How to Give and Receive Holy Communion

A resource for priests in instructing the faithful on Church teaching on the correct administering and receiving of Holy Communion - both on the tongue and in the hand.
RECOMMENDED for priests, seminarians, youth groups, study groups and RCIA.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
800 years ago, St Francis of Assisi promoted a revival of worthy reception and care of the Holy Eucharist. His sons in Australia, the Friars of St Francis, likewise promote respect and devotion to Our Lord in the Sacred Species. See more about their life at https://www.friarsofstfrancis.org/.

REFERENCES
The video is based on the following Church documents relating to distributing and receiving Holy Communion:

• General Instruction of the Roman Missal §160 - 161. (2011)
• Redemptionis Sacramentum 'On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist'. See §80 - 96. - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (25 March 2004).
• Dominicae Cenae 'On the Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist' Letter to Bishops §11 (para. 9) - Pope John Paul II (February 24, 1980)
• Memoriale Domini 'Instruction on the Manner of Distributing Holy Communion' - Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (May 29, 1969)

RESOURCE ON THE THEOLOGY OF THE EUCHARIST:
'Compendium on the Eucharist', Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2009. English translation, 2016). This Pastoral Aid was requested by the Bishops and Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Contains excerpts on the Eucharist from Scripture, the Catechisms, Denzinger, Conciliar documents, papal encyclicals, liturgical books, Eucharistic devotions and the Code of Canon Law.

ADDITIONAL POINTS:
“The Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful should be retained, so as to avoid the danger of the Sacred Host or some fragment of it falling.” (Redemptionis Sacramentum 'On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist', No. 93)

General Instruction of the Roman Missal §160 – 161:

“160. The Priest then takes the paten or ciborium and approaches the communicants, who usually come up in procession.
It is not permitted for the faithful to take the consecrated Bread or the sacred chalice by themselves and, still less, to hand them on from one to another among themselves. In the dioceses of Australia standing is the most common posture for receiving Holy Communion, though individual members of the faithful may choose to receive Communion while kneeling. When approaching to receive Holy Communion, the faithful bow in reverence of the Sacrament that they are to receive.”

“161. If Communion is given only under the species of bread, the Priest raises the host slightly and shows it to each, saying, The Body of Christ. The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed, in the hand, the choice lying with the communicant.
As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes the whole of it. If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. 284- 287 is to be followed.”