Do we "receive" the Eucharist or "take" it?
The short answer
Both are correct. Christ told his disciples to "take" his body and cup (cf. Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-23), so "take" is not wrong. Catholic piety has favored "receive" to stress that Communion is Christ's gift.
In the accounts of the institution of the Eucharist, Christ tells his disciples to "take" his body and the cup of his blood (cf. Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-23). Saying we "take" Communion is therefore not wrong.
Traditional Catholic piety has nonetheless preferred "receive," to emphasize that Communion is Christ's gift to each Catholic. Both words are correct.
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