10 Things to Remember When Receiving Communion (Catholic Caucus)

Aletelia ^ | December 21, 2015 | Deacon Greg Kandra

[NYer]

Churches will be crowded soon with more people heading to Mass who don’t regularly attend. We’ll all be seeing some unfamiliar faces in the pews. And I know I’ll be seeing people in the Communion line I’ve never seen before; some will be casual Christmas-and-Easter Catholics, some will be visitors from out of town. And inevitably, I know I’ll be seeing people receive the sacrament in some creative ways.

(In my parish, we stopped distributing the Precious Blood a couple years ago, during one of our big flu outbreaks, and the practice was never restored.)

People will debate this until the Second Coming, but the fact remains: reverent reception of the Body of Christ goes far beyond kneeling vs. standing or tongue vs. hand.  I’ve seen people receive reverently and irreverently in every way imaginable.  Attitude is everything. Catechesis matters. So does local custom.

But whatever you do, don’t do this:

1. Don’t hold out your your hand if you don’t want to receive in the hand.  This happened to me recently. The guy in the communion line nearly fell over trying to bend down and get the host with his mouth before it landed on his hand. I had to stop him. “What do you want to do?,” I asked. He sheepishly grinned and held out his hand. “Sorry,” he whispered.
2. If you receive in the hand, no gloves.
3. If you receive on the tongue, no biting. Please.
4. No mints or lozenges during Mass. I’ve given communion to people on the tongue and couldn’t help but notice what appeared to be colorful stains left by cough drops.
5. Remember: you are receiving communion, not taking it. Don’t reach up and grab the host. (A priest I know refers to these communicants as “The Body Snatchers.”)

And do: 

1. While in line, reflect on what you are doing and why—and whom you are about to receive.
2. Make yourself open to awe. Let’s face it: this is awesome.
3. Consume the Body of Christ then and there. Don’t grab and go. I’ve lost count of the number of people I’ve had to stop because they walked away with the host before consuming it.
4. Allow yourself to be changed—and to grow in grace. A familiar hymn says “we become what we receive.” Think about that. (Again: this is awesome.)
5. Never forget: People died so we could do this. Others around the world are dying for doing it. Still more yearn to be able to do it and, for any number of reasons, can’t. This can’t be overstated: what we receive is a miracle and a gift. We should never take it casually, ever.  Eucharist, after all, means “thanksgiving.” So give thanks—and give glory to The One who has made this humbling gift of grace possible.

Finally: No matter how you receive, receive what has been given with wonder and love and joy. At the moment we receive communion, we welcome Christ into our world—just as Mary, the shepherds and the wise men did. The same feelings that warmed that stable in Bethlehem all those centuries ago should illuminate our hearts every time we welcome Christ here and now.

Every Mass is Calvary. But every reception of the Eucharist is, in a sense, Bethlehem: the “house of bread,” the place where God enters into our lives, our history, our hearts, our bodies.  We should cherish that when we step forward to receive Communion. As God first visited the world and dwelled among us as a baby, so he comes to us now, in a fragile and humble piece of bread.

Behold the Lamb of God!

O come, let us adore! 

[o_1_2_3__]

+ thx.

[minnesota_bound]

#11 Do not drink too much of the wine.....

[Lil Flower]

Eucharistic ministers. My pet peeve.

[IrishBrigade]

I wanted to ask that very question to an annoyed, sneering priest as I attempted to receive communion on the tongue.

That is unacceptable by any standard...report such a priest immediately to the diocesan bishop...

[steve86]

I go to a Tridentine Mass when it is available (and where Communion on the tongue is universal, of course) but it is my understanding that no one ever requests it at the large and successful Catholic parish down the street. Very sad. I’m guessing some of the younger Communicants have never even heard of Communion on the tongue.

[warsaw44]

The man was reassigned at some point as there is a new priest.

Not sure what reporting such things are worth, FRiend. Two years ago I attended an Ash Wednesday service and the entire mass was conducted by a woman.

From start to finish.

This was in Belmont, Massachusetts and I called the Cardinal’s office. They instructed me to call the Belmont parish and complain. So - I did. What I ended up with was an angry priest telling me it does not matter and that there aren’t enough seminarians.

The conversation went downhill after that. Nothing was ever done about it, no one cared.

[infool7]

Should one smack the person in front of him if the line isn't moving fast enough, as I witnessed one of the faithful, eager to receive the Body and Blood of his Lord, do one Sunday morning?

Ha Ha you might like Ireland, my wife and I had a chance to visit back in 2012 and attend Mass several times in various places as it was Easter. It seemed that at every Mass as soon as the Priest approached the alter rail the entire congregation rushed the alter like they might run out of hosts. I think everyone was reverent from what I could tell but just don't get in their way.

[Melian]

I find it very distracting when the Eucharistic Minister touches the hair of the child in front of me to give a blessing and then uses the same hand to pick up my Host and hand it to me.

I really wish they would just hold their hands above the child’s head as they bless. I’m often distracted by worry about germs and lice right at the moment of most importance.

And can Eucharistic Ministers even really give a blessing? They aren’t deacons. Is their blessing any more than just any lay persons?

[NYer]

I find it very distracting when the Eucharistic Minister touches the hair of the child in front of me to give a blessing and then uses the same hand to pick up my Host and hand it to me.

I can appreciate that. In the Maronite Church, the priest and/or deacon (we have no Eucharistic Ministers), touches the head of the young child with the base of the chalice, as a blessing. Communion is by intinction and only on the tongue. No EMHCs. No communion in the hand. No swiping hair with the same hand that touches the Eucharist.