Communing with our Lord

Because the Eucharistic bread is by no means just “ordinary food” but the very Body and Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, we must make it a point to receive holy communion in a manner that reflects what we believe as Catholics. Our bodies speak a “language.” Therefore, we communicate with our bodies what we really believe about what the Church teaches regarding the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

In the dioceses of the United States, Catholics may receive holy communion in their hand. This is a special “permission” granted by Rome and we need to be aware of how to do it properly. Firstly, a person needs to ensure that their hands are not dirty or wet so that the host is not soiled in any way. Second, right before being presented with the Body of Christ, a person should make a bow of the head as the required act of adoration. Then, as Saint Cyril of Jerusalem in 350 AD instructs: “When you go to receive communion, go not with your wrists extended, nor with your fingers separated, but placing your left hand as a throne for your right, which is to receive so great a King, and in the hollow of the palm receive the body of Christ, saying, ‘Amen’”. Receiving the Sacred Host on the tongue is the normative way of receiving Holy Communion in the Latin Rite. After saying ”Amen” in response to the minister of Holy Communion, the communicant should open the mouth wide and extend the tongue far enough so that the Sacred Host can be placed upon it without danger of falling. It is most important to extend the tongue, not just open the mouth.

In just a few short weeks, in a phased roll-out beginning at select masses on Sunday, September 15th, the Precious Blood will be offered at Communion. As shown in last week’s article, you do not need to receive both species of the Eucharist in order to receive all of Jesus: BOTH his Body and Blood are in either species, the bread or the wine. Receiving the Precious Blood is simply to better emphasize and appreciate the sacrifice of Christ; one does not receive any more grace by also consuming the Blood, nor lose out on any by only consuming the Body.

When we receive the Eucharist, we are not consuming mere bread or wine; we are consuming the God who created each one of us. We receive the Creator of the universe in His humble form into our very bodies so he may physically dwell within us so we may commune with Him. In the next two weeks, there will be specific instructions and details in the bulletin on the Reception of the Precious Blood at Mass, so please be sure to read through them in order to properly give God the reverence and respect He deserves at Holy Communion.