Four hosts dropped on the floor at Mass last Sunday. What should the priest have done?

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An EMHC dropped four hosts on the floor at Mass last Sunday, and the communicant picked them up and placed them back in the ciborium. This was witnessed by probably 10 people. I personally informed the priest about it immediately after Mass, thinking that the spot on the floor had to be blessed or something, but he brushed it off and did nothing.

Was I in error by waiting till after Mass to inform him?

What SHOULD the priest have done, if anything?

(I’ll add that this may have not even happened had patens been used.)

On a related matter, what SHOULD be done if any of the precious blood were to be spilled or --heaven forbid-- an entire chalice dropped?
 
If I remember my EMHC training correctly, the EMHC is to hold the host(s) until Communion is over, and then consume them.

IMHO, just another reason to return to kneeling and patons.
 
lepanto said:
An EMHC dropped four hosts on the floor at Mass last Sunday, and the communicant picked them up and placed them back in the ciborium. This was witnessed by probably 10 people. I personally informed the priest about it immediately after Mass, thinking that the spot on the floor had to be blessed or something, but he brushed it off and did nothing.

Was I in error by waiting till after Mass to inform him?

What SHOULD the priest have done, if anything?

(I’ll add that this may have not even happened had patens been used.)

On a related matter, what SHOULD be done if any of the precious blood were to be spilled or --heaven forbid-- an entire chalice dropped?
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Either the communicant or the person distributing communion should have IMMEDIATELY consumed the hosts – whomever picked up the hosts first. If Precious Blood is spilled, a purificator(s) should be placed over the stains(s) until the carpet can be carefully cleaned after Mass.
 
I’ve seen priests drop a host as they were transferring them from one container to another, and they generally pick them up and consume them without batting an eyelash. I would assume the same would apply to an EMHC or a communicant.

Shame that few people are told this stuff; or maybe they do tell us, but we’re 7 years old when we hear it. 🙂

Peace,
Dante
 
I was taught to consume the hosts immediately also. I was also taught that unlike spilling the precious blood which needs a cleaning process, as long as we examine and pick up any obvious particles we are fine. The host is only the Body Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ if the physical properties still look and could be recognized as the host. As soon as it starts to be digested, or if there is a piece of particle-dust so small no one could recognize it, then it is not Christ any more. That is why people just pick up a fallen Host and consume it.
 
I am an EMHC. My training said (for Hosts) to discreetly hold on to them in your hand under the ciborium and to consume them when going back to the sanctuary (our backs to the people at that time). If for some reason we can’t consume them, then to inform the priest or deacon about it. They would be kept apart from the extras and likely dissolved into water by the priest and then poured down the sacraium (sp?). But that has never happened.

As for the Blood, if spilled, place a purificatior over the spil and stand over (not “on”) it until Mass is completed (or have an Usher stand over it). Then help the priest and deacon clean it up. The deacon explained the process how that is done, but I guess there was only one major spill back in the 70’s, when an EMHC tripped.
 
A church to which I was once attached had an air-handler intake built into the step from which the Ministers of Holy Communion distribute. Of course, patens were *de rigueur *when the building was designed but now? Any dropped host :eek: *disappears! *:eek:

(And I hope the monsignor has some periodic procedure for clearing the filters…)

tee
 
PS.

While it *is *important to do something with dropped hosts, I believe the *truly *proper protocol is for the minister to retrieve them and, if the minister is not himself a priest, take them to another minister to be communicated. No one not ordained at least a presbyter should self-communicate if it can be avoided.

tee
 
I guess my main question has to do with the priest. Should he have blessed the ground or have done something in reparation? As I said, he just shrugged it off and made nothing of it.
 
lepanto said:
I guess my main question has to do with the priest. Should he have blessed the ground or have done something in reparation? As I said, he just shrugged it off and made nothing of it.
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No he doesn’t need to bless the ground. Just make sure there are no visible pieces of the host on the ground.
 
A dropped host is pretty easy to deal with since you merely need to pick it up and consume it. When the Precious Blood is spilled it’s a bit harder since it needs to be cleaned with a purificator and then area where it spilled cleaned with water and a purificator.

I was at an abbey once when one of the monks spilled some of the Precious Blood. After Mass he went to clean the spot and it was done with such reverence that I was touched.
 
My parish church is removing the carpeting where the faithful receive communion - the carpeting will be purified then buried in the cemetary. Our priest really doesn’t like to think about a single drop of the Precious Blood falling on a carpeted surface and even though we do use patens, hosts still on rare occasions, fall to the ground. We will be having the original hardwood refinished then coated with several coats of a clear coating that will be more easily purified should there be any mishaps.
 
A2SciTeach said:
My parish church is removing the carpeting where the faithful receive communion - the carpeting will be purified then buried in the cemetary. Our priest really doesn’t like to think about a single drop of the Precious Blood falling on a carpeted surface and even though we do use patens, hosts still on rare occasions, fall to the ground. We will be having the original hardwood refinished then coated with several coats of a clear coating that will be more easily purified should there be any mishaps.
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That is a spectacular idea. I applaud your priest for his noble actions. 👍
 
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AspiringDeacon:
The host is only the Body Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ if the physical properties still look and could be recognized as the host. As soon as it starts to be digested, or if there is a piece of particle-dust so small no one could recognize it, then it is not Christ any more.
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No disrespect, but this is totally wrong. Particles, no matter how small are the body of Christ. This is why so much care is taken at the Tridentine Mass. This is why I refuse to receive communion in the hand.

The Eucharist should be respected at all times. In the Tridentine Mass, the Priest holds his forefinger and thumb tightly together after holding the host until the end of the Mass when he can then wash his hands. He does this, so that no particle, no matter how small, drops to the floor.

When I receive communion, a plate is held under my head by the deacon so that no particles fall to the floor.

Do not forget that the Eucharist is the body of Christ. It is sacred and holy. Do not treat it as if it is only bread. Show adoration and respect at all times.
 
Dempsey1919 said:
No disrespect, but this is totally wrong. Particles, no matter how small are the body of Christ. This is why so much care is taken at the Tridentine Mass. This is why I refuse to receive communion in the hand.

The Eucharist should be respected at all times. In the Tridentine Mass, the Priest holds his forefinger and thumb tightly together after holding the host until the end of the Mass when he can then wash his hands. He does this, so that no particle, no matter how small, drops to the floor.

When I receive communion, a plate is held under my head by the deacon so that no particles fall to the floor.

Do not forget that the Eucharist is the body of Christ. It is sacred and holy. Do not treat it as if it is only bread. Show adoration and respect at all times.
Click to expand...
If a particle is so small that it cannot be seen then it has ceased to have the accidents of bread. When the accidents are gone, so is the Real Presence.
 
Dempsey1919 said:
No disrespect, but this is totally wrong. Particles, no matter how small are the body of Christ. This is why so much care is taken at the Tridentine Mass. This is why I refuse to receive communion in the hand.

The Eucharist should be respected at all times. In the Tridentine Mass, the Priest holds his forefinger and thumb tightly together after holding the host until the end of the Mass when he can then wash his hands. He does this, so that no particle, no matter how small, drops to the floor.

When I receive communion, a plate is held under my head by the deacon so that no particles fall to the floor.

Do not forget that the Eucharist is the body of Christ. It is sacred and holy. Do not treat it as if it is only bread. Show adoration and respect at all times.
Click to expand...
On another note, why does the priest in the EF Mass place the host on the corporal after the consecration (at least I think this is done)? Wouldn’t it be better to place it back on the paten in order to catch any crumbs?

Thanks!
 
Dempsey1919 said:
No disrespect, but this is totally wrong. Particles, no matter how small are the body of Christ. This is why so much care is taken at the Tridentine Mass. This is why I refuse to receive communion in the hand.

The Eucharist should be respected at all times. In the Tridentine Mass, the Priest holds his forefinger and thumb tightly together after holding the host until the end of the Mass when he can then wash his hands. He does this, so that no particle, no matter how small, drops to the floor.

When I receive communion, a plate is held under my head by the deacon so that no particles fall to the floor.

Do not forget that the Eucharist is the body of Christ. It is sacred and holy. Do not treat it as if it is only bread. Show adoration and respect at all times.
Click to expand...
i totally agree. i personally think that dropping a host is very very serious matter. think about it, the true Body of Christ being mixed in with dirt and such.

maybe if consecrated hands (priests) were to be the only to touch the Consecrated Hosts (as it was before) and everyone was receiving on their tongue (with a paten underneath), this probably wouldn’t happen.
 
lepanto said:
An EMHC dropped four hosts on the floor at Mass last Sunday, and the communicant picked them up and placed them back in the ciborium. This was witnessed by probably 10 people. I personally informed the priest about it immediately after Mass, thinking that the spot on the floor had to be blessed or something, but he brushed it off and did nothing.

Was I in error by waiting till after Mass to inform him?

What SHOULD the priest have done, if anything?

(I’ll add that this may have not even happened had patens been used.)

On a related matter, what SHOULD be done if any of the precious blood were to be spilled or --heaven forbid-- an entire chalice dropped?
Click to expand...
A purificator is usually placed over the spot, especially when the precious Blood is spilled. Usually only when a full ciborium is dropped are there significant particles of the Blessed Sacrament found on the floor. Usually not with one or two Hosts, they should be picked up by the person distributing Holy Communion so as to avoid a collision, and consumed.
 
It happened once at a mass I had been to. The Deacon picked it up and gave it to the communicate. He then asked an alter server for a purificator and water (presumably, of the holy variety). He poured some of the (holy?) water where the Holy Sacrament fell, then dabbed it with the purificator… all done.
 
HisTruePresence said:
i totally agree. i personally think that dropping a host is very very serious matter. think about it, the true Body of Christ being mixed in with dirt and such.

maybe if consecrated hands (priests) were to be the only to touch the Consecrated Hosts (as it was before) and everyone was receiving on their tongue (with a paten underneath), this probably wouldn’t happen.
Click to expand...
Many a priest have dropped a host and it is often easier for a host to drop when given on the tongue, especially if people do not stick their tongue out enough or if he brings it back into his mouth too quickly.
 
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