Saint Martha's strives to make Sunday liturgy a source of life and nourishment for our Christian life. This is where we gather as a community of faith to worship and express our love for God and one another. We do this with good liturgy and inspiring music bound together with prayerful ritual and well prepared ministers. From the Table of the Word to the Table of the Eucharist we try to bring the worshipping assembly closer to our God and one another.

The following guidelines are based on the norms for the reverent reception of Holy Communion at Mass contained in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal from the Holy See and in Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States issued by the American Bishops and confirmed by the Holy See.

 
How to receive Holy Communion
 
Stand up and step out of your pew to join in the Communion Procession.  Often an usher helps to oversee this process.
 
If you are not carrying a child in your arms or a hymnal or a cane in your hand, it is appropriate to join your hands in front of you in a prayerful position (traditionally over the heart) as you process forward.
 
Remain standing for the reception of Holy Communion.  This is the standard posture for receiving Communion in the United States.
 
As you approach the minister, bow your head slightly as a sign of reverence toward Our Lord in the Eucharist.  You may receive the Sacred Host either in your hand or on your tongue.  The choice is yours.  There should be nothing (gum or cough drop) in your mouth when you receive Holy Communion.
 
If you intend to receive the Sacred Host in your hand, extend both hands palm upwards toward the minister, placing one hand directly on top of the other.  You should do this as you approach the minister so that it is obvious to the minister that you wish to receive Communion in the hand.  Do not receive the Sacred Host in the hand by extending only one of your hands.  If you are carrying a child in your arms or a cane in your hands, you should receive the Sacred Host on the tongue.
 
The minister will hold the Sacred Host in front of you and say, "The Body of Christ."  You respond by saying, "Amen".  Do not substitute another expression for it such as "Thank you".  The minister in saying "The Body of Christ" and "The Blood of Christ" is making a declaration of faith about the nature of the Eucharist and the Church which you as the communicant must affirm with your "Amen" before you receive.  The word Amen from Hebrew meaning "Truly", or "Let it be so".
 
The minister will then place the Host on your open palm.  Do not attempt to grab the Host from the minister with your fingers.  Once the Host has been placed in your hand, immediately consume the Host in front of the minister.  You should pick up the Host from the palm of your hand with the fingers of your other hand and reverently place the Host in your mouth.  Do not begin walking back to your pew before consuming the Host, or carry the Host with the intention of dipping it into the Precious Blood. (The Lord said, take this cup and drink from it).
 
If you are going to receive the Sacred Host on your tongue, keep your hands joined over your heart, bow your head slightly as a sign of reverence toward Jesus in the Eucharist.  After the minister holds the Host in front of you and says the Body of Christ and your respond Amen, tilt your head backwards and extend your tongue far enough so there is no danger of the host falling to the floor.
 
If you wish to receive the Precious Blood the choice is yours - bow your head slightly as you approach the minister.  The minister will hold the chalice in front of you and say, "The Blood of Christ", to which you respond, "Amen".  The minister will then hand you the chalice.  Grasp the chalice firmly with both hands.  Take a small sip of the Precious Blood and hand the chalice back to the minister who will wipe its rim to prepare it for the next communicant.
 
After receiving Holy Communion, return reverently to your pew and either sit or kneel for your private prayers, or to make an act of thanksgiving for the gift of the Eucharist.