Does your parish have "Eucharist Defenders"?

[TimothyH]

Some Churches do have a legitimate need for people stationed to ensure that the Eucharist is being consumed.

The Basillica Shrine of the Immaculate Concpetion in Washington DC is a major tourist spot, and many go just to visit as part of a larger trip. Many non-Catholics who visit just go with the flow and don’t know any better, so they have some form of Eucharistic ambassadors or whatever you want to call it.

May large tourist destination churches have this issue and have implimented something similar when there is a legitimate need.

-Tim-

 

[Kevin812]

It doesn’t sound very welcoming. What next – flashlights and checking that you swallowed?

 

[Celticnovice]

The priest always leaves the sanctuary first, what are you talking about?

Oh I know…I was young =^)

 

[Blue_Cricket]

It doesn’t sound very welcoming. What next – flashlights and checking that you swallowed?

Yes, sadly and horrifyingly, since as a Eucharistic Minister I have seen people fake swallow after receiving DIRECTLY IN THEIR MOUTH, not chew, and then discretely place their hand over their mouth when they are back in their pew, and slip the Eucharist in their purse.

I WAS NOT PLEASED (and no small confrontation followed)

In all honesty, I think the best thing to do in and for every parish is to have masses said against desecration and for obedience to canon law in this matter, so that the graces from said Sacrament can go towards cutting down the number of these incidents. (This is also why I understand people some people are upset for Eucharist to be given in the hand, but I honestly, factually, know that it does not matter. People determined to steal will try, and the best counter-offensive is to have the priest bless them for obedience to the Living God. Not put them under vow – just slap them with a really strong, “Take Him or Leave Him” blessing.)

 

[hannajomar]

At my parish, I assume the ushers are supposed to do this, based on where they stand during Holy Communion. However, I’ve only ever seen the priests personally approach people for not consuming. As a EMHC, the one time I doubted if someone consumed the Host, the usher was in a deep day-dream and didn’t notice. Fortunately, the EMHC administering the cup was able to assure me the man did consume.

 

[mlz]

I’m new as a Catholic but is this really necessary? Why would people do this?! Perhaps I’m naive. I’m so grateful to live in a small town where my parish doors are open 24 hours a day. I can always go and pray before the tabernacle, what a blessing! What is even worse though and only He knows for sure are those that recieve Him (tongue or hand) while in mortal sin. I understand that I am not to judge but I have been told that if you don’t go to Mass each week it is a mortal sin. Yet, many I’m told (although I don’t know who)that some people don’t go to Mass each week, skipping often but think nothing of coming up and recieving the Eucharist. I think we all need to pray that we all remain faithful to Christ and His Church and pray for those being misled.

mlz

 

[LilyM]

Yes, sadly and horrifyingly, since as a Eucharistic Minister I have seen people fake swallow after receiving DIRECTLY IN THEIR MOUTH, not chew, and then discretely place their hand over their mouth when they are back in their pew, and slip the Eucharist in their purse.

I WAS NOT PLEASED (and no small confrontation followed)

In all honesty, I think the best thing to do in and for every parish is to have masses said against desecration and for obedience to canon law in this matter, so that the graces from said Sacrament can go towards cutting down the number of these incidents. (This is also why I understand people some people are upset for Eucharist to be given in the hand, but I honestly, factually, know that it does not matter. People determined to steal will try, and the best counter-offensive is to have the priest bless them for obedience to the Living God. Not put them under vow – just slap them with a really strong, “Take Him or Leave Him” blessing.)

Thank you for this - I am getting tired of the constant assertions that communion on the tongue somehow makes desecration more difficult. For someone who is going to desecrate the Eucharist, as you have shown, COTT is no barrier at all.

 

[couponfit]

Do you have fellow parishioners who stand a few feet away from the extraordinary ministers so that no parishioners participating in holy communion leave with the Eucharist in their hand or take back to their pew or leave the parish without consuming??

No. But in some of the services I go to we don’t place the host in the hands so its not an issue.

 

[couponfit]

Yes, sadly and horrifyingly, since as a Eucharistic Minister I have seen people fake swallow after receiving DIRECTLY IN THEIR MOUTH, not chew, and then discretely place their hand over their mouth when they are back in their pew, and slip the Eucharist in their purse.

I WAS NOT PLEASED (and no small confrontation followed)

In all honesty, I think the best thing to do in and for every parish is to have masses said against desecration and for obedience to canon law in this matter, so that the graces from said Sacrament can go towards cutting down the number of these incidents. (This is also why I understand people some people are upset for Eucharist to be given in the hand, but I honestly, factually, know that it does not matter. People determined to steal will try, and the best counter-offensive is to have the priest bless them for obedience to the Living God. Not put them under vow – just slap them with a really strong, “Take Him or Leave Him” blessing.)

Why do they do that?

 

[pamnbam]

Yes, my old parish had “Eucharistic Guards.” And they were placed because of proven desecration issues the parish had in the past. The pastor spoke in several homilies about what was going on and his reasoning for having the guards. He and the other priests also reminded everyone during Christmas and Easter about the requirements for presenting oneself for the Eucharist.

I wouldn’t say there were “confrontations,” but there were a few instances communicants who didn’t consume on the spot were stopped by the guard to consume. Priests distributing communion would stop the line and actually go after the person themselves if they caught them. It would be in a whisper, but I could hear the priest asking the person if they were Catholic and if they understood they were supposed to consume on the spot. I think the two instances I heard the priest ask, the person said yes and he requested they consume then and there before the priest resumed the line.

 

[The_Curt_Jester]

I have an excellent idea to guard the Eucharist. It’s called Communion on the tongue.

Get rid of CITH and EMHC and voila!

 

[misspriss]

No. But in some of the services I go to we don’t place the host in the hands so its not an issue.

I have an excellent idea to guard the Eucharist. It’s called Communion on the tongue.

Get rid of CITH and EMHC and voila!

Yes, sadly and horrifyingly, since as a Eucharistic Minister I have seen people fake swallow after receiving DIRECTLY IN THEIR MOUTH, not chew, and then discretely place their hand over their mouth when they are back in their pew, and slip the Eucharist in their purse.

I WAS NOT PLEASED (and no small confrontation followed)

In all honesty, I think the best thing to do in and for every parish is to have masses said against desecration and for obedience to canon law in this matter, so that the graces from said Sacrament can go towards cutting down the number of these incidents. (This is also why I understand people some people are upset for Eucharist to be given in the hand, but I honestly, factually, know that it does not matter. People determined to steal will try, and the best counter-offensive is to have the priest bless them for obedience to the Living God. Not put them under vow – just slap them with a really strong, “Take Him or Leave Him” blessing.)

It doesn’t sound like COTT completely eliminates the problem. Thankfully, I do not think this is a problem at my parish. I guess the EMHCs may keep an eye out.

 

[Cider]

No, but we receive on the tongue from the priest

 

[figs]

We’re getting ready to start implimenting “Eucharist defenders” at our parish since we’ve been discovering Hosts left in pews and on the floor.

This has happened in the past at our parish but it is far more frequent lately raising serious concern.

 

[paperwight66]

We’re getting ready to start implimenting “Eucharist defenders” at our parish since we’ve been discovering Hosts left in pews and on the floor.

This has happened in the past at our parish but it is far more frequent lately raising serious concern.

How extraordinary that you would have this problem so often. Perhaps it is a person with mental health issues doing it over and over again, rather than lots of people? Is your parish in an area with social problems?

We’ve never had that problem. Wel, there was one occasion when soneone came to me wjen I was sacristan saying that they’d found a Host on the floor, but we deduced in the end that an altar-bread had just fallen off the bowl when an altar-server was taking things to the narthex table ready for the Offertory procession. The bowl was very full, they were rushing round a corner…

I sometimes wonder if something similar has happened when ‘Hosts’ are reported on the floor - they are just altar-breads fallen off a bowl.

I don’t understand how it can be a frequent occurrence and involving several different people, if the EMsHC are doing their job properly. And how many badly-intentioned attendees at Mass can there be in one parish? Would they actually sit though a whole Mass and homily patiently waiting for Holy Communion?

 

[TrueLight]

What is “consuming on the spot?”.

I don’t finish consuming until I am back in my pew. It’s not that easy to swallow.

 

[aicirt]

Why don’t the priests state there’s a problem at each and every Mass? It should be the priests responsibility to tell his flock that the Host is to be consumed when placed in the hand and you should return to your pew.

We had this discussion with a priest in our parish. A non-Catholic told a friend that she receives communion all the time at Catholic weddings because she doesn’t want to be the only one sitting in the pew. She’s an atheist. She further stated that the priests know. Also, according to her, Catholics don’t believe in confession. When this was told to the priest, he replied yes it does happen. I feel it is up to the priests to state that only Catholics can receive but to approach the altar with hands folded if you want a blessing.

Also they need to state that all can figure out that if the confessionals are empty on Saturday, how can all be ready to receive on Sunday. This is what we have priests for…to guide the flock. We don’t need church police.

 

[figs]

How extraordinary that you would have this problem so often. Perhaps it is a person with mental health issues doing it over and over again, rather than lots of people? Is your parish in an area with social problems?

We’ve never had that problem. Wel, there was one occasion when soneone came to me wjen I was sacristan saying that they’d found a Host on the floor, but we deduced in the end that an altar-bread had just fallen off the bowl when an altar-server was taking things to the narthex table ready for the Offertory procession. The bowl was very full, they were rushing round a corner…

I sometimes wonder if something similar has happened when ‘Hosts’ are reported on the floor - they are just altar-breads fallen off a bowl.

I don’t understand how it can be a frequent occurrence and involving several different people, if the EMsHC are doing their job properly. And how many badly-intentioned attendees at Mass can there be in one parish? Would they actually sit though a whole Mass and homily patiently waiting for Holy Communion?

Exratordinary or not, we need to find out why it is happening in our parish and hopefully correct the problem, hence our decision to impliment defenders for now.

 

[markomalley]

I’m new as a Catholic but is this really necessary? Why would people do this?! Perhaps I’m naive. I’m so grateful to live in a small town where my parish doors are open 24 hours a day. I can always go and pray before the tabernacle, what a blessing! What is even worse though and only He knows for sure are those that recieve Him (tongue or hand) while in mortal sin. I understand that I am not to judge but I have been told that if you don’t go to Mass each week it is a mortal sin. Yet, many I’m told (although I don’t know who)that some people don’t go to Mass each week, skipping often but think nothing of coming up and recieving the Eucharist. I think we all need to pray that we all remain faithful to Christ and His Church and pray for those being misled.

mlz

Welcome.

There are four reasons (that I’ve heard):

1. Wanting to bring communion to a relative or friend who is unable to come to Mass (nice intention, but misguided…an EMHC or clergy could be called to do so)
2. Wanting to set up a personal “adoration chapel” at home (again, nice intention, but misguided)
3. A non-Catholic who didn’t want to feel left out (After Mass, we inspect around all the pews to make sure that a #3 did not just throw the host on the floor afterwards. Yes, we find that on an infrequent, but regular basis)
4. A Satanist wanting to use the Body of Christ in one of their rites (yes, believe it or not)

#1 and #2 I have heard with my own ears. #3 I have heard from others who have confronted those who have not consumed – and I have seen hosts on the floor after Mass as the after effect.

#4 – I’m sure you’re going, “yeah, right.” While I don’t have personal You would be shocked at some of the things I have seen at Mass over the years.

Seriously, though, it does happen. For example, in 2008, a University of Minnesota professor decided to make a statement regarding a rejection of all religion (note what the rusty nail is stuck through):


Anton Lavey, in his Satanic Bible, has the desecration of a consecrated Host as a central part of his description of a so-called “Black Mass”

Does this kind of thing happen all the time? No. Does it happen? Absolutely.

 

[LilyM]

What is “consuming on the spot?”.

I don’t finish consuming until I am back in my pew. It’s not that easy to swallow.

Finishing is one thing. They are discussing people who, for example, receive the Host in their hand, but instead of putting it in their mouth immediately, hold it in their hand as they walk away. Such people may end up not putting the Host in their mouths at all, but leaving it somewhere like in a pew or in a missal, or even taking it out of the church altogether.