I was MORTIFIED at church this morning

[Mic]

As I went to intinct (as I always do...the shared cup gives me the creeps) the wafer broke, and a large chunk FELL into the wine!

I didn't know what to do...so I pretended nothing happened, and made my way back to my seat.

Did I handle the situation properly? I'm sure it's not right to stick my finger into the wine to fish the wafer out...

What should I have done?

:confused:

[PaladinValer]

You probably did the right thing (although I'm sure the priest was suprised to receive a second Host for Communion! ;)), although I'd suggest perhaps partaking right from the chalice for now on.

[Andy Broadley]

I have a feeling that Jesus would view that in the same way as picking ears of corn on the Sabbath

[romaneagle13]

Well, at least the Host didn't fall on the floor. That happened to me in the Catholic church onc--the Eucharistic Minister placed the host on the edge of my hand and not in the center of the palm, it slipped before I could grab it. That's mortification! And in the Episcopal, I once was kneeling at the rail and after the priest walked by, he was giving the bread to the next person and his sleeve brushed the little plate in his hand and knocked a host to the floor. I saw it but could not reach it. I just looked imploringly at the chalice bearer and then at the floor, and thankfully he caught my drift, saw the host and picked it up and silently consumed it before anyone had a chance to step on it.

[AveMaria]

Yet another reason why I never intinct (If I'm worried I'm coming down sick, I abstain from the Blood of Christ).

I did, however, once have a host dropped down the bodice of a rather unattractive bridesmaid dress and wedge itself in my cleavage. Not sure who was more embarassed, me or the Father.

[Father Rick]

The correct thing to do is.....







Exactly what you did.

While you may not realize it, there is always a small piece of the host put in the wine by the priest once it is broken-- along with a silent prayer "May this mingling of the Body and Blood of Christ..." So the priest is accustomed to their being a piece of the host in the wine when the extra is consumed as the altar is cleared.




Now, mortified is a good description of how I felt when my 'dropped the Eucharist' horror story happened. The one wedding I did on the beach happened to be the day a hurricane hit Florida (back in September). It was a small wedding, with only a dozen or so total there, so I put the hosts on the paten to consecrate rather than in the ciborium. After consecrating them, I moved around in front of the altar carrying the paten-- just as a hurricane force wind hit-- sending consecrated hosts flying off the paten and into the sand. No one noticed but me (amazingly!), so I finished serving everyone-- finished the mass-- then crawled around in the sand with the groom (a former altar boy) collecting and consuming the missing hosts, which were more than a little gritty!

[benedictine]

Fr. Rick, that must have been mortifying. Once, my brother dropped the host, and the priest consumed it and gave him another. We had an ELCA pastor visit once through CCM, and he dropped a host on the altar, and I was servign as the acolyte, I just slipped over, and consumed it. Another time, I spilled a little of the blood. THAT was scary.

[Father Rick]

Yet another reason why I never intinct (If I'm worried I'm coming down sick, I abstain from the Blood of Christ).
FYI... while I appreciate your courtesy here.... there has NEVER been a single instance of someone catching any sickness from partaking of Eucharist.

1. From a strictly natural standpoint, the alcohol in the wine would kill any germs anyway-- even if it weren't the Blood of Christ.


2. And for anyone who may think it 'safer' to intinct than to drink from the cup, there are more germs on your hands than in your mouth-- so those who intinct, by accidently touching the wine (which happens--trust me!), actually serve to put more germs than those who drink. But on that note-- see # 1 above.

[PaladinValer]

The Blood of Christ is truly amazing. It gives Grace and it kills germs all in one sip! :clap:

[InnerPhyre]

Doesn't intinction cause a problem of the Blood spilling from the dripping host on the way to the mouth?

[RobNJ]

Well, I always say that anyone who THINKS they got sick from communing...should consider it a sign from above!!;)

I always intinct..everytime I try to drink out of the chalice, with THIS mustache, while kneeling.......:doh:

[RobNJ]

Doesn't intinction cause a problem of the Blood spilling from the dripping host on the way to the mouth?

In the church I attend, the person with the chalice takes the host frm your hand, dips it in the wine, and puts it in your mouth.....While holding the chalice about an inch below your chin..nothing get's away!!;)

[InnerPhyre]

Ah ok thanks. I'm completely unfamiliar with the process.

[Father Rick]

Doesn't intinction cause a problem of the Blood spilling from the dripping host on the way to the mouth?I've never seen it drip--- although there were a couple of times I thought it might.

Personally, I try to get people who want to intinct to touch the host to the inside side of the cup after they have dipped it, so that any 'excess' that might drip would stay inside the cup. But not everyone has had the "Father Rick's How-to-Dip 101" class.

[PaladinValer]

I used to intinct and when I did, I dunked and then "bobbed" the Host above the chalice quickly to expel any Blood back into the chalice. I then partook as normal.

I really like the traditional way now; not as much worry :)

[Mic]

Thanks for making me feel less embarassed, everyone. Indeed, I AM very glad I didn't drop the host.

Even without the threat of germs, the idea of a shared cup just gives me the heebie-jeebies. Perhaps, from now on, I'll just pass by the Blood of Christ, at least I can get over my heebie-jeebie-ness.

Mic

[fdrennen]

I understand that it is proper to hold the host and the chalice bearer should "dip" the wafer into the wine for you, thus you avoid the responsibility for having to fish out broken pieces of wafer.

[Father Rick]

I understand that it is proper to hold the host and the chalice bearer should "dip" the wafer into the wine for you, thus you avoid the responsibility for having to fish out broken pieces of wafer.It just depends on the particular congregation. Over time, I've seen it done just about every way you can imagine.

[Father Rick]

Thanks for making me feel less embarassed, everyone. Indeed, I AM very glad I didn't drop the host.

Even without the threat of germs, the idea of a shared cup just gives me the heebie-jeebies. Perhaps, from now on, I'll just pass by the Blood of Christ, at least I can get over my heebie-jeebie-ness.

MicPartake in the way you are most comfortable.

It is perfectly acceptable to partake by intinction. It is perfectly acceptable to receive both elements separately. It is also perfectly acceptable to receive just one of the 2 elements. By definition, if you receive one element you have received both, as they BOTH become the Body and Blood when consecrated.

The main thing is that you are partaking of the Grace of Christ-- the rest is semantics.

[TomUK]

By definition, if you receive one element you have received both, as they BOTH become the Body and Blood when consecrated.


You learn a new thing every day on this forum!

[•Amadeus•]

I believe you did the right thing.

[Inside Edge]

Father Rick,

Reading your posts - and having spoken with a few other priests - I get the impression that sometimes, perhaps, lay people take certain things far more seriously than you ordained folk. :) And not only regarding communion.

Would you agree? Have you ever been in a situation where a lay person was essentially telling you how you should perform your duties more...I don't know, strictly? "Officially?" "Seriously?"

I mean...I understand the importance of the consecrated bread - but I also have to admit the thought of a priest crawling around in the sand, collecting and eating the wafers is rather hilarious. Did the wedding video catch that part? :D So where I would be "mortified," is there a humour to the situation, or would that be strictly sacreligious?

[ps139]

In the church I attend, the person with the chalice takes the host frm your hand, dips it in the wine, and puts it in your mouth.....While holding the chalice about an inch below your chin..nothing get's away!!
Me too, Rob. My uncle has a little chapel, and when he says Mass for us we always receive via intinction, and I've never witnessed and drops of Blood spill.

[Father Rick]

Father Rick,

Reading your posts - and having spoken with a few other priests - I get the impression that sometimes, perhaps, lay people take certain things far more seriously than you ordained folk. :) And not only regarding communion.

Would you agree? Have you ever been in a situation where a lay person was essentially telling you how you should perform your duties more...I don't know, strictly? "Officially?" "Seriously?"

I mean...I understand the importance of the consecrated bread - but I also have to admit the thought of a priest crawling around in the sand, collecting and eating the wafers is rather hilarious. Did the wedding video catch that part? :D So where I would be "mortified," is there a humour to the situation, or would that be strictly sacreligious?I don't think it's a matter of not taking things as seriously as much as just that we've made all the mistakes already-- and had to get over ourselves. I mean, I take the sacraments VERY seriously and am always as conscientious as possible when serving people-- but... I have dropped hosts... I once was trying to serve the cup to a man who is a good bit taller than me (and standing) and I spilled it on the front of his shirt-- which (fortunately) happened to be exactly the same color as the wine-- and I've even crawled around in the sand after a wedding (and thankfully the camera was turned off-- I think).

My first couple of 'mistakes' like that absolutely terrified me. But God never struck me with lightning for being a little clumsy!:D And after a while, you learn to just take it in stride, be as reverent as possible despite being a clumsy oaf sometimes, and keep going in the grace of God.

And yes... you have to have a great sense of humor. I mean, can you imagine being the priest that drops a host down some ladies blouse? (That happened to someone here on CF). If you don't laugh at yourself... well, somebody's going to laugh at you-- you might as well join them!

And no... it's not sacreligious. Personally, I think sometimes God gets a HUGE laugh watching us and all our self-importance.

[benedictine]

And yes... you have to have a great sense of humor. I mean, can you imagine being the priest that drops a host down some ladies blouse? (That happened to someone here on CF). If you don't laugh at yourself... well, somebody's going to laugh at you-- you might as well join them!

I think it was AveMaria.

[AveMaria]

I think it was AveMaria.

It was... although it wasn't a blouse, it was a truly hideous bridesmaid dress. Ruffled, flounced peach chiffon with a full skirt and a big bow on the bum. All I needed was a little fluffy lamb and I would have looked like a nursery-rhyme shepardess. :sick:

[Inside Edge]

It was... although it wasn't a blouse, it was a truly hideous bridesmaid dress. Ruffled, flounced peach chiffon with a full skirt and a big bow on the bum. All I needed was a little fluffy lamb and I would have looked like a nursery-rhyme shepardess.
^_^ I thought those only existed in movies (for humorous purposes)!

If you don't laugh at yourself... well, somebody's going to laugh at you-- you might as well join them!...And no... it's not sacreligious. Personally, I think sometimes God gets a HUGE laugh watching us and all our self-importance.

I agree completely! But now that you've said it, I don't feel as bad about chuckling every time I picture a priest crawling around in the sand! You ought to sell that bit to a sitcom or something!