WDTPRS POLL – Preferences for reception of Communion: from priest or EMHC

Under another thread an idea for a WDTPRS was raised.  Please choose your answer and give your reasons in the combox, below.

Because this can be a delicate topic, I ask that you DO NOT ENGAGE each other in the combox.  Just state your own position without commenting on the comments of others in any way.  Pretend the other comments do not exist.

Preferences for reception of Holy Communion, I receive from...

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And just because someone will fail to pay attention to this, I’ll repeat:  Pretend the other comments do not exist.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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157 Comments

  1. sekman says:

    I prefer to receive only from the priest, the priests seem to know how to properly distribute to one who is receiving on the tongue.

  2. Flambeaux says:

    I primarily worship in the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite where Communion under Both Species is normative.

    As such, our priest administers the Host and a layman, in the absence of clergy, administers the Chalice.

    In a more typical parochial situation (OF or EF), I receive on the tongue from clergy only.

  3. John 6:54 says:

    Where is the kneeling option? [You could with profit review the choices presented in the poll and choose one of those answers.]

  4. Titus says:

    Well, I prefer to receive from a priest or a deacon, but barring some reason to believe that an EMHC isn’t doing his job correctly, I generally don’t go line-hopping. Then again, my parish never has an EMHC distribute the Sacred Host, so I don’t even face the possibility much any more.

  5. priests wife says:

    when I am at a Roman-rite Mass, I receive from a priest/deacon with the tongue- because I have kids, I am usually in the back, so my ‘line-hoppping’ isn’t too obvious, I hope.

    I think that if EMHC are needed for large parishes, there should be some sort of rite of hand-washing for the lay person

  6. carl b says:

    But Father, but Father! What about an option for “Only a layperson(woman), never from a priest/deacon”?

    :P

  7. Southern Baron says:

    I prefer to receive from a priest or deacon. When I do, I always receive on the tongue.

    However, if circumstances, like unfortunate architecture (you can guess what I mean) etc, make it awkward to do this, I will go to the nearest Extraordinary Minister. In these cases, depending on a number of factors I may receive in the hand, especially if the minister is quite short and/or elderly (I’m pretty tall), and if this is a parish where almost everybody receives on the hand. In a perfect world it wouldn’t matter but I’m afraid if I throw off the EM, there might be a greater chance of dropping the Host.

    As a rule, I only kneel in churches where it is the norm, but I much prefer it. My general policy is to be respectful and not to attract attention to myself. I particularly don’t want to seem to be making a statement: using the Eucharist as a platform for dissent might put my heart in the wrong place. I receive Our Lord, and I pray.

  8. MattnSue says:

    I receive on the tongue only, with the strong preference of receiving from the priest only. However, my vote was cast (assuming it went through, not sure, based on my browser’s behavior) for either priest/deacon or emhc, as I usually sit in the back (gotta get to church early to get a good seat in the back, you know) and sometimes by the time I reach the front of the line, an EMHC will have finished at a side aisle, and moves to the center to assist as a “closer.” Should this happen to my line, I am not one to march over to the other side of the church to go to the priest. I strongly disagree with the overuse of these ministers, especially at mass, but the host they hand me is no less Jesus, and the communion line is not the place to “make a statement,” I’m more concerned with preparing myself to receive Him.

  9. Annie says:

    Voted on the tongue from a priest/deacon. It can be hard though to reach the priest as there are usually so many EMHCs to physically get past first. Queue hopping doesn’t make you popular, but I do it anyway. Couldn’t kneel though, it makes you a trip hazard as there’s a queue behind you.

    Why did I vote that way…I suppose because I think it seriously diminishes the role of the Priest to have laity distributing Holy Communion, and diminishes reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, as does having laity ‘washing up’ the chalices in the Sanctuary after Holy Communion.

  10. JohnE says:

    Tricky question. I prefer to receive on the tongue from a priest who prefers to distribute that way. Our pastor has expressed on a few occasions his preference for people to receive in the hand and has somewhat put down receiving on the tongue as some sort of unhealthy, over-fearful piety. Some EMsHC seem nervous or awkward about distributing on the tongue. So I receive either way depending what line I end up in. I would receive on my knees if it didn’t draw attention to myself. Plus another person I know was told not to do that by the pastor. I put high importance on obedience and respecting the pastor’s wishes though. Otherwise in my mind I’d be making a “whatcha gonna do about it” statement.

  11. o.h. says:

    On the tongue, & only from a priest or deacon … not because I refuse the laity on principle, but because

    (a) Even at our very reverent parish, the EMs just don’t seem to know how to administer communion on the tongue. Last time I got a knuckle to the upper lip that hurt for a while. I’m done.

    (b) Children I have in tow, who approach an EM without their hands out, will most of the time get a blessing instead of communion. I’m tired of walking back and instructing EMs to give my child communion. In my experience, priests & deacons who see a smallish child approach without hands out will, if in doubt, inquire if they have made their first communion. EMs just bless and turn to the next parishioner.

  12. Phil_NL says:

    Father, with respect, but I think the phrasing of the question is confusing and counter-productive; it seems like you mixed people’s preferences with what they actually do. The ‘I receive from ….’ wording already points in the latter direction, as well as three options in the second part – I doubt there are people who have as preference ‘I receive on the tongue or hand’, unless you meant to state in a roundabout way that this option is for those who don’t care, which still would be a very small group.

    And of course, there might be big differences between what people prefer, and what they actually do; it might not be possible, or require some socially unacceptable manoeuvring, to receive from a priest or deacon only, for example. The hand / tongue issue can also be influenced by practical considerations (the ‘when in Rome, do like the Romans’ argument, or priests not particularly comfortable with communion on the tongue, etc. etc.

    So as it’s worded right now, I’m not so sure we’ll learn much from this poll.

  13. KerryLee says:

    I chose “either a priest/deacon or a layperson. I receive on the tongue only”.

    If the poll was what would I PREFER, it would most definitely be from a priest or deacon. But, as it stands now, EMHCs are allowed and I think for myself to “line-jump” at my parish, it could cause a lot of distraction for others (this comment is only for my parish, with how church is set up/the priest stands in various places each time/etc, not meant to say others who do this are causing distractions) and also cause distractions for myself. I feel like I would be focused more on getting to the right spot than trying to prepare to receive our Lord. Anyway, those are my thoughts.

  14. mvhcpa says:

    My usual attendance at Holy Mass is at the Ordinary Form (of course at the Extraordinary Form we all know how it goes). In that context, I will try to make sure I receive from a priest/deacon only, and will try to sit in the front part of the Church to avoid EMHC, but I won’t line-hop or otherwise interrupt the flow of the line for Holy Communion to reach an ordinary minister of the Eucharist. I always receive on the tongue, and 99% of the time kneel (whether there is a rail or not). I don’t kneel if I am assisting at Mass as a member of the honor guard in my Knights of Columbus regalia (sword on waist, hat in hand, cape on back, etc).

    I have totally stopped receiving the Precious Blood, for the reasons discussed in an earlier thread (it can give the impression that you don’t get “all of Jesus” under the Eucharistic species of bread). When I first made this decision, I used to walk quickly by the EMHC with the chalice, but it finally hit me that an act of reverence was due there as well, so I genuflect to the chalice off to the side of the line as I go by. (I did receive the Precious Blood at my wedding Mass–it seemed then and still does now the right thing to do at that time.)

    My wife (who is very reverent but much less traditional than I am) has also stopped receiving the Precious Blood, for the same reasons I have. She receives Holy Communion on the tongue as well, and would like to kneel, but can’t unless there is a rail due to a knee issue.

    Oh, kneeling and on the tounge is the case whether I receive from an ordinary or extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. I have had no problems with either, except a “pastoral correction” from a priest on my kneeling one time.

    Michael Val
    (who thinks bringing back the altar rail is more important than ad orientem in bringing back reverence for both the Eucharist and Mass in general)

  15. QMJ says:

    Out of reverence I receive only on the tongue. I just simply do not think people should receive in the hand.

    I much prefer to receive from a priest or deacon. However, I receive from a layperson whenever an EMHC is on my side of the church. The reason is two-fold: 1) I do not want to make logistical nightmare for myself by having to go over to the other line and then cross over to my side of the church to get back to my pew which has probably already been filled again because the other people got back before me; and 2) as much as I think the use of EMHCs is abused, receiving from a layperson does not lessen the efficaciousness of the sacrament.

  16. APX says:

    Being somewhat bi-form, but at the moment predominantly that of the EF, my response was based on my preference for when I’m at the OF. I receive on the tongue, while kneeling and I try my best to situate myself where the priest will distribute. In the event that I’m placed with two options in my line and one is a priest, I go to the priest, even if there’s a line-up of people receiving from him and the layperson is standing alone, I still receive from the priest.

    My preference for reception goes as follows:
    -Bishop (when applicable)
    -Priest
    -Deacon (when available)
    -Layperson who isn’t a teenager/young adult (they tend to be grossed out/inept about communion the the tongue)
    -Layperson young adult/teenager
    Layperson, my mom (She thinks COTT is gross and it creates unneccesary tension after Mass)

  17. irishgirl says:

    I voted the first one-receiving only from a priest and only on the tongue.
    I go to the EF Mass exclusively.

  18. Jason says:

    I am blessed to have a TLM every Sunday so obviously for me it is from a Priest or Deacon, on the tongue, while kneeling (at the altar rail).

    But on occasion where I must attend a Novus Ordo Mass (recently a funeral and a Catholic high school graduation) I get in the line of the Priest or Deacon and drop to my knees when it’s my turn to receive Him, on the tongue of course. I’ve never had any problems. Also on those occasions I skip the Sacred Blood if He is being offered in that form.

  19. cjcanniff says:

    I greatly prefer receiving from a priest, and whenever I do, I receive on the tongue. In the instances where I have to receive from a EMHC (which I try to avoid as much as possible), I just take it in my hand.

    I am a layperson just like them, so to have them place it on my tongue feels odd to me in that my relation to them is different than my relation to the priest. The EMHC and I are the same; whereas, the priest and I are not the same. When a priest gives it to me, it is his consecrated hands which bestow on me the gift that his hands have brought into my presence by the power given to him in Orders.

    I wish the number of lay EMHCs would greatly be reduced. I would like to see nuns (or brothers where they are available) aid a priest in distribution of communion instead of laypeople because the Novus Ordo (which is the Mass I usually attend) presents many instances in which more ministers are needed than there are priests, but laypeople just shouldn’t take on that role.

  20. everett says:

    I prefer receiving from a cleric, but will receive from a layperson if needed. I’m okay with receiving either in the hand or on the tongue, and what I do tends to depend on the parish I’m attending and who I’m receiving from.

  21. benedetta says:

    I prefer to receive Holy Communion from a priest on the tongue. If where I am I wind up in a line with a lay person then without a lot of conscious deliberation about it I receive then from the lay person on the hand. I know it doesn’t really make a lot of sense but it seems after attempts on the whole that very few lay distributors are comfortable with people receiving from them on the tongue. I have gotten a lot of surprised looks and even sort of smiling thing and I feel that all of that is a huge distraction. If it is from a lay person then I receive in the hand as reverently as possible. I don’t feel comfortable switching lines as waiting to be cleared from ushers where that is happening makes switching really a scene. There are just so many opportunities to be misconstrued that I have uncomfortably had to settle on better to quietly and reverently receive from a lay person in the hand, with faith, than to run around the lines and endure a lot of unintended issues and misinterpretation in process. All told I would be most comfortable receiving kneeling at an altar rail beside my neighbor in solidarity than what is happening predominantly now. I do recognize the difficulty with receiving in the hand and the risk of profanation and it does concern me, I do not deny any of it, those concerns are completely valid. I appreciate the efforts of many that we may be able receive Holy Communion with faith and reverence for Our Lord and one another. I think people can be reverent while receiving in the hand but it takes some doing and even a small step runs great risk of ostracizing unfortunately. I don’t think that is necessary or constructive to unity or to the walk of faith.

  22. HoyaGirl says:

    I need my own option! How about “I prefer to receive only from a priest/deacon, but I will receive under extreme duress from a layperson. I receive only on the tongue.” Our pastor has asked (strongly suggested) the people in line for Communion to alternate between the priest and the EMHC who may be in the sanctuary. If there is an EMHC present with the priest for the line, we are supposed to switch off – one to the priest, one to the EMHC. Many people have expressed a preference for the priest only and choose to disregard the strong suggestion. My children and I don’t like it, but we alternate as directed out of obedience to Father’s authority. This may also explain why we all tend to favor the earliest Sunday Mass when the attendance is small enough to forego the use of EMHC’s.

  23. Since I’m gluten-intolerant, it gets complicated.
    If receiving a low-gluten host, from a priest on the tongue.
    If visiting a new parish where I don’t know the priest but Communion is under both species, from an EM with a chalice.
    I actually blogged about this topic yesterday.

    At my old parish in Delaware, they did away with both species in the winter months because of all the flu panic. The EMs would all partake of the giant tub o’ hand sanitizer on the credence table before receiving. Well meaning, but a little tacky.

  24. twsumrall says:

    I only receive from a priest/deacon, and on the tongue . Being raised a Lutheran and spending time in the Anglican world after that, it is the only practice I’m comfortable with! Although, if I’m having allergy issues I will receive in the hand for fear of sneezing/coughing on the priest!

    I’ve found that the easiest way to avoid EMHCs is to arrive at Mass sufficiently early and sit in one of the main isles (as EMHCs tend to fan out a bit, in our modern circular buildings). Of course, this practice only works if you’ve been to that particular church more than once and know where the clergy will be distributing from.

    If it is impossible for me to hop lines, I still receive – it is still the Eucharist, regardless of who places it in your mouth!

  25. teomatteo says:

    I try to attend a EF mass ea. week and that is that. but when i am attending a family members church for a special occasion a EMHC and on the tongue is my only option. So 90% priest/deacon and 100% on the tongue

  26. mrsmontoya says:

    I receive on the tongue only, so I prefer a priest/deacon, because I assume they are familiar with the practice and will deliver. I have actually had a lay person push the Host into my hands rather than place it on my tongue.

  27. wolskerj says:

    I would agree with the commenter above if I weren’t pretending he didn’t exist. Ambiguous wording makes it difficult to answer this question simply. I prefer to receive communion on the tongue from an ordained minister, but I accept communion from the Church through whomever she chooses to distribute it. Lay distribution of the Eucharist is allowed by the Church and who am I to second-guess the Church? I wish She didn’t, though.

  28. Jon says:

    I’ve attended the EF exclusively for nearly seven years.

    Prior to that, I’ve actively avoided EMHC’s for at least ten years. I haven’t received the Precious Blood routinely in approximately eight years.

    It’s a position of conscience arrived at organically through experience, prayer, and reading history, the Magisterium, and the saints.

  29. JamesA says:

    My preference is from an ORDINARY minister of the Eucharist, but I won’t switch lines to get away from an extraordinary minister.
    Always on the tongue. I wish there was the option of kneeling at Novus Ordo Masses (without having to make a show of it).

  30. MarnieBarcelona says:

    I line hop, but the last couple of times I’ve HAD TO receive our Lord from a lay person as the priest had run out of the Blessed Hosts two or three persons in front of me. That’ll teach me to sit up front!

  31. Banjo pickin girl says:

    I am so lucky. At my parish only priests or visiting brother deacons serve and there is a rail with a nice comfy cushion and altar boys with patens and even a gate in the rail that was put in last year. People can stand at the rail too and wheelchairs and walkers fit nicely in the middle by the gate.

    At other parishes I line jump if I am not conspicuous. One priest I know doesn’t know how to serve on the tongue. He holds the host out about 4 inches from your mouth and chucks it at you. Like playing tiddlywinks.

  32. Joshua08 says:

    As I attend the EF almost exclusively, it is very rare that I encounter EHMC’s. One the handful of days I attend the OF each year there have usually been just clergy distributing (these being small congregations, daily Mass, etc). But when I do attend a Mass with them I usually think ahead as to where to sit and at worse I only have to move over a couple of feet to get into a “priest line” which can be done quite discreetly I have found. If by some off chance at my home parish if there priest were to move to one of the side naves (it is a cruciform Church) I suppose I would be unable to line switch discreetly. But unless he was purposely trying to make it hard of those who go priest only and/or wanted to distribute to fewer people that wouldn’t happen. The last time I had to, without dramatic line changing, go to an EHMC was 7 years ago…not sure what I would do now

  33. oblomov says:

    I prefer to receive from a Priest, though a EMHC will do. Kneeling, and receiving communion on the tongue from a Priest is what I thought would happen when I converted. So far that only happens when I attend the EF.

  34. Cathy says:

    I prefer to receive Holy Communion from the priest/deacon, however, reception of Holy Communion seems to be dictated from where you happen to be seated at Mass. I hope, soon, that we will go back to having only the priests/deacons feeding the flock at Mass, which of course, means we need to pray for more vocations to the priesthood. I honestly believe that the distribution of Holy Communion by the laity, as a common-not extraordinary practice, has somehow ruptured the relationship between the laity and the priest to the point that the priest is seen as somehow necessary in a merely functional sense.

  35. veritas76 says:

    There is something truly amazing about receiving the Body and Blood of Our Lord from His representative on earth. What an honor to kneel at the feet of a priest – he who is higher than the angels and is privileged to hold Our Lord in his consecrated hands – to be able to simply receive from the man who was ordained to have a share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. What humility that takes… to allow Our Lord to enter into our souls and bodies, at the mercy of the priest. When we realize that, it isn’t even appealing to “take” Our Lord from the priest or to stand face-to-face with him.

    If we truly knew what we receive when the priest places the Host on our tongue – if we took a moment to contemplate what it means to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the God of the universe, the flesh of Jesus Christ Himself… and consequently, if we took a moment to contemplate who the priest is – we would have no choice but to fall on our faces in awe before the him.

    Obviously, it is still Jesus when we receive from the EMHC, but it isn’t nearly as powerful to receive the flesh of Christ from “Carol” or “Beverly” who have no more right to touch the Sacred Species than I do (which is none). It just doesn’t make sense. So needless to say, I’m a “line-jumper”.

  36. Nicole says:

    I receive the Eucharist, preferably, from the hands of the ordinary minister. From what I’ve been taught, only a priest (or deacon in the case of ministry of Holy Communion) has hands consecrated to protect those receiving the sacraments by him from contracting any sort of demonic interest. Only in extraordinary cases do I receive from an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

    I receive only on the tongue for fear of the loss of particles on my hand…and because I see it as an unnecessary risk on the recipient’s side of dropping the host to receive communion on one’s hand.

  37. KAS says:

    What I DO is receive from either clergy or layperson but always on the tongue. In our parish that generally is OK– although the EMHC did not know what she was doing last week and nearly dropped the host.

    I HATE it that the EMHC’s tend to want to bless my kids, and would rather they not offend me by violating the limits on their role.

    I would PREFER to ONLY receive from a priest or deacon and to receive both kneeling and on the tongue. But hey, for the most part nobody in the hierarchy seems to care one bit about what ordinary parishioners like me prefer. If they did there wouldn’t be all those liturgical abuses and really horrible music.

  38. Dr. Eric says:

    I prefer to receive Communion from the bishop!

  39. mike cliffson says:

    I’ve voted, and Ive got my preferences, but it isn’t about me.

    One point:
    Re Priests: over many years of on and off illnesses, until their deaths, my parents when housebound and bed bound and in hospital regularly and frequently received communion, confession, and anointing of the sick, from selfless priests whose reward I hope will be in heaven, and Godsend some firsttaste and foretaste in this world- in a not terribly accessible village , I remember in particular one night of a dank dark Brit winter with a wettish sleety wind straight from the North Pole when a tired overworked priest was stopped en route but 200 yards away and interrogated for an eternity on his aging motorbike with his teeth chattering by a nasty cheap officious young Policeman earning anticatholic brownie points, and revelling in his power to do so.Add the local deacon, there only is one, spread thin, equally, minus confession.
    And, whenever Im irked by hovering crowds of extraordinar ministers at mass, I remember the more work, more travel more sacrifice,little weekend time with the family( and no worldly onaltar glory if any): communion on Sunday, which they very much appreciated, missing mass being an ache for them, at home and in hospital, via extraordinary ministers : there just are not enough priests for this at weekends.
    Deo Gratias! for all

  40. pyrosapien says:

    Only on tongue. I will wait to recieve from the priest/deacon. But I won’t refuse to recieve from an EMOHC. Probably about a 90/10 ratio.

  41. Brooklyn says:

    Living in NYC, we are very blessed to have a daily TLM, so that is the only Mass I go to. The few times I am forced to go to the Novus Ordo (such as the weekend of Hurricane Irene when all public transportation was cut off), I just don’t receive. I have become so use to the reverence at the TLM that I can’t handle what goes on at the NO, standing in line, watching people receive in the hand like it’s just an ordinary piece of bread with little or no acknowledgement of what they are doing – I feel like crying when I see it. And I know it’s sanctioned by the Church, but it just seems wrong to me that unconsecrated hands touch the Body and Blood of our Lord, hands that have not even been washed and after handling the consecrated host, leaving the sanctuary with particles still on their hands.

  42. papaefidelis says:

    I am an intransigent line-hopper. I REFUSE to participate in liturgical abuses and, according to my reading of Immensae Caritatis, regular use of a dozen or more EXTRAORDINARY Ministers of Holy Communion at each and every Mass is a flagrant liturgical abuse. That, of course, fails to note that all the EMHC are women and are encrusted with so much makeup that they look like they’ve been done up by a mortician. Then there’s all the big smiley, welcoming-y (cloying!) sense of it all. The parish in which I currently reside uses ushers to go row-by-row to “welcome” that pew to enter the “Communion line” (the purpose of which is lost on me). Rather than be tackled by these linemen and unobtrusively switch lines, I have to go to the rear of the church and come forward. It is worthy to note that there are FOUR priests living in the rectory.

  43. papaefidelis says:

    I should also note that the priests seem confused or even disgusted that I receive Our Lord on the tongue.

  44. I have a strong preference for receiving ONLY from a Priest or Deacon, and always try to do so, on the tongue. I am not the type to be disruptive (switching lines, etc.), and will receive from an EMHC if I must, but when I do, I almost always receive in the hand, having experienced several near-dropped hosts and fingers jammed into my tongue. I look forward to the day when we will all be kneeling at the communion rail – please God!

  45. Phillip says:

    I have never received on the hand since becoming Catholic at Easter 2010. I just don’t feel right doing so. I received once from a laywoman, and she seemed kind of put-off by putting the Sacred Host on my tongue. I always receive from a priest now (partially because 90+% of the time, I attend Mass in the EF where reception kneeling and on the tongue is universal, but even at an OF I wouldn’t receive from a layperson – just feels wrong to me).

    Some priests celebrating the OF make it pretty obvious they’d rather me receive in the hand like most communicants, but I’ve never been refused or anything, so I’ll continue to receive as I do.

  46. jilly4ski says:

    I voted that I prefer to receive on the tongue from the priest/deacon. However, I do not switch lines to avoid going to the EMCH, if that is the line my pew section just happened to be in. I just try to always sit in the section of pews that the priest or deacon will be distributing to. (Usually a front section or a particular side). Since I have had children, I have switched to receiving on the tongue. It is hard to receive in the hand if you have an infant in your arms. But if I end up going to an EMCH, I will try and make it work to avoid a mouth full of EMCH hand.

  47. bmccoy says:

    I receive kneeling on the tongue. I prefer to receive from the hands of a priest. Seeing that I’m an altar boy that’s usually not a problem, but should I find myself in one of the transepts I do not make a fuss and refuse to receive from them. Despite my preference The Blessed Sacrement does not become less when distributed by a layperson.

  48. nola catholic says:

    I receive only on the tongue. I prefer to receive from priests or deacons because
    1. They are the proper distributors of Holy Eucharist
    2. They (typically) know better how to distribute on the tongue
    3. They do not seem completely confused about what to do when I arrive at the front of the communion line without my hands outstretched.

    I once had a lay EMHC attempt to shove the Eucharist into my hands which were folded together at my waist . I had to move my hands away and lean my head in with tongue out to get his attention that I did not wish to receive in my hands. I will receive from EMHCs if necessary, but I try to avoid situations like this and simply receive from priests.

  49. Tradster says:

    Maybe a companion poll, just out of curiosity, might be if there are any male Extraneous Ministers anymore. My impression is that they are now nearly universally women. Which is why it would be nearly impossible to do away with EMHCs (or their “blessing” of children).

  50. mrose says:

    I only receive on the tongue because I think Communion on the tongue is receiving and Communion in the hand is taking, and nobody ought to “take” Holy Communion. I do this because it is the default, the norm, and the practice of the Church from time immemorial, and because I believe I am receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord. I have only received under the Species of wine on one occasion, that being my Nuptial Mass, because that is the only time I could receive the Chalice from a cleric. When I received my First Communion at the Easter Vigil last year, EMHC’s had the Chalices. I also cannot get around that the method in which the Precious Blood is distributed seems to be rather self-communicative to me. I will take note of other posters though about making an act of reverence toward the Chalice when I do not receive Christ from it.

    I do not receive from EMHC’s because their hands are not consecrated to handle the Eucharist and because their use is an abuse where I assist at the novus ordo Mass. Thankfully, the priests play no games about where they will stand at this parish. Unfortunately, the two other priests (there are three at the parish) NEVER assist distributing Communion even though they show up five minutes later at the back of the Church to chat with parishoners after Mass.

    I also assist at the TLM a little over half of the time, where I am privileged to have no option.

  51. I receive on the tongue, from a priest or deacon. I park myself where I know I will be in line to receive from someone in holy orders. Occasionally it is not possible to receive from a priest or deacon (e.g., the priest is too old or infirm to give Communion) and then I will receive from an EMHC.

    I have seen priests who will deliberately give Communion in a different aisle at every Mass in order to thwart people who do not want to receive from a layman. I find this mean-spirited. Fortunately, it is not done at my parish.

  52. danphunter1 says:

    Believe that since only priest and deacons hands are consecrated for God in the Blessed Sacrament, only they can distribute the Body of Christ.
    Since when one recieves in the hand he is acting as priest or deacon in self communicating, I believe it is wrong to recieve in the hand,
    also,
    Since there is a greater chance of losing particles of Christ when recieving Him in the hand we must receive him on the tongue where there is more of a chance of Him being totally consumed.
    I have never received God substantially in the hands and rarely have I recieved from a non priest or deacon.

  53. Sliwka says:

    Priest (or the non-existent deacon) and on the tongue, on the knees. EMHC in the hand.

  54. krisvog says:

    We usually attend Latin Masses where this is not an issue. However, when we have attended Novus Ordo Masses where there is an option, the extra-ordianary ministers do not always know how to give on the tongue, even if mouth is wide open and tongue is sticking way out! We have also been in the situation where parishioners who have no busness distributing communion (due to illness and physical limitations) have taken advantage of new or visiting priests and distributed. It can be a nightmare and some people go up because they don’t want to hurt the person’s feelings! After the first time that happened, we told the children to always go to a priest or deacon.

  55. Panterina says:

    I go up to receive Our Lord, so as long as who administers is authorized by the Church, it doesn’t matter to me if it’s an ordinary or extraordinary minister. When I moved to the U.S. I conformed to the local norm and received in the hand only. However, and since Summorum Pontificum and going to the Mass in the EF, I now prefer to receive on the tongue only, even at NO Masses. I find this change in behavior caused by SP quite remarkable! :-)

  56. Agellius says:

    I’m not sure my answer fits precisely into any of the categories. I always receive on the tongue when it’s a priest. But when it’s a layperson I feel like it’s pointless to insist on receiving on the tongue. Isn’t the idea of receiving on the tongue, that the priest’s or deacon’s hands are consecrated for purposes of handling the host, whereas those of laypersons are not? So if a layperson is already handling the host, receiving on the tongue seems pointless.

    So my answer is, I prefer a priest but will settle for a layperson if getting in the priest’s line would cause awkwardness for myself or others. I will receive on the tongue from a priest/deacon, but on the hand from a layperson.

  57. Salvatore_Giuseppe says:

    As its never particularly easy to figure out in advance where a priest will distribute from (its basically a coin toss whether left or right center), I receive from either. Its not worth line hopping just to get to the priest.

    It doesn’t really bother me if its a priest or not, its still the Eucharist, and I will receive it in reverence. Always on the tongue.

  58. GordonB says:

    Unless circumstances don’t allow for line hopping, etc… I receive from the Priest (we have no Deacons) on the tongue. The reasons are several, one, I think it has a stronger aspect of adoration of the Lord, also, it requires humility to do so. It, for me, carries some anxiety for fear of being judged negatively for doing so, so for me, its a bit of a trial. I think it also respects the purity of God and our sinfulness (which is something that I think we need to reminder ourselves of). Also, it also, to me, emphasizes the unique role of the Priest, in the same way that the Ark could only be touched by the Levites (the original ministerial priests of course).

  59. Paulo says:

    Well, my preference is to receive from a priest or deacon, but I do not have much of a choice: the ushers wrangle the people in line in a very efficient way, forming a human barrier which I dare not to cross… In a rare occasion in which I snicked across the barrier, I did not properly plan my route back to the pew, and had to walk back by squeezing behind Father and crossing diagonally between EMHCs 2 and 3 (out of 7 ; communion is offered under two species).

  60. Alice says:

    I try to receive from the priest on the tongue. Most of the time it works well. I had a job in a Catholic parish where I would sometimes end up in the EMHC’s line for reasons beyond my control. Since the EMHC’s were extremely poorly trained and I could not line hop, I would receive in the hand.

  61. Rachel says:

    I’ve always received on the tongue, except once when we were asked to receive in the hand because of swine flu, and a few other times when whoever was distributing Holy Communion was very old and shaky and considerably shorter than me, and I was afraid placing the Host on my tongue would be too difficult.

    I receive from whoever is at the head of the nearest line, whether priest or layperson. Often I’m secretly glad to have an EMHC, because several priests I know, for whatever reason, seem a little careless with the Host, but so far all the EMHCs I’ve encountered have been very conscientious about placing the Host securely on my tongue.

    I’m really sorry I can’t receive kneeling at an altar rail, as that’s a much more secure way to receive on the tongue. The current practice in America makes it hard on me.

  62. tealady24 says:

    My “preference” is for a priest. After all, you are the consecrated ones, you’ve taken the vow of holy orders, and this is what you do. Receiving the Eucharist, is receiving the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Once upon a time, I never thought much about it, and it didn’t matter; who or how.
    If only every parish had one mass per week in Latin; you’d see a difference! The laity antics would be laid to rest; for good!

  63. ndmom says:

    I try very hard to focus on whom (who?) I am receiving, instead of the manner in which I am receiving Him or the identity of the person distributing Him.

    After years of receiving in the hand, I find the effort involved to receive properly on the tongue to be an unnecessary distraction FOR ME, and so will generally not attempt it. And because I do not want to be a distraction or a danger to others, I will not line-hop in order to prevent reception from a layperson.

  64. Fr-Bill says:

    ANGLICAN IN THE USA (TRADITIONAL) . Communicants are encouraged to kneel at the rail and receive on the tongue. At times a communicant will receive in the hand and then allow the chalice bearer to take the host from the hand and intinct. This is usually because of a cold or flu.

  65. Ellen says:

    I often go to the Chapel of Divine Mercy in South Union Kentucky. There, it’s only priests or deacons who distribute communion and they have an altar rail. We kneel and receive on the tongue.
    My home parish removed the altar rail (sigh), so I receive standing up on the tongue. I receive from the priest, deacon or EMHC. The EMHCs also bring my home-bound mother communion and for that I thank them.

  66. akp1 says:

    I receive on my tongue; I prefer to receive froma priest or deacon; but I wouldn’t avoid receiving Holy Communion just because I might end up receiving from an EMHC.

  67. Baron Korf says:

    I exclusively receive on the tongue. I prefer to receive from a well trained professional, as my priest has said it. He assured our confirmation class that he can cleanly place the host on their tongues without touching them with his hand.

    Side note: Something seems amiss with that image of the Holy Father.

  68. Martial Artist says:

    I receive from the priest or EMHC, whichever is next available. After consulting with the parochial vicar to ensure it was acceptable, I acquired a cane which allows me to take my right knee quickly to receive, always on the tongue, and then promptly stand without losing my balance, and without creating a delay in distribution for those following behind me.

  69. sophiamarie3 says:

    I receive from a priest because his hands have been annointed and purified. I receive on the tongue because my hands have not been annointed.

  70. jt83 says:

    I pretty much only attend the N.O. Mass. I receive from both the EMHC or Priest though I have a strong preference to receive from the Priest. If I receive from the Priest I usually receive on the tongue (unless it is our pastor who is celebrating mass, he made it known that he does not like it when people receive on the tongue).

  71. acardnal says:

    I prefer receiving from a priest or deacon on my tongue. However, if I somehow find myself receiving from a EMHC, I usually receive in the hand because they often seem confused and/or clumsy about placing the host on my tongue. I also sometimes receive in the hand from a clergyman IF they have to break the host in half. That way they won’t risk touching my tongue with their finger because the host is so small and then turning to the next communicant and possibly infecting them with my saliva.

  72. Marlon says:

    I am a teacher in a Catholic elementary school. When we go to Mass with our classes, we have designated places to sit, and our spot determines that we will go up to receive in a line that always goes to an EMHC. I suppose I could break ranks and go to the one place where the priest is distributing, but I do not want to bring undue attention to myself. I always receive on the tongue. When I am by myself at a New Mass, I always receive from a priest and would prefer to do so all the time.

  73. poohbear says:

    I only receive from a priest or deacon, and only on the tongue.

    At the parish I normally attend, all the priests come in from the rectory at communion time, so we usually only have one or two EMHC’s anyway (its a large, well attended parish). The priests stand at the same spot every week, so its easy to sit where you know a priest will be.

    When I have to attend my local parish, the priest and the 4 EMHC’s change places each week, so you never know where the priest will be. You can’t line hop because the ushers won’t let you, so if I find myself sitting on the side with no priest, I will make a spiritual communion instead.

  74. Jayna says:

    I voted “only from a priest and on the tongue.” Though I say only from a priest, I will receive from a layperson if that’s the line I get stuck in. I try not to make a big deal of getting into a priest’s line, but I generally don’t have to worry about it as I almost always sit on the right side and that seems to be the side priests more often than not will opt for.

  75. vivaldi says:

    I recieve Holy Communion only at the TLM. In my Novus Ordo days I would only recieve from Priest or Deacon on the tongue because I believe there is no need whatsoever for EMHCs and that their use is tantamount to a scandalous attack on the Faith.

  76. Iowander says:

    I almost always have my kids with me, and the practice around here is for communion ministers to bless them. If it’s going to happen, I prefer the blessing to come from a priest. Even on the few occasions I’m at Mass by myself, I’d still prefer to get communion from a priest. Intellectually, I know that I should be more concerned with the awesomeness of who I am receiving, and not who I receive Him from, but it just feels more special coming from the priest.

  77. jfk03 says:

    I am an Eastern Catholic. We do not have eucharistic ministers. We receive the Body and Blood of the Lord on a spoon from a large chalice held by the priest. That is the only option, except for people with gluten allergies, who receive only the Blood of the Lord.

  78. Barnabas says:

    Thanks to you, Fr. Z, I learned about how EMHC’s are way overused. I see it when I visit my parents. Sometimes, there, I have no choice but to receive from an EMHC. I prefer to receive from a priest (or deacon). I feel more comfortable with an ordained ordinary minister handling the Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord. Fortunately, I now live in a diocese where EMHCs are rare.

  79. Barnabas says:

    Forgot to mention, for a few years, I’ve been receiving the Eucharist kneeling and on the tongue.

  80. Bryan Boyle says:

    On the tongue, on my knees, from an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion (Deacon, Priest, Bishop, Cardinal, Holy Father).

    Period. End of Story.

  81. AnAmericanMother says:

    Naturally another qualified answer here. I prefer to receive from a priest, on the tongue, but since the choir is upstairs in the choir loft, when I’m “on duty” I have to receive from the EMHC. But it’s almost always the same lady and I cleared receiving on the tongue with her ahead of time. She is tall, so standing is not a problem, but when her very diminutive substitute is there I receive kneeling.

  82. Lynn Diane says:

    In my chosen parish, in which only ordinary ministers distribute Holy Communion, I receive kneeling at the Communion rail and on the tongue, following the example of communicants receiving from our Holy Father. In other parishes I try to sit where an ordinary minister will be but I do cross lines, openly if necessary, to receive from an ordinary minister since the use of extraordinary ministers is abused in my diocese, and I don’t want to contribute to such abuse.

  83. eulogos says:

    Usually I attend a Byzantine parish where there happily are no options, and I receive from the priest or deacon only, in the mouth (but in both kinds, with the leavened bread soaked in the wine, put in the mouth with a golden spoon.)
    When I attend the Latin rite, I tend to do as the Romans do, at that particular parish. I have come to prefer receiving on the tongue, but the actions involved are not very practiced for me. It is easy enough at parishes where receiving at the altar rail is the norm and almost everyone receives on the tongue. (I actually only know one such, Holy Family in Toronto. Or anywhere I have attended the EF. But Holy Family, the Oratorian parish, does this whichever rite they are celebrating.) But when there are EMHC’s and they expect to give communion in the hand, and the line is moving fast, I find it awkward. Also, to be honest, I have sometimes done this when I have been particularly annoyed by abuses or just a general sense of irreverence in the mass, sort of as a protest, with a sense of “that will show them!” -and I think this is probably not a right thing to do in that spirit. In general I have wavered back and forth between enduring the awkwardness either for those bad reasons, or for a better reason of wishing I could replicate the reverence of communion that I am now used to in the Eastern rite, and between feeling it is more humble not to set myself apart from others and just do it the way everyone does it. I know communion in the hand CAN be reverent, because I experienced this as an Anglican (among people who believed they were truly receiving Our Lord and showed it) so it isn’t as if I feel I dishonor our Lord merely by receiving him in the hand.
    I have sometimes switched to the priest’s line if I could do so inconspicuously. Again, I don’t think EMHC’s are necessarily irreverent; I tried very hard to do this reverently when I used to do it. I just think the practice isn’t ideal. But my receiving from the priest doesn’t change the fact that 8 or 10 laypeople swarmed the altar and took things off of it, generally disrupting the sense of sacred space. So mostly I just get in the nearest line and try to concentrate on Our Lord rather than who is giving me Him or how. This really works best for me spiritually.

  84. PaterAugustinus says:

    Only from a priest or deacon (only once from the latter), only on the tongue. I’m in the fortunate position of being Orthodox – so, even if I wanted to do it differently, they just won’t let me do it any other way!

  85. Aegidius says:

    Kneeling on the tongue wherever I receive, be there a communion rail or wet grass or asphalt in an open air mass and whoever is around. Preferably from a priest or deacon, but I don’t mind if He is coming to me carried by a layperson, male or female. After all, St. Mary was a layperson, too, when she delivered her son to the world.

  86. Ralph says:

    Only the hands of one set aside should touch the Body of Christ. To me, this is a priest. I will grant that a perminant deacon has the right as well, although I do so out of discipline to the Church. In my heart, I’m still not so sure about deacons.

    Layperson? NEVER.

  87. PrairieHawk says:

    I used to receive on the tongue only. But because it is a greater exercise of humility to do what the rest of the community does, I began receiving in the hand.

  88. thefeds says:

    I would prefer to receive only from an ordinary minister of the Eucharist, but I’m not going to jump through hoops to change lines, etc. I don’t want to embarrass someone who is trying to serve worthily, even if they are mistaken, IMO.

  89. Kathy C says:

    I prefer the priest or deacon only, and on the tongue. But I’ll take what I get.

  90. Charivari Rob says:

    Generally receive from either without preference, receive in the hand 99&44/100 % of the time.

    As it happens, my home parish Mass that I usually attend is a relatively small gathering. Whichever of our parish priests celebrates the Mass does not necessarily use an EMHC for a second line distributing the Host. Also, we do not necessarily always have the Precious Blood distributed each and every Sunday, so we might not have an EMHC there. We also have a psuedo-resident friar/seminarian/transitional deacon, so if he’s at Sunday Mass, he’s likely on-duty.

    Beyond that, I generally know and am confident of my fellow parishioners as EMHCs. If I had reason to doubt, maybe I would line-hop or otherwise strategically position myself.

    I’m slightly more likely to aim to receive from the priest if I’m visiting some place and unfamiliarity leads to doubt.

  91. Lynne says:

    I try/prefer to receive from a priest. If it doesn’t work out that way, I don’t cross lines. I *really* prefer kneeling at an altar rail.

  92. Samthe44 says:

    I only receive on the tongue and whilst kneeling. Even though my parish has the full High Altar, Reredos, and Altar Rail, they are not used – thus that means kneeling on the floor. I kneel and receive on the tongue for two reasons: 1, because it is reverent towards The LORD, and, 2, being 6’3″ makes it difficult to stand and receive on the tongue. I believe that only a cleric should distribute The LORD. I would love to receive only from a cleric, but my parish has the army of E.H.M.C.s – it is just impossible to receive from only the priest when at the front there are 3 E.H.M.C.s, 2 at the sides, 1 in the choir loft, and 1 priest. I would love to see E.H.M.C.s abolished, or even them only being used like they were originally meant to. Hopefully they will be abolished, or only used in emergencies.

  93. tioedong says:

    Here in the rural Philippines, we have so many receiving communion that we have six Eucharistic ministers to distribute communion, four in the front two toward the back in the middle aisle. We simply don’t have enough priests to give out communion to all who receive.

    Since I am taller than some of them I prefer receiving in my hand.

  94. jhayes says:

    I am happy to receive from whomever is at the head of the line I happen to be in – be it a priest, a deacon or a layperson of either sex and any age. The point is to receive Jesus, not to dwell on the person authorized to offer Him to me. My preference is to receive in the hand, but I received on the tongue when I was using a cane after an accident and when in foreign churches where it is customary to receive on he tongue. Again, the point from my standpoint is to receive Jesus and not be distracted by the manner of receiving him. I receive under both forms when the chalice is offered. I know that I encounter Jesus whole and entire when I receive just the host, but I prefer the more complete sign of receiving under both forms.

  95. birgit says:

    I receive on the tongue, from a priest or deacon and will resort to line hopping…I must not be alone because of what I have observed in many churches (we frequently travel). In one Mass we attended recently, a priest was distributing up front but a few feet from him, slightly to the side was an EMC. No one was going to the EMC so the priest switched places with him. Almost immediately the EMC’s new line was abandoned and the people simply detoured to the priest’s line.

    My reason is that I don’t think anyone except a priest should touch the Eucharist. Most lay persons also don’t know how to distribute on the tongue. I find it greatly distressing to see an entire herd of EMC’s running up to the altar and long for the days of kneeling, receiving on the tongue, by a priest.

  96. ArtND76 says:

    I am just really grateful and happy that my God is available to come under my roof! All the rest of this is just so less important than being able to receive.

    As long as the ordinary or extraordinary minister I receive validly consecrated communion from is authorized by the local ordinary in good standing with the bishop of Rome, I thank my God for the gift of His ineffable presence in the sacrament and receive in an approved manner most similar to those around me.

    One exception to that is I receive on the tongue if my hands are dirty.

  97. MJ says:

    On the tongue only. From a priest or deacon only. Won’t receive in the hand. Won’t receive from an EMHC.

  98. skull kid says:

    I receive on the tongue from a priest/deacon, on the tongue. I do not receive from EMHCs. As I see it, it they are going to do it, I might as well do it myself. I am not going to have some stranger putting anything in my mouth. I’ll do it myself, thanks. But since this is the Blessed Sacrament we are talking about, I allow only those ordained by Christ to touch the Eucharist and place it on my tongue. It is too intimate an action to permit some Joe Soap to do. The priest or deacon is configured to Christ and it not an ordinary Joe.

  99. kjh says:

    My preference is to receive from a priest – I have experienced the same as several others, EMHC are not always aware of what to do when one is receiving on the tongue. They have even deposited the sacred Host on the top of my folded hands without so much as a blink! I suppose that I should do as several others have said – at 6′ 4″, perhaps I should kneel to make it easier for them. But the priest(s) rarely have a problem knowing what to do! And I think that doing away with the “assembly line” of a cast of EMHC would help with the issue of reverence. It would give everyone a little more time for reflection.

  100. anncouper-johnston says:

    Once, long years ago, I dropped a piece of (Evangelical Anglican) bread on the floor, so I always receive on the tongue. I also have a mobility problem, which means I used to steady myself by touching all sorts of surfaces (walls, pews …. ) which were perhaps not clean. Now I use a small mobility scooter, so I wait until the end of line and go to the priest. He is used to me so I can concentrate on Who I am receiving rather than worrying about the practical. Sometimes an EMHC comes swooping down towards me thinking that will be easier and in that case, or where I can’t easily get to a priest, I will take from an EMHC. I don’t take the chalice, as I understand He is present under either species (and I still think it distinctively Catholic to receive under the one (both kinds I associate with Luther); I liked it when we had Communion under both kinds on special occasions or on retreat only and find it unnecessary to receive both all the time – nobody has ever given me a satisfactory explanation of why it changed). Again if an EHMC or the deacon comes to me I will take from him. It seems silly, but for some reason to receive the Host every time represents my dignity as a precious and privileged Catholic child of God, created by Him and to receive the chalice (but only rarely) represents the other aspect, that He, the Creator and Redeemer, God incarnate, is made present and before Him I must bow the knee and not take anything for granted, so by doing what I do I can express both aspects. We have shoals of EMHCs – I’m not sure why as, although we are a large parish, we have a number of deacons and several nuns available. I would much prefer they stick to clergy or at least consecrated people; we need to keep the idea that something special happens at Mass and that it is a sacred time; using so many laymen makes it too much like a canteen queue (and the way people come up already gives that impression as it’s always untidy and raggedy). Proper order and a sense of occasion, please!

  101. James Joseph says:

    A priests hands are not his own. They are consecrated to Christ. They belong to Christ. They are different; that is, they are holy. The very presence of a priest’s hands pre-dispose me to greater potential for the reception of Sacramental Grace. The same is true of his vestments. Those too have healing power and a holy aura as attested to in the Gospels.

  102. apagano says:

    When I participate at the EF (which is the usual) I of course receive on the tongue while kneeling, from the Priest. When I participate at the OF I receive on the tongue while standing, from the Priest. I don’t like going to an EMHC mostly because I must carry a small child and receive on the tongue. It almost always happens that the EMHC is not comfortable with distributing on the tongue and then tries to bless the baby or one of the children not able to receive.

  103. James Joseph says:

    …And, I do not feel complete unless I am kneeling. That is my greatest joy. It is a feeling nonetheless, I am sure, but it remains, the one joy I have in my life. I have nothing else. Nothing, in my great failure of a life. All I have is the one opportunity every several weeks or months or so. Please, don’t ever let my one gift that I can present to Christ; that is, my kneeling to recieve His Body.

  104. I didn’t take the poll because it really isn’t intended for the ordained. But it does raise some interesting questions for priests and deacons. And this does become an issue on Holy Thursday, or when, for some reason, a priest is not concelebrating, but assisting and receiving communion.

    One liturgical principle that should be obvious, although it seems that it is not, is that those in a grade of ordained ministry should not be ministered to by someone in a lower grade. Ministry is a form of service and humility and so the higher always ministers to the lower: this is the opposite of the secular world where those lower do service for those higher.

    So there is something liturgically bizarre for a priest to receive from a deacon or a layperson. He is to serve them, not they him. Likewise, it is odd for a deacon to receive from a layperson, for the same reason. And, of course, it is even more odd for a bishop to receive from a non-bishop. I will leave aside the oddity of bishops receiving first blessings from priests.

    For this reason, the rubrics specify that a concelebrating priest, not the deacon, is to distribute communion to concelebrants (even though they will communicate themselves). In the Dominican Rite it belongs to the deacon to remove and replace ciborium in the tabernacle at Solemn Mass, so at our concelebrated conventual Masses, the deacon had been distributing to concelebrants. When the liturgist noticed the rubic that a priest was to do it, a discussion followed, the logic was obvious, and we immediately changed this. Although the deacon still replaces the ciborium in the tabernacle — on which there is no rubric in the N.O. as far as I know.

    I have occasionally seen priests come up, get hosts, and then communicate themselves as if they were concelebrants on Good Friday, but I have my doubts about the propriety of this (they are NOT concelebrants). On that day, I would say, deacons and priests should not receive from a layperson, for the reasons I explained above. Although, again, I have not seen a rubric on this.

    Of course there is no ministerial order violation for a priest to give communion to other priests, or for a deacon to give communion to other deacons, or a layman to other layman. But those of “higher” rank, properly serve those of equal or lower rank.

  105. Elizabeth R says:

    On Sundays I sing in the choir, where an EMHC brings communion. I am grateful to be able to receive at all. Weekdays, I receive from whoever is at the head of the line I find myself in.

  106. CDErvick says:

    I receive only from the priest and always on the tongue. I arrive early enough to sit on the aisle where the priest will serve, he is always in the same place, as I am an “upfront” sitter this is a lot easier than trying to line hop. On a similar note I have children of age and I instruct them to receive on the tongue as well however, in their CCD classes they are taught the “proper” way to receive in the hand. This is particularly offensive to me as it seems to me children, or young people, are most likely to drop it, stuff it in a pew or prayer book, or flick it across the sanctuary. “Never again,” I told her, “I don’t ever want to see that again.”

  107. LaudemGloriae says:

    I prefer to receive from a priest, but will not line hop to do so. For me it feels a tiny bit ungracious to spurn the EM, who is bear Christ after all, and whom the priest has entrusted with the responsibility of distribution. I receive standing if there is no altar rail (too cumbersome with children in tow – I prefer kneeling with kneeler or altar rail). I can’t imagine kneeling to receive from an EM sans altar rail, though I couldn’t tell you why.

    Today I saw a thing I had never seen before – a woman who received the precious blood, kneeling, sans altar rail, from an EM at that.

  108. Amy Giglio says:

    I only receiver from a priest or deacon and only on the tongue. And I have instructed my children (ages 8 and 10) to do the same.

  109. Joshua08 says:

    Now that I think of it, even if I were to receive from an EHMC, I couldn’t receive in hand due to a handicap. Before I knew better and did receive in hand, it wasn’t done properly (I ended up having to pick to host from the minister, or if placed in the palm of my good hand, I had to manage to push it up toward my fingers…good way of breaking it).

    That is something those priests who are against receiving on tongue should consider. Not all can receive in hand the right way. I did only have one priest actually refuse to give communion on tongue, and I ended up walking away without communion.

  110. Geoffrey says:

    Okay, after scrolling past 100+ comments that I did not read, I can report that I voted: “… only a priest/deacon, never from a layperson. I receive on the tongue only.”

    That is my preference. I always try to sit where I know the celebrant will be distributing Holy Communion, but if there is a visiting priest and he goes to the wrong “station”, I don’t hop the line like some do. I think that is silly. In the end, Christ is Christ, regardless who is distributing Him to the faithful.

    A note on extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist: I know of two EM’s who will receive Holy Communion on the tongue from the celebrant prior to distributing to the faithful. If we have to have EM’s, let us have more like that! They GET IT!

  111. MissOH says:

    Sundays we attend an EF mass. For weekday mass, which is in OF, I always receive on the tongue . None of the churches I attend have a communion rail so I receive standing. I prefer to receive from a priest or deacon. This is not an issue at the parish where I usually attend mass, but two days a week I have to attend another parish due to mass schedule. One of the parish’s is noted for its enthusiastic use of EMHC most of whom are women, and one of whom is well under 5 feet tall. I am only 5’3″ but when this EMHC is distributing the sacred host, I do change lines as I think that is preferable to the semi-squat I have to do in order to receive on the tongue.

  112. Glen M says:

    I receive the Body of Christ directly from the consecrated hand of a priest. Otherwise, what’s the point of his hands being consecrated? Other than the misquoted “make your palm a throne” quote there is not teaching from a pope, saint, council, doctor or other authority proclaiming the virtues of the defacto norm we see in most parishes today.

  113. stpetric says:

    My preference is to receive from a priest or deacon, but if it’s not convenient to do so, I will receive from an extraordinary minister. The church permits it, so who am conspicuously to refuse their ministry? Similarly, I usually receive on the tongue, but occasionally in the hand.

    So, although in the poll I selected “either a priest/deacon or layperson. I receive on the tongue or hand,” my preferred practice is “only a priest/deacon, never from a layperson. I receive on the tongue only.”

  114. JuliB says:

    When I am in line, I don’t care – I’ll receive from anyone. However, I receive on the tongue. When I am EMHCing, I make an exception and receive in the hand in order not to stand out too much.

  115. Joanne says:

    At my EF/OF parish: there’s an altar rail, yay!, as well as no emhc’s anyways. And a server with a paten to boot. So no issue: kneeling, on the tongue.

    OF parish: I sit where I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to receive from a priest. I have been known to line hop on occasion, whether some find it silly or not. Others have told me they understand completely and don’t mind a bit. So, standing, but on the tongue. Funny, or maybe not so much, that priests are sometimes obviously caught off guard (eg, at a wedding I attended recently) when approached by someone who doesn’t want to receive in the hand.

  116. I would prefer to receive from a priest or deacon, but choir has to go up before anybody else, and there’s never any saying where Father is going to stand. (Well, okay, there’s a 25% chance that he’ll stand in the line I pick, if I pick a line in the center aisle. 50% chance he’ll be on the other side of the altar/church entirely.) And of course when I’m sitting in a pew, there’s not much choice without being conspicuous. So I stand in line and take whatever God sends me.

    Apparently my late grandpa used to line jump and only received from Father, but I never noticed this. (Gentlemen walk behind women and children, so I never would have seen what he did without sprinting back to the pew and a lot of neck craning.)

  117. Genevieve says:

    I think you left some qualifiers out of your poll, Father. I bet some of your readers go to churches that don’t have EMHCs. Or that do have communion rails. And which of the responders receive under both species? My church does not celebrate the Mass in the Extraordinary form and typically employs two to three EMHCs every Sunday (my last parish used five to six!).

    I prefer to receive from a priest because his hands are consecrated and a laypersons hands are not. Also, I prefer to receive from a priest so that my ten month old daughter can get a blessing. In some parishes of which I have been a member, the priest chooses the same spot every time to distribute. That was nice. In this parish, he does not. I don’t line jump – I consider it distracting and disrespectful. However, I dread kneeling to receive the Host from an EMHC. I guess that’s God’s way of sending me a bit of extra humility.

    I saw the comment above about seeing for the first time a woman kneel to receive the Precious Blood from an EMHC. I am not responding to that comment, but is that so strange? I used to, but now I feel I have reason to be concerned that an inexperienced EMHC would be so startled by my kneeling that she might drop the chalice.

  118. dcs says:

    On the tongue and from a priest. It’s rare that I’ve assisted at Mass when a deacon is present (whether TLM or NOM). I won’t jump lines though if I wind up in one that terminates in front of an EMHC.

    Funny story: I once assisted at Mass where, at the start of Communion, the priest observed several people “jumping” into the center line (his line), and so switched places with an EMHC.

  119. Jim of Bowie says:

    I stopped attending mass in my twenties when we only received from a priest, kneeling and on the tongue. Many years ago when I returned to the church I received in the hand and from EMHCs but I was unconfortable with it because I was taught that only the hand of a priest should touch the host. After I again started receiving only on the tongue I decided that if I felt that my hands should not touch the host, why should I be okay with any layman touching the host. I haven’t received from a layman since.

  120. TKS says:

    I sit in the back so that I can get in the priest line. I just throw up my hands at the EMHCs debacle since we have only about 40 people at most at daily Mass with deacons sitting in the pew and not distributing Holy Communion. One woman I know said to me that she was glad her surgery was over so that she could ‘get back up on the altar.’ We have 3 priests and 8 deacons!

  121. Jennyfire says:

    My husband and I prefer to receive on the tongue from a clergyman, though in a rare case, we will receive from an E.M.E if necessary. Our parish is traditional minded and they haven’t offered Precious Blood since we’ve been there, though the pastor on a few special occasions, offered “intinction,” doing it properly of course, bless him. No E.M.E.’s attempt to bless our children at this parish either, which is awesome, they are instructed not to. I intensely dislike that practice at a neighboring parish bc I think it’s very inappropriate within the context of Mass and bc keeping the consecrated hosts from spilling should be a top priority when handing out Holy Communion. If an E.M.E wants to bless my child, he or she can come on back and sign a cross on my baby’s forehead after Mass. I was receiving Precious Blood at the neighboring parish, who offers it every Saturday (though not Sundays) or in my mother in law’s parish, who offers it at every Mass, since I so rarely received it at our home parish. Thanks Fr. Z for educating me and others on this particular practice. I no longer will receive the Precious Blood unless it’s a special occasion as noted. I sensed that parishes/pastors that/who didn’t offer the Precious Blood regularly also happened to be “on the ball” and yet I never took the time to figure out exactly why, thanks. Thanks for those commenters who recommend giving a sign of reverence to the PB when passing it. God bless!

  122. Jbuntin says:

    I prefer recieving from the priest or a deacon, but I will not change lines if there is a layperson. I have been recieving on the tongue for a couple of years now and will not go back to recieving in the hand.
    Most of the time I don’t have to worry about it because I attend the EF regularly. But when I do have to go to a funeral or what ever, I try not to make a big scene. I don’t think my being a butt will change any ones opinion. Sometimes though I just choose not to recieve the blessed sacrament at all. It just depends on the situation.

  123. jdcarriere says:

    I figure if we’d all just always receive from the priest and nobody else, they’d see how unnecessary it is to have a lot of lay people standing around groping the sacred species.

  124. Jennyfire says:

    Our E.M.E.’s (excuse me if I’m not using the proper term exactly, but that’s what I call them) are very reverent, dressing up way too nice tee hee, and about half of them receive on the tongue. It’s been interesting to observe/note that nearly all the male E.M.E.’s make a slight bow of the head to Father when returning the Hosts to him at the altar but only a few of the women do. Very interesting.

  125. Jennyfire says:

    Our EF priest doesn’t bless children in the Holy Communion line when he celebrates OF, though our older pastor does (and he’s just so wonderful who can fault him?), including blessing the tummies of women who are obviously expecting. Wow our priests are so in the know and awesome, is this heaven or what?

  126. Always from the priest and I’ll line jump if need be. I long to receive on the tongue but I’m too chicken to switch now after five years at my parish of receiving in the hand. I’m afraid Father will look at me like what am I doing! Or other people or whatever. Ridiculous I know.

  127. DavidMiller says:

    First of all, holding Holy Communion in the hand is a privilege of the ordained.
    Second, if the line for Confession was as long as the line for Communion, there would never be a need for EMHCs

  128. Vic says:

    My wife and I always receive on the tongue, usually from a priest, otherwise from a male EM. Never from a female. Sometimes we have to walk around the church to get to a non-female. (We have an older priest who sometimes is unable to give out the Eucharist.

  129. kiwitrad says:

    I have no option. I receive from whoever is in front of me as queue-hopping is frowned upon here and so is receiving on the tongue. EMs have said publicly that giving Communion to those receiving on the tongue is disgusting and makes them shudder and feel polluted. As you see, I lack courage.

  130. michelelyl says:

    I receive the Body of Christ in the hand, at NO Mass, usually from a priest or acolyte (no deacons at our parish) and usually EMHCs don’t distribute the Body of Christ…and I receive the Blood of Christ from an EMHC. No EF Mass available nearby- 3 hours one way is the closest. I have attended an EF Mass only a few times at St. Michael’s Abbey (Norbertines) in Trabuco Canyon CA and received on the tongue there, of course…and the only other times I remember I received on the tongue was in Paris, France at World Youth Day in 1997. But I do teach the children how to do so in the First Communion Classes and we offer the training equally with ‘in the hand’ for RCIA and Sacramental Preparation for Children and Youth. I’m a 52 year old cradle RC.

  131. Agnes says:

    I wanted to change my vote – too late! I voted “priest, deacon, or layperson, only on the tongue”. This is the reality. I used to situate myself so that I could get to the priest or deacon, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way and I’m not going to cause a kerfluffle trying to get to the preferred pair of hands. I would definitely RATHER receive from the priest or deacon, on the tongue, kneeling at a rail, every time. But I found myself limited to one or two churches in the archdiocese and neither were particularly a good fit. Now I move around a bit from one parish to another (sooner or later I will land – they’re like bird-feeders at the moment…). I can’t control changing exterior elements (minister or rail) when I go a-visiting, but I can control my own manner of receiving. On the tongue. Every time. Regardless of the minister (ordinary or extraordinary) or the liturgical lingo.

  132. Incaelo says:

    I prefer receiving from priest or deacon, but I am not going to switch lines if I find myself in the one leading to the EMHC. The Lord is the Lord, after all, and I would only be disturbing other people when they would have other, more pressing things to do. Such as preparing to receive Christ.

  133. Supertradmum says:

    As part of the 4% above as of Friday morning, European time, I am in a minority. But, I shall cross the line to another side to receive from a priest. Many EMs are uncomfortable with Communion on the tongue, and I do not want this species of lay ministers to exist, but become extinct. Churches with railings omit the problem entirely.

  134. Bea says:

    I prefer a Priest ONLY (not even a deacon) for only the priest’s hands are consecrated.
    If I could kneel (arthritis) I would and if our church gave out communion at kneelers.
    On the tongue (same reason) because only the hands of priests are consecrated. I do not feel worthy to touch The Body of Our Lord. I do not feel worthy to receive Him period, but I do counting on His Mercy.

  135. RickMK says:

    I think I have gotten pretty good at line-hopping without disturbing anybody else in line for Communion! What I usually do is slip around to the back of the church (which isn’t too noticeable thanks to all those people who always like to leave Mass before it’s over), and join the proper line from the back. That usually makes it easier to return to my place after receiving too.
    If that’s not possible, then I just try to do it as inconspicuously as I possibly can, so as not to disturb the other people going up to Communion.
    And if it’s not possible to receive from a priest or deacon at all, then I don’t receive Communion at that Mass.

    Fortunately, I very rarely have this problem: I go to a TLM every Sunday, and at daily Mass at my parish, except during Lent, only the priest distributes Communion while the Eucharistic Monsters are on either side just with the chalice (which few people receive from anyway).

  136. imnotpete says:

    My home parish is both small and has its own deacon, so I usually do not have to choose (priest gives the Body, deacon gives the Blood, EMHC gives the Blood in deacon’s absence). When visiting other (usually larger) parishes, though, I don’t go line-hopping to get to the priest/deacon (if there even is a deacon). Too distracting during Mass.

    I receive in the hand. Haven’t worked up the courage for receiving on the tongue.

  137. bsjy says:

    On the tongue from an ordinary minister (priest/deacon).

    We send eleven middle-aged women into the sanctuary and then into the nave to distribute the consecrated bread and wine, and I believe it confuses the faithful regarding the teachings on the all-male priesthood and “alter christus” and “in persona christus.” How can the faithful be expected to discern the significance of the priest when lay people are up there doing everything except a few prayers? It also teaches against the Vatican II emphasis on active participation in the Mass, for most have come to the errroneous conclusion that the fathers of Vatican II must have meant “get up from the pew and pitch in.”

    I see the widespread use of EMHCs as a scandal. Since I am not pastor nor bishop, all I can do is not participate in it, and teach my children why it is wrong.

  138. buffaloknit says:

    I voted for: either a priest/deacon or layperson. I receive on the tongue or hand. My “real” preference is to receive from a priest or deacon on the tongue, but sometimes when traveling things are less ideal. For example, when I attend a NO Mass with my family, my preference there is a) not to line hop around (which is something I never do, anyway), but stay together with them and b) a group of us will receive on the tongue, from a layperson, male or female- I think there is something about ‘safety in numbers.’ I think we have provided a learning experience for some EMHC as far as how to distribute on to a person’s tongue, as evidenced by the look on their faces when confronted with us. However, when instructed about the swine-flu or whatever the concern was last year in the Midwest-I receive in the hand. Basically, I take the lead from my folks.

  139. Joanne says:

    Actually, my answer was not complete now that I think about it – I’m a nurse and we have a very faithful EMHC who comes to my floor 3-4 x/week. I receive from her too on the tongue.

  140. Centristian says:

    I will only receive on the tongue, and only from an ordinary minister of Holy Communion. I will not receive Communion in the hand and I do not take the Precious Blood (not that I have any criticism of the practice, per se).

    In the event that a situation arises wherein the celebrant does not make himself available to personally distribute the Eucharist, allowing lay persons to perform his role for him, then I will not receive Communion at that Mass. It is necessary for a Christian to receive the Eucharist only once, annually, at Easter, so I won’t sanction liturgical practices that appall me for the sake of communicating.

  141. MikeM says:

    I prefer to receive from a priest or deacon, but only go so far out of the way to do so. Where there’s one line that splits at the front of the church to go to either a priest or an EMHC, I’ll wait for the priest. If I “should be” in a line right next to the one with the priest, I’ll sometimes move over a line if I can do so without being disruptive or jumping in front of anyone. But, if I don’t have an easy opening to get into the priest’s line, I receive from the EMHC. I try not to get too worked up over the issue.

    As for in the hand or on the tongue, in theory, I would prefer to receive on the tongue, but I would also prefer to receive communion without people paying any particular attention to me. So, at more traditional parishes where many people are receiving on the tongue, I happily do the same, but otherwise I receive in the hand.

    I’m more than happy to speak my mind about liturgical issues outside of Mass but I avoid doing anything that might look/feel like I’m making a statement during Mass.

  142. norancor says:

    Communion in the hand, under both species, and by laity all came about by limited indult which was abused to become the norm, by defiance of the Pope, or simple abuse or encouragement by priests or bishops. Logically and morally how these things came about reflect on their benefit to the Church, and even though poor catechetics has contributed to the collapse in belief in transubstantiation, the haphazard and discriminant treatment of Him logically contributes to the problem. I believe this was a grave deliberately planned attack on the Blessed Sacrament, and for the benefit of the Church and souls, should be abolished. Forever. In fact, this act alone, if rigorously enforced down to the parish level, would do more to drive out people that are at odds with the Church, and/or deliberate heretics or sinners, than anything else.

    I receive from a priest or deacon only, unless at a large affair where religious (read nuns) happen to administer Communion as well, on the tongue, unless forbidden (SARS fears last year). If it is impossible to receive from a cleric I have on a couple of occasions received from a layman, but I usually do not receive.

    Intinction I believe is a good option, since it is usually by clerics only, and actually do not have an issue with receiving the Blood. It is done by reserve chalice and even a member of the laity isn’t actually touching Him, but if the Church forbid that I would have no problem with it. I would also prefer strict reservation of ablutions and purification to be restricted to the Ordained.

  143. lucy says:

    Before commenting I didn’t even read the other comments. So I wouldn’t be tempted.

    Over the course of my 18 years as a Catholic, I have come to understand in my heart that God wishes us to receive kneeling and on the tongue. I admit to not always kneeling when at the Novus Ordo, but if my hubby is with me I then do, because he always does. My children always kneel now as well, but they are not as chicken as I am.

    I think attending traditional Mass has instilled this in my soul. Over time, one comes to believe that the way it was done for so many hundreds of years was the right way. God deserves our very best attention at Mass and our very best behavior. So, while it remains “legal” to receive in the hands, I can no longer ever do that.

  144. p2rp says:

    I prefer and am fortunate to be able to receive always from a Priest on my tongue. Personal preferences aside, however, if my Bishop or Parish Priest deemed otherwise, I would sacrafice my personal preferences for their guidance in this matter.

  145. Jitpring says:

    Only from priest/deacon, tongue only.

    “But while all marvelled at all the things that he was doing, he said to his disciples: ‘Store up these words in your minds: the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of men.'”
    -Luke 9:44 (Confraternity)

    As Jesus is crucified every day, so is he betrayed every day. I don’t want to participate in this betrayal.

  146. Pavegs says:

    I dont think that I have recieved from a lay person in at least five years, not because I avoid them but because I am a seminarian and have either been serving the Mass or was at the Seminary where only the Priests and Deacons distribute, as is proper. howver I recieve in lingua regardless of who is distributing. Although it is often ackward, as I remember, when receiving from a layperson who does not really know how to properly place the host on the tongue.

  147. HoyaGirl says:

    I would just like to say thank you for this post. I came back today to read all the poll responses and comments, and I was filled with an intense desire to go to daily Mass. I glanced at the clock, realized there was time to make it to church, and started getting ready to go. We are so blessed to be able to meet the Lord in the Eucharist, and I often think we don’t appreciate how very special and how very important this Sacrament is to building and to maintaining our faith. The added benefit to today’s Mass was witnessing an elderly gentleman’s reception into the Church. Thank you for the dose of inspiration!

  148. Ed the Roman says:

    I prefer an ordained minister and the tongue. I have little confidence in EMHCs to deal comfortably with reception on the tongue, and I prefer not to make trouble. When what I want is required I will consistently get what I want.

  149. MF says:

    I would always prefer to receive from a priest and on the tongue, but it’s not always possible unless you want to constantly be running around the church from line to line. Plus, since I am on the tall side, it is very awkward to receive on the tongue from a usually elderly short woman. I’m afraid the host will not be placed correctly and will drop, so with an EMHC I receive in the hand. If I am blessed enough to have the priest, I will receive on the tongue.

  150. Charlotte Allen says:

    My practice is to receive communion on the tongue when a priest or deacon is distributing and in the hand when a layperson is distributing (on the theory that the host has already touched lay hands, so there is no point in receiving on on the tongue). I have noticed that some priests, of the progressive liturgical school, I gather, have seemed faintly (or not so faintly) exasperated at the prospect of having to place a host on my tongue when all the other nice people in the church are receiving by the hand–but I’m tough, and I don’t back down. Those priests need to get over it.

    I don’t switch lines, because that strikes me as rude, but I do try to position myself on the side of the church where I think a priest or deacon will be distributing.

    I was once an “extraordinary eucharistic minister,” and believe me, the experience was so frightening that I’ve never wanted to repeat it. The occasion was my father’s funeral. My father was a prominent figure in our town, and his funeral drew a large crowd of mourners that nearly filled the church. So the priest celebrating the funeral Mass asked, right before communion, if anyone would volunteer to help distribute the sacrament. My family immediately “volunteered” me, since I am nearly the only practicing Catholic left among my relatives. I had no choice but to go forward, so I did the best I could. I’m not the most graceful of human beings, and hand-eye coordination has never been my thing–so I was terrified of either dropping a host or worse still, tripping on the steps and dropping the entire ciborium. Mercifully, neither scenario actualized–but what if it had? Interestingly a number of the communicants wanted to receive from me on the tongue–and it proved not to be so difficult for me to place the host on their tongues as I had anticipated.

    This has led me to become doubly irritated when some priest pretends that receiving on the tongue is the most Bizarro World thing he has ever encountered in his life and then proceeds to jam the host into my mouth as though he were giving me a poison pill in an assisted suicide ritual in which he was an unwilling participant.

  151. Giambattista says:

    I will only receive from a priest or deacon on the tongue. The reasons are because I believe distribution by ordained clergy (Bishop/Priest/Deacon) uphold the dignity of Eucharist and that laity Eucharistic ministers trivialize it.

    I go to great lengths to stay away from any liturgy where Eucharistc ministers are present because they anger me to the point where it is sinful. If I am in a situation where there are Eucharistic ministers, I don’t go to communion at all. The use of Eucharistic ministers is always rationalized by “the great number of people wishing to receive is just too much for the priest”. Since that is the standard argument, I feel like if I go to communion I am contributing to the reason they are used in the first place. I just don’t go – even if there is a priest or deacon available.

  152. Kardinal says:

    I could not possibly care less. I am focused on Jesus. The rest is distraction.

  153. RosaMystica says:

    After multiple occasions where a layperson dropped the Host because they didn’t know how to give communion on the tongue, I have stopped receiving unless I can receive from a priest or a deacon.

  154. Nan says:

    I have a strong preference for only receiving from the priest; I was taken to church until I was 7 and that was the only option. I do sometimes receive from the deacon or a layperson.

  155. lombizani says:

    I usually attend the TLM and don’t have to worry about this. When I attend the NO I always take the nearest line to an ordinary minister and receive Our Lord kneeling and on the tongue. Sometimes though there’s no deacon present and the priest just sits by the altar and leaves it all up to laypeople, and then I see myself forced to receive from one of them, but I still kneel and receive on the tongue. I have never had problems with ministers refusing to give me the Eucharist kneeling or on the tongue or with ministers getting confused and dropping Jesus either.

    I once attended a NO Mass where the priest had communicants approach the altar in pairs and one would give the Eucharist to the other. I then managed to discreetly pick up the deacon’s attention by looking at him (who by the way is a friend of mine and had just been ordained, he is a priest now) and then I glimpsed the ciborium. He immediately understood me, we approached the altar and he gave me Holy Communion on the tongue. I thanked God I didn’t have to engage in some kind of “self-service” communion service!

  156. JaneC says:

    Your wording of the question and possible answers is a little confusing–are you asking for preferences or what we actually do? Like many others, my preference is to receive from the priest or deacon, and on the tongue. But this is not always possible. I sing in the choir, in a loft. Every parish with a choir in the loft makes different arrangements for their reception of communion, and it means I don’t always have a choice about whose hands I receive Our Lord from.

    When I receive from an EMHC, I generally receive in the hand because most of them are not at all well-trained–after a couple of near-misses and one actual miss, I decided it was probably better for the Lord to touch my hands than the floor. From priests, I usually receive on the tongue, although I know one priest who is almost blind and has shaky hands…I try to judge the situation as best I can.

  157. Laura R. says:

    I definitely prefer to receive from a priest or deacon and, if circumstances permit, will sit where I think I’ll be most likely to be able to do so. I will also receive from a vested server in preference to an EMHC. I do receive from the latter if there is really no good alternative (I don’t jump lines, etc.), but nearly always on the tongue. I would add that our EMHC’s are generally well-trained, reverent and careful, and I haven’t had any real problems receiving on the tongue other that the short stature of one of them.

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