What's wrong with Communion in the hand?

[Lady Bug]

I've been reading that it's more admirable to get Communion on the tongue. Is Communion in the hand less respectful?

There's a "slight problem" with me getting Communion on the tongue but it's very bizarre and I don't want to say it here.

 

[Oleaster]

I read a book on the Mass in which the author described communion in the hand while standing as being more active. The recipient is in a position of readiness to act, especially to serve. He said that communion on the tongue while kneeling puts more emphasis on the passive aspect of receiving the gifts of God. Ultimately, he approves both. That's the situation today in a nutshell. Both are practiced and have their proponents. The crux of the issue is that communion in the hand is not official Catholic practice but requires a special dispensation. Several countries are acting under this dispensation.

 

[Lost4words]

I am sure i read that in the early days of Catholicism, the faithful received in the hand. I really dont think that Jesus is concerned which way we receive His true body and blood. As long as we receive the Eucharist with a pure heart and with reverence.

 

[Susie~Q]

I think it is perfectly fine to receive the Eucharist in your hand, like Lost4words said, I don't the Lord is concerned which way we receive His body and blood as long as we do it in reverence. I think a person should receive in the way they feel most comfortable.

 

[Chrystal-J]

I used to be an usher at church. Satan worshippers would come up and take the Holy Host by hand and run off with it. If you receive by mouth, it will disintegrate and be unusable for evil intent.
Can't say that's the main reason, but could be one of them.

 

[Michie]

I read a book on the Mass in which the author described communion in the hand while standing as being more active. The recipient is in a position of readiness to act, especially to serve. He said that communion on the tongue while kneeling puts more emphasis on the passive aspect of receiving the gifts of God. Ultimately, he approves both. That's the situation today in a nutshell. Both are practiced and have their proponents. The crux of the issue is that communion in the hand is not official Catholic practice but requires a special dispensation. Several countries are acting under this dispensation.

Communion on the hsnd is the oldest form from everything I’ve been taught and read about, :shrug: I think it is the state of your heart that maters along with being willing to walk the walk of what you committed to.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I used to be an usher at church. Satan worshippers would come up and take the Holy Host by hand and run off with it. If you receive by mouth, it will disintegrate and be unusable for evil intent.
Can't say that's the main reason, but could be one of them.

Anyone who wants to take the hosts out of the church to abuse it, can receive it on the tongue and do the same.

Fact is, my wife and myself found a partially melted host in the hymnal rack in the pew one week. Others found partially consumed hosts in the parking lot.

It doesn't matter if the person receives on the tongue or in the hand.

That being said, I think God who turns the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, has the power to turn it back into just ordinary bread and wine when someone takes it in order to abuse it.

 

[RileyG]

Communion on the tongue was introduced to help prevent abuses from occurring. If you ever choose to go to a Traditional Latin Mass (extraordinary form), you will receive Communion on the tongue while kneeling (if you are able to).

I personally only receive on my tongue because I am scared to death of accidentally wiping away small particles that may still be on my hand.

Communion on the hand is perfectly acceptable in the United States since 1977. The early Church received communion on the hand and that has all been documented.

 

[Oleaster]

A History of Communion on the Hand

The True Story of Communion in the Hand Revealed

 

[Chrystal-J]

Anyone who wants to take the hosts out of the church to abuse it, can receive it on the tongue and do the same.

Fact is, my wife and myself found a partially melted host in the hymnal rack in the pew one week. Others found partially consumed hosts in the parking lot.

It doesn't matter if the person receives on the tongue or in the hand.

That being said, I think God who turns the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, has the power to turn it back into just ordinary bread and wine when someone takes it in order to abuse it.

I think Satanists prefer intact Hosts as they like to spread things on it (won't mention because it's too gross).

 

[RileyG]

Anyone who wants to take the hosts out of the church to abuse it, can receive it on the tongue and do the same.

Fact is, my wife and myself found a partially melted host in the hymnal rack in the pew one week. Others found partially consumed hosts in the parking lot.

It doesn't matter if the person receives on the tongue or in the hand.

That being said, I think God who turns the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, has the power to turn it back into just ordinary bread and wine when someone takes it in order to abuse it.

Lord have mercy! Sorry to hear what happened to our Blessed Lord!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I think Satanists prefer intact Hosts as they like to spread things on it (won't mention because it's too gross).

They get intact hosts, even receiving on the tongue.

As a former EMHC, I can tell you that giving a person communion on the
tongue is awkward, especially when that person is standing. Not touching the
person's tongue is also tricky.

I was raised in the 1950's before Vatican II. The way to receive back then was
to have your head held back with your tongue sticking out. It was the most irreverent way to receive. The nuns also instructed us to never let our teeth touch the host, as this was Jesus body.

Jesus in fact gave the consecrated bread to his apostles and said, "take and eat," not "take and suck on it until it melts in your mouth."

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Lord have mercy! Sorry to hear what happened to our Blessed Lord!

I think God is powerful enough to change it back to just bread
when a person abuses the host.

 

[Gnarwhal]

I've been reading that it's more admirable to get Communion on the tongue. Is Communion in the hand less respectful?

There's a "slight problem" with me getting Communion on the tongue but it's very bizarre and I don't want to say it here.

So the idea behind preferring that Holy Communion be received on the tongue rather than in the hand really boils down to the view that only consecrated hands should handle the consecrated host until it enters our body.

When Our Lord is handled little specs and particles can be sloughed off and it's considered nigh sacrilegious that they could fall on the floor. This is less likely when receiving on the tongue because usually it's only the priest handling it, and more often than not there's an altar boy holding a paten on your chin to catch any particles that fall in the transfer. Those particles are then poured into the leftovers in the chalice and the priest consumes them.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I've been reading that it's more admirable to get Communion on the tongue. Is Communion in the hand less respectful?

There's a "slight problem" with me getting Communion on the tongue but it's very bizarre and I don't want to say it here.

Well, I struggled with this then I conceived that if the Church, under the chair of Peter accepts this practice then I am not above the authority [keys] the chair has and I am not in sin by following the practice.

I prefer the tongue and will receive on the tongue, so I avert my heart and mind from judging others who do it as it's allowed.
I have on occasion took it by hand.

Peace.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

So the idea behind preferring that Holy Communion be received on the tongue rather than in the hand really boils down to the view that only consecrated hands should handle the consecrated host until it enters our body.

When Our Lord is handled little specs and particles can be sloughed off and it's considered nigh sacrilegious that they could fall on the floor. This is less likely when receiving on the tongue because usually it's only the priest handling it, and more often than not there's an altar boy holding a paten on your chin to catch any particles that fall in the transfer. Those particles are then poured into the leftovers in the chalice and the priest consumes them.

It's only sacrilegious if you were to purposely see the particles fall to the floor
and refused to pick them up.

Sacrilege requires the conscious willful participation in the offense.

 

[Gnarwhal]

It's only sacrilegious if you were to purposely see the particles fall to the floor
and refused to pick them up.

Sacrilege requires the conscious willful participation in the offense.

That's why I said "considered nigh sacrilegious" because it hasn't been declared such, but we all know it's happening and that's an affront to Our Lord

 

[Lady Bug]

Well, OK I did not want to say this but I guess I'll have to.

The problem is that I've been struggling with attraction to my priest and receiving something on the tongue from him evokes some images that I don't want. My attraction however has been "cleaner" for the past several weeks because I had been taking a break at another parish. At that parish, most people receive it by hand.

But almost no one at the home parish receives by hand. They almost all kneel for receiving it on the tongue. I either have to find a way to receive it on the tongue and pretend that he's not giving the Eucharist to me (that's not possible) or receive it by hand and be an anomaly in front of the congregation.

 

[Susie~Q]

I think Satanists prefer intact Hosts as they like to spread things on it (won't mention because it's too gross).

Oh my goodness, that is horrible, there isn't even an icon to post for this. Lord have mercy.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Well, OK I did not want to say this but I guess I'll have to.

The problem is that I've been struggling with attraction to my priest and receiving something on the tongue from him evokes some images that I don't want. My attraction however has been "cleaner" for the past several weeks because I had been taking a break at another parish. At that parish, most people receive it by hand.

But almost no one at the home parish receives by hand. They almost all kneel for receiving it on the tongue. I either have to find a way to receive it on the tongue and pretend that he's not giving the Eucharist to me (that's not possible) or receive it by hand and be an anomaly in front of the congregation.

Avert the eyes is online somewhere about how to see beautiful people but have no interest.