Receiving (not taking) Communion: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 14:47, 15 July 2024

The Rite of Communion is the summation of the Liturgy of the Eucharist in which the failthful receive the bread and wine as the Body and Blood of Christ.

In Catholic terminology and practice one "receives" and does not "take" Holy Communion. The Sacraments are gifts of the Lord worked through the Holy Spirit, and so we "receive" and do not "take" the Sacraments, including the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

The Holy Eucharist, i.e., the Body and Blood of Christ, are "distributed" by a Eucharistic Minister (a priest, deacon, or "extraordinary minister").

The worshipper "receives" the host or chalice, which is presented to him or her by a Minister under the authority of the Bishop

see "The distribution of Holy Communion" in Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum (vatican.va)

For more on the Rite of Comnmunion and the distinction between "taking" and "recieving" Communion see

See here for a discussion about Holy Communion and transfiguration.
Go here for an analysis of the difference between the incorrect "take" and proper "recieve" Communion: Blog:Recieving (not taking) Communion

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+The '''Rite of Communion''' is the summation of the Liturgy of the Eucharist in which the failthful receive the bread and wine as the Body and Blood of Christ.
-Even from Catholics, one will commonly hear the Rite of Communion incorrectly referred to as "taking Communion."
+In Catholic terminology and practice one "receives" and does not "take" Holy Communion. The [[Glossary of terms for catechism of the Catholic faith#Sacraments, the|Sacraments]] are gifts of the Lord worked through the Holy Spirit, and so we "receive" and do not "take" the Sacraments, including the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
-A source of the confusion may stem from the verb "partake", which is used for reception of Communion by many Protestant churches. The use of "partake," however, is deliberately distinct from "recieve", along with the Protestant view of "sharing in" or "participating" in the Rite of Communion. This site is uninterested in apologetic debates, so we will not get further into the Protestant choice of words here, and, instead, focus on Catholic teaching of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and Sacraments in general.
+The Holy Eucharist, i.e., the Body and Blood of Christ, are "distributed" by a Eucharistic Minister (a priest, deacon,  or "extraordinary minister").
-== Receiving Communion ==
+The worshipper "receives" the host or chalice, which is presented to him or her by a Minister under the authority of the Bishop
-Indeed, in the USCCB's (US Catholic Bishops) guide [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/the-reception-of-holy-communion-at-mass The Reception of Holy Communion at Mass] the word "take" appears twice in reference to recieving the Sacrament -- but both in terms of its proper reception after moving the host from one hand to the other:
+* see "[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html The distribution of Holy Communion]" in ''Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum'' (vatican.va)
- The host will then be laid in the palm of the left hand and then taken by the right hand to the mouth. If one is left-handed this is reversed. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing.
-The word "receive" occurs nineteen times, always in terms of our participation in the Eucharist as recipients, and not "takers" the Lord's Body and Blood.
-== Gospel accounts of the Lord's Supper ==
-As we see in the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus "gave" or instructed the disciples to "take" the Bread and the Cup from him (which means "receive from me") his Body and Blood:
+For more on the Rite of Comnmunion and the distinction between "taking" and "recieving" Communion see
-'''Matthew''':
+* See here for a discussion about [[Holy Communion|Holy Communion and transfiguration]].
- ''and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body."'' ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/26?26 Mt 26:26])
+* Go here for an analysis of the difference between the incorrect "take" and proper "recieve" Communion: [[Blog:Recieving (not taking) Communion]]
-'''Mark''':
+[[Category:Mass and Liturgy]]
- ''and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body."'' ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/14?22 Mk 14:22])
+[[Category:Catechism of the Catholic Church]]
-'''Luke''':
- ''Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them'' ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/22?19 Lk 22:19])
-== Sacrament ==