This feast is a fitting time to encourage everyone to reflect on how they receive communion. St. Paul warns us that “anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Cor 11:29).
Before coming to Mass and before receiving communion, do you carefully examine your conscience to determine if you are in the right state to receive? Catholics are encouraged to receive communion often, but there are requirements. Besides being Catholic, they must not have any unconfessed mortal sins. Things like skipping Mass, going more than a year without confession, and other direct violations of the Ten Commandments are mortal sins. If you’ve committed these, you must go to confession before receiving communion. Also, if a person is living in a public state of sin, they should not receive communion. A “public” state of sin includes things that are well known or simply a matter of public records. Things like: living with someone of the opposite sex that they’re not married to; being married outside the Church, publicly opposing Church teachings without making a retraction, or being formally excommunicated. If you’re in that kind of situation, please speak with me. There are steps that we can take and I want to help.
A reminder that the Church requires us to fast for at least an hour before receiving communion. If you eat (chewing gum counts) or drink (water does not count) right before Mass, you should not receive communion at that Mass. It is better to skip communion in that case. Exceptions are made for the sick. The pastor can also give permission to break that fast, but only on an individual basis. We should also prayerfully consider our reverence. Then, when you come up for communion, are you paying attention to what you’re doing? Do your posture, facial expressions, and voice actually show that reverence? A distracted look, drooping hands, a mumbled or omitted “amen” are all terrible habits. The minister is giving God Himself to you! Are you reacting with humility and awe? Or impatience and carelessness? I urge you to read the story of Blessed Imelda Lambertini who lived in Italy from 1322 to 1333. By God’s grace, she truly understood the great gift of the Eucharist and so literally died of joy at her first communion.
Then there is the method of receiving communion. There are clear rules about how we receive. In the United States, we are allowed (not required) to receive communion in the hand while standing. The most important is that it is done carefully, so as to avoid dropping the host. You should put out both hands and you should put one hand under the other, not side-by-side. Do not take, snatch, or pluck the host from the minister. Put out your hands and wait for them to place the host in your hands. Do not stand so far away that they have to stretch out to reach you and risk dropping the host. After the host is placed in your hand, you should reverently take it with your other hand and place it in your mouth. If you have something in your hands (a purse, a phone, a child), then do not try to juggle the host or use one hand. If you cannot free up your hands, receive on the tongue. I will begin to enforce this by not giving communion to people until they either hold their hands correctly or stick our their tongue correctly. Then, youare expected to check your hands after you receive and make sure no crumbs or particles are there and that they don’t fall to the floor. It is sacrilegious to carelessly toss crumbs of the Eucharist to the floor because you’re too lazy to check your hands. There are at least a few hosts at every Mass that leave some crumbs. Always check your hands! When receiving from the chalice, carefully take the chalice in both hands and take a small sip. Then carefully hand it back to the minister and make sure they have a grip on it before letting go.
In most places and for most of Church history, the rule has been to receive on the tongue, usually while kneeling. Because of this tradition, every Catholic has the right to receive on the tongue and/or kneeling if they wish. The correct way to receive on the tongue is to stick your tongue out of your mouth and tilt your head back slightly. Don’t overdo it but also don’t make it like trying to put a quarter in a dime coin slot. When I receive at a Mass I’m not celebrating, I typically receive on the tongue. If a kneeler or rail is available, I also use that. Because I know many people feel the same way, I’ve decided to place kneelers to the side of each communion station to assist those who want to kneel but might not be able or willing to kneel directly on the floor without something to lean on. I want to be clear, I am not saying that you have to kneel or receive on the tongue. I am also not saying that I will think you are more or less holy if you receive kneeling or standing, in the hands or on the tongue. I am simply trying to provide for the rights of each person and allow them the freedom to follow the tradition if they wish. I urge everyone to avoid judging others because they receive one way and you receive the other. As long as it is done reverently and in accordance with the Church’s guidance, then we should assume the best. Please do not fall into the sin of rash judgment right in the middle of receiving communion!
Regardless of which method you use, please take the time to examine your conscience, foster a prayerful attitude, and then receive carefully and according to the Church’s guidelines. To receive communion is a great gift and one of the best ways we can honor that gift is to receive it well. Thank you for your reverence and may God bless our efforts to love and honor Him more and more!
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