How to prepare to receive Holy Communion: We make preparation to receive Jesus in Holy Communion through our hearts, minds, and actions. Receiving Communion with proper preparedness supposes the following:
1) Being Catholic with the realization of who we are receiving—Jesus Christ
2) A realization of why the Savior instituted Holy Communion: His desire to be with us; His longing for intimate union with our souls; His keen perception of our needs and His power to fulfill those needs; His eager longing to share our exile and solve our problems; His desire to be loved in return.
3) Being free of all mortal/serious sin
4) Fasting from food and drink at least one hour before receiving (water and medicine are exceptions)
5) Showing reverence for the Eucharist in Church through modest and dignified attire, through one’s actions as in genuflecting, kneeling, bowing, most especially at the moment of receiving Jesus
The key to best preparation is to ponder the holy moment one receives Jesus hours (or even days) in advance!
How to receive Communion: The Church offers two ways to receive Holy Communion: on the tongue or in the hand. One can do so standing, but kneeling is also accepted. Under either way, before receiving Communion, when the minister says “The Body (or blood) of Christ”, say “Amen” audibly (which means: “I believe”). Then consume the Sacred Host immediately. If you ever see an individual who does not consume the Host immediately, please kindly approach the person and ask him or her to consume Jesus.
On the tongue: Tilt head slightly back, open one’s mouth and extend one’s tongue to the lower lip and remain still.
In the hand: If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first be clean. If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. The host will then be laid in the palm of the left hand and then taken by the right hand to the mouth. The reverse occurs if left-handed. It is not appropriate to reach out and grab with the fingers the Sacred Host from the person distributing, for we do not take from the Lord but receive. If both hands are not free, one should receive on the tongue. After receiving, check the palm of one’s hand for any particles because the smallest particles remain Jesus. St. Cyril in the 4th century told those who received in the hand to “be careful that no particles fall...Tell me, if anybody had given you gold dust, would you not hold fast to it with all care, and watch lest some of it fall and be lost to you? Must you not then be even more careful with that which is more precious than gold and diamonds, so that no particles are lost?"
How to Make Thanksgiving after Communion: Talk to Jesus simply and from your heart as you would to a person whom you greatly trust and who hangs on every word you say. The following are guiding points to a conversation you can have with Jesus as He dwells within you:
1) Thank Jesus for three things
2) Express sorrow for three things
3) Ask the Savior for three things/favors
4) Talk three things over with Him
5) Promise Him three things