Assembly Line Communion

[ChurchTorch]

You have been posting on CA. for 14 days & sent 103 messages…most of them confrontational. Get over yourself.

Perhaps you should listen to your own advice?

 

[ChurchTorch]

Can you imagine it, the very first time, Jesus and the apostles sitting down, bickering among each other as to how the bread and wine should be shared?? Honestly, the spirit of this one is entirely lost with this debate.

No kidding!

 

[ChurchTorch]

CHEWING is not okay.

I was taught before the VII never, under any circumstances, to ever chew the Sacred Host.

I am sorry but you are wrong. Chewing is most certainly OK. It’s

“Take This All Of You And EAT It, This Is My Body, Which Will Be Given Up For You. Do This In Memory of Me”

It’s not:

“Take This All Of You And let it dissolve on your tongue while grimacing, This Is My Body, Which Will Be Given Up For You. Do This In Memory of Me”

 

[Lormar]

Are you Catholic, Church Torch?

 

[malphono]

Lormar;6431271:

CHEWING is not okay.

I was taught before the VII never, under any circumstances, to ever chew the Sacred Host.

Well, there actually is nothing wrong with it. It was a pious misconception that a lot of people were taught, but there were never any rules against it whatsover.

No, no rule whatsoever.

Someone pointed out on another thread that the word Jesus used was the usual one for consuming meat, bread etc. and could even be translated as ‘gnaw’.

I’m familiar with the Semitic verb and I’ve never seen it translated as “gnaw” or anything else other than “eat.” I would certainly never translate it another way.

I don’t understand the good Sisters being so emphatic about not chewing, unless it was to make sure the children knew they were receiving something special, or to avoid them chewing with their mouth open and so being irreverent.

The nuns that I knew were not quote so stringent about the matter: what I recall them saying emphatically is not to “chomp” on it. Which I guess is pretty much the same idea as keep mouth closed while chewing.

 

[Timothysis]

Perhaps you should listen to your own advice?

 

[CradleCath]

Perhaps you should listen to your own advice?

Oh Please!! Surely you can do better than a back-at-cha post. Come on, I accused you of being confrontational. Surely you can think of something I’ve done or said that is wrong? Think hard, now…you can DO it. I believe in you!!!

 

[ProVobis]

Well, there actually is nothing wrong with it. It was a pious misconception that a lot of people were taught, but there were never any rules against it whatsover.

But why the rush to consume it? You’ve waited the whole Mass to receive and then you want to chew it up before you return to your pew, where you have a chance to spend some holy time with Christ?

 

[Timothysis]

But why the rush to consume it? You’ve waited the whole Mass to receive and then you want to chew it up before you return to your pew, where you have a chance to spend some holy time with Christ?

Good grief, is there anything that is not above criticism??? Is the "chance to spend some holy time with Christ" over if one consumes the host too quickly? You receive communion the way you feel most comfortable; let others do the same.

 

[Layman]

I was told not to chew it. Now it would feel odd to grind on the Body Of Christ with my teeth. You can do it, or don’t. It’s easy just to let it dissolve nowadays, as it’s not like shop-bought bread. A courtesy, perhaps, to the King of Kings? Just a little extra, symbolic, deference?

Plus maybe the nuns who taught us and who presumably revered and understood the significance of the Body of Christ more than us kids, were trying to rein in our enthusiatic chomping, fingers-in-the-mouth or other aggressive, childish masticatory practices. For form’s sake, if nothing else.

 

[Lycorth]

Lycorth, since I made my First Holy Communion, I’ve never chewed the Holy Eucharist. So for almost fifty years I’ve been allowing the Host to dissolve or, in the case of thicker ones from new masses, breaking the Host with my tongue and then swallowing the Holy Eucharist. It can be done. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Try it.

Sure, I’m game; I’ll be able to receive for the first time in about five years this Saturday, so I’ll give it a go.

I only made my First Communion in the 1980s, though the Franciscans were pretty old-fashioned and wonderfully Traditional in their approach. It’s possible I was not taught to chew, but I doubt it. Nonetheless, I’ll see how it goes this weekend.

 

[Jotobo]

Well, there actually is nothing wrong with it. It was a pious misconception that a lot of people were taught, but there were never any rules against it whatsover.

I thought people were joking and giving me grief about this chewing thing. When I originally said it I did not mean anything about the chewing in particular, but that people just walked away while chewing rather than take a moment to maybe kneel or genuflect before going back to the pew.

Shows how much I know, lololol

 

[ProVobis]

Nonetheless, I’ll see how it goes this weekend.

You can always practice with a small wafer or cracker. It’s actually better for your digestive system to have the saliva in your mouth work on the food before it enters the esophagus.

 

[Lycorth]

You can always practice with a small wafer or cracker. It’s actually better for your digestive system to have the saliva in your mouth work on the food before it enters the esophagus.

I suppose with all the coffee I drink it’d be nice to give my digestive system a break

 

[ElizabethPH]

I thought people were joking and giving me grief about this chewing thing. When I originally said it I did not mean anything about the chewing in particular, but that people just walked away while chewing rather than take a moment to maybe kneel or genuflect before going back to the pew.

Shows how much I know, lololol

The proper protocol in the OF after receiving is to step aside turn towards the altar/crucifix/tabernacle and make the sign of the cross and then continue to your seat. Once we are in the pew is when we kneel and give thanks.

 

[paperwight]

The proper protocol in the OF after receiving is to step aside turn towards the altar/crucifix/tabernacle and make the sign of the cross and then continue to your seat. Once we are in the pew is when we kneel and give thanks.

I totally agree with you about making a thanksgiving and so on once back in the bench. If everyone paused to kneel (where, exactly?) before going back to their place there would soon be a traffic-jam.

I’m not with you on the sign of the cross, though. It’s not a requirement, and actually seems superfluous, as we have received the Holiest imaginable - how can we add to that in any way by blessing ourselves?

It’s certainly not the general practice in our parish. One or two do it, but in a starnge quick ‘tickling the shirt buttons’ type of movement looking rather like a superstition, to be honest.

 

[ProVobis]

I’m not with you on the sign of the cross, though. It’s not a requirement, and actually seems superfluous, as we have received the Holiest imaginable - how can we add to that in any way by blessing ourselves?

So now it’s an issue where let’s cut down on everything that is superfluous? How about receiving twice in one day? Or even every day during the week? Or even more than once a year since the Church tells us we only need to receive during Eastertime? Christ told us to eat His flesh and drink His Blood in order to attain eternal salvation. And St. Paul writes that we need to receive as worthily as possible. I think we should take this a little more seriously than we do now.

 

[ElizabethPH]

I’m not with you on the sign of the cross, though. It’s not a requirement, and actually seems superfluous, as we have received the Holiest imaginable - how can we add to that in any way by blessing ourselves?

The Sign of the Cross is always appropriate.

 

[Lycorth]

I’m not with you on the sign of the cross, though. It’s not a requirement, and actually seems superfluous, as we have received the Holiest imaginable - how can we add to that in any way by blessing ourselves?

It’s certainly not the general practice in our parish. One or two do it, but in a starnge quick ‘tickling the shirt buttons’ type of movement looking rather like a superstition, to be honest.

It’s sad when a traditional act of reverence when receiving a blessing (and the greatest blessing imaginable - the Lord Himself!) is regarded as “superfluous”.

Why not just cut out Communion altogether? The Church requires us to receive Communion only once a year, and the same with Confession. All those old fuddy-duddies who encourage us to receive both frequently and together - what do they know? It’s just superfluous.

Catholicism is about doing more than just the bare minimum. That’s what I can’t stand about the post-modern, post-VII mentality. Everything but the bare minimum is cut out. Just walk into church in everyday clothes, don’t cross yourself too much, don’t kneel too often, don’t say all those crazy prayers that the old people do, don’t worry about Communion or Confession too much (it’s only once a year, after all). Makes me recall the Lord’s words where He wondered if He’d find any faith left on the earth when He returns.

This is why we’re wandering in the spiritual desert of the post-VII era. We haven’t learned how to truly appreciate the gift of the Catholic faith the Lord has given to us. Some have, too many have not. No wonder there is no spiritual renaissance…

 

[ChurchTorch]

Are you Catholic, Church Torch?

If you want to ask a rude and inflammatory question like that send me a PM. You won’t of course because your “question” was nothing more than a thinly disguised attack.

By the way Lormar, are YOU Catholic? How does that feel?