Bread and Wine vs. Wafer

[Ghosty]

When you say “certain folks” you mean millions of bishops, priests and faithful for generations upon generations. It was also taught in seminaries. Like Hesychios wrote today, it is interesting to note how so much “new official teaching” is now ousting the old which is ridiculed and attributed to “certain folks.”

Actually it wasn’t taught by Bishops and in seminaries so far as I know. I’ve never heard from any priests that they learned it in training, and I’ve talked to many who were trained during the era when it was a popular practice; rather it was something passed down by through unofficial channels.

It’s not even clear to me that it was widespread among the different ethnic groups. I’ve only ever heard it being pushed by those who were taught by the Irish.

Peace and God bless!

 

[Aramis]

Actually it wasn’t taught by Bishops and in seminaries so far as I know. I’ve never heard from any priests that they learned it in training, and I’ve talked to many who were trained during the era when it was a popular practice; rather it was something passed down by through unofficial channels.

It’s not even clear to me that it was widespread among the different ethnic groups. I’ve only ever heard it being pushed by those who were taught by the Irish.

Peace and God bless!

My religious education was done by, for the most part, Dominican Friars. Never have I heard any instruction on how to consume the Eucharist after it’s on the tongue.

None at all about it once it’s in the mouth. Lots on how to get it there…

My “Ruthenianization” has been very much less vague. One is to consume the precious gifts as a man who is hungry. Chewing if need be, simply swallowing if need be (And, with Rev. Fr. Wes, it often was…).

 

[Fr_Ambrose]

Actually it wasn’t taught by Bishops and in seminaries so far as I know.

Ask them if they were taught to allow the half piece of the Host to rest in their mouth and softened by saliva until it was possible to swallow easily, and if the mouth was a little dry then drinking from the chalice would enable them to complete the swallow without chewing.

It’s not even clear to me that it was widespread among the different ethnic groups. I’ve only ever heard it being pushed by those who were taught by the Irish.

You need to survey the Italians, the Dutch, the Croatians, the Spanish…

 

[LilyM]

Ask them if they were taught to allow the half piece of the Host to rest in their mouth and softened by saliva until it was possible to swallow easily, and if the mouth was a little dry then drinking from the chalice would enable them to complete the swallow without chewing.
You need to survey the Italians, the Dutch, the Croatians, the Spanish…

Father I AM Croatian, was instructed by a Croatian priest not long off the boat from the old country for my First Communion, and grew up in a community full of both Croatians and Italians - no such teaching.

 

[MariaG]

Ask them if they were taught to allow the half piece of the Host to rest in their mouth and softened by saliva until it was possible to swallow easily, and if the mouth was a little dry then drinking from the chalice would enable them to complete the swallow without chewing.
You need to survey the Italians, the Dutch, the Croatians, the Spanish…

Father,

Even IF it were taught in the seminaries, clearly it would fall under a pious practice and not under dogma.

Do you see that your credibilty in these matters is damaged when you try to somehow point out that a PRACTICE, whether official or otherwise, can change like this is a significant factor?

Respectfully and with love,
Maria

 

[Isa_Almisry]

I am sorry that I didn’t make myself clear enough to let you know I agreed with all you wrote. I do not believe it was silly to follow directions, but silly of whoever came up with the direction in the first place. I do not doubt that it was taught to you or anyone else, and apparently still is taught to others in some places based on the thread I’m remembering. I’m sorry that my words lead you to believe I doubted you.

Actually when I was Lutheran (we got the wafers from a warehouse that I think was "ecumenical) I was told not to chew but let it dissolve, for the pratical reason that it would stick to the roof/side of mouth!

 

[Ghosty]

My religious education was done by, for the most part, Dominican Friars. Never have I heard any instruction on how to consume the Eucharist after it’s on the tongue.

None at all about it once it’s in the mouth. Lots on how to get it there…

My “Ruthenianization” has been very much less vague. One is to consume the precious gifts as a man who is hungry. Chewing if need be, simply swallowing if need be (And, with Rev. Fr. Wes, it often was…).

Yes, that’s typical of the Dominicans I know as well, even from the “pre-Vatican II” days. Many have never heard of the “no chewing” policy, even from back in the day. Fr. Serpa’s responses to those asking about it are often humorous and typical.

Peace and God bless!

 

[justacloserwalk]

Forgive me and ignore my above post.

I totally misread it.

I’m sorry.

So Basil, do you live in Phx? If you do then our beautiful weather is the cause…“cooler weather itis”

Barbara

 

[DebChris]

Orthodox unindustrial grade prosphera baking machine.

http://www.pyshe.com/stnicholasmari..._gallery/prosphora_baking_lesson/dsc00052.jpg

They look like biscuits.

 

[DebChris]

I think we need to make a distinction here.

At the time a Roman Catholic is being told something “important” by a nun, priest or bishop, he is not in a position to reject it as silly. Especially when it is something as gravely important as receiving the Body of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ. These people taught me my prayers, taught me how to confess and allowed me to make a first Holy Communion. If I had said “that’s silly” or “It’s wrong” I could have been turned out of the school for one thing. That was authority!

Now, my Protestant neighbors could have told me it was silly at the time (and probably would have), but my mother could have beaten me for disbelieving a nun! And I would have been sent to the rectory to make a confession straightaway.

The story I related to you actually happened in my life, correctly or not. When I accidently bit down on a Host, or even desired to, I believed I had sinned. Years later I learned differently.

I think that it would be interesting to check in the Traditionalist section to see if anyone remembers this, or still follows the old piety.

So when a Protestant tells you that they were told by someone the Holy Eucharist was not to be chewed, but swallowed, they are not just retelling an old Protestant myth (like guns in the basements and that sort of thing). The source of that info is something they might think they can trust on such a matter, practicing Roman Catholics.

Probably millions of them…for many decades, if not centuries.

Michael

I do not remember the pink pillow. I do remember being told not to chew the host; that it needed to be swallowed. I still do this when I receive the host in wafer form although I am not as paranoid about it touching my teeth as I was as child.
Going to a Benedictine College attached to an Abbey, I received bread that was torn directly from the loaf. I received in the hand and had no problems with chewing. When receiving the host as a wafer, I continued to receive on the tongue until a parish priest quoted scripture about the tongue being a source of evil, of lies. The tongue is no more sacred than the hand.
I receive the host in the hand; I sip from the cup. Unlike when I was a child, there is no tincture. I return to my place and bury my face in my hands to block out distractions. I never thought it was for any other reason.
I did attend a church in Galveston where the host is still tinctured and a pallet used so that the host may be placed on the tongue. Receiving in the hand there means not being able to receive under both species. The reason given for the method of distribution has to with the number of sick people who go to Mass there. The main employer at Galveston is UTMB with its hospitals.
After I broke my ankle, I discovered the cathedral basillica downtown and went to Mass there instead. I could take the bus within a couple of blocks instead of walking to the other church. At the Cathedral Basilica, the oldest cathedral in Texas, I was able to receive in the hand and under both species. The same was true when I went to Wednesday Mass in the hospital.