Q&A for How to Take Communion in the Catholic Church

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Question

Do I take the Host in the right hand first?

Community Answer

Your left hand should be over the right when you choose to receive it in your hands.

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Question

Will I drink the blood of Christ for the first time at my Confirmation?

Community Answer

No, you can receive the blood of Christ as soon as you make your first Communion.

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Question

What seat do I take after taking communion?

Community Answer

Your original seat. However, you should not sit after communion; you should kneel, pray, and reflect until the priest is finished serving everyone.

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Question

What do I say to the priest when he gives me Communion?

Community Answer

You say "Amen". You don't need to say it loudly, though.

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Question

Is it correct for the priest tol leave the host and wine on the altar and allow the public to get up and help themselves to the host, then dip the host in the wine walk back to their seats?

Community Answer

No, it isn't right for the priest to leave the host on the altar. The Eucharist should only be distributed by a priest or a deacon or an extraordinary minister.

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Question

What will happen if I go for the Eucharist in the state of mortal sin?

Community Answer

By receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin, you commit a sacrilege against the Body and Blood of Christ. A sacrilege is deliberately defiling the Eucharist, or anything holy, like a Rosary. A sacrilege is definitely a mortal sin and you must go to Confession as soon as possible.

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Question

Is it important for you to receive the body and blood of Christ?

Community Answer

If you are Catholic, receiving the body and blood of Christ is a very important part of the faith.

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Question

Can I still be blessed if I am not receiving communion?

Community Answer

Yes. Place your crossed hands over your chest in the communion line, and when you get to the priest he will bless you.

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Question

Should I wash my hands immediately before accepting the host?

Community Answer

No, but it's the polite (and sanitary) thing to do to wash your hands ahead of time after you've touched anything dirty or unsanitary.

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Question

Is it wrong to take the host back to the pew and eat it there?

Community Answer

Yes, it is. The host should be consumed right after it is placed on your hand, while you are facing the alter, before you turn to leave.

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Question

Is it wrong to break the Sacred Host before putting it in the mouth?

Community Answer

Yes, this can be seen as sacrilegious. You should not break the host before putting it in your mouth. Some people also believe that you shouldn't chew the host, but rather let it dissolve.

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Question

What do I sat upon receiving the host at Communion?

Community Answer

The priest will raise the host and say "The body of Christ". You will then respond with "Amen".

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Question

How do I make the sign of the cross?

Community Answer

Using your right hand, you touch your forehead, then around your sternum area, then your left shoulder, then your right shoulder.

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Question

What do I say when receiving ash?

Community Answer

You don't say anything. Whoever is giving out the ashes will say,"Repent and believe in the Gospel." After that, you just walk away.

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Question

How many times can I take communion within a day?

Community Answer

Twice in a day. This was changed through Canon Law recently. You can receive the Eucharist every day, a maximum of twice a day.

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Question

How many times are you supposed to receive communion in a year?

Community Answer

The Church obliges all Catholics to go to mass every Sunday, under penalty of mortal sin. You don't have to receive communion every Sunday but you should be receiving it most of those times that you go to mass.

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Question

What if I wish not to receive the blood (wine)?

Community Answer

As Catholics, we truly believe that Christ is fully present under both species of Bread and Wine, and that both have been transformed into Christ's Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Thus, you are still receiving the whole of Christ, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, if you just receive the host.

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Question

If receiving Communion in the hands, can I put the host into my mouth once I reach my seat instead of immediately when it is placed in my hands?

Community Answer

Typically, you should put the host in your mouth as soon as it is received. Alternatively, you can have the host placed on your tongue rather than in your hand.

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Question

Will God love my deceased homosexual son?

Community Answer

Yes, of course he will. God loves everyone, including homosexuals. It isn't a choice; your son was made that way by God. To Him, your son was perfect.

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Question

When I was a child getting ready to make my first communion, I was told the host wasn't supposed to touch my teeth. Was this because they didn't want us to forget and chew it, or actually true?

Community Answer

It doesn't matter if the host touches your teeth or not. In fact, it's acceptable to chew the host now too. As long as you aren't being disrespectful to the Eucharist while chewing the host (e.g. chewing with your mouth open) I would say that it's totally fine.

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Question

I've always received holy communion without drinking from the chalice. Is this a sin?

Community Answer

It is not a sin to receive holy communion without drinking from the chalice. The holy communion can be received in either form, under the species of bread or under the species of wine. In either case, it is the Body and Blood of Christ. It is only a sin if you receive communion in the state of mortal sin without confession.

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Question

Will the Catholic Church ever change the way the host is received by the hands?

Community Answer

I doubt they will do this. However, it has been done in the past (like in the case of an Ebola outbreak), so it's possible.

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Question

Is it bad if I always receive communion every Sunday?

Community Answer

It is very good, but make sure you have done confession before you receive as receiving communion with impurity or sin is a sin called sacrilege as you are receiving the physical body of Christ.

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Question

After receiving and saying Amen, do I make the sign of the cross?

Community Answer

No. Just follow the guidelines in the article.

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Question

Is there a prayer to be said after communion?

Community Answer

Most people say a short prayer asking for forgiveness for their sins and thanking God for their blessings.

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Question

I have not been to confession or been baptized yet. What do I do when it comes time for communion?

Community Answer

You can accept the body and blood of Christ and welcome Jesus spiritually, but not physically. You can still line up, but instead ask to be blessed and not be given the body and blood of Christ. Most importantly, speak with your priest in regards to being baptized, going to confession, and preparing for your first communion.

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Question

How often can a Catholic receive communion?

Community Answer

Twice in a day. This was changed through Canon Law recently. You can receive the Eucharist every day, a maximum of twice a day.

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Question

May I receive communion twice in one day, morning mass and then later at a funeral mass?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as you are attending two different masses.

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Question

What is the new hymn being sung in Latin just before communion?

Community Answer

"Agnus Dei." It is Latin for "Lamb of God."

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Question

Is it okay to just receive the host and choose not to take the wine?

Haley Cope

Top Answerer

That is fine. When you receive the Host you receive the entire Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus.

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