Eucharist and being sick

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robert_Ian_Will

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A protestant asks me:

I do not want to offend, but what happens in a ritual Church where the elements are considered to the real body and blood of Christ.

What happens if the person who has taken the sacraments, goes outside the Church, and is sick - bringing up the sacraments on the pavement?

Is the body and blood of our Lord dessicrated by this unfortunate accident? Please seriously give me some explanation without being offended please.

How do i answer?
 
In all my years I have never thought such a thing. My question is, “Why would this person even think about such a scenario?”

Without trying to get too deep, I think Jesus suffered plenty worse and could handle it.🤷
 
Hi,

An accident can never be desecration, which must be intentional.

The Sacrament was given and received according to the ritual of the Church. What happens after this does not affect the sacrament. When there is any accidental dropping, any particles of the host should be disolved and the water poured on the ground where there is no traffic.

Any accidents such as you describe would be a judgement call, as to what part of the host, if any, is evident. The area is roped off, until it can be properly cleaned. Probably the upchuck should be moved to an area of no traffic, and the whole area of the accident flushed with water to remove any particles which may remain.

We can only do our best to show reverence.

Lux
 
In the Orthodox code of canon law–the Pedalion or Rudder–there are rules that cover this.
 
robert_Ian_Will said:
A protestant asks me:

I do not want to offend, but what happens in a ritual Church where the elements are considered to the real body and blood of Christ.

What happens if the person who has taken the sacraments, goes outside the Church, and is sick - bringing up the sacraments on the pavement?

Is the body and blood of our Lord dessicrated by this unfortunate accident? Please seriously give me some explanation without being offended please.

How do i answer?
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Probably not because they would no longer be recognizable as Bread or wine. People generally don’t swallow the Host whole, so even the possibility of recognizable pieces is low.
 
I agree with the poster who stated that an accident is not a desecration.

Another practical friend of mine would state it this way - “Jesus can get himself in there, he can get himself out”…I hope this doesn’t sound irreverent…

imho
 
This is definitely covered someplace – even when I was an Episcopalian, we had a procedure for handling just this scenario. Remember, though, it is generally thought that the sacramental presence of Christ “remains” with us for only 15 or 20 minutes after we consume the host. So the proposed scenario is very unlikely.
 
Something else I happened to think of.

Once you swallow the Sacred Species, the Lord takes care of Himself from that point.
 
I used to take Communion to a terminally ill former priest - a very devout one who regretted having left the priesthood. Once, within minutes after receiving the Host, he got sick and made it to the bathroom, which meant he threw up in the toilet. I was horrified and I expected him to become very upset as well. He didn’t. I don’t remember if he flushed, don’t know what he might have done after I left. I didn’t question him because he had been a priest, had a great devotion to the Eucharist and knew what was necessary. After that, I always asked if a person was nauseated before giving Communion to a person who was ill. I prayed and apologized that it had happened. It’s always bothered me.
 
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