Category: Mass

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What is the correct way to receive communion?

When we approach in procession to receive Holy Communion, sometimes the question arises, what is the correct way to receive Communion? In the hands? In the tongue? Down on my knees? Standing? Let us remember that the institution of the Holy Eucharist took place at the Passover dinner (Luke 22:14-16), where the unleavened bread is blessed, broken and shared among the guests. In the fourth-century readings of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, the reverential way of receiving Communion in the hand is indicated: “In approaching therefore, come not with thy wrists extended, or thy fingers spread; but make thy left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed thy palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, «Amen»…” (Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XXIII §21). Let us remember that the tradition of the church also proposes a more reverential form, in which communion is received on the knees and on the tongue, this form was proposed for several important reasons: first, to emphasize respect and veneration for the body of Christ present in the consecrated host; second, to prevent the
consecrated host or any particle from falling; and third, to prevent acts of profanation from being committed, whether due to ignorance or malice. It should be noted that the fact of receiving communion in the hand is not sacrilege in itself, but that sacrilege was to be avoided after having received the consecrated host in the hand. Let’s not fall into the same mistake that the scribes and Pharisees made when questioning Jesus about why his disciples did not wash their hands before eating the bread (Matthew 15:1-9).

When we receive communion, whether in the hand or on the tongue, it must be done with due reverence because we are in the real presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, then we must respond “Amen” when the minister; whether it be the Priest, Deacon, or a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (Redemptionis Sacramentum 88); presents communion to us under the words “The Body of Christ”, once received the sacred Host is it must be consumed immediately and entirely (GIRM 161), taking care that no particle remains in our hands if we have received it that way.

Let us remember, brothers, that our Lord Jesus Christ is present in the totality and each one of the parts of the consecrated host, let us show the reverence due to our heavenly king, whether we receive communion on the tongue or in the hands. We are receiving the body of Christ, the one that gives us eternal life.

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Where is the Mass found in the bible?

Although we come to Mass, sometimes we have asked ourselves, “where is the Mass itself in the scriptures?” We should remember that the Mass comes from the Feast of the Passover meal (Luke 22:14-16), this being the most important celebration of the Israelite people, whom God rescued from slavery, and commissions them to celebrate in perpetuity (Exodus 12:14). Jesus take this celebration and perfects it by taking the place of the spotless lamb offered for sacrifice (Exodus 12:5), to free us from the slavery of sin. Likewise Jesus Christ tells us how to celebrate this new Easter through bread and wine (Luke 22:19), which through transubstantiation become the flesh and blood of our Lord.

As in the Jewish Passover meal, the story of Israel’s salvation through the exodus from Egypt is read and what is read is explained to the children.  At Mass, we too read our salvation history contained in its entirety in the Bible. The presbyter in turn explains to us the significance of these readings for our salvation (GIRM 29).

But not only do we have biblical elements in the Liturgy of the Word, but also in the prayers that we repeat from the beginning of the mass: The phrase “In the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” is found in the Gospel of Saint Matthew (Matthew 28: 19), the penitential act comes from the tradition in Psalm 32, we join the Angels of Heaven in reciting the Gloria as when they announced the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:14), the words that the presbyter proclaims before communion: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world…” (John 1:29) as also the response of the people of God “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8) are taken from the gospels.

We found the references to the Mass at the Passover meal, its institution on Holy Thursday and also when the risen Jesus Christ accompanies disciples on their way to Emmaus sharing the scriptures, explaining them, blessing and breaking of bread (Luke 24:13-35).

Let us then be like the disciples on the way to Emmaus, let us participate in the Holy Mass, let our hearts burn with joy as we listen to the scriptures, let’s go out and evangelize and share the good news after entering into communion with Christ himself.

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Why do we come to Mass on Sunday?

Although the third commandment says that God created the world in six “days” and after seeing that it was good, he blessed the seventh day, Saturday, and that day He rested. (Genesis 2:1-3), why do we go to mass on Sunday? The Church, by  a tradition handed down from the apostles, celebrates the Paschal Mystery on the first day (CCC 1166), Sunday; the same day of resurrection of our Lord. Because just as God started creation on the first day with “Let there be light…” (Genesis 1:3) and rested on the seventh day, Jesus Christ rests on the Saturday in the tomb and starts our redemption and salvation also the first day, since He is the light of the world (John 8:12) who comes to enlighten us so that we do not walk in the darkness that is sin.

Just as God rested and contemplated his work, seeing that it was good and blessed that day, we, by our call to holiness (Matthew 5:48), must bless Sunday, contemplate if our works have been good; and feed on the word of God, as well as the body and blood of our Lord to be able to be received at the end of times in the place in heaven that our Lord Jesus Christ has prepared for us (John 14:2).

So, let us come to Mass with joy, for the Lord awaits us with the prepared banquet that gives us eternal life; Mass not only begins when the priest enters the temple in procession, but also when each of us begins to get ready to attend the sacred meal on pilgrimage to the temple, because just as God brought the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 20: 2) towards the promised land, Jesus Christ takes us out of the darkness of sin towards eternal life with Him, because we are God’s chosen people by virtue of the new covenant in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:10, JPII Gen. Aud. Nov 6, 1991—1)

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Is Jesus Christ really present in the consecrated bread and wine?

“I still see a host and a little bit of wine…”, is the thought that comes to us many times when we see ourselves before the consecration of the gifts by the priest. In order to understand why us as Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is really present in the consecrated host and wine we must go to Jesus’ own words at the institution of the Mass, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: «Take and eat; this is my body». Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying: «Drink from it, all of you, this is my blood…» (Matthew 26:26-28), Jesus did not say, “…this symbolizes my body…”, but “…this is my body…”, and then told us to repeat this formula in his memory (Luke 22:19).

Now, why is it important to recognize the real presence of Jesus Christ in the consecrated host? Because it is the means by which we will have eternal life! Only by eating his flesh and drinking his blood, through the consecrated bread and wine, can we attain the grace of eternal life (John 6:22-59).

That is why it is very important not only to attend Holy Mass but also to participate in the supper that our Lord has prepared for us. Who of you goes to a birthday party and leaves without having a piece of cake? Our Lord has prepared a banquet where the main dish He offers us is eternal life through His body. If we think that we are not ready to receive communion, let us remember that at the beginning of mass, during the penitential act, we all confess ourselves sinners and the priest gives us the absolution of those venial sins that we have committed (GIRM 51) by pronouncing the words: “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.”

Let us strip off the rags that are our sins (Matthew 22.1-14), let us get ready and share with Christ the great banquet that He offers us in the Holy Communion

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What happens when the priest lays his hands over the gifts?

This is one of the most significant moments during Mass. It receives the name of Epiclesis and it is the moment of the Mass, after we have all proclaimed the Holy, when the priest lays his hands on the offerings  (GIRM 79c).

“Epiclesis” comes from the Greek and means “to invoke upon”. Who do we call? To the Holy Spirit. What for? So that it may come on the bread and wine and transform them into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (CCC 1353). That is why we kneel down, because from this moment until the consecration is finished, the Miracle of miracles happens, God becomes present again in our midst. It is not a symbol! It is Jesus Christ who really appears on the altar (Mathew 26:26) and, just as in Bethlehem he seemed to hide his greatness and majesty in a small and humble child, here he hides under the guise of bread and wine.

Also… it’s not one, but two invocations! The first one, that we have just described, where the priest begins by saying:

“You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them…” (GIRM 226)

and the second invocation to the Holy Spirit occurs a few moments later, at the end of the words of the Institution. When the priest pronounces:

“…Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.” (GIRM 227)

Do we now understand the importance of being attentive when Holy Mass is celebrated? Each part has a deep meaning and each prayer we make, if we put our hearts into it, is a precious opportunity to receive the graces and blessings that God wants to give us.

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Why does the Mass starts with a procession?

The mass begins with a procession in which the celebrant goes to the sanctuary. Most commonly, it is the celebrant and ministers that approach the sanctuary in procession. However, we also walk spiritually with them. That is the meaning of the procession, to symbolize that Christians are a people that walks as pilgrims in life. If we fall, to get up, to continue our walk towards the Holy City. The procession is not a parade of those who will participate in the mass, so that we can see them closely. It is an allegory of the Christian walk towards God1.

When they have arrived at the sanctuary, the Priest, the Deacon, and the ministers reverence the altar with a profound bow. Moreover, as an expression of veneration, the Priest and Deacon then kiss the altar itself; the Priest, if appropriate, also incenses the cross and the altar. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal 49)

When the Entrance Chant is concluded, the Priest stands at the chair and, together with the whole gathering, signs himself with the Sign of the Cross. Then by means of the Greeting he signifies the presence of the Lord to the assembled community. By this greeting and the people’s response, the mystery of the Church gathered together is made manifest. (GIRM 50)

1 Liturgia Papal, “Vivir la Misa”, LiturgiaPapal.org, https://liturgiapapal.org/attachments/article/960/Iniciales1.pdf, accessed 20 september 2022