Did I do right? On the Spot Decision!

[manualman]

I was at a funeral this weekend. It was a funeral mass at a funeral home, not the parish. The priest was elderly, the altar was located on the same level as the seats (not raised or separated).

At the offertory, the priest spilled two hosts (not consecrated yet) on the floor, but didn’t SEE that it had happened. He went on to begin the blessings.

I have no idea what would have happened to the fallen hosts at the time of consecration (presumably nothing since they were not in the sacred vessels), but I decided something had to be done.

I got up, circled around back and approached the altar close enough to be noticed, but as far back as possible for father to notice me. When he did, I quietly told him of the fallen hosts and went back while he retrieved them.

Stressful! I didn’t want to be near the altar at that moment, but I didn’t want the hosts lying on the floor either! Decisions, decisions. What would you have done?

 

[emsvetich]

You did just fine. As you noted, the hosts had not yet been consecrated, but you felt the need to address the issue and you did. It was a courteous thing to do.

 

[AltarMan]

manualman:

I was at a funeral this weekend. It was a funeral mass at a funeral home, not the parish. The priest was elderly, the altar was located on the same level as the seats (not raised or separated).

At the offertory, the priest spilled two hosts (not consecrated yet) on the floor, but didn’t SEE that it had happened. He went on to begin the blessings.

I have no idea what would have happened to the fallen hosts at the time of consecration (presumably nothing since they were not in the sacred vessels), but I decided something had to be done.

I got up, circled around back and approached the altar close enough to be noticed, but as far back as possible for father to notice me. When he did, I quietly told him of the fallen hosts and went back while he retrieved them.

Stressful! I didn’t want to be near the altar at that moment, but I didn’t want the hosts lying on the floor either! Decisions, decisions. What would you have done?

The hosts would not have been consecrated. The old saying of “only that which the celebrant wishes to consecrate is consecrated” would hold true in this case.

I personally would have waited until communion began and then I would have retrieved the dropped hosts. What you did however was in good conscience and you are to be commended for caring about what was taking place. Good on yer.