From Fr. Mark-22, June

Today we celebrate the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. After the resurrection, Jesus entered into the room where the Apostles gathered, although the doors were locked. H wanted to assure them that He was still alive and present to them. Similarly, Jesus gives us His body and blood under the form of bread and wine to assure us of His real presence among us.

            The height of God’s self-giving love for us is the Eucharist. Christ instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist so that the whole human family might be intimately united with Him. United in Christ, this sacrament also calls us and helps us to unite with one another in that spiritual union that Our Savior desires us to have. This union unites many different members and forms them into one body. Thus, this sacrament is also called Communion as it represents to us the common union of holy love that we ought to have together.

            In the Eucharist, the perpetual feast of divine grace, we have a pledge of infinite happiness. When we frequently and devoutly receive the Eucharist, we build up our spiritual health so that we may effectively avoid evil. It strengthens our hearts and makes us God-like in this world. Very tender fruits such as strawberries are subject to decay. Yet, they can be easily preserved for a whole year with sugar or honey. How much more so are our frail and weak human hearts preserved from evil in receiving the Eucharist.

            Both the perfect and imperfect ought to receive the Eucharist often. The perfect, as they are predisposed to It. The imperfect, so that they may become perfect. We are all loved with the same love by Our Lord who embraces us all in this Sacrament. Let us grow in the gentle and strengthening bonds of holy love through receiving the Eucharist.

            But how do we receive the Body and Blood of Christ? The Congregation for Divine Worship stated: “The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined”, with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See.”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states that: “The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.”

            Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago in December 2024 clarified that Catholics should stand while receiving holy Communion and not make gestures that draw attention to oneself. Cupich continued: “the norm established by [the] Holy See for the universal Church and approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is for the faithful to process together as an expression of their coming forward as the body of Christ and to receive holy Communion standing.”

            The cardinal goes on to state that “nothing should be done to impede any of these processions” and that “disrupting this moment only diminishes this powerful symbolic expression, by which the faithful in processing together express their faith that they are called to become the very Body of Christ they receive.”

            “Certainly, reverence can and should be expressed by bowing before the reception of holy Communion, but no one should engage in a gesture that calls attention to oneself or disrupts the flow of the procession,” he added. “That would be contrary to the norms and tradition of the Church, which all the faithful are urged to respect and observe.”

When receiving Communion on the tongue: Hold your hands in front of you in a gesture of prayer, and when you approach the minister of Communion, bow, and then say “Amen” after the minister says, “The Body of Christ.” After the minister places the Host into your mouth, return to your place in the pew (or approach the Communion station for the Blood of Christ, as the case may be).

            When receiving Communion in the hand: When you approach the minister of Communion, hold one hand on top of the other and extend your hands flat, like an altar top. (This follows the counsel of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who instructed the faithful: “make a throne of your hands in which to receive the King [in Holy Communion].” He also urged them to exercise great care for any fragments which might remain in one’s hand.)

            Bow and then say “Amen” after the minister says, “The Body of Christ,” and places the host in your hand. Step to the side, reverently place the Host into your mouth with the other hand, taking the Host from the hand that it rests upon.

            Take care to consume any particles which may remain in your hand and return to your place in the pew (or approach the Communion station for the Blood of Christ, as the case may be). Note: if one of your hands is impeded such that you cannot receive Communion in this way, you should receive on the tongue.

            When receiving Communion from the cup: Approach the minister of Communion, bow, and then say “Amen” after the minister says, “The Blood of Christ.” Take the cup with your hands and reverently place it to your lips to take a sip of the Blood of Christ. Hand the cup back to the minister and return to your place in the pew.

            So remember, when we receive Communion, it’s who we are receiving, which is Jesus. And thus, everything we do has to be focused on reverence. We are going up to the altar of the Lord to encounter the Lord, to receive the Lord, to become one with the Lord. And thus we bow, we proclaim “Amen,” I believe, it is true to the words “The Body of Christ.” We then open our mouth really wide with our tongue over our bottom lip, holding our head still. Or, we bow, we say “Amen” and we place our hands up, as St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, as a throne for our Lord and we receive our Lord reverently in place, not carrying our Lord off. And then we go return to our pew, where we then say prayers of thanksgiving and adoration and contrition to our God who is among us, our God Emmanuel. May this help you to make a good Communion and honor our Lord, and to become one with him here on earth so we can become one with him one day in heaven.   

            Remember that receiving the Body and Blood of Christ reverently involves what we do before we are standing before the priest, deacon or extraordinary minister of holy communion.

Reverence means: 1. Examine Your Conscience; it is crucial to examine your conscience to ensure you are in a state of grace. This means acknowledging any sins, repenting, and seeking reconciliation through the Sacrament of Confession if necessary.

2. Fast Before Communion; the Church requires Catholics to fast for at least one hour before receiving Communion, except for water and medicine (Code of Canon Law, 919). This practice helps prepare the body and mind for the sacred encounter with Christ. This also means that we should refrain from chewing gum and sucking on the mint.

3. Dress Appropriately; while the Church does not have strict dress codes for Mass, dressing modestly and respectfully is a sign of reverence for the sacrament. Your attire should reflect the solemnity of the occasion and your respect for God and the community.

4. Arrive Early and Prepare Spiritually; arriving early to Mass allows you to settle in, compose yourself, and prepare spiritually for the celebration. Use this time to pray, meditate, and focus your mind on the mystery of the Eucharist.

5. Engage Actively in the Liturgy; active participation in the Mass is a key aspect of receiving Communion devoutly. The Second Vatican Council emphasized the importance of full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14). Sing the hymns, respond to the prayers, and listen attentively to the readings and homily. Engaging with liturgy helps you enter more fully into the mystery of the Eucharist. Familiarize yourself with the prayers of the Mass and pray them with sincerity and devotion.

6. Listen to the Word of God; the Liturgy of the Word is an integral part of the Mass, offering guidance, inspiration, and challenge. Listening to the readings and the homily with an open heart can deepen your understanding of God's message and prepare you for Communion.

7. Pray After Communion; after receiving Communion, take a moment to pray and reflect on the gift you have received. This is a time for intimate conversation with God, expressing gratitude, and seeking guidance. We don’t leave Mass early. You would never receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and walk out the door.

8. Reflect on the Experience; after Mass, take some time to reflect on the experience of receiving Communion. Consider how you can carry the grace of the sacrament with you throughout the week.

And finally, 9. Live Out the Eucharist; The ultimate reverence to the Body and Blood of Christ is “to become what you have received,” The Eucharist is not just a moment in time but a way of life. Strive to live out the values of the Gospel and the teachings of the Church in your daily life.