Blood and the Eucharist

[TypesAndShadows]

In another thread, a user has mentioned “the belief that the blood of Christ runs in your veins after you have received the Eucharist.”

What Churches consider this a good understanding of the Eucharist? Which consider it acceptable? And which consider it a wrong understanding?

Also, how long is the effect considered to last? Does it wear off? If you cut your finger an hour after receiving, would this belief generally hold that you had to be extra careful about the blood, licking it rather than rinsing or using a plaster? This isn’t intended as mocking: I’m honestly curious as to whether this is a thing.

 

[Zekariya]

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, it is commonly taught, this wears off in 9 hours.

 

[runningdude]

In another thread, a user has mentioned “the belief that the blood of Christ runs in your veins after you have received the Eucharist.”

What Churches consider this a good understanding of the Eucharist? Which consider it acceptable? And which consider it a wrong understanding?

Also, how long is the effect considered to last? Does it wear off? If you cut your finger an hour after receiving, would this belief generally hold that you had to be extra careful about the blood, licking it rather than rinsing or using a plaster? This isn’t intended as mocking: I’m honestly curious as to whether this is a thing.

The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist only remains so long as it retains the physical appearance of bread and wine. By Catholic understanding, the Eucharist would only be present for an hour or so in the stomach following its reception as it is naturally broken down, but the grace imparted would remain.

 

[JimG]

The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist remains under the appearances of bread and wine remains as long as the appearances of bread and wine remain.

But to say that “the blood of Christ runs in your veins after you have received the Eucharist” is wrong, because it implies that the Eucharistic presence is divisible and severable. Christ in the Eucharist cannot be divided or severed. Wherever he is Eucharistically present, he is present whole and entire. He cannot be subdivided by subdividing the accidents of bread and wine.

 

[TypesAndShadows]

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, it is commonly taught, this wears off in 9 hours.

Thanks. Do you know of any good reading on this idea, from a Coptic perspective? Why 9 hours?

And do people act as if all blood in their body is sacred in this 9-hour window: does it affect how they treat injuries? Do they abstain from the Eucharist before surgery or donating blood? If people are suffering severe bleeding (perhaps from a traumatic injury), are they given the Eucharist?

Thanks again for any information.

Oh, and thanks JimG and runningdude for confirming that the Catholic Church in the West (at least) considers this a wrong understanding.

 

[Zekariya]

Thanks. Do you know of any good reading on this idea, from a Coptic perspective? Why 9 hours?

And do people act as if all blood in their body is sacred in this 9-hour window: does it affect how they treat injuries? Do they abstain from the Eucharist before surgery or donating blood? If people are suffering severe bleeding (perhaps from a traumatic injury), are they given the Eucharist?

Thanks again for any information.

Oh, and thanks JimG and runningdude for confirming that the Catholic Church in the West (at least) considers this a wrong understanding.

“Why are we not allowed to brush our teeth or take a shower after having Holy Communion for at least 9 hours?” Fr Antonios Kaldas answers, “The reason as I understand it is to do all we can to protect the Holy Body and precious Blood we have received in Holy Communion. The idea being that if I brush my teeth and spit out the yukky water, I may also be spitting out some small fragments of my Lord’s Body that may have remained lodged between my teeth. Similarly, if I have a shower and some soapy water goes in my mouth, I am likely to spit it out pretty quick.”
Source: stbishoy.org.au/modules/smartfaq/faq.php?faqid=59

HG Bishop Youssef says, “The Body and Blood we partake of in Communion are so minute in quantity and are taken after a long fast (at least nine hours) so they are totally digested and absorbed into the epithelial cells of the ileum, from whence they diffuse into the blood capillaries and are used totally by the body.”
Source:m suscopts.org/q&a/index.php?qid=831&catid=81

HG Bishop Mettaous says, “It is not preferable for a person to walk barefoot, or for a man to shave, directly after Communion. This is to avoid any wound occurring which may bleed. If, however, bleeding does occur unintentionally, the blood must be wiped with a piece of cloth or cotton, then burned in fire.”
Source: copticchurch.net/topics/thecopticchurch/sacraments/4_eucharist.html

 

[Mickey]

***St. Cyril of Jerusalem, “Catechetical Lectures”, ca. 350 AD
***"Let us, then, with full confidence, partake of the Body and Blood of Christ. For in the figure of bread His Body is given to you, and in the figure of wine His Blood is given to you, so that by partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, you might become united in body and blood with Him. For thus do we become Christ-bearers. His Body and Blood being distributed through our members.