1. INTRODUCTION

There was a time when we Catholics always knelt for Holy Communion. When we only received on the tongue. When only the priest administered Holy Communion. When our Priests and Religious Sisters taught it was sacrilegious for anyone but the priest to touch the Sacred Host. When our tabernacles were always on the centre of the altar as the primary focal point. When our churches had the Communion rails. Why were these things changed? Why has kneeling disappeared? Why are people receiving in the hand? Why are there lay-ministers of the Eucharist? Why can ‘anyone’ touch it? Have these changes done us good or harm? If they have done us good then how come we do not have large numbers of people flocking to our churches to receive the Sacraments? Have these changes increased our reverence towards the Eucharist or have reduced it? Do our clergy care? Do you care?

If only Catholics pause, before they receive Holy Communion, and reflect with true love and devotion whom they are about to receive, will they receive Him as they receive an ordinary food, standing and with their hands? How is it that Catholics kneel before sacred images; yet receive GOD standing? How is it that the Bread from Heaven is received in the same and equal manner as an ordinary bread from earth? If at the NAME of JESUS, every knee should bow; how much more reverence we should show to the BODY of JESUS Himself present in the Holy Communion for us?

The purpose of this work is not to provide detailed explanation or complete history of the method of reception of the Most August Sacrament, but few reasons to educate and encourage the faithful to stop receiving Holy Communion on the hand and for the clergy to restore Holy Communion on the tongue. It goes without saying that we should also receive Holy Communion in the state of grace and with utmost reverence.

Here are few obvious reasons why Holy Communion should never be received in the hand; to receive on the tongue is the only correct manner of receiving the Bread of Eternal Life. The below topics cover the historical, doctrinal, logical and spiritual reasons for the correct manner of reception of Holy Communion, which is, directly on the tongue, from the hands of a priest.