i recieved communion

[hopeful1]

Usually i recieve the eucharist in hand, but I've always been curious about what it would be like to recieve on the tongue, to see if it felt any different, but have been afraid to try it. Well i got brave yesterday and tried recieving on my tongue...and it felt really awkward. I think i threw my priest off when i stuck my tongue out and he forgot to say "body of christ" and then it almost fell off and i caught it with my teeth and muffled an "amen". When i got back to my seat i was praying that Jesus would forgive me if i mistreated his body in any way, instead of thanking him. I just felt really bad. i think from now on i'll stick to recieving the way i grew up with. anyone else have any communion stories, or simular experience?

[homeschoolmom]

I've done both. I prefer the hand (for the reasons you suffered...)

[Guest Aluigi]

that kinda happened to me the first time, but serously, you'll get better if you don't give up.

practice by sticking your tongue out and curving it just right so that it would be able to take a host. when you go up, don't put your hands out. when he says Body of Christ, say Amen and then stick your tongue out.

i don't think you should give up because of one awkward experience.

[Brother Adam]

In accordance to both Jewish culture, and early Church Tradition I stick with the hand.

[homeschoolmom]

I only receive on the tongue when I have to (ie I'm carrying the baby...) but I don't like to because I spend WAY more time thinking about not messing up than on receiving the Lord...

[Guest Aluigi]

i find that you eventually stop thinking about that. at first it's uncomfortable cause you're not used to being fed... but regardless of which is more ancient a custom the reverence is increased and the symbolism that you are receiving Christ from the priest is more apparent by receiving on the tongue

i find that once you make the effort to get past the wierdness you find it to be quite beautiful...

[hopeful1]

besides, if you think of it this way, for a brief second you are actually holding Jesus in your hands before you become one with him-how intimate!

Edited October 26, 2004 by hopeful1

[immaculata]

After a couple times, the priest gets used to it and you don't have that awkward "hand/tongue?!" pause..

[Andrea348]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Oct 25 2004, 10:35 PM'] I only receive on the tongue when I have to (ie I'm carrying the baby...) but I don't like to because I spend WAY more time thinking about not messing up than on receiving the Lord... [/quote]
The priest at a church I go to occasionally at school mentioned in his homily one time that it is disrespectful to receive with one hand like when you are carrying a child...I tend to agree with him....it looks as if you're popping popcorn in your mouth....i hated to see people do that to Jesus....receiving on the tongue when you have your hands busy is a very good idea

[Guest Aluigi]

yeah but on the other side you are being ministered to by an alter christus, fed by him directly (if you receive from the priest, but still with the EMHC you are being fed by someone representing Christ's representitive to you)

you're still supposed to have the sense that it's not JUST you, your supposedta be in the sight of the minister who you receive from when you receive at the very least (that whole step to the side and put it in your mouth contradicts Redemptionis Sacramentum, minister must see you receive, it's part of the symbolism of you being ministered to, fed by the Church)

[homeschoolmom]

Oh, no! I would never receive in one hand! That's horrible... Jesus ain't no jujifruit!

[homeschoolmom]

double post...

[luciana]

[quote name='Aluigi' date='Oct 25 2004, 10:46 PM'] ......you're still supposed to have the sense that it's not JUST you, your supposedta be in the sight of the minister who you receive from when you receive at the very least (that whole step to the side and put it in your mouth contradicts Redemptionis Sacramentum, minister must see you receive, it's part of the symbolism of you being ministered to, fed by the Church) [/quote]

hmmmm.....I never knew that. I never did like it when people step to the side.

Hopeful1, I agree w/ everyone who says it's just a little awkward in the beginning.

Edited October 26, 2004 by luciana

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='Oct 25 2004, 11:33 PM'] In accordance to both Jewish culture, and early Church Tradition I stick with the hand. [/quote]
Agreed...now...where did I read that?

[Guest Aluigi]

hmm i donno, it's true but the Church also says regarding customs it shouldn't be judges as to which one is more ancience, but rather to which is more reverent

what's that fancy word-ism that it is that the Church condemned about simply trying to go back exactly to how the early church did it by gutting out all the accumulated pius devotions? i forget, but there is a word, and it's an "ism"

[Guest Aluigi]

<not to say you CAN'T receive with hand, tongue is just more reverent and Universal, IMHO>

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

Actually, if we were to recieve it like the apostles did at the Last Supper, we would be receiving it in the hand.

[luciana]

[quote name='Aluigi' date='Oct 25 2004, 11:15 PM'] what's that fancy word-ism that it is that the Church condemned about simply trying to go back exactly to how the early church did it by gutting out all the accumulated pius devotions?  i forget, but there is a word, and it's an "ism" [/quote]
Edited: antiquarianism, it's condemned in Pope PiusXII's encyclical [u]Mediator Dei[/u]

[quote]This movement was concerned with reviving obsolete liturgical practices on the grounds that they are more primitive. Pope Pius explains: "No more can any Catholic in his right senses repudiate existing legislation of the Church to revert to prescriptions based on the earliest sources of canon law. Just as obviously unwise and mistaken is the zeal of one who in matters liturgical would go back to the rites and usage of antiquity, discarding the new patterns introduced by disposition of divine Providence to meet the changes of circumstances and situation.

64. This way of acting bids fair to revive the exaggerated and senseless antiquarianism to which the illegal Council of Pistoia gave rise. It likewise attempts to reinstate a series of errors which were responsible for the calling of that meeting as well as for those resulting from it, with grievous harm to souls, and which the Church, the ever watchful guardian of the "deposit of faith" committed to her charge by her divine Founder, had every right and reason to condemn.[53] For perverse designs and ventures of this sort tend to paralyze and weaken that process of sanctification by which the sacred liturgy directs the sons of adoption to their Heavenly Father of their souls' salvation.[/quote]

Edited October 26, 2004 by luciana

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

*Just wants to make sure it is known that she is not arguing...just stating what she learned*

[Sinner]

Anyways........ agree with above, try a few times before deciding. I have found it beneficial to keep hands near waist level with fingers interlocked. Then there is no awkward moment as the Priest or extraordinary will definitely know you are not going to take it with your hands. Also, don't be shy...... get that tongue OUT there after you Amen so there is a nice target. When done correctly the chances for bobbling the Body is actually less on the tongue.... not to mention small particles being lost, etc.