When I moved to the US, the first thing I noticed was people receiving Jesus on their hand. This is not a thing in Mexico, and I still can't bring myself to receive that way. But like you said, both can be done very reverently and our disposition is of the utmost importance.
Taking four children with us to receive communion has its challenges. I try to dispose myself by thanking God for allowing me to receive him, for being there with my wife and children, and if I'm very distracted, the Jesus prayer helps me get in the right disposition. When we go back to the pew, the kids know Mass is almost over, they start acting as if they can smell the donuts in the hall, and what has helped me do a better prayer of thanksgiving after receiving is just being the most loving with them, hugging them, telling them I love them, because Jesus is in me, he is close to my children as well. I ask them to pray for me and their mom, and that usually gives me enough time to just remain in silence and try and receive as much grace from the sacrament as I can.
Wild! I didn't know it wasn't common custom in Mexico. Receiving in the hand is the way that I was taught in school, and although there was some minor nod to "reverence" and "making a throne with your hand" there was certainly no instruction in the significance of the posture (which Carstens touches on in the book). I started receiving on the tongue out of guilt, more than anything else, but the Lord offered me a lot of healing in that area and now I can't imagine any other option. Our parish put in a communion rail a year or two ago, so our "standard" is kneeling + on the tongue, although plenty of people still stand/receive on the hand.
This is getting WAY into the weeds, but I think there's also a lot that can be done "on the altar" to increase reverence--think altar servers in cassocks with plates to catch dropped particles--that can be used with any posture that will serve as that visual reminder to people... anyway I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but once I get started it's hard to stop me LOL.
"They start acting as if they can smell the donuts in the hall" is TOO REAL our 2.5yo will always ask me if we're going to get a muffin or a boba after Mass. I love that you invite them into prayer in a way that (ideally, we all know it's not 100% of the time!) also gives you some time and space for personal prayer. What a beautiful witness to them. James and I usually say a rosary on the way to Mass, and I really wish I were more intentional about using that prayer time to help shape my disposition and my intentions for Mass... I'm usually just distracted and not even by the kids, just by my own thoughts -_-
I found you thru Tish! Hello! 🤗What a lovely series you're writing. Thank you for being so vulnerable as to share.
A couple of years ago, I learned that in Eastern Catholic traditions, genuflecting or kneeling is not part of the tradition. Instead of doing so for their equivalent of the liturgy of the Eucharist, they stand. A Maronite priest once explained to my coworker; in their culture, the only people who knelt were slaves, and Jesus said at the Last Supper "I no longer call you slaves but friends," this is this is one of the reasons they stand. It shows a readiness at His coming. I plan to write about this sometime in the future, but this has helped me greatly due to my physical obstacles. Anyway, I wanted to chip that into the conversation. Peace!
Angela, I love this perspective! Thank you so much for sharing—it’s beautiful to hear how the faith has developed around the world, and how we can continue to learn from one another!
I really loved Carsten's comment on how the last bite doesn't end a family dinner - mostly because that's a struggle in my family right now! I certainly grew up "people watching" more than anything else after communion, but now always try to pray through the hymns or songs that are being sung.
I have a set of prayers I’ve come up with over the years that I always repeat before reception. 1. “Blessed Virgin Mary prepare my mind, heart, body, and soul to receive your son, you prepared yourself to receive him into your womb, with perfect humility, willing to give me fiat wherever and however it is asked of me.”
2. “Holy Spirit, come down upon me and find a way in the hardest (most broken, most selfish, most prideful-changes depending on what I’m struggling with) places of my heart and prepare the way of the Lord, that we may be created anew in this most wonderful of sacraments.
3. St Joseph pray for us, that we may receive your adopted son as willingly into our daily lives as you received him into yours, that all that we do might be sanctified by his presence.
4. St. Peter pray for us, that when we deny or betray our lord as you did, that we may, like you, cast ourselves upon his mercy and allow ourselves to be transformed into the saints he has called us to be.
I usually then start asking family/name saints for prayers until I receive. With little kids right now it’s easy to get distracted at mass, but having these quick prayers I’ve said for years can help me focus even when I’m stopping my toddler from launching herself off the pew. And I love your point about the simplicity of little kids, I will always remember when my son said (screamed) into the silence after “Lord I am not worthy” “GET JESUUUUUUS!” I was embarrassed at first, but realized his enthusiasm for and simple belief in the Eucharist was something I could well learn from.
This is beautiful, and the GET JESUS is just absolutely precious. Thank you for sharing! My daughter one time walked herself up and down the side aisle saying "Jesus booty" so you're definitely not alone in the silly toddler Mass moments!
Thank you very much for saying so. And oh my goodness that’s too funny. I want someone to compile a book of weird things kids have said at mass-I think all parents could use the laugh/reminder it’s not just them!
A lovely read as always! I am so excited for RCIA in the fall and long for next Easter to be able to receive this most blessed sacrament. I have so much joy each week just seeing others participate and am happy to know my time is coming.
We repeat the phrase from the Roman centurion (not sure if it has an official title??) three times with the Ordinariate, and I miss that repetition when we attend other masses as well. Hadn't even thought of it before, but that's one of the differences that sticks out the most to me when we go back and forth between services. Not sure why, but it's interesting to see you mention it as well!
When I moved to the US, the first thing I noticed was people receiving Jesus on their hand. This is not a thing in Mexico, and I still can't bring myself to receive that way. But like you said, both can be done very reverently and our disposition is of the utmost importance.
Taking four children with us to receive communion has its challenges. I try to dispose myself by thanking God for allowing me to receive him, for being there with my wife and children, and if I'm very distracted, the Jesus prayer helps me get in the right disposition. When we go back to the pew, the kids know Mass is almost over, they start acting as if they can smell the donuts in the hall, and what has helped me do a better prayer of thanksgiving after receiving is just being the most loving with them, hugging them, telling them I love them, because Jesus is in me, he is close to my children as well. I ask them to pray for me and their mom, and that usually gives me enough time to just remain in silence and try and receive as much grace from the sacrament as I can.
Wild! I didn't know it wasn't common custom in Mexico. Receiving in the hand is the way that I was taught in school, and although there was some minor nod to "reverence" and "making a throne with your hand" there was certainly no instruction in the significance of the posture (which Carstens touches on in the book). I started receiving on the tongue out of guilt, more than anything else, but the Lord offered me a lot of healing in that area and now I can't imagine any other option. Our parish put in a communion rail a year or two ago, so our "standard" is kneeling + on the tongue, although plenty of people still stand/receive on the hand.
This is getting WAY into the weeds, but I think there's also a lot that can be done "on the altar" to increase reverence--think altar servers in cassocks with plates to catch dropped particles--that can be used with any posture that will serve as that visual reminder to people... anyway I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but once I get started it's hard to stop me LOL.
"They start acting as if they can smell the donuts in the hall" is TOO REAL our 2.5yo will always ask me if we're going to get a muffin or a boba after Mass. I love that you invite them into prayer in a way that (ideally, we all know it's not 100% of the time!) also gives you some time and space for personal prayer. What a beautiful witness to them. James and I usually say a rosary on the way to Mass, and I really wish I were more intentional about using that prayer time to help shape my disposition and my intentions for Mass... I'm usually just distracted and not even by the kids, just by my own thoughts -_-
I have a habit of praying the Anima Christi after receiving. I highly recommend it.
Excellent article Sara!
Thank you! The Anima Christi is such a rich prayer, especially after Communion!
I found you thru Tish! Hello! 🤗What a lovely series you're writing. Thank you for being so vulnerable as to share.
A couple of years ago, I learned that in Eastern Catholic traditions, genuflecting or kneeling is not part of the tradition. Instead of doing so for their equivalent of the liturgy of the Eucharist, they stand. A Maronite priest once explained to my coworker; in their culture, the only people who knelt were slaves, and Jesus said at the Last Supper "I no longer call you slaves but friends," this is this is one of the reasons they stand. It shows a readiness at His coming. I plan to write about this sometime in the future, but this has helped me greatly due to my physical obstacles. Anyway, I wanted to chip that into the conversation. Peace!
Angela, I love this perspective! Thank you so much for sharing—it’s beautiful to hear how the faith has developed around the world, and how we can continue to learn from one another!
I really loved Carsten's comment on how the last bite doesn't end a family dinner - mostly because that's a struggle in my family right now! I certainly grew up "people watching" more than anything else after communion, but now always try to pray through the hymns or songs that are being sung.
I have a set of prayers I’ve come up with over the years that I always repeat before reception. 1. “Blessed Virgin Mary prepare my mind, heart, body, and soul to receive your son, you prepared yourself to receive him into your womb, with perfect humility, willing to give me fiat wherever and however it is asked of me.”
2. “Holy Spirit, come down upon me and find a way in the hardest (most broken, most selfish, most prideful-changes depending on what I’m struggling with) places of my heart and prepare the way of the Lord, that we may be created anew in this most wonderful of sacraments.
3. St Joseph pray for us, that we may receive your adopted son as willingly into our daily lives as you received him into yours, that all that we do might be sanctified by his presence.
4. St. Peter pray for us, that when we deny or betray our lord as you did, that we may, like you, cast ourselves upon his mercy and allow ourselves to be transformed into the saints he has called us to be.
I usually then start asking family/name saints for prayers until I receive. With little kids right now it’s easy to get distracted at mass, but having these quick prayers I’ve said for years can help me focus even when I’m stopping my toddler from launching herself off the pew. And I love your point about the simplicity of little kids, I will always remember when my son said (screamed) into the silence after “Lord I am not worthy” “GET JESUUUUUUS!” I was embarrassed at first, but realized his enthusiasm for and simple belief in the Eucharist was something I could well learn from.
This is beautiful, and the GET JESUS is just absolutely precious. Thank you for sharing! My daughter one time walked herself up and down the side aisle saying "Jesus booty" so you're definitely not alone in the silly toddler Mass moments!
Thank you very much for saying so. And oh my goodness that’s too funny. I want someone to compile a book of weird things kids have said at mass-I think all parents could use the laugh/reminder it’s not just them!
A lovely read as always! I am so excited for RCIA in the fall and long for next Easter to be able to receive this most blessed sacrament. I have so much joy each week just seeing others participate and am happy to know my time is coming.
We repeat the phrase from the Roman centurion (not sure if it has an official title??) three times with the Ordinariate, and I miss that repetition when we attend other masses as well. Hadn't even thought of it before, but that's one of the differences that sticks out the most to me when we go back and forth between services. Not sure why, but it's interesting to see you mention it as well!
Also House of Joppa has a lovely edition of The Way of Divine Love for anyone interested: https://www.houseofjoppa.com/products/the-way-of-divine-love
James always refers to it as the "Domine non sum dignus" which is just the first few words in Latin... but that's clunky.
And yes, it's one of the things I miss most about attending Mass at the Ordinariate regularly *crying face*
Thanks for this link! I know a few people who might be interested in this--I'll have to pass it on!