The Master is here, and is calling you!

Practices at Communion—In addition to the response “Amen” we say before we receive the Eucharist, the Church asks us also to bow our head as the minister presents the Sacred Host or Precious Blood to us.

If Communion Is Received in the Hand—The hands should first of all be clean. If one is right handed, the left hand should rest upon the right. The Host will 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. This practice is cumbersome, if not impossible, for those holding a child in their arms and in such a case one should consider receiving on the tongue. One should never walk away carrying the Host to their place. Once the Host is placed in one’s hand, the communicant should step aside and consume it immediately before moving to his/her place. Whenever receiving from the chalice, a bow is made and the communicant responds “Amen.” It is never permissible to dip the host into the chalice.

Sign of the Cross & Genuflection?—Making the Sign of the Cross at any time at Communion is not prescribed or necessary. It is also unnecessary to genuflect to the tabernacle after receiving the Eucharist, since the communicant carries the Lord in their very person.