Someone took the Host out of her mouth and back to her pew...?

[gtsecc]

It was funeral, so I don't know what her understanding is, but she held out her hands to receive, then put the host partially in her mouth, then took it out and kept it in her hand, then received the wine. Should I have walked over to the rail and asked her for it? Found her after the service and asked her for it back, or what? I was baffled by the situation.

[TomUK]

How bizarre. Was the still holding the host at the end of mass?

[karen freeinchristman]

It was funeral, so I don't know what her understanding is, but she held out her hands to receive, then put the host partially in her mouth, then took it out and kept it in her hand, then received the wine. Should I have walked over to the rail and asked her for it? Found her after the service and asked her for it back, or what? I was baffled by the situation.

Wow. Slightly strange situation. In a way, I don't think it would be appropriate to ask for it back. There could be a miriad of reasons for her doing this. Perhaps she didn't feel fully prepared. But then she did take the wine, so that doesn't ring true. Perhaps she wants to save it as a small memento; either to keep for a long time, or to keep only for a short time and then consume. It might have been OK to have asked her about it (not ask for it back) after the service, but only if you are very experienced, pastorally.

[TomUK]

If it was a funeral then maybe she isn't used to church practice and therefore didn't understand what actually happens during communion. It's the only thing i can think of.

[AngCath]

the only time that happened here that i'm aware of (it was the regular Sunday Liturgy) the priest confronted the person and it was revealed that that particular person (a visitor) had some evil intentions. I expect, however, that most often it is out of ignorance.

[Mysterium_Fidei]

I would have informed the priest, who could then confront the person. If they did, indeed, have the host -- the priest would be able to take it from them and reverently consume it.

[Tomoz]

the only time that happened here that i'm aware of (it was the regular Sunday Liturgy) the priest confronted the person and it was revealed that that particular person (a visitor) had some evil intentions. I expect, however, that most often it is out of ignorance.

What sort of evil intentions?

[AveMaria]

What sort of evil intentions?

I'm guessing they had plans to desecrate the Host.

[Finella]

Maybe she just didn't like the taste of it and didn't know what to do with it....?

[erin74]

she may have a gluten intolerance and didn't know how to say no.

either way at a funeral there is no way it would be appropriate to make a scene about it.

[higgs2]

she may have a gluten intolerance and didn't know how to say no.

either way at a funeral there is no way it would be appropriate to make a scene about it.
I agree.

[Mysterium_Fidei]

Either way, the host is Christ. If anything is worth 'making a fuss over', it is Our Lord. The priest should have been told and confronted the person. There are charitable and quiet ways to do this without drawing attention or offending anyone.

[Naomi4Christ]

Either way, the host is Christ. If anything is worth 'making a fuss over', it is Our Lord. The priest should have been told and confronted the person. There are charitable and quiet ways to do this without drawing attention or offending anyone.

Maybe she didn't hold that belief. It is only anything more than a wafer through faith.

[No Swansong]

Maybe she didn't hold that belief. It is only anything more than a wafer through faith.


Good question is it the Body and Blood of Christ because of the communicants faith or because of the authority granted through Holy Orders?

Discuss amongst yourselves I will lurk.

[higgs2]

Either way, the host is Christ. If anything is worth 'making a fuss over', it is Our Lord. The priest should have been told and confronted the person. There are charitable and quiet ways to do this without drawing attention or offending anyone.
Christ can handle being carried back to the pew by a grief-stricken funeral goer.

[karen freeinchristman]

Christ can handle being carried back to the pew by a grief-stricken funeral goer.

Christ most certainly can handle it! :thumbsup:

If the Almighty God didn't want to remain in the form of a wafer that might be used in a desecrative manner, he could simply cease to be in that wafer.

[higgs2]

Christ most certainly can handle it! :thumbsup:

If the Almighty God didn't want to remain in the form of a wafer that might be used in a desecrative manner, he could simply cease to be in that wafer.
Well, one would think so!

[kiwimac]

Christ can handle being carried back to the pew by a grief-stricken funeral goer.
Amen.

[Finella]

If the Almighty God didn't want to remain in the form of a wafer that might be used in a desecrative manner, he could simply cease to be in that wafer.

Would it be sacreligious to say that this makes me think of the Wonder Twins?



Form of... a communion wafer!!




:sorry: ah, yeah. Never mind.

[erin74]

Or a third option - a symbol (I know this is the wrong word - I'm looking for a word that means more than symbol) rather than his actual body and blood, which is covered by the 39 articles. Look up the articles for the word - sorry - being exceptionally lazy about this! I believe we may have had this debate before.....

[Colabomb]

Good question is it the Body and Blood of Christ because of the communicants faith or because of the authority granted through Holy Orders?

Discuss amongst yourselves I will lurk.
Actually this is a question that I think would be a good idea to discuss.

I honestly have been stuck going back and forth on this one and I have no clue.

[Simon_Templar]

The elements of the communion are made holy by the consecration, not by the faith of the receiver.

In 1st Corinthians 11 (if memory serves) Paul tells the corinthians that many of the people among them were sick and even had died because they had been partaking in communion without discerning the body of Christ. If the communion were simply a matter of the faith of the receiver, it would be largely impossible to profane it, because its only holy if you have faith, and if you don't have faith, its just bread.

However, if it is possible to profane it, it must be holy in and of itself, apart from your faith, or lack there of. That does not mean that a faithless person will receive any benefit from communion.

[Mysterium_Fidei]

Christ most certainly can handle it! :thumbsup:

If the Almighty God didn't want to remain in the form of a wafer that might be used in a desecrative manner, he could simply cease to be in that wafer.

If Christ did not wish to perish upon his Cross, he could simply have ceased the Passion and called down legions of angels to destroy mankind. He didn't.

Personal faith has nothing to do with the Eucharistic Mystery, the reality of Our Lord is not subjective, nor is his literal presence in the Eucharist. One can believe whatever they want, but that does not alter his literal presence by one iota.

[Called2Grace]

Maybe the person didn't realise what they were doing? Or thought they were doing the right thing?
Only God really knows what she was thinking. But I'm not sure a funeral would be the best place to bring it up. If the priest was to bring it up, it would have to be done in a gentle way.

[karen freeinchristman]

If Christ did not wish to perish upon his Cross, he could simply have ceased the Passion and called down legions of angels to destroy mankind. He didn't.

Personal faith has nothing to do with the Eucharistic Mystery, the reality of Our Lord is not subjective, nor is his literal presence in the Eucharist. One can believe whatever they want, but that does not alter his literal presence by one iota.

I agree with you, Mysterium_Fidei, and I don't think that what I posted is in conflict with what you are saying.

I am simply acknowledging Gods power and his Divine Right to be (or not to be) in the Eucharistic host. There is no reason why he couldn't remove his literal presence from the host if he so willed, is there?