Catholics, when you receive Communion do you ever picture yourself as a baby bird?

Question

I try to always receive on the tongue rather than in the hand---I just think it shows the Lord that I know it is him GIVING it to me rather than me TAKING it. I know that the Church does allow to receive in the hand and so I do not put down anyone who does but, I kind of think the baby bird thing with the nest and their head back and mouths open wide is kind of what he had in mind.

Answer 1

I receive on the tounge too. That's how it was done when I was growing up.
Why don't you email me? I can never connect to you.

Answer 2

That's a beautiful metaphore :)
I receive in the hand because when I received instructions for Communion, concern was raised about better preventing the spread of germs - oh what a climate of paranoia we are in! I don't share such a concern, I'm very much aware of measures that are taken in adminstering the Sacrament to prevent the spread of sickness - but I'm sorry I need to say I'm more influenced by what others think than I should be.
I'll remember your visualization in the future with gratitude, I assure you.
-M

Answer 3

No - I evaluate it as receiving from Christ's arms. i'm additionally an EMHC (staggering minister of Holy Communion- a lay man or woman who helps to distribute the physique or Blood) and then I get carry of it in my arms from the priest through fact all the different lay ministers do. yet while i'm no longer doing that activity, I get carry of on the tongue.

Answer 4

This is actually a charming metaphor - thank you. I prefer receiving in the hand, palms up in an attitude of prayer and openness. It's the attitude of the heart and motive that matters most, wouldn't you agree?

Answer 5

back in the 50's before you were aloud to take the host in your hand..we were only aloud to take it on our tongues..that is the way it was meant to be,,and thats the way it should remain..nun's without habits is hard for me to grasp..went to catholic school and was altar boy..back then males dressed up and women wore hats or something to cover their head..use to be no meat on fridays..and when you went to confess your sins, you knelt in a booth..not out in the open facing the priest...i must have been bad..i sure had to say a lot of hail marys and our fathers...not to mention the act of contrition..also had to attend the stations of the cross..and say the rosery...now they have hippy masses..???

Answer 6

Yes, I feel like a tall flamingo as I take the communion wafer in my enormous ravenous beak and tip my head back ready to swallow the delicate morsel but oh! wait a minute... oh drat! a seagull has stolen it right from my beak... why do they always do that?

Answer 7

No I never think of it that way. Also the whole point of giving it in the hand is sign of taking ownership and responsiblity for your faith and your development within that faith rather then just being handed it.

Answer 8

That is SO funny! Now all you need to do is poke your elbows out with their wrists against their hips, ya know like when you dance the "funky chicken", when you go for communnion.... hahaha

Thanks for the visual and the laugh!

Answer 9

Next time you go up there and the priest or deacon says, "The Body of Christ," tilt your head back, open your mouth as wide as you can and say, "peep peep peep!"

Answer 10

I've always found communion to be a bit disturbing. After all...you're engaging in canbalism...right? You believe that what you are ingesting actually turns into the body & blood of Christ. By any definition this would imply canabalism. Most Christians only practice symbolic canabalism...you believe that you are actually eating him. Don't you find this disturbing?