Blessed Eucharist to the Sick

[Rafael79]

Hello. I am mostly housebound with chronic illness, and my mother, who is a Eucharistic Minister at her (small country) parish, is going to start bringing me communion at home.

I feel it an answer to prayer that she offered to start doing this, but I have two big concerns… One being that the pyx that she purchased at the local Christian bookstore (not a Catholic-only store), is a plastic lined pyx. I read online that the consecrated host should not be placed in a plastic lined pyx. Is this correct?

Also, I know that many times after she is at mass, she will be going to breakfast or stopping at other places. I asked her what she would do with the Blessed Sacrament when she ran inside somewhere, and she said she would just leave it in the glove compartment, that it would be safe. (I, of course, cringed!)

I expressed some of my anxiety to her about both of these concerns, and she immediately got defensive and agitated. I know she thinks I’m too particular about things, and that I can’t be criticizing if she is bringing me the Sacrament.

I am not sure what Jesus wants us to do in this situation. Am I being like the Pharisees, and missing the heart of the matter? My mother does everything out of pure love and generosity, though easily overlooks protocol. Should I accept the Sacrament from her, or thank her and say she doesn’t need to bring me communion?

Thank you for your guidance!

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I’m guessing that your mother helps distribute communion at Mass and has not been properly trained to bring communion to the sick. She should speak with her pastor about this before assuming she can bring communion to you. Perhaps it would be better to have someone else in the parish bring you communion – the same person(s) who already take communion to the hospital or home-bound.

If this is the first time you will be receiving communion at home, perhaps the first visit should be from your pastor so that you could go to confession and be anointed if those are appropriate.

While your mother’s intentions are good, your concerns about this matter are justified.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Sacred vessels (including pyxes) are to be either gold or gold plated on the inside. Furthermore, it as absolutely forbidden for someone taking communion to the housebound to go anywhere except from the church to the person’s house, lest something happen to the Blessed Sacrament.

 

[Rafael79]

Thank you both. This helps greatly!