Eucharist dissolved

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H guys,

i read that if a Sacred Host is dropped on the ground, He (the Host) can be put in a glass of water because once the Host dissolves and substance of bread is gone, the eucharistic presence disappears.

Now I’m confused because at what point exactly is the substance of bread gone? Is it when no “bread molecules” left but what is that made up of? Does my question make sense?
 

From the above article -
"Once the host is dissolved, the water may be poured directly upon the earth or down the sacrarium — the special sacristy sink that leads to the earth, not to a drain.

It should not be poured down a common sink.

With respect to the presence of Christ, most theologians would hold that, although the host externally remains intact for several days, the real presence would cease as soon as the host is fully soaked with water as from that moment the species is no longer exclusively that of bread.

It is necessary to wait for the host to dissolve, out of respect for what once contained the presence of Christ and in order to avoid any danger or appearance of a host being discarded or profaned."
 
Pick it up and consume it, unless you feel its landing place was extremely unsanitary…avoids the whole dissolve in water and proper disposal argument.
 
JJO said:
H guys,

i read that if a Sacred Host is dropped on the ground, He (the Host) can be put in a glass of water because once the Host dissolves and substance of bread is gone, the eucharistic presence disappears.

Now I’m confused because at what point exactly is the substance of bread gone? Is it when no “bread molecules” left but what is that made up of? Does my question make sense?
Click to expand...
This is what was taught in the Baltimore Catechism No. 4 in Lesson 22, Q 250:
The size of the Host does not make the slightest difference, as Our Lord
is present whole and entire in the smallest particle of the Host. A
little piece that you could scarcely see would be the body of Our Lord.
However, the particle that is given to the people is about the size of a
twenty-five-cent piece, so that they can swallow it before it melts. In
receiving Holy Communion you must never let it entirely dissolve in your
mouth, for if you do not swallow it you will not receive Holy Communion
at all.
Click to expand...
 
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There is no question of “bread molecules” here. The rule of thumb is “does It retain the appearances of bread?”. A piece of bread dissolved into any kind of mush, froth, or cloudy watery substance no longer looks like bread. After you have received communion, once your digestive processes take over, It is no longer bread, and hence It is no longer the Body of Christ. I have heard a time frame of 15 minutes quoted.
 
What about the host being fully soaked makes the species no longer that of bread. What criteria make the substance bread?
 
Ok but what exactly is the smallest particle of a Host? It’s more of a technical question not a really necessary one so it’s fine if there’s no definite answer.
 
On the atomic and molecular level, when does the substance no longer retain the appearances of bread? I feel otherwise it is still a bit subjective even though I get what you mean
 
JJO said:
Ok but what exactly is the smallest particle of a Host? It’s more of a technical question not a really necessary one so it’s fine if there’s no definite answer.
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The smallest particle that has the appearance to the eye as bread (or in the other case wine). When dropped or spilled the Body and Blood of Christ is dissolved in water before it is respectfully placed in the sacrarium which goes to the earth not the sewer.

The appearance will include the color and texture.
 
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JJO said:
On the atomic and molecular level, when does the substance no longer retain the appearances of bread? I feel otherwise it is still a bit subjective even though I get what you mean
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It is subjective, just as any act of sacrilege is. It could also be objective if many persons together judge there to be an appearance. One person may see better than another, for example.
 
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There is no such thing as an atom or molecule of “bread.” The flour that is the primary constituent of bread is itself made up of many organic chemicals, sugars, and other naturally-occurring compounds. Once you’re at the molecular level you’re looking at constituent chemicals, not “bread.” To say nothing of the fact that by definition if something isn’t visible to the naked eye, it no longer has any “appearance” at all, and certainly not that of “bread.”
 
@Vico @Pitcairn17
Ok, I see what you guys mean. Thank you and God bless!
 
That’s true - by then it isn’t any longer bread. But the other part of it is in order to avoid any possible appearance of profanation, we are to wait until the it loses the appearance of a host before poured directly upon the earth where no one will walk or preferably if the Church does have a sacrarium, then pour it down this.

By adding water it is no longer just the substance of bread alone as it is in a host, therefore the substance has been changed and is now ‘other’ than what it was originally.
 
Once the host is inside of our mouths, it naturally dissolves. We;re supposed to swallow it, and as it dissolves, it becomes easier to swallow. Is Christ not then still within us, having received Him in the Eucharist? He wouldn’t leave us simply because the host which contained him dissolved inside of us. I remember being taught that in my early childhood Catechism classes.
 
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Then what do you do with the water? Drink it, or pour it down the drain? I believe that a desecrated Communion host is burnt by a Priest or deacon with a special ceremony…
 
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