Is There A “proper” Way To Receive The Catholic Eucharist (re: Handedness)?
I know different dioceses have different protocols for *before* you receive (such as genuflecting), but today something odd happened that I’ve never encountered before.
I went up to receive the Eucharist with my hands cupped, the right hand above the left (as a left-hander, I then take the Eucharist and eat it with my left hand)….and the Eucharistic Minister said “the body of Christ” as usual and THEN moved my top (right hand) so she could put the Eucharist in my left hand. And then she said “Jesus loves you.” I was pretty offended that she did this. What was the motive? Does she think that you’re only supposed to eat it with your right hand? Did she cause this interruption to give time to add her extra message?
So I guess my question is if there’s some random Catholic dogma backing this behavior up or if this was just some kooky old lady.
Also as a side note, I do the sign of the cross with my right hand even though I’m left-handed, but my LH friend does it with her left.
- Why do so few people attending Catholic Masses refrain from receiving the Eucharist?
- For Catholics - Why do receive the Eucharist in their hands to bother some people?
- Why is it wrong for a Protestant to receive the Eucharist from a Catholic Church?
- What is the proper way to receive communion in a Catholic church?
- Church on Sunday, the Pastor to receive the Eucharist?
I recently became catholic and my boyfriend is a devout “cradle” catholic. i asked him how to do this when I took it the first time, and it is SUPPOSED to be left hand on top, even though most people don’t know or do this. And he also said that you can take it straight in your mouth, not through your hand and then to your mouth. You’re actually really supposed to avoid picking it up with your hand at all and put it in your mouth from your palm when they put it there. The reason behind this is so you keep the most of the bread in place as you can, since it is the actual body of christ. Don’t be offended!
I am right handed so I always do it with my right hand. It has been a long time since I learned all that stuff but for some reason I feel it was always put your right hand under your left.
Jesus said, “Take, it.” He didn’t say how. The issue far more important is with what heart one receives it. If you receive it in faith that Christ’s true body and blood are offered under the bread and wine, and that this eating and drinking is salvific, i.e. works for your salvation, than you are in the money, spiritually speaking. Go and sin no more.
In reality, the proper method to receive the host is on your tongue. Priests used to have their forefingers and thumbs annointed during the ritual of holy orders so they COULD touch the host. But in the Novus Ordo catholicism all of these practices have been thrown out to remove the sanctity and respect due the things Holy. It used to be a major event if a host was dropped.
Oh Well.
Having said this, what difference would the hand, dexter or fester, make. For that matter, why not bring a saltine from home. Don’t scoff, it was done in some churches.
I vote for the “kooky old lady” theory. I’ve never heard of a hand preference. I just remember the nuns used to always tell us, “Don’t chew Jesus!!!”
And I think I would make it a point not to get in that lady’s line anymore.
we were taught in CCD that you were always supposed to receive the Eucharist in your left hand and put it in your mouth with your right. the other way is just wrong apparently. it probably has something to do with that whole medieval thinking that the left hand was the hand of the devil etc etc…
I have never know there to be a left or right handed preference. I’m a Eucharistic Minister and the hand on the top is always the one where the host is placed so it would depend if you are right or left handed I’m right handed so it always goes in my left and I consume it using my right hand.
I really think she was being a bit excentric, well meaning but excentric. I would never ever correct someone unless of course they were walking away with the Body of Christ. I’ve had people try to take it back to their seat, one lady wanted to show her friend who wasn’t Catholic. As you well know it needs to be consumed when you get it. Some people have tried to take it out of the Church to give to sick relatives, which God love ‘em you understand, but that is why we have the ministry to the sick.
I think her saying “Jesus loves you”, was her way of trying not to be offensive, but there was no reason IMHO for her to correct you or change your hands. When people come up for a blessing I will say something like, “May the Lord Bless you and keep you.” Which of course is not to be confused with a blessing a priest gives. I know I do not have that authority.
If you have a concern I would contact the head of the Eucharistic Ministers and tell them. It may be time for some little reminders to the team of how to deal with Parishioners and the Body of Christ. Some people take it in one hand when their hands are full holding a small child, so taking it as you do I see nothing wrong with that and the E.M.’s in your parish shouldn’t either.
The Church in the U.S. women are allowed to be Eucharistic Ministers, but there are some parishes and priests that frown on it still. As far as dipping the body of Christ in the Blood of Christ, that is not allowed at least where I serve. The reason it just seems redundant and also when you are dipping it increases the odds of the Body of Christ to be dropped or His precious blood spilled on the floor.
I hope this helps.
The ONLY way to receive Holy Communion is on your knees and on your tongue.
There is no other proper way.
I agree with some of the above answerers . The only proper way to receive the Holy Eucharist is from a priest and to receive the Eucharist on your tongue.
Here is an interesting article explaining why Communion in the hand is sacrilegious:http://www.fatima.org/apostolate/newslet…
I’m kind of curious which branch of Catholicism you are in. It’s very odd to hear of a woman administering the Eucharist. Not that it’s wrong, just unusual.
That said, there is no “proper” way. The traditional way is to cup your hands, as you described, but rather than picking up the wafer, you eat it out of your cupped hand. Or, if you are ill, you leave the wafer there and allow the minister to dip the “body” in the “blood” and place it in your mouth. Since I don’t know “high” your church is, I recommend asking your priest what he (or she) recommends.
God be with you.
Edit: Wow, guess I’ve been living in a cave…
When did the Anglican Communion become stricter than the Roman?