Food for Thought

[Anthony_V]

This isn’t a completely serious question (just for kicks, rather). Given the premise that even the smallest portion of the Eucharist is still the Eucharist in its entirety, what would one say about airborne “consumption”? Could you then receive the body and blood of our Lord by merely smelling it (registering airborne molecules of the body/blood via smell)?

 

[Catmando]

I don’t think we can compare inhaling it to eating it.

 

[GEddie]

This isn’t a completely serious question (just for kicks, rather). Given the premise that even the smallest portion of the Eucharist is still the Eucharist in its entirety, what would one say about airborne “consumption”? Could you then receive the body and blood of our Lord by merely smelling it (registering airborne molecules of the body/blood via smell)?

I don’t think so. IMNAAHO.

HE said that HIS BODY was food, not breath (although in Heaven, methinks the Holy Spirit will be our breath!)

Since in our bodies, food normally does not work by nose, (apart from medical emergencies involving a nasogastric tube) I’d say that Eucharist cannot be imparted in this way either.

Besides, in my experience, there is just not much smell to the Eucharistic species; the host has no smell, the wine can only be smelled with your nose right over the chalice. Therefore, those molecules won’t reach you unless you’re about to receive normally anyhow.

Great question, BTW!

FWIW: I am not a priest just an average sinner.

God Bless and ICXC NIKA!

 

[belorg]

This isn’t a completely serious question (just for kicks, rather). Given the premise that even the smallest portion of the Eucharist is still the Eucharist in its entirety, what would one say about airborne “consumption”? Could you then receive the body and blood of our Lord by merely smelling it (registering airborne molecules of the body/blood via smell)?

No, not just by smelling it, you’ll have to breathe it in through your mouth and then swallow it.

 

[puzzleannie]

This isn’t a completely serious question (just for kicks, rather). Given the premise that even the smallest portion of the Eucharist is still the Eucharist in its entirety, what would one say about airborne “consumption”? Could you then receive the body and blood of our Lord by merely smelling it (registering airborne molecules of the body/blood via smell)?

no the Presence exists only in particles identifiable as the appearance of bread

 

[GEddie]

no the Presence exists only in particles identifiable as the appearance of bread

That makes sense.

A priest has told me that once the Host has dissolved in your throat to the point there is no substance resembling bread, HE is no longer present. That means HIS presence is brief indeed (possibly gone before the substance of the Host reaches shoulder level).

As such, no, HE would not be embodied in any molecules that might reach you by nose.

ICXC NIKA.