Prepare yourself to receive the Body of Christ by opening your heart to the Lord and
building a reverence for the Sacrament. A person should be in the state of grace before approaching the Eucharist. He or she should fast from food and drink for one
hour before the time of actually receiving communion in church (15 minutes for the
sick at home). However, water may be consumed at any time without breaking the fast.
Approach the altar and put out your hands to receive the Host. Hold your hands as
Cyril of Jerusalem described in the 4th century: "...do not go stretching out your open
hands or having fingers spread out, but make...a throne...which shall receive the King."
When the priest, deacon or eucharistic minister says, "The Body of Christ" or "The
Blood of Christ", you should answer clearly with the affirmation, "Amen".
If you are to receive in the hand, both hands should be extended in front of the waist,
palms up, with the left hand on top of the right (left-handers may prefer to have the
right hand on top). The minister will then place the Host in the palm of the topmost
hand so that you can take the Host with the other hand and place it in your mouth. This
should be done while you are still standing in front of the minister. After consuming
the Host, step to the side, make the sign of the cross, and return to your place.
If you wish to receive on the tongue, please do not extend your hands. This can
confuse the minister. Instead, open your mouth widely and stick out your tongue.
Please do not close your lips or teeth until the minister's fingers are out of the way.
In receiving from the cup, take the cup from the minister and take a small sip of the
Precious Blood. The minister should not be asked to hold the cup for you since he or
she cannot see the level of the fluid.
Do not intinct (that is, do not take a Host and dip it in the cup).
For the protection of others, please do not take communion from the cup if you are ill.
If you do not wish to receive communion, you can come before the
minister of Communion with your arms crossed in front of your chest.
The minister will then give you a blessing instead of communion.