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5athome
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Does anyone know how this began? Our child's first communion class teacher told everyone this weekend that "the children would be expected to receive in the hand on their first communion because the Catholic Church is actually moving in that direction  I have sent her an email expressing my concern with her assertion but it got me thinking about how this option began in the first place.
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SusanJ
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Sigh. My grandmother--and I love her dearly--is a Confirmation teacher. She is really trying to be a good, devout Catholic but I shudder to think about the "new directions" she teaches to her students every year.
I have no idea how the tradition to receive in the hand started--I'm sure somebody here does--but you are certainly allowed to receive by mouth. In some cases you are required to receive by mouth (like if you are holding a baby in one arm and only have one hand free).
Susan
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Christine
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Actually, the secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship "called for reconsideration of the practice of communion in the hand" in late January of 2008. The story can be found here. I think that your child's first communion teacher might be a little confused.
As the article implies, communion in the hand was permitted because people were receiving in this way without permission. My husband will tell you that permission was granted due to dissent. The early Church did allow communion in the hand, but this was changed at some point out of reverence for the Eucharist (our Lord's body).
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SusanMc
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As a former CCD teacher, I would recommend having a gentle and charitable conversation with the teacher, and if necessary the DRE, before getting too upset. It is quite possible that she is instructing from a text that SAYS that. I know, I know.
I prefer to receive by mouth for the reasons cited in the article Christine posted. I often have a baby in my arms so it isn't so obvious that it is my preference but a necessity. I wonder if the increase in the "hand" method coincides with the increased use of Extraordinary Ministers (lay people) dispensing the Eucharist.
I do sympathize with the "ewww" factor of putting something in a stranger's mouth but I figure if you volunteer for that position, you are aware of its possibility. I always try to remove any lipstick before receiving out of respect as well.
Finally, back on topic, I figure it is a better idea to train young children to receive in the mouth, because it is by far the less familiar action. If they choose to receive by hand later in life, it wouldn't be that big of a switch whereas the reverse is not as true.
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KackyK
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Our DRE insists that FHC kiddos not only must receive by mouth but for FHC Mass they must also kneel before the priest too as they receive. She personally kneels before receiving at our regular Sunday Masses. I know what our DRE does is not the norm but I'd say what your teacher said is not the norm either. 
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websterm
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Thank you so much for sharing the article! What a wonderful article! I was raised Catholic, and took receiving eucharist for granted. Now that I am not in good graces with the church, I understand the importance and greatness of the eucharist and am anxious to be able to receive again someday. When I am able to receive again, I will think hard about receiving in my hand.
Marcia
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10 Bright Stars
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That's funny because I think that we are actually moving towards receiving by mouth. I recently read an article that Christ in the Eucharist is like baby food for us, and therefore we should receive our spiritual food like babies; by mouth and by being fed. I think you should look into this a little more. There have been all sorts of articles in our diocese about making a profound bow or genufelcting prior to receiving etc. I think the mouth is more "safe" personally. I used to always receive by hand when I first converted, but then switched several years ago and haven't looked back. In our parish, they teach the kids to receive by mouth too. Good luck! You can always ask the priest to make an exception for your child, or instruct them to change after their First Communion.
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KackyK
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I have a dear friend who has always insisted to her children that they are to receive Jesus in their mouths, never the hand, for fear of them dropping or something like that, plus she worries about dirt on their hands.
Anyways, I had to giggle with Kim's last post about it being safer to receive in the mouth. Here's a quick amusing story...this same friend I just mentioned (she has 7dc) had a 11 yrold dd with a retainer. She went to receive, she opened her mouth, the retainer fell to the bottom of her mouth, Father then put the Host on top of the retainer. Her dd "sucked" up the retainer and the Host was caught. Tears filled her eyes! Her mom asked what was wrong, dd told her that she didn't know what to do because she needed to use her fingers to get the Host out! Ofcourse her mother said that was fine...but you know...it's funny to think about now!
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Erin
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Well I'm afraid the teacher is misinformed. Two weeks ago our bishop sent out an 'update' on changes to occur during Mass in line with the Holy See. These are provisions with the new 'General Instruction' which is to come into force in Australia on the Solemnity of Pentecost. I imagined that these changes would be pretty worldwide. Anyhow I quote an interesting part here:
'Receiving the consecrated Host directly on the tongue still remains the 'default' Catholic way of doing so. However in September 1975 among the various liturgical changes and alternative customs that came into use in the 1960s and 1970s the Bishops of Australia received permission from the Holy See to offer communicants who wished to do so the alternative of receiving Holy Communion on the hand.( I believe America was the same?) The free choice was given to, and still remains with the communicant, to receive either on the tongue or in the hand. (my highlighting)
There is no way the priest can refuse her to receive on the tongue. I would just tell her teacher that 'my daughter will be receiving on the tongue' end of discussion. Your child, your choice.
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CrunchyMom
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Eight Wonders wrote:
I think the mouth is more "safe" personally. I used to always receive by hand when I first converted, but then switched several years ago and haven't looked back.
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Same here. It was actually a couple of years ago when the host from the papal mass was being auctioned on E-bay. It really disturbed me and prompted me to look into it further. I realized after that, it felt safer not just from dirt or lost particles, but also it was safer from hosts being taken and lost and abused. Even though I know *I* am not going to lose or abuse it, it really disturbed me to find out that it is common for hosts to be taken and stuck in the hymn racks, used for Satanic rituals, and kept as souvenirs.
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Mary Chris
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I think the catechist was incorrect in telling the children how to receive, and I would ask that your dd be able to practice receiving by mouth. I have not read the article linked and I usually do not respond to these threads but here goes...
I must have made my FHC around the time receiving by hand was becoming common place, and I lived in California at the time (enough said). As far back as I can remember I have always received by hand. Last year I heard how it was more reverent and pleasing to God to receive by mouth. So I started trying to receive by mouth. The whole thing was causing me a lot of angst, trying to do the right thing.
One day I realizied, I'm a Eucharistic Minister, I put Christ in hands and on tongues. I don't do anything special after distributing communion. It is God, if hand lotion can absorb through my skin surely God can. God is truly bigger than this
I think it is more important where your heart is when receiving than the mechanics. I do think we need to be vigilant about watching people receive and make sure they consume.
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asplendidtime
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NAK
When I was in the Monastery (RPB) I think it was Father Sommerville's hymn book which had a beautiful quotation from the Early Church about when receiving Holy Communion the Christian receives Christ on the throne of his hand... Have any of you read this quotation?
I was never bothered by this again, as I reflected on the Last Supper, I wasn't bothered in the least that the form of receiving on the hand was bothersome to Christ. I do receive on the tongue, however, but that is likely b.c of carrying a little one...
Just two cents and some scattered thoughts from me.  I feel very disconcerted right now, so forgive me if it didn't make sense. 
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Receiving in the Hand
