“The first time someone urged me to receive Holy Communion on the tongue was in 2011 or 2012. I was an altar server, and the priest who offered Mass said that I couldn’t serve with him unless I received on the tongue. When I pointed out that Rome allows U.S. Catholics to receive on the hand, he said that was correct — but I still had to receive on the tongue.

“As a germ-averse person, I found this disgusting. But I wanted to serve, so I received on the tongue and tried not to wince. Months later … continued here