Fainted at mass

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therese1998

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So, I was at Mass last Sunday and, as the altar servers were assisting at the consecration, one of the altar servers fainted. Full unconscious, fell to knees, then onto her face. Someone called for water, but knowing about the potential for aspiration, I went up to the altar to give some whispered advice and to make certain she wasn’t having a seizure or had a history of seizures. The altar server regained consciousness and her father helped her to a seat and took over. I left the altar and went back to my seat. Father continued with the consecration as this went on, which I believe is the appropriate response.

Afterwards, I wondered if I had done the right thing? Should I have gone up on the altar or waited until someone could escort her off the altar and down the aisle to a pew or other room? Didn’t mean to do the wrong thing, and nobody said anything, but in 20 years of going to Mass, I’ve never encountered this before…what do you all think?
 
Same thing happened during Mass about 4 months ago at my parish. Poor altar boy fainted flat on his face during the consecration, tried to get up, and fainted again. Another gentleman and I ran up past the altar to assist him and carry him back to the narthex. Father stopped, glanced behind him, said “Lord, have mercy”, turned back to the altar, and continued like a boss😀. Weird thing was that while we were reviving him someone else fainted in the pews. I missed the rest of Mass helping those with medical training and then directing the EMTs where to go.
 
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humbleseeker said:
Poor altar boy fainted flat on his face during the consecration, tried to get up, and fainted again.
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That’s EXACTLY what happened to this poor girl…she was mortified. And yes, Father kept right on with the consecration, with a quick check to make sure someone WAS actually helping her.
 
Fraevo63 said:
You did the Golden Rule. And that is the RIGHT thing. ❤️
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Thank you! Having worked in a medical facility for many years, I always had a “plan” for emergencies, even though I wasn’t primary medical staff. It just occurred to me that I didn’t have a “plan” for someone fainting at Mass and wondered if there was some kind of rule. That’s all 😉
 
You absolutely did the right thing. Someone’s health was in question and that takes priority over anything else at that point.
 
I’ve actually seen this more than once. An elderly gentleman actually died in the pew at Midnight Mass once. Another time, one of the torchbearers fainted during the consecration. Only once have I seen the priest leave the sanctuary, and that was to insure things were being properly addressed - and he wasn’t in the middle of a prayer (I believe a lector or cantor was at the ambo). With the torchbearer, he paused briefly to make the sign of the cross over the boy mid Eucharistic Prayer, then continued. Others raced up to assist the boy and keep the candle from burning the carpet.

We’re dealing with people; the liturgy is made for us, not the other way around, proper celebration when possible not withstanding. Or, as an associate pastor once said, “the law is written for the ideal, but as humans, we’re usually not.” Prudence is the first rule.
 
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You absolutely did the right thing. There is a phenomenon known as the “bystander effect”, where a large group of people will fail to respond to an emergency because they assume somebody else would. By responding, you ensured the possibility of seizures was not overlooked!

Absent a known doctor, fireman, EMT, etc stepping forward to take charge, anyone with appropriate first aid training should be ready to step in.
 
Thank you, those are kind words and make me feel better on a tough day, so kudos to you 🙂 Yes, I am proud of the God who is behind every positive impulse. I would be lost without Him.
 
@humbleseeker, we’re twinning with this experience! Only one other person went up, who was the person who called for water. In fact, my wondering if I did something wrong was prompted by that embarrassed, “did I just do a no-no” feeling you get when 300+ people are staring at you and only you and one other person are staring back 😉
 
I think you did the right thing and cannot be faulted. You were rightly concerned about the welfare of one of the altar servers, and acted out of love for your neighbor.
 
It’s fine. The other people were likely startled and/or didn’t know what to do. Plus, if the server was a minor, then people are usually very hesitant to rush in unless they are either a relative or a doctor/ EMT/ medical professional type. You don’t know if it’s a simple faint or if the young person has some medical condition like seizures and you don’t want to make it worse or do the wrong thing and get sued, etc. and in a Mass type situation you figure the ushers and other designated helpers probably have a plan to take care of it.

Unfortunately, fainting at Mass is all too common, especially if someone skipped a meal before they got to what is often a stuffy Church and started having to stand and kneel for more than they usually do. I’ve come close myself many a time. In the days when us school kids were expected to be at the 7:30 am Mass once a week before class, some kid was turning white or keeling over about once a week and the sister would have to take them out to the nave to sit down with their head between their knees. Once it was me.
 
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You absolutely did the right thing. At the beginning of my health issues I would have problems with fainting. Well, one Sunday morning it happened. Bloop. Over I tilted in the pew. Fortunately, several Church members and my Priest knew about my situation ahead of time as I had informed them of the possibility of this happening and had given them instructions as to what to do. I was told later the the Priest paused briefly, saw a couple of members going toward me and he continued on. He later told me it was a blessing that I had assistance from people who knew what to do.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Plus, if the server was a minor, then people are usually very hesitant to rush in unless they are either a relative or a doctor/ EMT/ medical professional type. You don’t know if it’s a simple faint or if the young person has some medical condition like seizures and you don’t want to make it worse or do the wrong thing and get sued, etc.
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Oh yes, this! My small son and I were witnesses to a rather upsetting situation in a local store the other day when a young autistic man had a mental break. The family knew what to do, but some bystanders and store employees misinterpreted and the reactions were horrible. Some were well-intentioned but misguided, but others were mean and crude. It took restraint myself when a man casually strolled up with phone in hand to video the moment, but fortunately another person blocked him and scolded him. I was so grateful the family was able to get the young man out to their car and leave before the police arrived.
 
You did the right thing by going into assist with the young person.
 
I happened to have seen that happen previously but I was 8 or so and can not remember much of it. It happened to someone that I knew.
 
Cor_ad_Cor said:
rather upsetting situation in a local store the other day when a young autistic man had a mental break
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My son has autism and it’s a very, very upsetting thing for them when they have a mental break. And yes, there are many people who are ignorant in their responses and it only makes a bad situation that much worse.
 
It was common - back - years ago -
You didn’t eat from midnight on - just water -
Only it was the people in the pews !
 
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