Eucharist question

  • Thread starter Thread starter sunflower74
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Phemie said:
He gave them bread and told them to eat – what are the odds he meant swallow it whole?
Click to expand...
I think Lily put it right - this is overthinking all of it. But I doubt that Christ’s words were a directive to chew or not to chew. That is all I was saying.
 
sunflower74 said:
When you recieve the Eucharist, should you let it dissolve in your mouth or chew it? A few years ago, my dad told me that as he was growing up and attending Latin Mass, they would recieve kneeling and on the tounge and you were supposed to let it dissolve in your mouth, because even touching your teeth would be disrespectful. But I have noticed that the priest and EMHC’s, and everyone around me, do chew the Eucharist. While I understand why the priest and EMHC’s would, I am not sure what is appropriate for me. does this matter or are you just supposed to do whatever you feel comfortable with?
Click to expand...
I was taught not to let the Sacred Host touch your teeth until you are back kneeling in the pew. So that is what I do…and I attend the “Latin Mass”. I have never heard of “Just let It dissolve”…and I believe this whole thing began when they began standing for reception.

Ken
 
Swallowing the host whole and intact, is the silliest thing I’ve heard yet.

What happens if you choke on it?

Lets use some common sense folks!

Jesus doesn’t expect us to suspend the bio-mechanical functions of our anatomy.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Swallowing the host whole and intact, is the silliest thing I’ve heard yet.

What happens if you choke on it?

Lets use some common sense folks!

Jesus doesn’t expect us to suspend the bio-mechanical functions of our anatomy.

Jim
Click to expand...
We do it all the time. Do you chew all your medication, vitamins, etc. — which come in tablet and/or capsule form.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walking_Home
That is why we let it soften in our mouths — then swallow.
.

Fine, but this is a preference, not a requirement and not more or less correct than chewing the host.

Jim
Click to expand...
I don’t believe I said it was a requirement or more correct.
 
Walking_Home said:
I don’t believe I said it was a requirement or more correct.
Click to expand...
I didn’t mean to imply that you did. My apologies for not being specific.

However, that is what this thread has been about since its conception.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walking_Home
I don’t believe I said it was a requirement or more correct.

I didn’t mean to imply that you did. My apologies for not being specific.

However, that is what this thread has been about since its conception.

Jim
Click to expand...
From reviewing this thread – there also seems to be another view held by some — that it is not quite right to not chew.

As LilyM stated prior — our communion with our Lord is not based on whether we chew or not.
 
As far as I can tell the whole “don’t chew” or “don’t let the host touch your teeth” arose from either:
  1. An aesthetic concern about young children chewing with their mouth open – more a concern deriving from notions of etiquette and manners* than from theology, or
  2. A hyper-realistic misunderstanding of the Eucharist where one could actually “hurt” Christ by chewing on Him.
I am inclined to think its origin is a little of both, maybe originating in etiquette and then accruing a (erroneous) theological or disciplinary meaning as time went on.

God bless!
VC

*I note that **kleary **mentioned being taught to not let the Host touch your teeth until you are back at your pew. That is a good indicator that the concern was about other people seeing you chew – not about theology (at least not yet!).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top