Receiving (not taking) Communion: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "** page under construction** As a Catholic convert, it is unclear to me whether or not Catholics generally refer to receiving the Sacrament of Comununion as "taking Communion" or "receiving Communion." As a Catholic, I understand fully that one does not "take" a Holy Sacrament -- one receives it through the Holy Spirit and by the Grace of God.")
 
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As a Catholic convert, it is unclear to me whether or not Catholics generally refer to receiving the Sacrament of Comununion as "taking Communion" or "receiving Communion." As a Catholic, I understand fully that one does not "take" a Holy Sacrament -- one receives it through the Holy Spirit and by the Grace of God.
I don't recall, prior to becoming a Catholic, referring to the Rite of Communion as anything but "taking Communion." As a Catholic, I still hear the phrase, so I do my best as a catechist to teach why we "recieve" and do not "take" Holy Communion.
 
The USCCB's 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] uses the word "take" twice in reference to recieving the Sacrament, both in terms of its proper reception from one hand to the other:
 
<pre>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.</pre>
 
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 ==
 
Jesus "gave" or instructed the disciples to "take" from him (which means "receive from me") his Body and Blood. As we ssee in
'''Matthew''':
<pre>''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]</pre>
 
'''Mark''':
<pre>''and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body."''[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/14?22 Mk 14:22]</pre>
 
'''Luke''':
<pre>''"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 ]</pre>
 
== Sacrament ==

Revision as of 13:53, 11 May 2024

    • page under construction**

I don't recall, prior to becoming a Catholic, referring to the Rite of Communion as anything but "taking Communion." As a Catholic, I still hear the phrase, so I do my best as a catechist to teach why we "recieve" and do not "take" Holy Communion.

The USCCB's guide The Reception of Holy Communion at Mass uses the word "take" twice in reference to recieving the Sacrament, both in terms of its proper reception from one hand to the other:

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

Jesus "gave" or instructed the disciples to "take" from him (which means "receive from me") his Body and Blood. As we ssee in Matthew:

''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]

Mark:

''and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body."''[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/14?22 Mk 14:22]

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