Communion in hand or mouth

[Noel's angel]

You didn't offend me!!! I meant 'each to their own' as in 'I know that people like to receive on the tounge and that's quite alright!'

NO NEED TO APOLOGISE!!!!

[Anthony]

[quote name='jswranch' date='Apr 13 2006, 07:53 AM']Should I receive by hand or mouth?  Does it really matter?  Do I have a choice?  Please document answers
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Our mouths are more perfect vessels for our Lord since our hands are dirty. This is how I heard it described when one is suppose to recieve Holy Communion. Our hands contain more germs than do our mouths. Also, there is a more intimate closeness I feel with our Lord when I recieve on the tongue that in my palm. As long as you take precaution by sticking your tongue out enough for the priest or the acolyte (or EME) to place the Sacred Host on your tongue, there shouldn't be anything to worry about. I have never seen anybody drop the Host when recieving on the tongue, which most people do in this diocese. It's also possible to drop the Host when recieving in the palm, so either way, you need to recieve with love so you don't drop the Sacred Body of Christ.

[Theoketos]

Now, if the parish is able to kneel when the recieve I think that it is easier to recieve on the tongue...btw

[OLAM Dad]

Receiving in the hand is an indult and therefore perfectly acceptable. I receive on the tongue because I go to a TLM on Sundays and during the week I just prefer to receive on the tongue.

If your main concern is mishandling; receiving in the hand is much more problematic when it comes to dropping or in any other way mishandling the Eucharist. If there is a mishap (unlikely) while receiving on the tongue the worst case at the TLM is that our Lord lands on the paten. Without a paten He falls to the ground but that can be remedied. Two of my sons serve at the TLM and have NEVER seen a mishap. The Eucharist sticks to the tongue quite well as soon as it touches it. If you have problems receiving on the tongue it's probably just because you're not sticking your tongue out enough.

In addition to mishaps, receiving in the hand creates a much greater likelyhood of abuse of our Lord. I think that the first time our Lord was found stuck on the bottom of a pew with a piece of bubble gum should have been the end of receiving in the hand.

If I were the pope (, I would opt for intinction. It would end this debate and also fix the more serious issue which is the mishandling of the Precious Blood.

[zunshynn]

I think if recieving on the tongue is not the norm it can be a little dangerous. I've had some near misses that way. I think it comes from the fact that the priest and the EMs are kind of rushing it. It shouldn't be that way, but it is oftentimes, so when they aren't expecting someone to be recieving on the tongue, there can be mishaps. I do think intinction would be good...

Truthfully I think people just need to be more reverent overall. If it takes requiring recieving on the tongue for people to realize that it is the Body and Blood of Our Lord, then I think that's what ought to happen.

[OLAM Dad]

J,

Receiving on the tongue IS the norm. Receiving in the hand is the indult.


[quote name='zunshynn' date='Apr 13 2006, 04:01 PM']I think if recieving on the tongue is not the norm it can be a little dangerous. I've had some near misses that way. I think it comes from the fact that the priest and the EMs are kind of rushing it. It shouldn't be that way, but it is oftentimes, so when they aren't expecting someone to be recieving on the tongue, there can be mishaps. I do think intinction would be good...

Truthfully I think people just need to be more reverent overall. If it takes requiring recieving on the tongue for people to realize that it is the Body and Blood of Our Lord, then I think that's what ought to happen.
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[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='OLAM Dad' date='Apr 13 2006, 04:30 PM']In addition to mishaps, receiving in the hand creates a much greater likelyhood of abuse of our Lord.  I think that the first time our Lord was found stuck on the bottom of a pew with a piece of bubble gum should have been the end of receiving in the hand.[right][snapback]946439[/snapback][/right]
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Exactly.

Via hand is acceptable because it is allowed, but I think that the Church would be better off via tongue.

[dUSt]

I receive on the tongue.

I have dropped Jesus before when receiving in the hand, and have seen way too many cases of people simply walking away with Jesus without consuming Him.

I don't look down on people for receiving in the hand, but the tongue is my preference.

If you're worried about problems with the extrordinary ministers of communion not knowing how to place Jesus on your tongue, just always go in the line with a priest. I avoid EMCs whenever possible because I'm usually holding a kid, and like the priest to bless my kids, cuz they have more blessing powers than EMCs.

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Apr 15 2006, 10:38 PM']I avoid EMCs whenever possible because I'm usually holding a kid, and like the priest to bless my kids, cuz they have more blessing powers than EMCs.
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[phatcatholic]

[quote name='OLAM Dad' date='Apr 13 2006, 07:26 PM']J,

Receiving on the tongue IS the norm.  Receiving in the hand is the indult.
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what makes u say that? as far as i know, the norm for the Church [i][b]in the US[/b][/i] is reception in the hand.

[LouisvilleFan]

Depends on how you define the "norm". If you say a norm is simply the way that most people choose to do things, we could also consider premarital sex and birth control to be "norms."

I chose to receive on the tongue last night for first Communion, but I realized that being tall (6'4") made it a little awkward for the priest to reach up to my mouth, especially when I tilted my head back... so then I tried bending down a little... but the Jesus plane finally made in the hanger ;-) And through it all, I forgot to say "Amen." Oh well... I guess that's only a venial sin and therefore immediately forgiven upon consuming the Eucharist!

One neat thing that I appreciate about receiving in the hand, especially for Christmas Vigil or during the Christmas Season, is that you're holding the infant Jesus in your hands just like Mary did.

Edited April 16, 2006 by LouisvilleFan

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' date='Apr 16 2006, 04:50 PM']Depends on how you define the "norm". If you say a norm is simply the way that most people choose to do things, we could also consider premarital sex and birth control to be "norms." [/quote]
by "norm" i mean what the US bishops have established as the usual way in which the faithful should receive communion. what used to be an exception is now the norm for the US.


[quote]I chose to receive on the tongue last night for first Communion, but I realized that being tall (6'4") made it a little awkward for the priest to reach up to my mouth, especially when I tilted my head back... so then I tried bending down a little... but the Jesus plane finally made in the hanger ;-)  And through it all, I forgot to say "Amen." Oh well... I guess that's only a venial sin and therefore immediately forgiven upon consuming the Eucharist! [/quote]
haha!! the "Jesus-plane" i can imagine the priest make the propeller sound :


[quote]One neat thing that I appreciate about receiving in the hand, especially for Christmas Vigil or during the Christmas Season, is that you're holding the infant Jesus in your hands just like Mary did.[right][snapback]949339[/snapback][/right][/quote]
i dunno, even tho it is allowed, and even the norm now, it doesn't seem proper to me. Mary and the priest are the only ones who should handle the Body of Christ.

[azaelia]

[quote name='hugheyforlife' date='Apr 13 2006, 03:23 PM']I feel close to Jesus when they raise Him in front of me and say, "the Body of Christ". I don't think I should have to hold Him in my hands to know or to feel closer. I don't stick my finger in the cup and swish it around before drinking His blood, why should I hold His body before I consume it?[right][snapback]946279[/snapback][/right][/quote]
Exactly. I don't think that reasoning really holds water. If you need to feel close to Jesus, I don't think receiving Him on the hand is going to do the trick. Maybe I'm being too literal or critical, those are just my thoughts.

Not to put down anyone who receives on the hand. It's a personal preference. But I don't think "feeling closer to Jesus" should be accepted as a valid reason. It should be contingent on whichever method you feel most comfortable with, and which is more reverent to you.

Btw, I receive on the tongue.

[Mercy me]

The GIRM states that we can receive either way. Both are the norm here in the USA.

I find the discussion about dirty (both spiritually and physically) hands amusing. I find that the dirtiest part of my body is my mouth. No, I don't curse but still I find that more sin comes from my mouth fthan from my hands.

I find that most people have a preference one way or the other. For me I receive both ways. I don't really care who I receive from because I am not worthy to receive Him anyway.

[Slave_of_the_Trinity]

After the Second Vatican Council, the Holy See has permited countries that recieve Communion in the hand permission to do so by granting an indult. This was only done if it was a tradition at that time in that counrty. According to what i've heard, Holland was the only country at that time where it was indeed a tradition to recieve Communion in the hand. Libs made it a tradition here in the US. It wasn't so before. Ask your parents.
Would it truly be so offensive for people to recieve the King of kings from the hands of His Chosen representative the priest. Is not the Priest chosen by God, and are not his hands consecrated for the soul purpose of handling the Most Precious BOdy of Our Lord? How can we consider ourselves, with our impure hands,worthy to handle the Body of Our Lord?
Not only that but recieving Communion in the hand can be a gateway for pagans to get a hold of Our Lord's Sacred Body. I have seen Our Lord's Body on the FLOOR of our Church defiled and torn in two. Who knows where the other Half was! Oh, if only we knew how much Our Lord suffers because of this so-called tradition or norm! HOw can such hideous acts be defended? Why does t mean so much for people to recieve Communion in the hand? Are they willing to add to the sufferings of Christ so as to please themselves? We are playing games with the BODY OF CHRIST!! Keep it in mind that because we recieve Communion in the hand, it makes it all the more easier for a slave of Satan to get a hold of the BODY OF CHRIST and walk out of the Church with it in order to TORTURE OUR SAVIOUR!! Oh Most Sacred Heart, so great is Your Love for us that You are Willing to endure all of these torments in order to enter into the hearts of men!!

Edited April 16, 2006 by Slave_of_the_Trinity