At the traditional Mass, communion is received on the tongue while kneeling at the altar rail. Communion is never received in the hand at this form of the Mass. If you are unable to kneel, you may stand at the altar rail; if you are in a wheelchair, please come forward if you are able, or try to notify one of the priests or servers before Mass starts, so that arrangements can be made for communion to be brought to you. When receiving, yout hands should be kept down and away from your chin so that the paten can be placed beneath it. Your head should be tilted back slightly and the mouth opened with the tongue extended a little. Do not say ‘Amen’ when the priest pronounces the words ‘Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam æternam. Amen’.  Keep still. The Priest will place the Sacred Host directly on the tongue. After a brief moment you may rise and return to the pew.

If you have not received the Blessed Sacrament on the tongue before, do not be nervous: the priest has administered communion in this way thousands of times. Receiving on the tongue is a powerful sign that it is Christ who comes to us in communion, not we who ‘go to get Him’. It also ensures that only the ritually cleansed hands of the priest and the sacred vessels come in contact with the consecrated Host before we receive Christ in communion.