Prepare the Way of the Lord

Throughout my years in seminary, I have been asked a few times about the proper way to receive Holy Communion. Normally this question is directed to the physical posture that we should assume whether it should be standing or kneeling and to the place we should receive whether it be on the tongue or in the hands. However the question of posture goes so much deeper than the physical. 

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church provides a helpful start. 

“291. What is required to receive Holy Communion? To receive Holy Communion one must be fully incorporated into the Catholic Church and be in the state of grace, that is, not conscious of being in mortal sin. Anyone who is conscious of having committed a grave sin must first receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before going to Communion. Also important for those receiving Holy Communion are a spirit of recollection and prayer, observance of the fast prescribed by the Church, and an appropriate disposition of the body (gestures and dress) as a sign of respect for Christ.”

This answer helps us see that there are many things to consider prior to receiving Holy Communion and that disposition of our body or our posture actually comes last. There is a need to first be concerned with an interior preparation which makes room within us for the reception of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. This preparation begins with the Sacraments such as Baptism which incorporates us into the Church, the Body of Christ, and Penance which restores us God’s grace whenever we have wandered away through our sins. This then moves to a prayerful preparation where we recollect ourselves and devote ourselves to prayer before receiving our Lord. The whole preparation ends with our physical preparation where we dispose our bodies to receive the Lord. Our exterior disposition comes to reflect the interior disposition which we have already cultivated. The exterior posture is a reflection of the interior. 

On a practical side of the question, the Church gives us multiple options to choose from for our bodily posture. The norm in the United States is to receive standing either receiving in the hand or directly onto our tongue. However, individuals may also choose the more traditional practice of receiving kneeling on the tongue, if they desire. The most important thing is that whatever we choose for our exterior posture must be a reflection of the interior preparation which has taken place. Our Lord is coming to us, let us prepare to receive him.