Honest please-what would you have done?

[wcknight]

As ushers we are told to watch for folks who do not consume the host. IF we encounter someone who tries this, we ask them to consume the host immediately or to return it.

It’s happened twice on my watch, the first time, the person put it in their pocket and returned to their pew. When confronted she consumed it. The second time, (again a female), she refused to eat it and I insisted that she return it. The priest saw what was going on, and came over and she handed it over to him.

I’m sure she was quite embarassed by the scene but I asked her as politely as the situation allowed. There wasn’t time to fully explain the situation to her, and to do so at the time would have probably embaraaed her more.

I can’t say I felt sorry for her especially when she initially refused to return it. It’s awkward for everyone but it has to be done.

I’m not sure what these folks were going to do with the host. BUT some consecrated hosts have shown up on Ebay, others are said to end up in satanic rituals.

 

[benedictgal]

Unfortunately, the issue of Sacred Hosts winding up at satanic rituals was a major concern in my former parish. As EMHC we, too, were also taught to keep a vigilant eye and make sure that the Host was CONSUMED in front of us. It’s not that we were being liturgical police, but, ever since communion in the hand was brought to the fore it’s made it easier for people to come, take Jesus in their hand and, tragically, do whatever.

I’m trying not be be polemical with “communion in the hand”, but it does make things easier for someone with malicious intent. Although, one of you could very well make the argument that merely putting the Sacred Host in the tongue doesn’t completely guarantee safety because someone could conceivably remove the Sacred Species right away (although, the composition does melt in the mouth). Anyhow, I don’t want any polemics, but there are some practical concerns.