Communion in the hand when sick

[marypar]

I always take Communion on the tongue from a priest (since I was a child) but when I am sick with coughing I’ve been taking Communion in the hand usually from a lay person. Just curious as to what others do and if priests don’t really think about if someone is sick. I just don’t want to infect the priest. Yes, I am scrupulous and just curious if this is a legitimate issue. thank you,.

 

[Elizium23]

Perhaps if you are infectious you should consider staying home from Mass so as not to infect the other attendees?

 

[marypar]

I sit alone in the back of the church and if someone wants to sit next to me, I will let them know why they shouldn’t. It is a cough but I hate to miss Mass as I do hear people coughing all the time in Church.

 

[peter26]

I also receive on the tongue. If I was ill enough for that to be an issue, I would probably be ill enough to stay at home.

 

[oldgraymare2]

I always take Communion on the tongue from a priest (since I was a child) but when I am sick with coughing I’ve been taking Communion in the hand usually from a lay person. Just curious as to what others do and if priests don’t really think about if someone is sick. I just don’t want to infect the priest. Yes, I am scrupulous and just curious if this is a legitimate issue. thank you,.

Coughing-when you’re contagious-can spread your illness to others. When I have been ill, I have not gone.

I have not wanted others to get what I had, plus I felt that my coughing was probably really disruptive, too, as I usually had bronchitis.

 

[jilly4ski]

When I have a cold sore I receive on the hand instead of the tongue or I abstain from communion. The cold sore could be contagious if touched, but mostly at that stage it is just a visual thing. But I am definitely not sick enough to stay home.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I always take Communion on the tongue from a priest (since I was a child) but when I am sick with coughing I’ve been taking Communion in the hand usually from a lay person. Just curious as to what others do and if priests don’t really think about if someone is sick. I just don’t want to infect the priest. Yes, I am scrupulous and just curious if this is a legitimate issue. thank you,.

Even when I was transmitting radiation, particularly through bodily fluids, my priest had no issues with me receiving communion on the tongue.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Even when I was transmitting radiation, particularly through bodily fluids, my priest had no issues with me receiving communion on the tongue.

But surely no one “catches” a dose of second-hand “radiation” the way one would catch a virus.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I always take Communion on the tongue from a priest (since I was a child) but when I am sick with coughing I’ve been taking Communion in the hand usually from a lay person. Just curious as to what others do and if priests don’t really think about if someone is sick. I just don’t want to infect the priest. Yes, I am scrupulous and just curious if this is a legitimate issue. thank you,.

There is no problem to receive Communion in the hand…it is the choice of the communicant in the Roman Rite – except where the method of Communion is by intinction; in that case, It must be received on the tongue. Otherwise the diocesan bishop may, during a time of contagion, forbid Communion on the tongue or ministering the chalice precisely to decrease the risk of the spread of disease.

As to your specific question addressed to the priests…yes, we think about the prospect of illness. It is honestly more when I am ministering the sacraments to a hospital patient in quarantine or in making hospital rounds than when I am administering Communion at Mass.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

But surely no one “catches” a dose of second-hand “radiation” the way one would catch a virus.

Being around someone who emits radiation (even if you don’t come in contact with their bodily fluids) has health risks far greater than catching a virus. I had to do my best to avoid sitting near children or women I knew to be pregnant without it becoming public knowledge I was radioactive. Only my priest knew.

 

[ProVobis]

Being around someone who emits radiation (even if you don’t come in contact with their bodily fluids) has health risks far greater than catching a virus. I had to do my best to avoid sitting near children or women I knew to be pregnant without it becoming public knowledge I was radioactive. Only my priest knew.

Oh, wow! So what was your half-life?

 

[marypar]

Original poster here: I feel if I can go out shopping and doing all my chores there is no excuse to not go to Mass even with a cough. That would be a mortal sin. Many people cough at Mass but I was asking if anyone else went to Communion by tongue or switched to hand just temporarily. And if I had a cough drop I would not go at all (even though my priest said that is not food and since it was necessary not to worry, he never told me to skip Communion).

 

[tee_eff_em]

Otherwise the diocesan bishop may, during a time of contagion, forbid Communion on the tongue or ministering the chalice precisely to decrease the risk of the spread of disease.

Can the ordinary forbid communion on the tongue? Or can he only ask that people refrain from such? (I am pretty sure he can advise against any communion at all for the faithful, but would likely do so only in a condition of extreme contagion)

Thank you.

tee

 

[ProVobis]

(I am pretty sure he can advise against any communion at all for the faithful, but would likely do so only in a condition of extreme contagion)

I would think he would also ask that the exchange of peace be skipped as well, if that were indeed the case.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Can the ordinary forbid communion on the tongue? Or can he only ask that people refrain from such? (I am pretty sure he can advise against any communion at all for the faithful, but would likely do so only in a condition of extreme contagion)

Thank you.

tee

No he can’t. Many tried to with the H1N1. Our EF Mass was suspended since communion in the hand isn’t an option. Rome stepped in and all bans were lifted and our Mass was resumed.