Holy Communion
How to receive the Eucharist

Canon Stuart wrote:

Catholic people are above all a group who express their love and their feelings about the Lord God Almighty not just in what they say but in action also. Outward behaviour is the mirror to the inward disposition. What we do is the clue to what we believe. There is no finer example of this than coming forward to receive Holy Communion. The Archbishop has written on the way in which we receive Holy Communion.     Read the full letter by clicking Here

Briefly this is what the Archbishop is saying:

It is an awesome moment - so prepare for it.

1. Process to the altar in a dignified manner. The procession is itself part of the act of receiving Holy Communion. Together in tremendous silence you join your brothers and sisters and go as one body to be in communion with the Lord.

2. Recognise what you are about to receive. The Archbishop says that every communicant must stop and make a bow of the head before they approach the minister who is administering Holy Communion.

3. Receive the Host and the Precious Blood with dignity. The norm for doing this has been determined by the CDW (the authoritative body in Rome). Usually we are to receive Holy Communion standing, taking the Body of the Lord into our crossed hands and then picking Him up with one hand and placing the Host in our mouth to be consumed reverently. By the way, there is no ban on receiving the host on the tongue or kneeling down to receive.

4. Always consume the Host in the presence of the minister and DO NOT walk away still holding it your hands. Dipping the host into the precious blood is not allowed in England and Wales.

5. Return to your seat in silence and then why not kneel to pray?

6. Parents: you have the extra obligation to teach this to your children and the rest of us have the awe inspiring task of witnessing to all our children by the quality in which we come forward to receive the Sacred Body and Blood.