Mar 12, 2010

My Journey: Communion on Tongue Childish ? et. al.

I went for the parents' class of the First Communicants and was surprised by how our parish priest characterized receiving Holy Communion on the tongue.  He said, "If we had hang-ups with receiving communion by the hand and want to be fed like a child, then the option of receive it on the tongue is still available but, we must teach our kids that they can receive it by the hand."  I was doing that because I did not want particles of the consecrated host to be left in my palm.

I had the cable TV service cut off and it worked wonders.  We sleep earlier and there was less mischief in the house - usually when kids mimic the cartoon network characters.  The family night prayers are succeeding and my good night talks have been received eagerly.  Last night, I spoke about the Eucharistic miracles - the blood showing in the host and the donkey kneeling at the manager.  Since my kids go to public schools, they have been exposed to non-believers so, they question a lot e.g. "Hiow do I know that?  etc..."    I patiently addressed their questions but in the end, it boils down to faith in Jesus Who is God.

3 comments:

Ben Trovato said...

He was quite wrong. Communion on the tongue is not childish and does not remain as an option.

It is a sign of humility and reverence, and of 'receiving' rather than 'taking' Christ.

It is not 'an option' - it is the normative way of receiving in the Western Church. Receiving in the hand is only allowed by an indult - a special permission: that is the optional version.

His remarks are themselves childish in the worst sense: ill informed and prejudiced.

Dawn said...

I am sorry to hear about that response from your Priest. I will pray for him. My son once knelt to receive and the Priest made him stand up. It was heartbreaking. Pray for lukewarm priests.

William said...

I receive Communion by the tongue BECAUSE IT IS CHILDISH.

I recognize that I am nourished and live by God's grace alone, and not by my own strength or independence. Nothing brings a greater understanding of humility and reverence than accepting the role of a child when you are an adult.

Shame on that Father for not understanding that.

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