A Argument For Repealing Communion In The Hand.

[Ed Normile]

I was at mass today and the priest handed the Eucharist to a lady who then dropped it on the floor. I was disgusted. It was neither ones fault, just sort of a fumble, but totally disgusting all the same. And I bet you guys were expecting some deep dialogue backed with scriptural passages and dogmatic references. Sorry this was a real life experience, sadly.

ed

[AudreyGrace]

I've seen that happen too many times =/
I recently switched to receiving on the tongue out of reverence.
However, I've also seen the Eucharist get dropped when the person intended to receive on the tongue, too. =/

[Maximilianus]

A paten would help.

[Semper Catholic]

I'm sure God is outraged. The fumbler will surely burn for eternity. Does God have instant replay?

Edited January 17, 2011 by Semper Catholic

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1295249995' post='2200960']
A paten would help.
[/quote]
I really wish they'd use patens. I've had a couple of instances where I've seen slivers of the Host on the floor after Mass, and a time or two where the priest dropped the Host when I was receiving. All the priests at my parish have shaky hands, so it's bound to happen, but a paten would solve a lot of problems.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Ed Normile' timestamp='1295247718' post='2200952']
I was at mass today and the priest handed the Eucharist to a lady who then dropped it on the floor. I was disgusted. It was neither ones fault, just sort of a fumble, but totally disgusting all the same. And I bet you guys were expecting some deep dialogue backed with scriptural passages and dogmatic references. Sorry this was a real life experience, sadly.

ed
[/quote]
i've seen parents break the host in half and give half to their child (under the age of reason).

[Papist]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1295280718' post='2201002']
i've seen parents break the host in half and give half to their child (under the age of reason).
[/quote]

[color="black"][font="Arial"][size="2"]I witnessed that very same thing. A father gave a little piece to his toddler. I confronted the father after mass, which he denied it. [/size][/font][/color]

[color="black"][font="Arial"][size="2"]Receive on the tongue will also prevent people taking the Eucharist back to the pew,etc. I seen priest several times during communion track down someone who did not consume the Eucharist and made them consume or give the Host back. God bless those priests.[/size][/font][/color]

[font="Arial"][size="2"]However, there some EMs that have no idea how to minister the Euchariston the tongue. One guy practically shoved his hand down my throat. And I have seen another EM miss the mouth completely. Either tongue or hand, the training of EMs needs to be much more thorough. [/size][/font]

Edited January 17, 2011 by Papist

[Brother Adam]

I support ending the indult, especially in our political-ecclesial climate where there is virtually no reverence for our Eucharistic King, however this will have to start with our priests and bishops.

[IcePrincessKRS]

I wish they'd use patens more often, too. It won't solve all our problems (I've actually seen hosts hit the floor even with a paten) but it would certainly help. Especially in a parish like mine where we share our building with the protestants. I don't mind sharing, but I do mind that they wouldn't likely have the proper respect if they happened to find a dropped host on the floor somewhere. (Not out of deliberate disrespect, but out of ignorance.)

[BG45]

I always keep my hands cupped as I go back to kneel, just in case I have crumbs that need consumed. Last week was the first time I ever actually had any, and I was horrified as I tried to get them all so none of the Eucharist would fall on the floor...

[HisChildForever]

[quote name='BG45' timestamp='1295283520' post='2201014']
I always keep my hands cupped as I go back to kneel, just in case I have crumbs that need consumed. Last week was the first time I ever actually had any, and I was horrified as I tried to get them all so none of the Eucharist would fall on the floor...
[/quote]

If you receive on the tongue, you do not have to worry about cupping your hands.

[MIKolbe]

I would say if one wanted an argument for repealing Communion in the hand, the least possible opps factor may be the best one.

A long time ago, when I was young and played baseball, my coach used to tell use to hit the ball hard, no matter what. Well duh, yeah. He also said he would prefer ground balls to pop flies any time. When asked why, he said when you hit the ball on the ground, the other team has to field it right, throw it right, and then catch the thrown ball right; for us to be out. If we were to hit a pop up, then only have to catch it right for us to be out. Of course, I was 8 when he said this.

I can logically see the possibilty of less 'opps-eseses' if the Host goes from hand to mouth (pop up), rather than hand to hand to mouth (ground ball).

Granted, we are not a bunch of 8 year olds..(well most of us anyways), but I think perhaps the analogy is somewhat relevant.

[CatherineM]

During my brief stint as an EM, I saw a 12-13 year old girl drop the host as she buzzed past me. I immediately hopped off the step to grab it. My pastor said he saw me out of the corner of his eye, and thought I'd dropped the cup. I handed the host back to him, and he carried it majestically back up to the altar to put it on the corporal. He ingested it while he was doing his clean up after communion. He could have quietly popped it into his mouth when I handed it to him, but I think he wanted to make a statement. He also made me point out the girl to him after mass. He was pretty mad, so I felt bad about having to finger her, but it was important for her to understand the implications of what she did. I was terrified that someone was going to step on it.

Patens would be great, but you'd actually have to have a stable group of altar boys who knew what they were doing. I remember as a kid watching one of my brothers accidentally uppercut someone with a paten. We had those long handled ones back then, and he almost knocked the man out cold.

[Ed Normile]

[quote name='MIkolbe' timestamp='1295287495' post='2201032']
I would say if one wanted an argument for repealing Communion in the hand, the least possible opps factor may be the best one.

A long time ago, when I was young and played baseball, my coach used to tell use to hit the ball hard, no matter what. Well duh, yeah. He also said he would prefer ground balls to pop flies any time. When asked why, he said when you hit the ball on the ground, the other team has to field it right, throw it right, and then catch the thrown ball right; for us to be out. If we were to hit a pop up, then only have to catch it right for us to be out. Of course, I was 8 when he said this.

I can logically see the possibilty of less 'opps-eseses' if the Host goes from hand to mouth (pop up), rather than hand to hand to mouth (ground ball).

Granted, we are not a bunch of 8 year olds..(well most of us anyways), but I think perhaps the analogy is somewhat relevant.
[/quote]

Thats actually how it happened, the aged Priest placed the Eucharist in the womans hand then she went to place it in he mouth and dropped it. The woman stepped back, she was obviously embarrassed and the old priest had to bend down to pick it up, I thought he was going to tumble and drop the rest of the sacrifice, but he recovered well. If the reception of the Sacrament had not changed, we still received on the tongue, a male assistant with a paten held underneath your chin I think there would be less of this type of incident occuring, possibly none.

ed

[Ed Normile]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1295288930' post='2201051']
During my brief stint as an EM, I saw a 12-13 year old girl drop the host as she buzzed past me. I immediately hopped off the step to grab it. My pastor said he saw me out of the corner of his eye, and thought I'd dropped the cup. I handed the host back to him, and he carried it majestically back up to the altar to put it on the corporal. He ingested it while he was doing his clean up after communion. He could have quietly popped it into his mouth when I handed it to him, but I think he wanted to make a statement. He also made me point out the girl to him after mass. He was pretty mad, so I felt bad about having to finger her, but it was important for her to understand the implications of what she did. I was terrified that someone was going to step on it.

[b]Patens would be great, but you'd actually have to have a stable group of altar boys who knew what they were doing. I remember as a kid watching one of my brothers accidentally uppercut someone with a paten. We had those long handled ones back then, and he almost knocked the man out cold.
[/b][/quote]


Actually with the old traditional altar communion rail there would only be one altar boy and one priest needed, and it would be much faster than the whole EMHC mess. There would be no need for the EMHC's to assemble on the altar and then each be served by the priest, and the Sacrament to be divided into seperate chalices, and of course it would eliminate those who jump from the line being serviced by the EMHC to get into the priests line, something I have seen a bunch. I remeber the communion rail, maybe 35-40 people approach and kneel, the priest move along and distribute communion, very fast and efficient, very reverant, and even if the host should fall, it would not be on the floor where parishioners walk, it would be on the reserved area where only the priest and altar boys walk, no chance of it getting stepped on by a parishioner.

ed