Chewing the host?

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I was in a discussion tonight with a co-worker who was raised Catholic in New England, he is in his mid-thirties and is now protestant. He made a comment that while he was in CCD when he was younger, he was instructed to never chew the host, it either had to dissolve or be swallowed whole.

I had never heard of this and wondered if anyone could shed light on this for me… unheard of? Common? Used to be taught?

Thanks
Brandon
 
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SDA2RC:
I was in a discussion tonight with a co-worker who was raised Catholic in New England, he is in his mid-thirties and is now protestant. He made a comment that while he was in CCD when he was younger, he was instructed to never chew the host, it either had to dissolve or be swallowed whole.

I had never heard of this and wondered if anyone could shed light on this for me… unheard of? Common? Used to be taught?

Thanks
Brandon
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My dad who is 50 was taught the same thing. I grew up doing it because he did it. To this day I would feel weird if I chewed it.
 
I will submit to that it would probably be good practice to chew the body and here is why

John 6:54 said:
“he who eats (greek=trogos) my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life…”
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The Greek word Trogos literally means to chew or to gnaw. So this would be good practice since it is after all his *true *flesh. He himself even says to trogos his body.
 
I grew up with the idea that chewing was bad but now believe that the main idea is to “eat”!
 
I have always heard…not to Chew the Host…I let it dissolve mostly, then I swallow the rest…it is out of habit. I was always told that we are not to break the Body of Christ by chewing it…my director of religious formation told me that while he was growing up, the Nuns told him that if he chewed the Host, that Christ would start bleeding in his mouth…THat was pre-Vat II days though LOL.
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SDA2RC:
I was in a discussion tonight with a co-worker who was raised Catholic in New England, he is in his mid-thirties and is now protestant. He made a comment that while he was in CCD when he was younger, he was instructed to never chew the host, it either had to dissolve or be swallowed whole.

I had never heard of this and wondered if anyone could shed light on this for me… unheard of? Common? Used to be taught?

Thanks
Brandon
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I don’t chew simply because there is too great a chance of His body becoming lodged in or between the teeth and mixing woth food, drink, or being washed down the sink at the next brushing.
 
I was worried about whether to chew or not when I became Catholic in 2003, but I felt better when I was told the word means to chew. The thing that still bothers me is bits of the Host being stuck in my teeth. I see a lot of people at mass who are obviously picking Jesus out of their teeth with their tongues. I wonder if I shouldn’t eat anything for a certain time after mass, because there are still bits of the Host in there? I haven’t ever asked a cradle Catholic about this because I thought they would laugh, but what do you all do about this?
 
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AmandaCatherine:
I was worried about whether to chew or not when I became Catholic in 2003, but I felt better when I was told the word means to chew. The thing that still bothers me is bits of the Host being stuck in my teeth. I see a lot of people at mass who are obviously picking Jesus out of their teeth with their tongues. I wonder if I shouldn’t eat anything for a certain time after mass, because there are still bits of the Host in there? I haven’t ever asked a cradle Catholic about this because I thought they would laugh, but what do you all do about this?
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I’m a cradle Catholic who has thought about this and never brought it up for the same reason as you:o . That’s one reason I don’t chew. Plus, it gives me time to pray as it dissolves in my mouth.
 
When I was younger, they never instructed us not to chew the host, but I never did because it always got stuck in my teeth. That was lovely justification when I was younger, and now I just kinda break the host into four pieces with my tongue so that it is easier to swallow. And, I am a creature of habit, so if I treat something special like everything else (eg. chewing the host like regular food rather than having some different practice), I have a tendency to lose focus. Doing something different for the Eucharist helps me stay prayerful and focused upon reception.

Eamon
 
I remember that the host seemed to dissolve very quickly when I was a child.

However, the hosts I consume nowadays seem not to dissolve easily at all – unless I consume a good sip of Precious Blood. Then the liquid causes the host to dissolve right away.

I tend not to consume a good sip of Precious Blood though. I take just enough to wet my lips. So I have to resort to gentle chewing.
 
Watch the devout priests on the EWTN Masses, and imitate them. You can’t get a better model.

DaveBj
 
I just had my first communion last week, and I have no idea how you would eat it without chewing? I’m guessing perhaps the host itself has changed somewhat over the years?
 
Congratulations on receiving the Precious Body for the first time!
I’m a “cradle Catholic.” The host really hasn’t changed over the years. It doesn’t just melt in your mouth, although I see some referring to how it “dissolves.” I won’t chew for the same reasons mentioned above-this is My Savior, and any bits should not be allowed to get stuck in my teeth. I use my tongue to crush it to the roof of my mouth, and let is slowly dissolve to a point where I can swallow. It is a perfect time to close your eyes and meditate on Christ-not watch to see who is chewing!😉
Mom
“…a person’s a person, no matter how small…” Horton, from Horton Hears a Who, Dr. Seuss
 
I was taught in school (60 years ago) not to chew. I recall the nuns were very strong on their instruction. Personally, I think it’s a good idea not to chew simply because not chewing provides an opportunity to linger and feel the presence both spiritually and physically as long as possible.
 
I used to never chew on the host. I did not want to “break” Jesus. The more I studied John, the Lord’s own words convinced me. One must chew or gnaw Him if you wish to have life. I figure if Jesus said it, I should do it!

God Bless,
Maria
 
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PeterC:
I was taught in school (60 years ago) not to chew. I recall the nuns were very strong on their instruction. Personally, I think it’s a good idea not to chew simply because not chewing provides an opportunity to linger and feel the presence both spiritually and physically as long as possible.
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Yes, I had Dominican nuns in the Detriot Archdiocese over 60 years ago and they did emphasize no chewing. As far as particles remaining in ones mouth or teeth, they would be rapidly degraded by the saliva before one left church. When one eats soda crackers for example the saliva starts to degrade the starch in the flour before it is even swallowed. When those little particles start to degrade(be digested) Jesus takes a powder so to speak.
 
I’m only 25, but I was taught not to chew as well. It’s the only way that really feels right to me. I have noticed though that the priests at my parish chew the host though, you can hear it if they haven’t turned their microphones off.
 
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MariaG:
I used to never chew on the host. I did not want to “break” Jesus. The more I studied John, the Lord’s own words convinced me. One must chew or gnaw Him if you wish to have life. I figure if Jesus said it, I should do it!

God Bless,
Maria
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The same for me, I didnt want to bite him, but I still do not chew, I just let it dissolve.
 
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