THE WHAT AND THE WHY
God is Love. And when we say “love” we mean the kind that is willing to sacrifice oneself for the good of another. We also mean the kind that wants to share, that wants to be one with the person we love, even to become a servant to that person. The kind of love that keeps on giving. This is the nature of the God that Catholic Christians believe in. It is the nature of Jesus. It is the goal of every Christian to learn to love like Jesus does.
At our baptism we were joined to Jesus and His Mystical Body as newbies. St Paul writes about having to feed his new converts with milk – baby food – at first.
At our confirmation we received the Holy Spirit in a more fully experienced way, and we begin to grow up to where we can handle what St Paul called solid food.
You might thing that having the Holy Spirit, who is God, living within us, prompting us, teaching us, strengthening us, would be enough. God Himself as our guide on our life journey, like Archangel Rafael was guide to Tobias in the Old Testament book of Tobit.
But now consider Jesus. As God, he claimed each of us as His own at our baptism, and His love for us makes Him and us inseparable. Even if we sin He does not give up on us or take back his love.
He is God but He is also human. He has a human heart, which can love us in a human way. So now at the Last Supper, as He sat with His apostles and perhaps others, facing torture in a few hours, perhaps his intense love for them overwhelmed him with a longing to stay with them. This, added to his earlier promise that He would never leave them, could have led Him to create a way to stay with them, even in a physical way, long after He was no longer visible as a man.
This is speculation, of course. But at the Last Supper He did do something spectacular: He gave them a way to actually touch Him after His ascension to heaven: the Eucharist. He gave them what looked like bread and told them “Take this, it is my body.” He gave them what looked like wine and told them “Take this, it is my blood.” And it also tasted like bread and wine, smelled like bread and wine, felt like bread and wine, but was in reality His glorified body and blood – and not dead body and blood either, but living – and therefore it was He Himself He was giving them.
What a mystery! What a surprise! He wanted so much to touch us in the ages following His ascension, whom He loved immensely, and to allow us to touch Him as well, that He did something unimaginable.
Many Christians found this unbelievable and claim that it is only symbolic. But Jesus didn’t say “This represents my body” but “This is my body.”
And after all, He had predicted it earlier, as recorded in John’s gospel at some length. We are told there that some of His disciples left him at that point, finding it too much to accept. But Jesus let them leave; He did not say “Oh wait, I was using symbolic language.”
Why did He do this? Several ideas come to mind:
For one, He wanted to remain with us as a man as well as God. Something we can see and handle, something we can focus on during prayer, something we can gather around.
Second, a way to touch us and nourish us in both body and spirit. As head of His Mystical Body He would want this intimacy. And He knew that we also would need that.
Perhaps to allow us to imitate St John the apostle who was snuggled up to him at the Last Supper according to the Gospel. We receive His whole self, as God and as man, into our own self; what could be more intimate?
Also it can be a sign and source of confidence that He does not abandon us.
It should not surprise us that all of these reasons come from His deep love for each person He has created, especially those who choose to accept Him as Lord and try to return His love.
LIVING IT
What is to be our understanding and reaction to this Sacrament of the Eucharist? What difference does it make?
Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist as a guest. We invite Him by approaching to receive the sacrament. He is the person who loves us most. A lot more than we even love ourselves. So how do we receive this guest? He is longing for our attention and our return of His love.
So do we spend the time watching the others in the pews with us? Thinking about what we will do after we go out from the Mass? Fuss with our prayer book or hymnal? Rehearse what we will say to someone? Plan our day? Is this how to treat a guest, one who comes to us “all the way from heaven” to spend a few moments with us?
Some parishes sing hymns. It is good to praise and thank God, and to do it as a community. But is it enough? Suppose you were a guest visiting some loved ones and all they did was sing or read poetry to you? And then promptly left the room?
Some parishes also leave quiet time before or after the hymns. If you were the guest, how would you hope that time would be filled? If we love Jesus we will care about that.
Children receiving First Communion, and for a while after, will need to try to grasp the wonder of what is happening, that the God who made them is coming to touch them with love. And He hopes for a loving response.
As we get older we may have additional perceptions but we must not let go of this one. All the great Christian mystics focus on this: they fall in love; they bask in His warmth; they gain strength from experiencing His loving presence and this evidence that He cares for them.
And that changes their outlook on everything else. It is meant to change us in the same way. It is meant to produce greater unity between Jesus and us. A greater unity that leads to us coming more and more to imitate Him. Which means to imitate His love, generosity, and concern for others.
What is to be our understanding and reaction to this Sacrament of the Eucharist? What difference does it make?
Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist as a guest. We invite Him by approaching to receive the sacrament. He is the person who loves us most. A lot more than we even love ourselves. So how do we receive this guest? He is longing for our attention and our return of His love.
So do we spend the time watching the others in the pews with us? Thinking about what we will do after we go out from the Mass? Fuss with our prayer book or hymnal? Rehearse what we will say to someone? Plan our day? Is this how to treat a guest, one who comes to us “all the way from heaven” to spend a few moments with us?
Some parishes sing hymns. It is good to praise and thank God, and to do it as a community. But is it enough? Suppose you were a guest visiting some loved ones and all they did was sing or read poetry to you? And then promptly left the room?
Some parishes also leave quiet time before or after the hymns. If you were the guest, how would you hope that time would be filled? If we love Jesus we will care about that.
Children receiving First Communion, and for a while after, will need to try to grasp the wonder of what is happening, that the God who made them is coming to touch them with love. And He hopes for a loving response.
As we get older we may have additional perceptions but we must not let go of this one. All the great Christian mystics focus on this: they fall in love; they bask in His warmth; they gain strength from experiencing His loving presence and this evidence that He cares for them.
And that changes their outlook on everything else. It is meant to change us in the same way. It is meant to produce greater unity between Jesus and us. A greater unity that leads to us coming more and more to imitate Him. Which means to imitate His love, generosity, and concern for others.
Holy Rosary Parish
How to receive Holy Communion
To move forward in the procession to receive Holy Communion a person must be baptized, have received formation prior to making their first Holy Communion and be in a state of grace. The decision to receive Holy Communion at a particular Mass is the individuals. Just because the usher stands at the end of your pew and gestures to you to move, doesn’t mean you should or that you ought to. Just don’t block others who want to go forward.
The church gives us two options to receive Holy Communion: on the hand or on the tongue at the discretion of the person receiving.
We receive the Lord Jesus in Holy Communion – we don’t help ourselves or take the Eucharist. We receive it. All we can do is make ourselves open and receptive. St. Cyril wrote in the 4th century, “make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King [and] having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ , saying over it, "Amen." Or we receive by gently extending our tongue and waiting for the host to be placed there.
We need to have reverence as we move to receive Communion because Jesus is truly present, body, blood, soul and divinity. We show reverence by making a bow, as the communicant in front of us is moving away. Don’t have stuff in your hands or present dirty hands, better to receive on the tongue that day.
Practical considerations: When receiving on the hand do not close your hand around the host; leave the host on your palm and bring to your mouth with your other hand. If you are receiving on the tongue; don’t make it difficult for the communion minister to place it there. Open your mouth and stick out your tongue.
If considering receiving from the chalice: don’t do so if you have an infection, congestion or a runny noise. When you approach the chalice minister, take the chalice in your hands and drink as you would normally.
Words are important and the most important is Amen
The Communion Rite which begins by our saying the Our Father is a dialogue of prayer: words are exchanged between the minister and the communicant, but they are simple and important. We don’t say thank you to the minster. We say Amen! This has at least three meanings: 1. Amen is a “Yes I believe” what I am receiving is truly the body and blood of Christ. 2. Amen is saying: “I believe that I am a member of the body of Christ.” 3. Amen is affirming: “I will take Jesus into my heart and into my life this week”.
Drawn from the video: Busted Halo: Eucharist: How to Receive.
Parroquia del Santo Rosario
Cómo recibir la Sagrada Comuniónr en la procesión para recibir la Sagrada Comunión una persona debe estar bautizada, haber recibido formacióantes de hacer su primera Comunión y estar en estado de gracia. La decisión La iglesia nos da dos opciones para recibir la Sagrada Comunión: en la mano o en la lengua a discreción de la persona que recibe.
Recibimos al Señor Jesús en la Santa Comunión - no nos ayudamos o tomamos la Eucaristía. La recibimos. Lo único que podemos hacer es abrirnos y ser receptivos. San Cirilo escribió en el siglo IV, "haz de tu mano izquierda un trono para la derecha, como para la que ha de recibir a un Rey [y] habiendo ahuecado tu palma, recibe el Cuerpo de Cristo, diciendo sobre él, Amén". O recibimos extendiendo suavemente la lengua y esperando que la hostia sea colocada allí.
Necesitamos tener reverencia cuando nos movemos para recibir la Comunión porque Jesús está realmente presente, cuerpo, sangre, alma y divinidad. Mostramos reverencia haciendo una reverencia, mientras el comulgante frente a nosotros se aleja. No tener cosas en las manos ni presentar las manos sucias, mejor recibir en la lengua ese día.
Consideraciones prácticas: Al recibir en la mano no cerrar la mano alrededor de la hostia; dejar la hostia en la palma y llevarla a la boca con la otra mano. Si recibes en la lengua, no dificultes que el ministro de la comunión la coloque allí. Abre la boca y saca la lengua. Si piensas en recibir del cáliz: no lo hagas si tienes una infección, congestión o goteo. Cuando te acerques al ministro del cáliz, toma el cáliz en tus manos y bebe como lo harías normalmente.
Las palabras son importantes y la más importante es el Amén
El Rito de la Comunión que comienza con el rezo del Padre Nuestro es un diálogo de oración: se intercambian palabras entre el ministro y el comulgante, pero son simples e importantes. No decimos gracias al ministro. Decimos Amén. Esto tiene al menos tres significados: 1. Amén es un "Sí, creo" que lo que estoy recibiendo es realmente el cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo. 2. Amén es decir: "Creo que soy un miembro del cuerpo de Cristo". 3. Amén es afirmar: "Voy a llevar a Jesús a mi corazón y a mi vida esta semana".
Extraído del vídeo: Busted Halo: Eucaristía: Cómo recibirla.
How to receive Holy Communion
To move forward in the procession to receive Holy Communion a person must be baptized, have received formation prior to making their first Holy Communion and be in a state of grace. The decision to receive Holy Communion at a particular Mass is the individuals. Just because the usher stands at the end of your pew and gestures to you to move, doesn’t mean you should or that you ought to. Just don’t block others who want to go forward.
The church gives us two options to receive Holy Communion: on the hand or on the tongue at the discretion of the person receiving.
We receive the Lord Jesus in Holy Communion – we don’t help ourselves or take the Eucharist. We receive it. All we can do is make ourselves open and receptive. St. Cyril wrote in the 4th century, “make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King [and] having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ , saying over it, "Amen." Or we receive by gently extending our tongue and waiting for the host to be placed there.
We need to have reverence as we move to receive Communion because Jesus is truly present, body, blood, soul and divinity. We show reverence by making a bow, as the communicant in front of us is moving away. Don’t have stuff in your hands or present dirty hands, better to receive on the tongue that day.
Practical considerations: When receiving on the hand do not close your hand around the host; leave the host on your palm and bring to your mouth with your other hand. If you are receiving on the tongue; don’t make it difficult for the communion minister to place it there. Open your mouth and stick out your tongue.
If considering receiving from the chalice: don’t do so if you have an infection, congestion or a runny noise. When you approach the chalice minister, take the chalice in your hands and drink as you would normally.
Words are important and the most important is Amen
The Communion Rite which begins by our saying the Our Father is a dialogue of prayer: words are exchanged between the minister and the communicant, but they are simple and important. We don’t say thank you to the minster. We say Amen! This has at least three meanings: 1. Amen is a “Yes I believe” what I am receiving is truly the body and blood of Christ. 2. Amen is saying: “I believe that I am a member of the body of Christ.” 3. Amen is affirming: “I will take Jesus into my heart and into my life this week”.
Drawn from the video: Busted Halo: Eucharist: How to Receive.
Parroquia del Santo Rosario
Cómo recibir la Sagrada Comuniónr en la procesión para recibir la Sagrada Comunión una persona debe estar bautizada, haber recibido formacióantes de hacer su primera Comunión y estar en estado de gracia. La decisión La iglesia nos da dos opciones para recibir la Sagrada Comunión: en la mano o en la lengua a discreción de la persona que recibe.
Recibimos al Señor Jesús en la Santa Comunión - no nos ayudamos o tomamos la Eucaristía. La recibimos. Lo único que podemos hacer es abrirnos y ser receptivos. San Cirilo escribió en el siglo IV, "haz de tu mano izquierda un trono para la derecha, como para la que ha de recibir a un Rey [y] habiendo ahuecado tu palma, recibe el Cuerpo de Cristo, diciendo sobre él, Amén". O recibimos extendiendo suavemente la lengua y esperando que la hostia sea colocada allí.
Necesitamos tener reverencia cuando nos movemos para recibir la Comunión porque Jesús está realmente presente, cuerpo, sangre, alma y divinidad. Mostramos reverencia haciendo una reverencia, mientras el comulgante frente a nosotros se aleja. No tener cosas en las manos ni presentar las manos sucias, mejor recibir en la lengua ese día.
Consideraciones prácticas: Al recibir en la mano no cerrar la mano alrededor de la hostia; dejar la hostia en la palma y llevarla a la boca con la otra mano. Si recibes en la lengua, no dificultes que el ministro de la comunión la coloque allí. Abre la boca y saca la lengua. Si piensas en recibir del cáliz: no lo hagas si tienes una infección, congestión o goteo. Cuando te acerques al ministro del cáliz, toma el cáliz en tus manos y bebe como lo harías normalmente.
Las palabras son importantes y la más importante es el Amén
El Rito de la Comunión que comienza con el rezo del Padre Nuestro es un diálogo de oración: se intercambian palabras entre el ministro y el comulgante, pero son simples e importantes. No decimos gracias al ministro. Decimos Amén. Esto tiene al menos tres significados: 1. Amén es un "Sí, creo" que lo que estoy recibiendo es realmente el cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo. 2. Amén es decir: "Creo que soy un miembro del cuerpo de Cristo". 3. Amén es afirmar: "Voy a llevar a Jesús a mi corazón y a mi vida esta semana".
Extraído del vídeo: Busted Halo: Eucaristía: Cómo recibirla.