Eucharist Not Consumed

[PJD1987]

After receiving the Eucharist this morning at Mass I happened to notice a young woman kept it in her hand and did not consume it. I watched her walk all the way out of the Church with it, she did not go back to her pew, just straight out the door. I was torn whether or not to follow and make sure Jesus was not abused in anyway, but at the same time in charity I thought well maybe she just does not know and when she catches up to her friend she would be told what to do (her friend was with her and went out the door just before her). At the same time it really bothered me, so what should be done in this situation by a layperson, and would bringing this up to the priest do anything? At least maybe caution priests and EMs to make sure the Eucharist is consumed in front of them. I’ve seen priests follow people and grab arms before and instruct people to consume the Eucharist or return it, but I’m not sure what the correct response to this is.

Also, would not a brief announcement about reception of the Eucharist at least maybe limit the frequency of such events? It would take all of 10 seconds, and I’ve seen it done before. This is the Lord Jesus we are talking about here, and it is sad that people do not actually know how to properly receive, but the fact of the matter is that many people do not, and many non-Catholics come to Mass with friends (as I think the situation was today), and their friends don’t want to be “mean” and tell them they can’t receive. I know theres an announcement in many Missals that explains proper reception, but really…not sure how many people actually read that. So again, would not a brief announcement not be beneficial to avoid sacrilege help? Isn’t Jesus worth it?

 

[beleg]

I would have followed them, or immediately told an EM about it. Even if that person wasn’t doing it out of malice or anything, they need to be informed that they simply cannot walk away with the Eucharist. You don’t want to risk anything happening to the Host, especially desecration.

 

[TheSurvivor]

This is one reason why I wish that receiving on the hands is forbidden.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the *recognitio *of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.

tee

 

[Gorgias]

would not a brief announcement about reception of the Eucharist at least maybe limit the frequency of such events? It would take all of 10 seconds, and I’ve seen it done before.

Probably, it wouldn’t have an effect. A “10 second announcement” – I’m assuming prior to Mass, and not interrupting the Mass following the Agnus (?) – wouldn’t get any notice by most folks.

beleg:

I would have … immediately told an EM about it.

Yep; that sounds about right. Be ready to give a description that identifies them – “a youngish girl” or “a guy with a beard” might not be sufficient to allow definite identification – as well as a prompt, timely mention of it (after all, are you asking them to run down the street a couple minutes after the person has walked out the door?) are critical…

 

[Mount_Carmel]

This is one reason why I wish that receiving on the hands is forbidden.

Amen to that, I feel the same. Apart from anything else, our hands have not been consecrated as a priest’s hands have, and they are not washed in blessed water just before we partake.

I am one of the odd bods at Masses I go to, I persist in receiving the Blessed Sacrament on the tongue, and if at all possible taking the Eucharistic Host from a priest

I have heard that ‘Visionaries’ have mentioned that Our Blessed Lady prefers for Communion to be on the tongue, but that she submits to the authority of the Church.

 

[SuperLuigi]

This is one reason why I wish that receiving on the hands is forbidden.

I wouldn’t receive on the hand just because a lot of people don’t wash their hands beforehand or have a chance to before Communion.

 

[SuperLuigi]

After receiving the Eucharist this morning at Mass I happened to notice a young woman kept it in her hand and did not consume it. I watched her walk all the way out of the Church with it, she did not go back to her pew, just straight out the door. I was torn whether or not to follow and make sure Jesus was not abused in anyway, but at the same time in charity I thought well maybe she just does not know and when she catches up to her friend she would be told what to do (her friend was with her and went out the door just before her). At the same time it really bothered me, so what should be done in this situation by a layperson, and would bringing this up to the priest do anything? At least maybe caution priests and EMs to make sure the Eucharist is consumed in front of them. I’ve seen priests follow people and grab arms before and instruct people to consume the Eucharist or return it, but I’m not sure what the correct response to this is.

Also, would not a brief announcement about reception of the Eucharist at least maybe limit the frequency of such events? It would take all of 10 seconds, and I’ve seen it done before. This is the Lord Jesus we are talking about here, and it is sad that people do not actually know how to properly receive, but the fact of the matter is that many people do not, and many non-Catholics come to Mass with friends (as I think the situation was today), and their friends don’t want to be “mean” and tell them they can’t receive. I know theres an announcement in many Missals that explains proper reception, but really…not sure how many people actually read that. So again, would not a brief announcement not be beneficial to avoid sacrilege help? Isn’t Jesus worth it?

I really wish there would be an announcement before every Mass, including daily, about who can receive and who cannot. People, including many Catholics simply cannot be trusted with the honor system today or are simply ignorant of the proper teaching. Even Churches with devout followers need to do this, I’m sorry to say.

As far as what you should have done, what these questions boil down to is do you have an obligation for whatever it is you are asking about.

I sometimes hesitate to tell people they have an obligation under pain of sin to do something, and I don’t know, maybe you should have and I would recommend doing at least something in the future should it happen again, but I think at this point, you need to mention this at Confession and ask for further instruction from a confessor or spiritual director.

People need to understand that this is a very serious matter.

 

[Neofight]

This is one reason why I wish that receiving on the hands is forbidden.

Thats a worn out and baseless contention. Anyone intent on misappropriation the body of Christ is not going to be deterred my simply receiving on the tongue rather than the hand.

 

[OurLadysServant]

After receiving the Eucharist this morning at Mass I happened to notice a young woman kept it in her hand and did not consume it. I watched her walk all the way out of the Church with it, she did not go back to her pew, just straight out the door. I was torn whether or not to follow and make sure Jesus was not abused in anyway, but at the same time in charity I thought well maybe she just does not know and when she catches up to her friend she would be told what to do (her friend was with her and went out the door just before her). At the same time it really bothered me, so what should be done in this situation by a layperson, and would bringing this up to the priest do anything? At least maybe caution priests and EMs to make sure the Eucharist is consumed in front of them. I’ve seen priests follow people and grab arms before and instruct people to consume the Eucharist or return it, but I’m not sure what the correct response to this is.

Also, would not a brief announcement about reception of the Eucharist at least maybe limit the frequency of such events? It would take all of 10 seconds, and I’ve seen it done before. This is the Lord Jesus we are talking about here, and it is sad that people do not actually know how to properly receive, but the fact of the matter is that many people do not, and many non-Catholics come to Mass with friends (as I think the situation was today), and their friends don’t want to be “mean” and tell them they can’t receive. I know theres an announcement in many Missals that explains proper reception, but really…not sure how many people actually read that. So again, would not a brief announcement not be beneficial to avoid sacrilege help? Isn’t Jesus worth it?

She could have been following completely wrong protocol to take Eucharist home to an old person. I heard of a story like that. But still thats irreverent. Pyx needed.

If it was for.Sacrelige;
Yes you should have stopped her.

She should have been stopped and ordered (make a scene if necessary), "Consume the host please! " “Give it back if.you do not consume it.” and waiting until she did.
She was taking Jesus prisoner.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Thats a worn out and baseless contention. Anyone intent on misappropriation the body of Christ is not going to be deterred my simply receiving on the tongue rather than the hand.

Do you have this same philosophy on gun control and background checks?

 

[pianistclare]

This is not a communion the hand issue. I have seen people take it out of their mouth.

I would have (and HAVE) told a Deacon, the priest if available, or gone myself and inquired,
“may I ask you, what is your intent with that consecrated host?”

We have hosted many Catholic High School and Middle School graduations, and people go up to communion because they think it’s wrong to sit back. So they go up, and don’t know what to do with the host. And they pocket it.
I’ve seen plenty of priests chase down people and ask for it back if they are not going to consume it in their presence.
It may have been stolen for use at a black mass, so it’s hugely important.

Once, I was very distraught that I couldn’t get to the person…she started running.
I cried. The priest hugged me and said : “You did the best you could, I tried as well. We just have to trust that Jesus can take care of Himself…surely He knows if there is evil intent, and He has left.”
I don’t know if he was just trying to make me feel better, but it made sense to me.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Thats a worn out and baseless contention. Anyone intent on misappropriation the body of Christ is not going to be deterred my simply receiving on the tongue rather than the hand.

And yet it remains the recommendation of the Church that if there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.


tee

 

[pianistclare]

And yet it remains the recommendation of the Church that if there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.


tee

True enough, but how in the world do we assess the risk? Who can read minds?

 

[paperwight66]

they are not washed in blessed water just before we partake.

.

Actually, to be strictly accurate, ,neither are the priest’s. The water for the lavabo is plain tap water. It isn’t even blessed as part of the Mass. It’s not much of a ‘wash’, either, more of a symbolic trickling over the fingers, so not an aid to hygiene.

 

[Isca]

Actually, to be strictly accurate, ,neither are the priest’s. The water for the lavabo is plain tap water. It isn’t even blessed as part of the Mass. It’s not much of a ‘wash’, either, more of a symbolic trickling over the fingers, so not an aid to hygiene.

Our Eucharistic Ministers all apply antibacterial hand gel before distributing the Body and Blood of Christ. I think it’s a very good idea.

 

[Neofight]

Do you have this same philosophy on gun control and background checks?

Not philosophy, but opinion, as a matter of fact…my philosophy would be collection of all privately held firearms, and repeal the 2nd amendment…but thanks for asking.

Why does a simple thread have to be hijacked into some irrelevant political babble? Are we going to tie global warming and open borders into this too?

I hope not!

 

[Neofight]

And yet it remains the recommendation of the Church that if there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.


tee

You do see the difference between recommendation and law, don’t you?

Fortunately, Church leadership doesn’t run around like Chicken Little crying “The sky is falling”, and instead expresses reasonable concern.

Until the Church prohibits receiving by hand, your contention is a moot point.

 

[ProVobis]

True enough, but how in the world do we assess the risk? Who can read minds?

For the record, among other conditions…

1. The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving. It is advisable, therefore, that the rite be introduced gradually and in the beginning within small, better prepared groups and in favorable settings. Above all it is necessary to have the introduction of the rite preceded by an effective catechesis, so that the people will clearly understand the meaning of receiving in the hand and will practice it with the reverence owed to the sacrament. This catechesis must succeed in excluding any suggestion that in the mind of the Church there is a lessening of faith in the eucharistic presence and in excluding as well any danger or hint of danger of profaning the Eucharist.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_in_hand.htm

 

[ProVobis]

Until the Church prohibits receiving by hand, your contention is a moot point.

It is not universally permitted but by a majority vote of the bishops of that country and certain conditions must be met.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_in_hand.htm