Dropped Body of Christ

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I normally receive on the tongue. This morning I approached the deacon, said amen, and stuck out my tongue. I don’t know if I didn’t have it out far enough or if he fell a little short of the mark, but the host dropped to the floor. I was shocked in the fact that I dropped Jesus. The deacon picked up the host and was going to give me a “new” one. I instead told him I would take the one dropped. It had been on my tongue so I didn’t expect the deacon to take it.

All this happened in a few seconds. Was I right to ask to receive the one I dropped?
 
Horton said:
The deacon picked up the host and was going to give me a “new” one. I instead told him I would take the one dropped. It had been on my tongue so I didn’t expect the deacon to take it.

All this happened in a few seconds. Was I right to ask to receive the one I dropped?
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It’s up to you - much like anything else. most people prefer not to receive a host that’s fallen on the floor, but then again, others don’t have problem with it.

Hosts falling (or being dropped) happens. It’s a simple reality brought about by the effects of gravity on an object being passed from one person to another. While the Body of Christ should of course be treated with reverence and respect, it’s important to remember that accidents can (and do) happen and not to get overly concerned about it.
 
I would have done the same thing. I noticed that our present pastor doesn’t hesitate to give the communicant a Host that was dropped on the floor.
 
Horton said:
I normally receive on the tongue. This morning I approached the deacon, said amen, and stuck out my tongue. I don’t know if I didn’t have it out far enough or if he fell a little short of the mark, but the host dropped to the floor. I was shocked in the fact that I dropped Jesus. The deacon picked up the host and was going to give me a “new” one. I instead told him I would take the one dropped. It had been on my tongue so I didn’t expect the deacon to take it.

All this happened in a few seconds. Was I right to ask to receive the one I dropped?
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Not necessarily. Food handling regulations may still govern churches, depending on jurisdiction, and prudentially speaking, the “five-second rule” is a myth. Once food hits the floor, it’s deemed contaminated, and the deacon was probably right to offer a fresh host.

The deacon is trained to properly and reverently dispose of a contaminated host. You are under no obligation to insist on consuming it, and the deacon likely did the right thing from a health point of view.

And before some well-meaning, devout, but ill-informed Catholics chime in to the contrary, yes, pathogens can still thrive on the Eucharistic species, and it CAN still make you sick.
 
porthos11 said:
Not necessarily. Food handling regulations may still govern churches, depending on jurisdiction, and prudentially speaking, the “five-second rule” is a myth. Once food hits the floor, it’s deemed contaminated, and the deacon was probably right to offer a fresh host.

The deacon is trained to properly and reverently dispose of a contaminated host. You are under no obligation to insist on consuming it, and the deacon likely did the right thing from a health point of view.

And before some well-meaning, devout, but ill-informed Catholics chime in to the contrary, yes, pathogens can still thrive on the Eucharistic species, and it CAN still make you sick.
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My request to take the host was so spontaneous I was even surprised by it. I’m a little OCD with germs so when I got back to me seat I thought to myself what did I just do. :eek:
 
Horton said:
My request to take the host was so spontaneous I was even surprised by it. I’m a little OCD with germs so when I got back to me seat I thought to myself what did I just do. :eek:
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I’m OCD with germs as well but I would’ve done the same thing. It wont hurt you.
 
Horton said:
I normally receive on the tongue. This morning I approached the deacon, said amen, and stuck out my tongue. I don’t know if I didn’t have it out far enough or if he fell a little short of the mark, but the host dropped to the floor. I was shocked in the fact that I dropped Jesus. The deacon picked up the host and was going to give me a “new” one. I instead told him I would take the one dropped. It had been on my tongue so I didn’t expect the deacon to take it.

All this happened in a few seconds. Was I right to ask to receive the one I dropped?
Click to expand...
I don’t blame you. In the situation it’s probably a spontaneous reaction. Common sense would tell that it is not wrong to receive the dropped host, I think there is no law to say you cannot, but you may take the risk of contamination.

I can’t say for sure what I’d do in the situation. If I’m calm enough I’d weigh the risk of contamination and gladly take the offer of the new host.
 
We had a problem in our parish for years. The unconsecrated hosts that were ordered were brittle, and pieces would drop to the floor all the time after being consecrated . We would sit in the front row because we wanted our kids to pay attention. We had a pastor who was really bad. But we had a steady stream of associate priests who were excellent.

After mass (in order not to disrupt Communion) I would consume the fallen fragments after stooping down to pick them up. I approached several of the associate priests and ask if I was doing the right thing. Everyone of them thanked me and they were aware of the problem but did not have the power to change who our parish got the hosts from

We now have a better pastor and the hosts are much better.

I never got sick, and if I had, who cares… it is the body of Christ we a taking about.
 
there was an item way back of a time when at a wedding mass the Host got dropped down the front, ie inside the low necked wedding gown… There was a video of it,

these things happen. it is how we deal with it that matters and well done OP.
 
porthos11 said:
Not necessarily. Food handling regulations may still govern churches, depending on jurisdiction, and prudentially speaking, the “five-second rule” is a myth. Once food hits the floor, it’s deemed contaminated, and the deacon was probably right to offer a fresh host.

The deacon is trained to properly and reverently dispose of a contaminated host. You are under no obligation to insist on consuming it, and the deacon likely did the right thing from a health point of view.

And before some well-meaning, devout, but ill-informed Catholics chime in to the contrary, yes, pathogens can still thrive on the Eucharistic species, and it CAN still make you sick.
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I have a cousin who believes that Jesus would never allow a recipient to get sick from a dropped Host or if a sick person contaminated the chalice. :rolleyes:
 
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