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Show THE HOLY EUCHARIST. Here's a bit of advice from a priest writing in "The Victorian." that may be of practical help to those whose instructions for this important duty were deficient when they made their first Holy Communion Com-munion : "The hands, face and clothing should be scrupulously scru-pulously clean. Also it is eminently proper to cleanse the teeth at least the night before. "Devout Catholics always approach and return from the Communion rail with the hands reverently joined. When the priest approaches with the Blessed Sacrament one's hcaVl should be well lifted and held as motionless as possible, the eyes closed and the tongue extended moderately over the lower lip. "Remember that the priest does not wish to touch the lips or tongue of anyone wth his fingers, and it is only by following the foregoing suggestions sugges-tions rigidly that this can be successfully avoided. If you are by temperament nervous the closing of the eyes is the only solution. "Do not drop the head forward immediately after af-ter receiving; there is danger of striking the cibor-ium cibor-ium from the priest's hands, and. at the very least, if you are a woman, your hat will brush against the vestments. "Should there be but a few receiving Holy Communion, Com-munion, or should you be among the last of many, invariably kneel as near the center of tbe altar rail as possible. Do not insist upon the priest walking walk-ing the full length of the sanctuary for your special convenience. -"If you are going to Communion go. Do not wait until the priest has practically finished distributing distri-buting the Sacred Species and then start from your place, keeping him waiting for your arrival and unnecessarily un-necessarily delaying the service. "Do not request a priest to give you Holy Communion Com-munion apart from Mass time, unless it is of signal importance that he should do so. "The hands should be joined reverently and resting rest-ing on the rail not lifted beneath the chin, unless of course, a communion cloth, not a card or plate, be used. "Should the Sacred Host adhere to the palate, moisten with the'tongue and swallow. Never under any circumstances touch with the fingers. "It is a recognized custom that after having approached ap-proached the sacred table you should remain in the church at least fifteen minutes after Mass is ended to make your thanksgiving. "Upon returning home, it is suitable that a glass of water be the first food or drink to cros3 your lips. "These suggestions are eminently practical and are drawn from the long experience of the priest who makes them. We trust that our people will cheerfully put them into practice, and so contribute to the convenience of the priest and the congregation congrega-tion as well as to the reverence which is due our divine Savior in His Sacramental Presence." |