yet.

I think the assertion was not that children are more likely to drop the host, but rather that anyone of any age is more likely to drop the host via COTT than with CITH. No, there aren’t any scientific studies of such – now you sound like Hotchkiss, who insists on statistical evidence – but from personal experience (both me and observation of others) I think it is fair to say that with CITH dropping is less likely.

Admit it – with COTT, the priest or EMHC tries to avoid touching your saliva, so the “touchdown” might not be firm. And the “landing zone” of cupped hands is larger than a mouth, especially when many people don’t open wide.

I agree that CITH is not faster, however. The communicant has to add the extra step of moving the host up to his or her mouth.

The reason the patens are rarely used is precisely because CITH is preferred by most Americans. Notice that they were more prevalent when COTT was more prevalent. So that indirectly supports the thinking that dropping was more common with COTT. I don’t necessarily agree; I’m just trying to piece together all of EasterJoy’s statements.

 

[Hotchkiss]

Despite the many theological musings about all this, I still maintain that CITH has become popular mainly because it’s physically easier. You say Amen, hold out your hands in a certain position, and then put the host in your own mouth.
With COTT, you have to say Amen and then quickly open your mouth at the right angle, stick out your tongue far enough, then worry about not moving too much, etc.

So that is my opinion of why it’s become popular. Anyone else agree?

A contributing factor but not a dominant factor. Probably on a par with faulty catechesis.

 

[Hotchkiss]

I have never witnessed a host being dropped that was being placed in someone’s hand. I have never dropped one as a communicant. I have never dropped one as an EMHC placing it in someone’s hand.

I’ve seen several hosts fall from peoples’ mouths. As an EMHC I’ve experienced once host falling out of someone’s mouth – he did not extend his tongue – he opened it just a little so that I had to slide the host between his lips – not at all uncommon. The host bounced on the communion paten, the server over-reached and the host ended-up on the floor.

 

[bmadamsberry]

I have never witnessed a host being dropped that was being placed in someone’s hand. I have never dropped one as a communicant. I have never dropped one as an EMHC placing it in someone’s hand.

I’ve seen several hosts fall from peoples’ mouths. As an EMHC I’ve experienced once host falling out of someone’s mouth – he did not extend his tongue – he opened it just a little so that I had to slide the host between his lips – not at all uncommon. The host bounced on the communion paten, the server over-reached and the host ended-up on the floor.

I, actually, have seen 2 hosts fall that were communion in the hand, and 1 that was communion on the tongue.
I don’t know why the first dropped (I wasn’t close enough), but the 2nd one was because it slipped from the person’s hands.
So, I have seen Communion being dropped when people were receiving by both forms. However, if you think of the 4 times that I have ever seen it dropped, that’s not very many compared to the hundreds that I have seen not dropped.

 

[EasterJoy]

I, actually, have seen 2 hosts fall that were communion in the hand, and 1 that was communion on the tongue.
I don’t know why the first dropped (I wasn’t close enough), but the 2nd one was because it slipped from the person’s hands.
So, I have seen Communion being dropped when people were receiving by both forms. However, if you think of the 4 times that I have ever seen it dropped, that’s not very many compared to the hundreds that I have seen not dropped.

A good reason to bring patens back, assuming they work. I have no idea how easy or difficult it is to successfully catch a falling host with a long-handled paten. Perhaps it was experience that taught that the devices were expendable, I don’t know.

 

[bmadamsberry]

A good reason to bring patens back, assuming they work. I have no idea how easy or difficult it is to successfully catch a falling host with a long-handled paten. Perhaps it was experience that taught that the devices were expendable, I don’t know.

When I have seen them used, such as at Southern Catholic College in GA, the paten almost remains in the same position. It just stays underneath the person’s chin, in case it falls from the tongue. But, like I said, I have only seen a total of 3 Hosts fall, one on the tongue and two in the hand.

 

[Hotchkiss]

A good reason to bring patens back, assuming they work. I have no idea how easy or difficult it is to successfully catch a falling host with a long-handled paten. Perhaps it was experience that taught that the devices were expendable, I don’t know.

I don’t think they really do in most cases. Dropped hosts are so rare that servers tend to overeat when a host is actually dropped. I think they can also be a source of dropped hosts if they are allowed to interfere.

On the positive side, they project an excellent sign value and underscores the importance of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

[EasterJoy]

I don’t think they really do in most cases. Dropped hosts are so rare that servers tend to overeat when a host is actually dropped. I think they can also be a source of dropped hosts if they are allowed to interfere.

On the positive side, they project an excellent sign value and underscores the importance of the Blessed Sacrament.

Maybe you mean “overreact”, and not “overeat”?

 

[otjm]

I’ve seen the same things that Benedictgal has. Those that are older tend to recieve Communion on the tongue and those that are younger in the hand (what I’ve seen at my parish, my girlfriend’s parish, and other parishes that I have been to). Furthermore, again in what I have seen at my own parish, those that recieve Communion on the tongue are those that read and know more about the Catholic Faith***.
These, again, are just based on my own opinions. I’m not starting a Communion in the hand vs. a communion on the tongue debate (because the Church has said that both can be done, I have no right to argue that you can’t do it).

And my experience is just the opposite; and that includes parishes in western Oregon, Utah, northern California, eastern North Dakota, and Montana. As to my parish, the great majority of people receive CITH, and we have had 24 hour Perpetual Adoration for 15 years or so; not exactly what you would call a parish with a poor attitude towards the Eucharist.

 

[Hotchkiss]

Maybe you mean “overreact”, and not “overeat”?

Maybe both!

 

[EasterJoy]

Okay. Sorry if I made you angry. It makes sense in my mind why someone might be concerned with children receiving on the tongue and dropping it. I haven’t seen any statistics to disprove that children that receive on the tongue are more likely to drop it.

There isn’t any reason I’d be angry at you personally. Maybe I shouldn’t have written “don’t cope well”…that isn’t such a strong expression in my family. It does not imply that a meltdown is imminent. I only meant that, because it is very important to some people, I feel strongly that they should be left alone in the absence of compelling evidence to do otherwise. I feel a need to come to their defense, even though I could go either way. If one way or the other were abolished, it wouldn’t be any skin off my own nose.

As for dropping hosts, I think most of the times I’ve witnessed, it has been the minister doing the dropping, before ever getting a hand near the communicant. Just didn’t get a firm enough grip, I guess.

I think it is good for kids to practice both CITH and COTT. I think it gives them confidence that they can go anywhere in the universal Church and do just fine.

 

[EasterJoy]

I think the assertion was not that children are more likely to drop the host, but rather that anyone of any age is more likely to drop the host via COTT than with CITH. No, there aren’t any scientific studies of such – now you sound like Hotchkiss, who insists on statistical evidence – but from personal experience (both me and observation of others) I think it is fair to say that with CITH dropping is less likely.

Admit it – with COTT, the priest or EMHC tries to avoid touching your saliva, so the “touchdown” might not be firm. And the “landing zone” of cupped hands is larger than a mouth, especially when many people don’t open wide.

I agree that CITH is not faster, however. The communicant has to add the extra step of moving the host up to his or her mouth.

The reason the patens are rarely used is precisely because CITH is preferred by most Americans. Notice that they were more prevalent when COTT was more prevalent. So that indirectly supports the thinking that dropping was more common with COTT. I don’t necessarily agree; I’m just trying to piece together all of EasterJoy’s statements.

As a EMHC, I could not say that one way seems more secure, per se. If we’re hazarding personal opinions, I think most drops are done by the ordinary minister or EMHC, without reference to what the communicant is doing. If the host is held securely in the first place and the process is not rushed, it really doesn’t make a lot of difference.

I can hardly remember patens, so I can’t say on that.

 

[Hotchkiss]

As a EMHC, I could not say that one way seems more secure, per se. If we’re hazarding personal opinions, I think most drops are done by the ordinary minister or EMHC, without reference to what the communicant is doing. If the host is held securely in the first place and the process is not rushed, it really doesn’t make a lot of difference.

I can hardly remember patens, so I can’t say on that.

Sure it does. In the case of CITH you are placing communion in someone’s hand. If you should drop the host it goes right into their hand.

COTT can be a mixed bag. Most people around here barely stick their tongues out or simply don’t at all. So you end-up inserting the host between their teeth where they then bite down on it. Miss in that situation and it’s going to careen of their chins.

Every once in a while I get someone who actually sticks their tongue out and it makes things much easier – almost as easy as CITH.