Education in Faith

Receiving Holy Communion…

In the Catholic Tradition people who receive Holy Communion have been baptised and have received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. There are some guidelines to follow and are outlined below…

Attend a Catholic mass and wait for the sacrament of Communion.

Communion can be taken at any mass, and occurs toward the end of the ceremony. Prepare yourself mentally during the Consecration of the Eucharist (when the priest raises the host and it is changed into the body and blood of Christ) to participate in Communion by giving your thanks, appreciation, and reverence to Jesus Christ through prayer.[1]

• Note that only baptised Catholics can receive Communion, but anyone may attend mass.

Approach the altar in the Communion procession.

The priests and altar servers will prepare to give Communion by taking their customary places, standing at the head of the Church, in front of the altar. If there’s an usher, wait for them to guide your row to walk up. When leaving the pew there is no need to genuflect (to kneel and cross oneself). Wait in line and do not skip people.[2]

• If there is no usher, wait until the people in the pew in front of you have processed out of the pew, then stand and join the procession.

Bow slightly before you approach the priest.

This is a show of reverence. Once the person ahead of you has received Communion, bend slightly at the hips, then step forward within arm’s length of the priest so that you may receive the sacrament yourself.[3]

• When you approach the priest or Extraordinary Minister, they will proclaim, "The Body of Christ." Proclaim your faith by replying, "Amen,” which means, “I believe.”

Receive the host in your hands or on your tongue.

Depending on the church and your personal preference, you can either have the host fed to you or handed to you. In the Traditional Rite, the host is fed to you. Open your mouth and extend your tongue so that the host does not fall. The host will be placed on your tongue. Close your mouth and allow the host to dissolve on your tongue while thinking of the sacrifice made.[4]

• If you wish to have the host handed to you, hold out your hands, left on top of right. Do not take the host from the priest, but rather allow them to place it in your hand.

Return to your seat and pray as you kneel.

This is a time to reflect and thank Jesus for coming to you in the Holy Eucharist.[6] Return to your pew and pray, until the priest is finished offering the Blessed Sacrament. Follow the lead of more established church members if you are unsure what to do.

It is important to note that the host is to be consumed by the baptised Catholic before moving back to their seat.

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