Does anyone still receive the Eucharist by mouth?

Christworshiper · Thursday at 3:48 PM

Hi,

I've been back to Mass regularly now for the four straight weeks. I have only seen a couple of very old timers that still receive the Eucharist by mouth. I grew up in the church before the hand option was around. I did by mouth 1x and the priest did seem a bit surprised when I didn't extend my hands. Comments? Thx

Chrystal-J · Thursday at 4:04 PM

I receive by mouth only. I feel it's more respectful to only have one set of hands handling the Eucharist.

FaithT · Thursday at 10:41 PM

Christworshiper said:
Hi,

I've been back to Mass regularly now for the four straight weeks. I have only seen a couple of very old timers that still receive the Eucharist by mouth. I grew up in the church before the hand option was around. I did by mouth 1x and the priest did seem a bit surprised when I didn't extend my hands. Comments? Thx

I receive in the hand.

LynnMaria · Friday at 11:56 AM

Mostly everyone receives by the mouth at my church, honestly, it's the only way I've ever known.

FaithT · Friday at 12:05 PM

LynnMaria said:
Mostly everyone receives by the mouth at my church, honestly, it's the only way I've ever known.

I haven’t noticed anyone receiving by mouth in my church, but I’m sure some do. I don’t really pay attention to how people are receiving.

Akita Suggagaki · Friday at 12:33 PM

As EMHC it seems about 95% use hands. I will say that by mouth is more challenging. Some people hardly open or make their tongue available. One lady had her hands out and opened her mouth but did not stick out her tongue. I did not know how she wanted to receive.

Christworshiper · Friday at 1:35 PM

Akita Suggagaki said:
As EMHC it seems about 95% use hands. I will say that by mouth is more challenging. Some people hardly open or make their tongue available. One lady had her hands out and opened her mouth but did not stick out her tongue. I did not know how she wanted to receive.

Yep, when I went to receive it by mouth, I didn't stick my tongue out that much. The priest almost dropped it. It has been many years for me.

Learning always · Saturday at 3:57 AM

In my parish church, it used to be 100% by hands.

It made you feel out of place if receiving by mouth.

But now more and more people are receiving by mouth, a small number even receive kneeling. Probably the reason is the ex priest was replaced by 3 conservative priests here. Conservative priests attract conservative laypersons.
Another reason is some people were distributing pamphlets to encourage receiving by mouth.

johnnypapa · Saturday at 5:02 AM

I receive on the tongue. I'd say 98% do in my parish. Most kneel also as we have an altar rail.

FaithT · Saturday at 2:18 PM

johnnypapa said:
I receive on the tongue. I'd say 98% do in my parish. Most kneel also as we have an altar rail.

I wish we had an altar rail.

Valletta · 2025-10-20T16:08:55-0500

FaithT said:
I haven’t noticed anyone receiving by mouth in my church, but I’m sure some do. I don’t really pay attention to how people are receiving.

I am rather focused but a guess for my parish would be 20%. For us they put up two kneelers that they remove after communion. Also most of the time our priest faces the people but on occasion says a mass with his back to the people.

Gnarwhal · 2025-10-21T02:28:34-0500

I do most of the time. In fact, even though I go to a novus ordo I try to do everything as if I were at a TLM. So I receive on the tongue, I'll kneel if I can, I don't receive from the chalice if it's offered (it hasn't been at my parish since before covid), etc.

Only time I won't is if I get stuck in an EMHC's communion line. Usually I try to get into father's line, or if a deacon is assisting that day I'll stay in his line if I end up in it.

FaithT · 2025-10-21T14:01:43-0500

Gnarwhal said:
I do most of the time. In fact, even though I go to a novus ordo I try to do everything as if I were at a TLM. So I receive on the tongue, I'll kneel if I can, I don't receive from the chalice if it's offered (it hasn't been at my parish since before covid), etc.

Only time I won't is if I get stuck in an EMHC's communion line. Usually I try to get into father's line, or if a deacon is assisting that day I'll stay in his line if I end up in it.

I dont like taking communion from anybody other than a priest or a deacon. I have, but I don’t usually.

Christworshiper · 2025-10-21T14:23:26-0500

FaithT said:
I dont like taking communion from anybody other than a priest or a deacon. I have, but I don’t usually.

I feel the exact same way. Although, I've only recently changed my views on Deacons. We only had one in my NYC parish in the 70s. Today, you will see several in almost all the parishes. I think the shortage of priests has something to do with it. The Church has also put much stricter guidelines on becoming a Deacon now, which I like.

Gnarwhal · 2025-10-21T14:35:50-0500

FaithT said:
I dont like taking communion from anybody other than a priest or a deacon. I have, but I don’t usually.

Me neither.

It's a controversial opinion, I know, because we have EMHCs on this forum, but I prefer to receive from a priest first or deacon if necessary.

Does anyone still receive the Eucharist by mouth?

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