How to Receive Communion in the Catholic Church
Receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion in the Catholic Church is an act that requires knowledge and reverence and allows you to receive many graces in your spiritual life. For baptized children, First Communion classes are taught during the first and second grades. Adults must go through the Right for Initiation for Catholic Adults (RCIA) classes and receive their first Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil in the spring. Here's how to receive Communion.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Become a member of the Catholic Church.
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2
Take First Reconciliation classes and make your first confession.
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3
Receive Holy Communion in a state of grace. This means that no mortal sin has been committed. If you are unsure, talk to a priest and/or go to confession before receiving the Eucharist.
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4
Prepare yourself mentally during the Consecration for the reception of the Eucharist. The Consecration is the moment when the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. Be thankful for the gift you are about to receive.
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5
Bow or bend the right knee and make the sign of the cross when you reach the priest to receive Holy Communion.
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6
Receive Holy Communion on the tongue or by hand. If you are receiving it on the tongue, tilt your head back slightly and extend your tongue far enough so there is no danger of the Host falling. If you receive it in your hand, place one hand on top of the other, palms up, and receive the Host with one hand and place it in your mouth with the other.
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7
Make the sign of the cross after you have received Holy Communion. Return to your seat and kneel in prayer or meditation to show your respect to Christ.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Do not let a Host fall to the ground. If it does, pick it up quickly and either consume it or let the priest know.
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Comments
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Feb 27, 2011
If the priest is distributing communion then one should take it by mouth only. If communion is being distributed by a lay person then it is acceptable to take it by hand. -
ananyhere
Nov 13, 2010
The history - the TRADITION of the Church over many many years now (before Vatican II) suggests that reception of the Blessed Sacrament should be on the tongue given by the priest who should be the only one touching the body and blood of Our Lord with consecrated hands. It's a lack of humility and disgusting to think that the any person should be able to just walk up and take Our Lord in their hand in this day and age and to really argue that for the overall good there is not a greater reverence in receiving on the tongue is hardly an argument worth having. It is absurd that anyone could possibly in this context argue in favor of receiving via our own hands over on the tongue. I will also point to the current state of the Church and its # of faithful compared to those years previous to Vatican II - I believe the numbers would suggest that the changes implemented such as this...
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deacbrown
May 27, 2010
There a couple of mistakes in the steps. You do not need to "bend the right knee and make the sign of the cross when you reach the priest." The new rubric calls for a slight bow before you reach the priest, usually done as you are second in line for reception; as the person ahead of you receives you make a slight bow and step toward the priest to receive. Although many people make the sign of the cross after receiving communion, it is not required. On the tongue or in the hand - neither is better than the other.
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exsultet
Apr 14, 2009
unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.A person should examine himself, 13 and so eat the bread and drink the cup.For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself."
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exsultet
Apr 14, 2009
unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.A person should examine himself, 13 and so eat the bread and drink the cup.For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself."
