Communion: Tongue or Hand?

This is a topic that I have wanted to address for some time now. For some, it has become a point of division in the Church… even though the Lord intended it as a point of unity. As with many doctrinal issues it really comes down to the question of authority. Does the Church have the right to dictate how a sacrament will be administered and by whom? If so, by what means is she allowed to do so?

The focus of this division is the practice of allowing the laity to receive the Eucharist either on the tongue or in the hand. Some have no problem with the latter while others consider it a sign of the decline of the Church as she moves closer and closer to Protestantism. In my own personal walk with the Lord I have had this debate many times within my heart and mind.

As Saint Paul told the Corinthians, we must regularly “examine ourselves, rather we be in the faith”. If one is serious about their Catholicism one needs to not only know what the Scriptures clearly teach (what is sometimes referred to as the “main and plain” teachings of the Bible) but what the Sacred Tradition of the Church, along with the Magisterium, has established to define and direct those doctrines which make us “Catholic”.

The History of Receiving in the Hand

In the very early days of the Church it’s believed that the Eucharist was received in the hand. There were several practical considerations for this in a Church meeting in catacombs and houses secretly… most notably the need to expedite proceedings. But from the days of the Ante Nicene Fathers on the practice slowly evolved as times and needs changed. This is to be expected as the Church matured and doctrines became more clearly defined.

The purpose of this article is not to serve as a history lesson. There are much better sources for that sort of thing than a blog site. For instance, there is an excellent article on the Vatican website from the Office For the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff that deals with that aspect. That article takes a more “on the tongue while kneeling” stance whereas EWTN’s article titled “Communion-On-the-Hand” more deals with the recent history and the precise instruction handed down when the practice was authorized in 1969. The latter is very interesting because reading the document shows that some aspects of those instructions are not being followed. I’m sure a Google search on the subject will turn up even more… including some thoughts by folks of the Sede Vacante persuasion no doubt.

Personal Convictions

Since the Church allows both methods of receiving the Eucharist, which one you choose really is a matter of conscience. For myself, it has been an ongoing internal debate ever since I reverted about 6 years ago. In my youth, in the pre-Vatican II era, we were taught that we were never to touch the Host. In fact, I can remember as a child having the Eucharist stuck to the roof of my mouth and not daring to reach in and dislodge it. I’d sit there working with my tongue trying to unstick it or, failing most times, wait for it to dissolve.

So, it was a shock to me when attending Mass for the first time in 45 years I saw people receiving Communion on their hand. I won’t even go into the Eucharistic Ministers at this point. I hadn’t even reverted yet at that point but I knew that this was not the Catholic Church of my childhood. Not worse or better… just different. Once I decided to revert I began studying all of the pros and cons of what I saw. Much of what I learned is reflected in the links I provided above… not to mention all the discussions I’ve been involved in with folks of a much more radical Traditionalist stance than my own.

Personal Decision

This past Sunday (August 20^th) while attending Mass at the Basilica Minore Santo Niño de Cebu I chose for the first time since my reversion to receive on the tongue. Even though the Church allows both ways, I feel in my heart that my unconsecrated hands should not be touching the Consecrated Host. The beauty of it was the very line for our section was the line with the Priest serving. While I understand that the Church has allowed for the Ministers, I still prefer to receive from the priest’s hand whenever possible. I won’t refuse to receive if one isn’t available by any stretch of the imagination.

A very nice thing also happened. My wife, Rose, followed my lead in the matter. She was born in 1964, so she has never known a time when Communion in the hand was not allowed. From this point forward we will receive on the tongue… and if there are kneelers available we’ll use those too. I have arthritic knees so kneeling directly on the floor is out of the question.

Your Choice

It’s important to say that in no way, shape or form am I considering us to be “more spiritual” or “better Catholics” because of this decision. I think that is one of the saddest parts of being Catholic today… folks looking down on brother and sister Catholic for obeying the dictates of their conscience within the bounds of what is authorized by the Church. Whatever your choice in this matter might be, it is between you and the Lord.