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Our words and actions are important throughout the liturgy. In the upcoming months we will be exploring the liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer at the Adult Forum. As well, we will be featuring a short piece in the Sunday bulletin and in the Friday announcements.
How to receive the Eucharist in the Anglican Tradition
The first reminder for us to consider is the correct way of receiving the Body and Blood in the bread and wine. What we are receiving in the Sacrament is sacred, it is the Real Presence of Christ. In order to protect the sanctity of the Sacrament, we have to consider the proper way to receive the Eucharist.
1. It is customary that when one leaves the pew, to genuflect or bow. This reminds us that what we are about to do is sacred. And we approach the altar quietly and reverently.
2. Once at the altar rail we are reminded that the sanctuary is a special and holy place which is different from the rest of the church building. The communicant kneels in reverence to receive the Body and Blood of Christ (it is also appropriate to stand to receive communion if a person is unable to kneel).
3. Receiving the Body of Christ, the priest will hold up the Host over the communicant and say, “The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven” at this point the communicate answers, “AMEN.” “Amen is an Aramaic word that means, “So be it” or “I agree” or “I believe.” By saying “Amen” to the priest’s words, the communicant is saying that he or she believes that this is the Body of Christ.
There are two ways in which a person can receive the Body of Christ – either in the hand or on the tongue. If a person is to receive in the hand, the communicant should extend his or her hands at head level with one hand slightly cupped, but remaining open over the other hand (traditionally this has been the right hand cupped over the left hand.) Think about making a “throne for the Lord” to be placed. St Cyril of Jerusalem in the 4th century wrote: “When you approach, do not go stretching out your open hands or having your fingers spread out, but make the left hand into a throne for the right which shall receive the King.”
After the priest places the host on the hand, leave host in the open hand, say Amen, and lift the host to one’s mouth. Anglicans do not pick up the host with their fingers, unless it is physically impossible to receive in any other way. If a person wishes to receive on the tongue, the head should be bent slightly back. The tongue should come out over the bottom teeth, equal with the bottom lip, so that the priest has some place to put the Host. Then open the mouth as wide as possible by lowering the lower jaw.
4.Receiving the Blood of Christ, the minister will hold the chalice in front of the communicant and say, “The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.” and the communicant responds “AMEN” (just like when the communicant received the Sacred Host). The communicant should help guide the chalice to his or her lips by raising the bottom of the chalice. Once the communicant has received the Blood, he or she should begin to lower the hand holding the bottom of the chalice. This will help the minister know when the communicant has received the Sacrament. In the Anglican tradition the communicant does not take the chalice by himself or herself when receiving the Blood.
5. Intinction, means to dip. Some prefer to receive the Host and wine together. The proper way to receive by intinction is to leave the Host in one’s open hand. Do not pick up the Host and hand it to the minister. The minister will take the Host from the person’s hand and dip it in the chalice and place it on the communicant’s tongue saying: The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life” and the communicant responds “AMEN” The communicant does not dip the Host into the chalice himself or herself. Intinction is viewed as a mode of communication to be used in cases of communicable diseases, infirmity, etc. As well, fewer germs are spread when the minister is the person who dips the host in the chalice.
6. After returning to the pew, it is appropriate to either sit or kneel and in silent prayer to thank God for the gift of his Son in the Most Holy Sacrament.
7. It is appropriate for the communicant to make the sign of the cross after receiving each element in the Eucharist in symbolic recognition that he or she has just received the Body and Blood of Christ.
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