Chew?

[TheDoctor]

On the topic of chewing the Host, this is one distracting element of versus populum

worship. I no longer look up at the sanctuary during the priest’s Communion, because I don’t want to watch him chewing (and hear the crunching sound!)…Interesting observation. I don’t watch anyone in the sanctuary receive because I am getting myself ready go to communion and I have never heard a crunching sound, even when in the first row at weekday Mass. Guess some hosts are stiffer than others.

We were told by our Pre-Vat II nuns that the host would bleed if we bit into it, so we all let it dissolve (you don’t think our nuns were lying to us, do you?)

I personally sometimes let it dissolve and sometimes gently chew it depending on the mood I am in. I did have a couple of times though that it got stuck to the roof of my mouth as I was letting it get soft and I had to resist the temptation to shove a finger in there and dislodge it!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

VociMike;

I wonder how universal such a teaching was, as opposed to the American Irish-influenced Catholicism found in the USA.

Well the nuns my grandparents had were French, mostly from Canada, but the order was based back in France. The nuns my father had, were French Canadian, but the order was also based in France. He later had English and American nuns, as did my mother, but that order was based back in England.

Myself, I had Sisters of the Presentation, which is actually a French order, but the sisters were mostly American. There were
a couple who were French Canadian.

I think it was pretty much what the European based orders of the Church taught. Don not chew the Sacred Host, but let it dissolve in your mouth.

Heck, back then, everyone went into a state of panic, if the priest accidentally dropped the host on the floor. Lay people could not touch the consecrated host, under any non-extenuating circumstances, and the priest were only allowed to touch the host, using their forefinger and thumb.

Jim

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Then there is the case as in last week when the host got stuck to the roof of my mouth for at least 30 seconds, while I debated whether to remove it with my finger while not throwing up. Eventually it fell onto my tongue. Food sticks to my roof or throat and causes me to gag. I mostly have a dry mouth so if I wated for it to disolve it may be there a while. That’s why I chew quietly and respectfully with my mouth closed.

 

[VociMike]

Then there is the case as in last week when the host got stuck to the roof of my mouth for at least 30 seconds, while I debated whether to remove it with my finger while not throwing up. Eventually it fell onto my tongue. Food sticks to my roof or throat and causes me to gag. I mostly have a dry mouth so if I wated for it to disolve it may be there a while. That’s why I chew quietly and respectfully with my mouth closed.

I have SO been there.

 

[JoeBlow]

…He put Our Lord into his mouth, and later took Him out to show a buddy, etc.

I would love to comment on this but the sheer silliness of it speaks louder than anything I could say.