Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ offers me an opportunity to reflect on how we can be more attentive and reverent when we receive the Eucharist at Mass. After more than forty years as a priest, I have seen a variety of ways that people receive the Body of Christ. So let’s review the basics.
As you come in procession with the other members of the assembly, try to join in singing the Communion song. As the General Instruction of the Roman Missal states, the purpose of the Communion song is “to express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the ‘communitarian’ character of the procession to receive the Eucharist” (GIRM #86).
When you approach the minister of the Eucharist, make a bow while the person in front of you is receiving. Then step forward to receive the host, either in your hand or on your tongue.
I often witness the different ways that people hold their hands. The best method is to place your hands palms up, one on top of the other, with your dominant hand underneath. In this way, after the host is placed in your palm, you can use your dominant hand to pick it up and place it in your mouth.
Please avoid taking the host from the minister with two fingers. Also avoid placing your hands side-by-side. Just remember – one hand on top of the other!
As the minister places the host in your hand with the phrase, “The Body of Christ,” respond verbally “Amen.” I’ve noticed that people often don’t respond, or their response is barely audible. So say with conviction and joy your belief that the Lord is truly present to you at that moment. Please don’t say “Thank you,” or anything else. “Amen” says it all! Once you have received the host, immediately consume it before walking away.
I have also noticed recently that people who use a cane sometimes have difficulty because they have only one hand free to receive the host. I would suggest that you just hold out your free hand, allow the minister to place the host in your palm, then bring your hand up to your mouth and consume the host in that manner. I’ve also noticed that parents carrying a baby or small child often have difficulties receiving in the hand. In that case, perhaps it may be easier to receive on the tongue.
As a matter of reverence for the Eucharist, nothing should impede a person from receiving it. Don’t have anything else in your hands, like keys, gloves, a worship aid, overly long sleeves, etc. Come to the Eucharist with joy and anticipation, and let it be your sole focus.
There is a very informative and entertaining video on YouTube from Busted Halo, a production of the Paulists, which covers some of the things I’ve mentioned here. Use this link to watch it: https://tinyurl. com/ywcdtk45.
As I have reflected on these comments, I do so with a great deal of love for the Eucharist, but I know that things that are familiar routines sometimes lose the attention they deserve. It can even happen in receiving the Eucharist, so I offer these comments in the hope that you will always love and reverence the Body of Christ.
Blessings on your week ahead!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.
Pastor
It is important that when you give to any charitable organization, you are confident that the funds received are being used wisely. Be assured that your gift to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal sup-ports the ministries and programs indicated in the 2026 Appeal literature! Organizations such as St. Anthony’s Bread for the Poor right here in our own parish received funding from the Appeal’s Vicariate Outreach Program that makes a difference in the lives of our local neighbors.
Join us, your parish community, and We Are One, by sharing your blessings with the less fortunate.
Please take a moment to watch the launch video here:
We hope you can help us meet our parish goal of $115,000. If you would like to make a gift, please mail in your pledge card. You may also visit the Archdiocesan website at www.archdioceseofhartford.org or call the Appeal Office at (800) 781-2550. Keep in mind that an early pledge will allow you to best use the monthly payment plan.
All funds contributed to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal are used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the Appeal literature, which can be found at https:// archdioceseofhartford.org/appeal/. No Appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements.