Am I being scrupulous by wiping my mouth with my hands and then licking my hands after receiving the Eucharist?

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Holly3278

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Hey everyone. I have this strange practice of wiping my mouth with my hand and then licking or sucking my hand after receiving both species of the most holy Eucharist. The reason I do this is because I am afraid that I may have gotten some of Jesus on my lips and I don’t want to just leave Him there so I wipe my mouth and then I lick it off my hand. I usually lick my lips afterward too but I am afraid that might enough. I fear I am being scrupulous here but can someone please confirm that for me?
 
Holly, it sounds scrupulous, and the behavior is not common that I am aware of. Hope you get the issue resolved and find peace again soon.
 
Holly, it sounds scrupulous, and the behavior is not common that I am aware of. Hope you get the issue resolved and find peace again soon.
Thanks Stylites. It wouldn’t surprise me if the behavior is scrupulous. I have been known to be scrupulous in the past.
 
If the issue only happens when you receive both species then maybe try to receive only the one species of the Body, and see if these feelings don’t go away.
 
:hug1:

I’m not qualified to say anything really. Not in the slightest but I sure do know a :hug1: is nice. God loves you Holly. Very much. We do too.
 
Why don’t you receive communion on the tounge? I’m not confirmed yet but I have seen many Catholics do it at my parish.
 
Can you not just receive on the tongue?We don’t get the precious blood in our parish and it is really superflous to have both as each are the body Blood and Soul and Divinity of Christ,but I agree it is wonderful to experience both…

Do you have any other non religious manifestations of scrupulosity like OCD.If not talk to your priest Holly and don’t second guess what he tells you.

If you DO have OCD in your life see a physician-mine started at age 13 with compulsive handwashing and I actually left the Church because of the stress caused by ocd/scrupulosity.At age forty I went to a doctor and take medication which has totally changed my life.And back I came realizing only God is perfect and I am another patient in His hospital.

People can laugh at Sscrupulosity and OCD but they do not understand the havoc and debilitating anxiety it can cause.My psychiatrist described it as a tap in the brain that doesn’t quite close off so you have a constant dripping of an anxiety producing chemical which can manifest as OCD/scrupulosity.If you need any more info please PM me.Gordon
 
That is scrupulous. Keep in mind that the bread which hosts are made from is designed with ingredients and shape for the least possibility of crumbling.

What others suggest, receiving on the tongue, you might also try. That’s how I receive, and after so many years in the hand it felt awkward just once or twice. But now receiving on the tongue seems so much easier. I don’t have to do anything except open my mouth. I can trust the priest has enough expert experience that all will go smoothly.

As for the Blood, we have the Chalice but I do not take it because it’s redundant and then I need not worry about spilling any.

Finally, scrupulousity, if a person really does have it, is an old religious term for what is actually a treatable medical disorder. There is no shame in this and no flaw in the person’s character or psychology. They just have a bit of “wiring” in the brain that can cause obsessive and/or compulsive behavior.

Because God has provided us with the miracle of scientific treatments for “OCD” or similar problems, it is a good idea to talk to a doctor or psychiatrist about a diagnosis.

I recommend this to anyone on this forum who defines him/herself as “scrupulous” or if your family says you are obsessing about tiny matters repeatedly. Ask your doctor if you might have this disorder.

Again, it is nothing that is your fault, it is not a moral weakness, it is not a psychological problem…it’s none of those. It’s a medical disorder and should be handled as such, for your own comfort.
 
When we first went to “communion in the hand”, I would occasionally see someone kiss their fingers after putting the Host in their mouth. That was about it.

But I haven’t seen anyone even do that in years.

Not so much scrupulous, as not necessary.

Sometimes, I just say “sorry for touching You”.

And just let it go with that.

Once in a very rare while, for whatever reason, there would be tiny visible crumbs of the consecrated Host in my hand … in that case, I would do what you did, so as not to allow any of the visible bits of the consecrated Host to fall to the floor.

But that was like, … twice in a lifetime event.

So, not necessary.
 
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