germs on the Communion cup

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panoikei said:
Jerry,
Jewish custom required Jesus to wash his hands prior to the Pascal meal.
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Jewish custom also said that anyone who touched a leper was impure as well. Yet, Jesus touched and healed the leper.
 
EasterJoy said:
OK, but the Lord also gave Peter and the Apostles authority and gave us successors to them. The Church teaches that it is not necessary to receive under both species. The Church does not teach that it is impossible to transmit disease via a communion cup holding the Precious Blood.

I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from receiving both, not at all. I just don’t think it is right to imply that those who decide that one species is sufficient should have to endure implications that their faith is somehow deficient.

I’m an EMHC. If I’m not sick but know there is a nasty bug going through my kids’ school, I don’t receive from the cup unless there is some left to consume at the end. We have older people, some very frail, who sit in the very front and who receive first. I would not like to put them at risk, if I can help it.

(If I know I’m actually sick myself, I trade with someone else for a different weekend. Trust in God, but row away from the rocks…)
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My statement was said with a bit of humor in mind… I wasn’t trying to imply that anybody’s faith is deficient because they choose to abstain from the cup. That is their choice.

I personally receive from the cup and never worry about getting sick from it…I was always under the impression that Holy Communion is a healing sacrament and I can’t imagine anybody getting sick from it yet out of charity for others if I am sick with a cold I don’t receive from the cup. I know it would really gross people out if I was coughing, and blowing my nose and sneezing and then went and received.
 
Isn’t it fear that causes you to get sick? I can’t quote the bible, I don’t know it that well, but isn’t there something about Job fearing. I think it also says somewhere about the body not being made to be sick but to be healthy. I find that most of my relatives and friends worry(fear) about being sick and they usually are. On the other hand, I don’t worry about it and very rarely am. I worked in the medical field and came in contact with people and their bodily fluids (by accident) who had AIDS. I’m healthy as a horse! And even if you were to get sick, wouldn’t Jesus heal you if you asked and believed.
 
livingpeace said:
Isn’t it fear that causes you to get sick? I can’t quote the bible, I don’t know it that well, but isn’t there something about Job fearing. I think it also says somewhere about the body not being made to be sick but to be healthy. I find that most of my relatives and friends worry(fear) about being sick and they usually are. On the other hand, I don’t worry about it and very rarely am. I worked in the medical field and came in contact with people and their bodily fluids (by accident) who had AIDS. I’m healthy as a horse! And even if you were to get sick, wouldn’t Jesus heal you if you asked and believed.
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This sounds more like Christian Science.

It is good to keep a grip on your fears, as far as keeping your body from the vulnerability that comes from being constantly flooded with stress hormones, this is true.

Having said that, there are people who ate my husband’s grandmother’s salad dressing with no fear whatsoever who could tell you unequivocally that love and ignorance are no innoculation against food poisoning. As for you being as healthy as a horse, let’s just say that his grandmother never suffered any ill effects, either. Maybe you horses have more faith, and maybe “only the good die young.” 😉 😃

Blessed Damien of Molokai asked to be assigned to Molokai, touched the lepers, eventually got leprosy, and eventually died of it. I don’t think it was fear or lack of faith that did him in.

Better leprosy with obedience than clean skin with a besmirched heart, yes, but also remember: Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the test. Sometimes obedience will tell you that one species is sufficient for you, dear hearts. I think that is the main thing. Be obedient, and don’t concern yourself with those who want you to do otherwise.
 
Am I wrong? I have always thought, that, receiving under both the bread and wine, is not to be done at every mass, reserved for special occasions,.or maybe on Sunday.
 
Rob_in_Oregon said:
Perhaps this has been discussed already.

Our parish has Communion under both species. At the mass we attend, there are about 500 people receiving the Precious Blood from 4 chalices.

Knowing what I do about communicable diseases, this seems like medical suicide.

My wife insists on being a Eucharistic minister, often distributing the Precious Blood, and then consuming the “leftovers” (no irreverence intended) once everyone else has received.

How long will it be until I get killer tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, the flu, or something else from kissing her?

I have expressed my concerns to her, but she persists.

Your thoughts are appreciated.
  • Rob in Oregon
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Maybe I’m too old school in my devotion and respect for the greatest Sacrificial miracle that takes place perpetually upon the Alter of every Catholic sanctuary everywhere around the world every second and minute of the day. Personally for what it’s worth I don’t believe the Catholic laity needs to receive under both species. I was brought up during the Latin Mass before
Vatican II. With all the excess liturgical abuses happening in today’s parishes I myself don’t partake under both species.
Not out of irreverence, but because I was traditionally brought up to believe that Christ was present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity inside a single Host or even the smallest crumb of a consecrated Host. Maybe that belief seems too archaic for some Catholics. However; to answer your question if you believe you would contract a disease drinking the consecrated blood of Christ in the common Chalice you shouldn’t worry ( IF ) you Fully believe that Christ is Fully present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity under the species of consecrated wine ( Christ’s Blood ) you have nothing to worry. How can something evil come about from something that is sacredly consecrated by God himself unless it is partaken in ill will or sacreledge ? I would like to know if there are official Vatican documents concerning the eucharistic reception of consecrated bread and wine under both species for the laity ?
 
Shouldn’t we count it all joy if we did get sick from partaking of the Eucharist?

I’m not suggesting that we go out and try to contract disease.

Shouldn’t we all be glad that Mother Teresa wasn’t “infected” by the hygeine mindset?!
 
centurionguard said:
How can something evil come about from something that is sacredly consecrated by God himself unless it is partaken in ill will or sacreledge ?
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Churches are also consecrated, yet they can collapse and kill parishioners, or harbor black mold spores, or even plague-carrying rats. Not an exact analogy to the topic here, but it does disprove your broad statement.
 
mommyof4 said:
Me neither. Jesus never guaranteed that his precious blood would cancel out germs. I feel that I need to err on the side of caution and charity and not drink the precious blood.
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He never said that but people did just touch his garnment or lay in his shadow and they were healed. These people all had the faith that they would be healed by being in those positions. We have acccess to His actuall Blood. All that needs to go along with it is the faith that the Great Physician can heal all. Or at least prevent it from spreading.

I presented this idea to my grandfather who doesn’t like to drink after a lot of people and he is now taking the Cup at every mass. Regardless of where he is in line.😃

I didn’t read the whole thread I hope this isn’t redundant.😊
 
centurionguard said:
Maybe I’m too old school in my devotion and respect for the greatest Sacrificial miracle that takes place perpetually upon the Alter of every Catholic sanctuary everywhere around the world every second and minute of the day. Personally for what it’s worth I don’t believe the Catholic laity needs to receive under both species. I was brought up during the Latin Mass before
Vatican II. With all the excess liturgical abuses happening in today’s parishes I myself don’t partake under both species.
Not out of irreverence, but because I was traditionally brought up to believe that Christ was present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity inside a single Host or even the smallest crumb of a consecrated Host. Maybe that belief seems too archaic for some Catholics. However; to answer your question if you believe you would contract a disease drinking the consecrated blood of Christ in the common Chalice you shouldn’t worry ( IF ) you Fully believe that Christ is Fully present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity under the species of consecrated wine ( Christ’s Blood ) you have nothing to worry. How can something evil come about from something that is sacredly consecrated by God himself unless it is partaken in ill will or sacreledge ? I would like to know if there are official Vatican documents concerning the eucharistic reception of consecrated bread and wine under both species for the laity ?
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The question is not “old school”; nor is it a question of “necessity”. However, to put it seemingly parallel to liturigical abuses, or to say that one does not receive because of liturgical abuses would seem to put it in the wrong context. I, too, was raised before Vatican 2. However, I could never understand how to reconcile Christ saying at the Last Supper “Take and eat…Take and drink” with not being allowed to do both; and Paul echoed the fact that it was not just the apostles, as it was celebrated under both Speciesafter His death and Resurrection.

Yes, the Church still holds that we receive Christ, body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in either species; that is, one does not need to recieve both to recieve fully.

But perhaps to turn it another way: if upon receiving the Host and as you were returning to your seat and passing the Cup, you suddenly realized that instead of someone else standing there holding the cup and looking at you, it was Christ himself holding the Cup and looking at you, would you pass Him by? Would you effectively say “No, I have all I need; never mind that this is both sacrifice and scrificial meal, and that You set it up that way, I’ll pass thank you very much”?? I consider it a privilege, one that I did not have before.

Yes, there are offical Vatican documents about it; that is what lets us receive under both species. sorry, I do not have them at my fingertips; but I suspect if you google them you will find the documents.
 
How many of you wash after visiting the toilet?

How many of you actually know the proper way to wash your hands?

How many of you wash your hands after putting on your shoes? How many of you wash your hands after helping your child put on their shoes?

When was the last time you looked on the floor of the toilet, especially public ones?

Now, when was the last time you washed your hands after putting on your shoes?

If you didn’t wash your hands after putting on your shoes, and you shared the sign of peace, why are you afraid of catching something from the cup of Precious Blood?

Eddie Mac
 
“Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the test.”

If you are counting on some kind of miraculous intervention to prevent disease from the cup, I think that’s unwise.

Remember that only wine made from grapes is valid matter for consecration (of the Blood). The cup could very well contain the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, PLUS dangerous microbes. The microbes don’t consecrate.

How many of you, when at home, eat off someone else’s dirty dishes or silverware?

I’m not counting on a specific divine action to save me, when I could act carefully in the first place.

Sorry to be such a sourpuss, but let’s be practical. God bless… - Rob in Oregon
 
MissJoAnna said:
Hi everyone,

I am new here and I hope that is okay.

I was raised Catholic, and attend Church fairly regularly, but should be going more…

Today I went for Ash Wednesday.

When it was Communion time, I went up. I also usually receive the Blood of Christ. I forgot that I had an irritation/sore on my tongue from eating too many oranges. I guess vitamin C will do that and I ate way too many of them!

So I accepted the Blood of Christ.

I am concerned and worried that I may become sick from doing this. Is AIDS able to be spread via chalice cup combined with my irritation or sore…?

I am quite concerned, and I am not accusing my fellow parishioners but I am somewhat concerned.

Do I need to see the doctor?

I would appreciate some helpful answers on this subject if possible.

What about colds and such?

Thanks again, and I am pleased to meet everybody.

Just FYI- the sore or irritation on my tongue was clearly a result of oranges, not something that I got from kissing my husband.

Please advise. Thank you and God Bless!
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I do not know of any studies which have shown any provable connection between reception from the Cup and disease.

It is my understanding that saliva is not a normal means of spreading AIDS or HIV, and if the Cup is wiped each time, the likelyhood of any transmission is even lower. And it is not like they are transmitted in each and every contact with bodily fluids (which you don’t have from the Cup). In addition, the likelyhood of even having anyone who has AIDS or HIV is very low. In short, statistically, you have an extremely low chance of receiving anything.

If you are a worrier, that will not be much help. You are more likely to contract something from airborne particles than the Cup, and that is about the best I think anyone can say.
 
otjm said:
I do not know of any studies which have shown any provable connection between reception from the Cup and disease.

It is my understanding that saliva is not a normal means of spreading AIDS or HIV, and if the Cup is wiped each time, the likelyhood of any transmission is even lower. And it is not like they are transmitted in each and every contact with bodily fluids (which you don’t have from the Cup). In addition, the likelyhood of even having anyone who has AIDS or HIV is very low. In short, statistically, you have an extremely low chance of receiving anything.

If you are a worrier, that will not be much help. You are more likely to contract something from airborne particles than the Cup, and that is about the best I think anyone can say.
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Thanks very much for answering me. The thing that concerned me is that I have an irritation/sore which is more like the feeling of when you burn your tongue from hot foods…but it is from eating too much fruit. It is the irritation or whatever it is on my tongue that worried me the most.

I am a bit more at ease now.

🙂

I am in NYC and NYC has a lot of people!!!

I am also pleased to meet you,otjm!
 
MissJoAnna said:
Thanks very much for answering me. The thing that concerned me is that I have an irritation/sore which is more like the feeling of when you burn your tongue from hot foods…but it is from eating too much fruit. It is the irritation or whatever it is on my tongue that worried me the most.

I am a bit more at ease now.

🙂

I am in NYC and NYC has a lot of people!!!

I am also pleased to meet you,otjm!
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Welcome to the forums! I don’t know who the wag was who said “Catholics - here comes everyone!” but the forums are somewhat the same. Some areas (and some people) can be pretty intense; other areas tend to be a bit more relaxed. And there are issues of wheat and chaff… I hope you can use this as a tool to increase your faith! Have a blessed Lent.
 
otjm said:
Welcome to the forums! I don’t know who the wag was who said “Catholics - here comes everyone!” but the forums are somewhat the same. Some areas (and some people) can be pretty intense; other areas tend to be a bit more relaxed. And there are issues of wheat and chaff… I hope you can use this as a tool to increase your faith! Have a blessed Lent.
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I do not completely get your joke- “Catholics-here comes everyone” you said…are you meaning that the forums can be a mix of relaxation and intensity?

Have a blessed Lent yourself, too! 🙂

I try to keep healthy, and I sometimes worry about things, ya hear things and stories and it can make a person go berserk LOL!

I went to the church across from my street and Mass was over…then I headed over to the nearby Catherdral and it started-I just missed the ashes 😦
I should have just directly went over to the Cathedral! I am not the best with planning!
 
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