Eucharist Ingredients Not Available

[HagiaSophia]

If memory serves me correctly, one of the newer cardinals from Viet Nam recounted the story of how in prison, people used to smuggle crackers into him, so that he could consecrate and serve Eucharist to fellow prisoners. Is there an exception clause in
cases of persecution or imprisonment? I wondered about this particuarly with regard to soldiers in battle where a proper host may not be available.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

HagiaSophia:

If memory serves me correctly, one of the newer cardinals from Viet Nam recounted the story of how in prison, people used to smuggle crackers into him, so that he could consecrate and serve Eucharist to fellow prisoners. Is there an exception clause in
cases of persecution or imprisonment? I wondered about this particuarly with regard to soldiers in battle where a proper host may not be available.

No, the proper matter must be used or no Consecration takes place. There are historical records that indicate the Bishop overseeing Greenland in 1237 requested permission from the Pope to use local grain, because wheat was not able to be grown there. The answer was, no. Mass was to be celebrated only when the proper elements were available. Also in the American missions in the 1500’s many times wheat and wine were not available. The only thing available was indian corn which could not be used, They offered what was known as a “Dry Mass” in which the prayers of Consecration were not said. Technically it is not a Mass since it is incomplete. In the case noted above because of persecution or imprisonment. If the cracker was wheat but no wine was available this too is more properly refered to as a “Dry Mass” because the consecration of the cracker would take place.

 

[loyola_rambler]

There have been exceptions in the history of the Church. During the high point of the Bubonic plague, once the source was decided to be wheat stores, the cardinals did order that another grain be used until the safety of the eucharist could be ensured (mainly they didn’t want to make themselves sick by handling the tainted wheat).

There is also an exception made for prison camps, as the captors can attempt to thwart the prisoners’ faith by manipulating access to wheat and interfere with the sacrament. Crackers were in fact written in to part of the code of the Geneva accord and are mandated in all Red Cross packages specifically so that the priests can consecrate them. They are in fact made with wheat flour and are unleavened. Whether intended as ‘bread’ per se when they were made, they are by definition sufficient for consecration (and the Vatican did participate in the negotiations and agreed to this point). That’s why the priests in Viet Nam had crackers smuggled in (as their captors were not at the time signatories of the Geneva Convention and were not bound by its principles.)

 

[Lourdes]

loyola rambler:

There have been exceptions in the history of the Church. During the high point of the Bubonic plague, once the source was decided to be wheat stores, the cardinals did order that another grain be used until the safety of the eucharist could be ensured (mainly they didn’t want to make themselves sick by handling the tainted wheat).

To hear some posters from the celiac threads tell it, they should have had nothing to fear, the Host made with contaminated wheat couldn’t have done anyone any harm (unless they were unworthy of course, only bad people get sick) - and it may have even cured the plague!

There is also an exception made for prison camps, as the captors can attempt to thwart the prisoners’ faith by manipulating access to wheat and interfere with the sacrament. Crackers were in fact written in to part of the code of the Geneva accord and are mandated in all Red Cross packages specifically so that the priests can consecrate them. They are in fact made with wheat flour and are unleavened. Whether intended as ‘bread’ per se when they were made, they are by definition sufficient for consecration (and the Vatican did participate in the negotiations and agreed to this point). That’s why the priests in Viet Nam had crackers smuggled in (as their captors were not at the time signatories of the Geneva Convention and were not bound by its principles.)

Very interesting, thank you.

 

[DJJG]

Many crackers ARE unleavened wheat bread, and therefore would be valid (if they have salt on them you would have to scrape it off).

 

[Joe_Kelley]

loyola rambler:

There have been exceptions in the history of the Church. During the high point of the Bubonic plague, once the source was decided to be wheat stores, the cardinals did order that another grain be used until the safety of the eucharist could be ensured (mainly they didn’t want to make themselves sick by handling the tainted wheat).

There is also an exception made for prison camps, as the captors can attempt to thwart the prisoners’ faith by manipulating access to wheat and interfere with the sacrament. Crackers were in fact written in to part of the code of the Geneva accord and are mandated in all Red Cross packages specifically so that the priests can consecrate them. They are in fact made with wheat flour and are unleavened. Whether intended as ‘bread’ per se when they were made, they are by definition sufficient for consecration (and the Vatican did participate in the negotiations and agreed to this point). That’s why the priests in Viet Nam had crackers smuggled in (as their captors were not at the time signatories of the Geneva Convention and were not bound by its principles.)

Do you have a reference on that? Hopefully on-line?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

HagiaSophia:

If memory serves me correctly, one of the newer cardinals from Viet Nam recounted the story of how in prison, people used to smuggle crackers into him, so that he could consecrate and serve Eucharist to fellow prisoners. Is there an exception clause in
cases of persecution or imprisonment? I wondered about this particuarly with regard to soldiers in battle where a proper host may not be available.

I don’t see an exception here. The crackers were of wheat. Presumably he got at least a few drops of wine from someplace. I have heard of priests in prison extracting juice from raisins, or possibly soaking the raisins in a little water. In a few hours the juice will start to ferment so qualify as wine.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Joe Kelley:

I don’t see an exception here. The crackers were of wheat. Presumably he got at least a few drops of wine from someplace. I have heard of priests in prison extracting juice from raisins, or possibly soaking the raisins in a little water. In a few hours the juice will start to ferment so qualify as wine.

Raisin wine is valid matter.