I approach for Communion with the palms of my hands together, which gives the Minister sufficient clue that I intend to receive on the tongue. I respond Amen and open my mouth. Works every time.
I understand, and, yes...it can of course be done. What I’m saying is that in the Extraordinary Form, one can kneel at the altar rail, and prepare one’s mouth for reception as the priest approaches. In the Ordinary Form, even at an altar rail, which is used where I attend Mass, one must reply “Amen,” and then open one’s mouth, which is just a bit more awkward, and slows down the process, as well.
I understand what the designers of the new Mass were trying to do with the response, but I think that they clearly had in mind that people would be receiving in the hand.
As a Lay Eucharistic Minister, in the side aisles, I will say — the people who come up to receive are SO reverential. I sometimes get choked up. It moves me, every time.