walburga Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Hi! I have a little problem and I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this... I prefer to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, but in my parish church, both with our former pastor and our new one, it seems to be problematic. There have been numerous times when I seemed that the host was about to fall out of my mouth. The priest never seems to get it in a 'secure' position. It's really embarrasing and stressful. I'm tense, he's tense... I don't know if my mouth is too small, if the host is too large. I've even practiced in the mirror to make sure that mouth and tongue are 'in position', but it always seems dangerous! With our former pastor, I finally gave up and started receiving in the hand. Over the summer I was in the monastery and though the first time or two was a bit awkward, both the priest and I seemed to get the hang of it and it wasn't a real problem. Anyway, any suggestions?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Go and talk to your priest and explain how important it is to you, maybe have a practice session. Every Mass I ever went to as a child was on the tongue and I never saw a host dropped, so it cannot be that difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesJesu Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 "Wet" your tongue just before recieving. It helps with the "accidents." Peace, MilesJesu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Therese Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Also, it helps to open your mouth really wide. That way the priest can put the Host in a better position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fr. Bruno Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Well, I must admit that nowadays, communion on the tongue seems problematic, because many young people don't know how to do it correctly... (I'm not saying this is your case). It does happen that the consecrated host falls on the ground, which is of course embarrassing... But another embarrassing thing is when people touch the priest's fingers with their teeth or tongue. Even if some people do it correctly, the priest many times doesn't know who he has in front of him and what kind of thing might happen next... so I can understand those who become a little tense in that kind of situation. Can anybody tell me if there is any objection against receiveing communion on your hands ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessgianna Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 [quote name='Saint Therese' post='1754454' date='Jan 18 2009, 02:58 PM']Also, it helps to open your mouth really wide. That way the priest can put the Host in a better position.[/quote] I always feel like an idiot! But yea you do what you need to do! [quote name='Fr. Bruno' post='1754477' date='Jan 18 2009, 03:23 PM']........ Can anybody tell me if there is any objection against receiveing communion on your hands ?[/quote] I don't really have any objection to receiving Christ on the hands but I feel that the respect got lost and I think receiving Christ on the tongue shows more respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Therese Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I've never received our Lord in the hand. I like to think of communion on the tongue as a kiss of love.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walburga Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Thanks for the input... I finally did start receiving Communion on the hand with our former pastor because it was just too scary. I wanted to go back to receving on the tongue especially because I'm not going to have any choice pretty soon and I'd like to get it right! There wasn't any problem this summer, but it seems to be problematic in my parish. I talked to someone today who said she had the same problem and it might be, in part, the way the priests here do this. They don't 'lay' the Host on the tongue... actually they look something like a dentist about to pull a tooth - they kind of 'jab' it in. Also, we are standing, not kneeling, which makes the angles much more awkward. I received First Holy Communion in 1978 and I've received on the hand most of my life, but it is not the preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resurrexi Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 [quote name='Fr. Bruno' post='1754477' date='Jan 18 2009, 03:23 PM']It does happen that the consecrated host falls on the ground, which is of course embarrassing...[/quote] If Communion patens were used, this would not be a problem [quote name='Fr. Bruno' post='1754477' date='Jan 18 2009, 03:23 PM']Can anybody tell me if there is any objection against receiveing communion on your hands ?[/quote] Yes, I do have an objection against receiving Communion in my hands. Particles of the Blessed Sacrament are often lost when this is done, in addition to the fact that it would decrease the reverence I have toward the Blessed Sacrament if I permitted myself to touch It with my hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walburga Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 [quote name='Resurrexi' post='1754527' date='Jan 18 2009, 05:40 PM']If Communion patens were used, this would not be a problem [/quote] Patens are used, but that doesn't PREVENT the problem, only helps if something actually happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissyP89 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Father touches the side of my mouth every so often. I shrug it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MithLuin Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 For anyone wishing to discuss the history, appropriate attitudes or rules concerning receiving communion, we have a recent thread in Transmundane Lane that may be of interest: [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=74687"]Communion in the Hand[/url] The goal is to receive reverently. If it is too awkward to receive from a particular priest on the tongue, it might be more appropriate to receive on the hand in that case. Either way is acceptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resurrexi Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I don't think Communion in the hand is acceptable is one fails to check his hands for Particles of the Host. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisvilleFan Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 [quote name='Saint Therese' post='1754485' date='Jan 18 2009, 04:36 PM']I've never received our Lord in the hand. I like to think of communion on the tongue as a kiss of love..[/quote] Except at Communion, it's better to give more tongue... I know you're laughin'... and you feel bad about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MithLuin Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 [quote name='Resurrexi' post='1754802' date='Jan 18 2009, 10:57 PM']I don't think Communion in the hand is acceptable is one fails to check his hands for Particles of the Host.[/quote] I don't think that's what the bishops teach...that sounds very scrupulous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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