As Masses were scheduled later in the day or on Saturday evenings, Sister Ann explained, people would have to fast longer and longer, so many just stopped receiving Communion. The fast was shortened to encourage them to return. At Mass, a lot of Catholics make a beeline for their seats after receiving Communion only in the form of bread. But since Christ told us to eat and drink, said Sister Ann, we should receive both the bread and wine. I just get in line.
People are in different places in their lives.
Singing is a good way to prepare for the Eucharist, but the experts warned that people can get wrapped up in just singing the words to a Communion hymn instead of thinking of them as a prayer. We are members of the body of Christ who come to receive the body of Christ. Staying around Father Reese believes that the high value Americans place on individualism has led many Catholics to duck out of church right after Communion. That isn't what the Eucharist is about. It's about sharing Christ as community.