Should You Receive the Eucharist on the Hand or Tongue? (Special Podcast Highlight)

A caller named Mike from Jacksonville asks the big question: Should Catholics receive Communion on the hand or on the tongue? 

Here's Patrick's response...

What the Church Says:

-Traditionally, Communion has always been received on the tongue in the Western Church.

-After Vatican II, some people started receiving on the hand as a kind of liturgical trend. At first, the Church said, “No, you shouldn’t do that.” Yet people just kept doing it, and it became so widespread that eventually, St. Pope John Paul II permitted it to avoid constant conflict.

-In the Eastern Churches (e.g., Byzantine Rite, Eastern Orthodox), receiving in the hand is unthinkable. Communion is always spooned directly into the mouth, and the idea of touching the Eucharist with your hands is considered outrageous.

What’s Allowed Now:

-The Church officially permits receiving Communion on the hand, but the preferred method is still on the tongue.

-If you choose to receive in the hand, it’s recommended to make an extra sign of reverence, like a bow or making the Sign of the Cross.

-Standing is the norm in the U.S., but kneeling is also allowed if you prefer it.

Why Patrick Thinks Communion on the Tongue is Better:

-Hands Matter: Priests’ hands are consecrated as part of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The rest of us? Not so much. So, there’s a reverence factor there.

-Tradition Matters: For about 1,500 years, the standard practice was to receive on the tongue, kneeling if possible. Sure, there were some places in the early Church where Communion in the hand happened, but that was far from the norm.

-Personal Conviction: Patrick admits he’s in the minority here, but he thinks the traditional way is better because it emphasizes reverence and respect for the Eucharist.

The Bottom Line:

Yes, you can receive Communion in the hand, but if you ask Patrick: on the tongue is better. He thinks most people just automatically receive on their hands because that's how they were raised.