EMHC Question

[Booter]

I am an EMHC and was wondering if it is ok to throw out an UN-Consecrated host should it fall to the floor. I realize it’s nothing more than a piece of bread at that time, and I have made sure in the past say if one falls out while filling the siboria before MASS, that I break it up and throw it out (to prevent someone who may see it from believing it’s Jesus) . I just wasn’t sure if UN-consecrated hosts were Blessed in any way, prior to MASS. For example, I was serving and EHMC at Mass today and one of the hosts fell out of the siboria during the offertory. My priest told me to take care of it, so I broke it up and threw it away. I wouldn’t put it back with the others because it was on the floor, I wouldn’t consume it, because that would break the fast, so logic told me it was ok to throw it out. I can be scrupulous so I was looking for a good answer from any EHMC.

 

[Joannm]

Unconsecrated hosts are not blessed in anyway so it is OK to throw one out. I would just do so in private so that no one would happen to think you were throwing out a consecrated host.

 

[Apollos]

Joannm answered rightly, but I have a few sidebar questions, and I am going to labeled uncharitable because of them.

First, why is there an EMHC who doesn’t know how to spell ciborium? Isn’t that like a nurse who doesn’t know how to spell syringe? No offense, but isn’t that, like, the single most important tool of your job?

Second, why was there an EMHC at the altar during the offertory? Are EMHCs co-priests? Sorry, but, for me at least, that makes a statement.

Third, why does an EMHC, of all people, need to ask a question about something like this? I’m not saying you’re stupid or anything, but, I mean, aren’t people required to have a certain amount of catechesis or training about precisely this sort of question in order to become an EMHC in the first place? Like I said, isn’t that your job?

Fourth, what sort of carelessness does it take to allow anything to fall out of a ciborium? If it happened before the consecration, then it could just as easily have happened after. Aren’t they deliberately designed in a certain way to prevent this because they are designed to contain the Eucharistic species? Sure, accidents happen, but I don’t see how that’s even physically possible unless it’s overfilled to overflowing, and that strikes me as negligent and thoughtless.

Anyway, report me to the moderators for being mean, but I’m just trying to figure out the bigger picture.

 

[Booter]

This is not meant to mean…but im sorry i forgot how to spell the word im a human being…and i was trained but just didnt remember if there was a better was to dispose of an unconsecrated host other than throwing it out…and again accidents happen bc we are human beings…i was on the altar because my priest called me out of the crowd to be an altar server and also had me fufill my emhc duties out of need…its not that im careless but i do commend you for you passion…not being sarcastic

 

[Catholic90]

First, why is there an EMHC who doesn’t know how to spell ciborium? Isn’t that like a nurse who doesn’t know how to spell syringe? No offense, but isn’t that, like, the single most important tool of your job?

Did not realize that being a spelling ace was a prerequisite to being a lay minister…
I bet there are also nurses who do NOT know how to spell syringe!

Many priests can’t speak well…that does not keep them from giving homilies!