I saw someone steal the eucharist.

[estesbob]

Today at the parish my family attends, I had to go to this confirmation “Spirit” day. So many bad things happened, like a lady was fumbling around in the tabernacle to show us what a pyx is, and she took one of the things for a monstrance with a consecrated host in it and was just casually walking around with it. I saw it and kneeled because I really didn’t know what else to do.

After this thing when the lady compared the altar to a thanksgiving dinner table we went to mass… I was asked to altar serve and and durring communion, I saw a eucharistic minister give communion to a women who broke it in half (it looked like it) when she was like 6 feet away from the minister, I believe she put half in her mouth after she cracked it (crumbs must have fallen all over the floor) she put the other half either in her pocket, or she had it in her fist I couldnt tell. I ran after her then realized I needed to tell the deacon or priest, the deacon just said “thanks” and I didnt know what to do.

After mass I ran to the priest and I said “I saw a women steal the eucharist, I think she put in her pocket” he said “sometimes people do the wrong thing” in a uncaring voice. I told the deacon and he said “she must have been bringing it home for a sick person” I said that your not sopose to do that and he just said “well we will let it slip” and I was so disgusted that they did NOTHING. I was thinking they could have at least cared a little and made a announcement. But not even that.

Where do I go? This priest was the pastor. I was almost crying on the way home. I feel like I should have done something more.

What do you think the priest and/or the deacon should have done?

 

[Newbie2]

You did the right thing mentioning it to the deacon and to the priest. If you are 100% sure of what you saw than by all means do what you think is right - maybe approaching her and telling her that they have EMHC that can bring Eucharist home to any sick relatives if it is needed and that you would also be happy to pray for any sick family members might be a very loving thing to do and may embarass her into doing the right thing in the future.

I’m sure there is a better way to put this; you don’t think purposeful embarassment is charitable, do you?

Also, if you ever do manage to talk with the woman, if at all possible, ensure that she returns that stolen Host.

Yes, by all means, follow her home and confront her there. If she resists, force your way into the house and search it top to bottom.

Yes, heavy on the sarcasm. When did we become the host police? It was reported to the priest and deacon. Let them handle it in their own way.

What do you think the priest and/or the deacon should have done?

I was thinking the same thing…

 

[paddy22]

The priest or deacon should have said something to the woman if she was still there; they should have said something after Mass; they should say something about this at the next Mass. They should have done more from the sounds of it. Shrugging it off and saying ‘oh, it happens’ or hoping she was just taking to a sick relative is not doing enough. I’ve seen a priest follow a young communicant (young being late teens, possibly early 20s) and telling him to consume the Host. And he did. Seeing things like that is shocking and I think the OP responded bravely. Why be so non-chalant about this sort of thing?

 

[estesbob]

The priest or deacon should have said something to the woman if she was still there; they should have said something after Mass; they should say something about this at the next Mass. They should have done more from the sounds of it. Shrugging it off and saying ‘oh, it happens’ or hoping she was just taking to a sick relative is not doing enough. I’ve seen a priest follow a young communicant (young being late teens, possibly early 20s) and telling him to consume the Host. And he did. Seeing things like that is shocking and I think the OP responded bravely. Why be so non-chalant about this sort of thing?

Since neither the priest or the deacon knew about this until after Mass it would have been impossible to confront the woman. I don’t see that anybody’s being nonchalant -just that there was absolutely nothing that could be done about this incident once those in authority found out.

 

[FaustinaClare]

I was sitting in the front row one time during Mass and saw a kid (about 12 or so) take the host in the hand and walk off with it. The priest saw him do it and ran after him and told him to consume it. (a EM stepped in to continue with communion) The kid just stared at him like he was talking Greek. The priest said consume it or give it back. The kid consumed and the priest found his mother and made them stay after Mass so the kid can be properly instructed.

I love that priest!

 

[At_Trent]

Kyrie eleison

Most sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thee, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject.

Mindful, alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation, not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the promises of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy law.

We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against Thee; we are now determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holydays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar on earth and Thy priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Thy Divine Love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded.

Would that we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy divine honor, the satisfaction Thou once made to Thy Eternal Father on the Cross and which Thou continuest to renew daily on our Altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of Thy great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth, we will live a life of unswerving faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the Gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending Thee and to bring as many as possible to follow Thee.

O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to Thee, so that we may all one day come to that happy home, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit Thou livest and reignest, God, forever and ever. Amen.

 

[CradleCath]

What do you think the priest and/or the deacon should have done?

Someone left the Communion line with the Body of Jesus in her pocket or fist. I think that the priest & deacon should have been VERY upset. I also believe that they should have, at least, asked for a description of the woman. Maybe that would help them to find her & the Body of Christ. If nothing else the priest could have a talk with her.

Let’s just hope that the consecrated host doesn’t end up on E-bay, like one did a few months ago. This is just another reason to return to COTT. One can not so obviously mishandle it. At my Traditional Latin Mass, we receive kneeling at an altar rail & the Body of Christ is placed on the tongue. Several people, including our priest & altar servers would be bound to see someone removing the host from their mouth.

Pope Benedict to Catholics: Kneel For Communion
newsblaze.com/story/20090801065749zzzz.nb/topstory.html

 

[coco2]

I have seen ( twice!) someone take the communion in their hand and then put it in their pocket. I saw a girl take it in her hand, keep it in her hand and then put it in her purse when she got back to the pew. Both were college student aged. We live in a college town. This concerns me a lot! I did tell the priest who just asked me to describe the person.

 

[Reuben_J]

We all are concerned about the abuse. The priest could have just mentioned it in his homily in subsequent masses and if it is emphasized sufficiently regular parishioners are all informed about the Church’s position with regards to the host. This kind of things helps a lot as then parishioners are quite clear on what to do or how to react if such occurrences should happen.

In the said incidence there is not much that the priest could have done. It was that sense of helplessness over this matter that he wanted to let it go. Surely these abuses do happen during the mass; it is certainly commendable that parishioners are concerned. I would think education and information can help some in the long run.

Ultimately, it is between God and the culprit. Looking at it that way may release us from the personal guilt and the indignant that we have over the matter.

 

[Petergee]

Yes, we all (especially if we are serving as altar servers or EMHCs) should be prepared to be *“the Host police” *if necessary. I have twice confronted people in the middle of the aisle as they attempted similar things - (in both cases with a very happy result in that the the people concerned eventually became reverent believing Catholics - though that wasn’t why I did it.)

If you can’t pluck up the nerve to confront the person at the time, or even tell the clergy at the time, then yes telling the clergy afterwards is the next best thing. But if the priest doesn’t know which person it was, there’s not a lot he can do, apart from as mentioned giving the congregation a general reminder of the sanctity of the Body of Christ.

Of course the priest has no excuse for not even being shocked or concerned about the incident (presuming you read his reaction correctly - some people express emotions in unusual ways.)

 

[Batfink]

What do you think the priest and/or the deacon should have done?

At my (Catholic, but a lot of non-Catholic pupils) school, when we have Mass:
I talk to the class first to make sure they know who can and cannot receive communion and what to do if they do not intend to receive, and I make sure this information is also displayed in any material we are using (PowerPoint, missallette etc).

We have a practice so they are clear exactly how to receive and no-one who has chosen to come forward for a blessing (let’s not get into an argument about that now, I know) accidentally looks like they want to receive. You’d be surprised (or maybe not), how many people could do with a reminder of how they should be receiving if they’ve been used to receiving regularly for a number of years and have picked up some bad habits. We practice receiving on the tongue so that people can do that even if they haven’t been brought up to it.

When pupils are visiting the chapel during class time, I let some non-Catholics eat an unconsecrated host to show that we’re not hiding anything from them & to discourage them from receiving just through curiosity.

I position fellow students/teachers to stand to the side of every minister and check that people are consuming the host straight away.

If necessary, I will follow a student and tell them to consume a host. I have twice had to consume a host which has been in someone else’s mouth. Both these students now have a lot more respect for the Eucharist since they saw the lengths people were prepared to go to to show reverence.

I’m not saying the priest or deacon in question could do any of these things, necessarily. Clearly, they are mostly appropriate for a school rather than parish setting. I’m just using them as examples of the sorts of things which could be done in advance to ensure such situations occur less often. As others have pointed out, there was maybe not a lot they could have done at the time, but it might have given them a chance to reflect on how in general they prepare the parishioners to receive and what measures they take to show respect and love for the Holy Eucharist.

Agree wholeheartedly with the idea of a holy hour in reparation.

 

[Newbie2]

I think that the priest & deacon should have been VERY upset.

Maybe they were upset. Not everybody has a screaming hissy fit when they get concerned. Maybe they discussed it after mass. We don’t know.

Yes, we all (especially if we are serving as altar servers or EMHCs) should be prepared to be *“the Host police” *if necessary. I have twice confronted people in the middle of the aisle as they attempted similar things - (in both cases with a very happy result in that the the people concerned eventually became reverent believing Catholics - though that wasn’t why I did it.)

If you can’t pluck up the nerve to confront the person at the time, or even tell the clergy at the time, then yes telling the clergy afterwards is the next best thing. But if the priest doesn’t know which person it was, there’s not a lot he can do, apart from as mentioned giving the congregation a general reminder of the sanctity of the Body of Christ.

Of course the priest has no excuse for not even being shocked or concerned about the incident (presuming you read his reaction correctly - some people express emotions in unusual ways.)

The priest has no excuse for not even being shocked?

Well, yeah, I guess to some extent the EMHCs are “host police”, but to what extent is the question I have in mind. Chasing them down the aisle as they stroll out immediately after communion? Into the parking lot? Informing the priest after mass?

I guess all situations are different, but where is the line drawn between disrupting the mass and attempting to correct an abuse?

 

[paperwight66]

If necessary, I will follow a student and tell them to consume a host. I have twice had to consume a host which has been in someone else’s mouth. Both these students now have a lot more respect for the Eucharist since they saw the lengths people were prepared to go to to show reverence.

I note your heroism, but you did not have to do that. The normal means of reverently disposing of a Host is to dissolve It in water and pour away in a suitable place. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to make sure people know that, in case there is a case of a communicant being afflicted by vomiting, that is to say, when it would be foolish or even just impossible for another to consume It?

 

[Batfink]

Paperwight -Thanks for your advice. The problem we have here is that the chapel is a long way from the sacrarium (school built over several decades and where the chapel used to be isn’t where it is anymore) so it would have been a big deal to wrap the host in a purificator, take it to a basin of water, wait for it to dissolve then pour it away and whilst the Eucharist is definitely worth that level of respect, it would have meant other people getting involved, disturbing the Mass, having to process through the school carrying the host etc.

I do see your point, and it’s something I’ll make people aware of in the future, especially in the case you give of someone being sick, but in these particular instances I found it better to consume the host myself - the example made a big deal to the teenagers who had refused to consume it themselves without showing them up in front of all their friends and classmates. Maybe I’ve got into bad habits myself from working with children; if so then I would be happy to accept correction.

 

[Reuben_J]

I do see your point, and it’s something I’ll make people aware of in the future, especially in the case you give of someone being sick, but in these particular instances I found it better to consume the host myself - the example made a big deal to the teenagers who had refused to consume it themselves without showing them up in front of all their friends and classmates. Maybe I’ve got into bad habits myself from working with children; if so then I would be happy to accept correction.

I was about to comment on the heroism. It is very touching to know such devotion to the Eucharist. BTW are you a teacher? Perhaps in your context it would be the most natural thing to do but please don’t do that – for practical reason. As mentioned, there is a way to dispose of a soiled host, besides there is the health hazard that we must be aware of. For the same reason why the church does without the holy water during the H1N1 outbreak.

God bless.

 

[AndrewF1995]

I haven’t been on for a while, and now so many people posted I can’t reply to all of you so I will just answer a few of the questions!

“What was the priest or deacon sopose to do, they found out after mass was over?”

I told the deacon as soon as I saw it, I ran up to him when he was walking to get something from the little table that has the water and wine cruets on it. He just said “thanks” and walked away.

I was hoping the priest or deacon would at least say something after communion into the microphone so that everyone would know that you need to consume the host after you receive it. I understand they couldn’t hunt her down and yell at her or anything like that. I really hope she brought it home to a sick family member.

One person said that I should start going to the Tridentine mass if I don’t like what I see going on:

I am a altar boy at the Tridentine mass every sunday, This was just a mass for confirmation preparation at the church my family attends. I don’t usually go to the church this took place in because it stresses me out (i’m not going to get into the reasons why because it will go to far off topic)

Also everyone who is giving me advice, Thank you!

 

[AndrewF1995]

At my (Catholic, but a lot of non-Catholic pupils) school, when we have Mass:
I talk to the class first to make sure they know who can and cannot receive communion and what to do if they do not intend to receive, and I make sure this information is also displayed in any material we are using (PowerPoint, missallette etc).

We have a practice so they are clear exactly how to receive and no-one who has chosen to come forward for a blessing (let’s not get into an argument about that now, I know) accidentally looks like they want to receive. You’d be surprised (or maybe not), how many people could do with a reminder of how they should be receiving if they’ve been used to receiving regularly for a number of years and have picked up some bad habits. We practice receiving on the tongue so that people can do that even if they haven’t been brought up to it.

When pupils are visiting the chapel during class time, I let some non-Catholics eat an unconsecrated host to show that we’re not hiding anything from them & to discourage them from receiving just through curiosity.

I position fellow students/teachers to stand to the side of every minister and check that people are consuming the host straight away.

If necessary, I will follow a student and tell them to consume a host. I have twice had to consume a host which has been in someone else’s mouth. Both these students now have a lot more respect for the Eucharist since they saw the lengths people were prepared to go to to show reverence.

I’m not saying the priest or deacon in question could do any of these things, necessarily. Clearly, they are mostly appropriate for a school rather than parish setting. I’m just using them as examples of the sorts of things which could be done in advance to ensure such situations occur less often. As others have pointed out, there was maybe not a lot they could have done at the time, but it might have given them a chance to reflect on how in general they prepare the parishioners to receive and what measures they take to show respect and love for the Holy Eucharist.

Agree wholeheartedly with the idea of a holy hour in reparation.

Thats so great! Catholic Schools need more teachers like you! Around where I live the kids at catholic school think that the eucharist is just blessed bread

 

[Petergee]

Maybe they were upset. Not everybody has a screaming hissy fit when they get concerned. Maybe they discussed it after mass. We don’t know.

Yes, that’s what I was saying, some people have unusual ways of expressing emotions such as concern.

The priest has no excuse for not even being shocked?

No, he doesn’t! If he was not shocked (and as I said above I don’t mean merely if he didn’t appear shocked), then that means either:
(a) he really doesn’t care that it happened; or
(b) he cares, but he has seen it happen so often that he doesn’t think he can do anything about it.

Unless you can think of another possibility. But both of these possibilities are shocking to me.

Well, yeah, I guess to some extent the EMHCs are “host police”, but to what extent is the question I have in mind. Chasing them down the aisle as they stroll out immediately after communion? Into the parking lot? Informing the priest after mass?

I guess all situations are different, but where is the line drawn between disrupting the mass and attempting to correct an abuse?

Having a quiet word to one individual in the aisle or in the pew is not “disrupting the Mass”.

I’ll tell you about the 2 situations I was 'the Host police":

1. I was an EMHC and after I gave the Host to a boy and was picking up the next Host to give to the next communicant, out of the corner of my eye as he was walking away I saw him break his Host in half, eat one half and close the other half in his fist. I said “Hey!” quickly walked over and put my hand on his shoulder and asked him to open his fist. He did and the half-Host was there. I asked him to eat it and he did. After Mass I went up to him and his family and saw that he was crying. His parents told me that he had told them that he was taking the other half back to his little brother who had not made his First Communion yet (maybe this was true or maybe it was an excuse he made up for his parents). They thanked me for doing the right thing and said that he had learned a good lesson about the sacredness of Communion. A few years later that boy and his brother, who had been “tearaways” became very reverent altar servers.
2. I was in the congregation (with no special job) on the end of a pew after Communion when I saw a boy put a Host into his mouth as he was walking up the aisle, then spit it out and hold it in his hand as if he didn’t know what to do with it. He then gave it to his mother who was walking behind him, and she ate it. I approached them after Mass. It turned out that neither of them was even a Christian. Her husband who was with them too was a poorly catechised, lapsed and recently resumed practising Catholic who didn’t know or care enough to tell them that Communion is only for Catholics. They told me that they really wanted to find out more about Catholicism and practice the faith properly. They joined RCIA and have since become Catholics.

 

[Newbie2]

Yes, that’s what I was saying, some people have unusual ways of expressing emotions such as concern.
No, he doesn’t! If he was not shocked (and as I said above I don’t mean merely if he didn’t appear shocked), then that means either:
(a) he really doesn’t care that it happened; or
(b) he cares, but he has seen it happen so often that he doesn’t think he can do anything about it.

Unless you can think of another possibility. But both of these possibilities are shocking to me.
Having a quiet word to one individual in the aisle or in the pew is not “disrupting the Mass”.

I’ll tell you about the 2 situations I was 'the Host police":

1. I was an EMHC and after I gave the Host to a boy and was picking up the next Host to give to the next communicant, out of the corner of my eye as he was walking away I saw him break his Host in half, eat one half and close the other half in his fist. I said “Hey!” quickly walked over and put my hand on his shoulder and asked him to open his fist. He did and the half-Host was there. I asked him to eat it and he did. After Mass I went up to him and his family and saw that he was crying. His parents told me that he had told them that he was taking the other half back to his little brother who had not made his First Communion yet (maybe this was true or maybe it was an excuse he made up for his parents). They thanked me for doing the right thing and said that he had learned a good lesson about the sacredness of Communion. A few years later that boy and his brother, who had been “tearaways” became very reverent altar servers.
2. I was in the congregation (with no special job) on the end of a pew after Communion when I saw a boy put a Host into his mouth as he was walking up the aisle, then spit it out and hold it in his hand as if he didn’t know what to do with it. He then gave it to his mother who was walking behind him, and she ate it. I approached them after Mass. It turned out that neither of them was even a Christian. Her husband who was with them too was a poorly catechised, lapsed and recently resumed practising Catholic who didn’t know or care enough to tell them that Communion is only for Catholics. They told me that they really wanted to find out more about Catholicism and practice the faith properly. They joined RCIA and have since become Catholics.

I would think the reason for his response would be (b).

But I don’t see this as “shocking”. Disappointing, perhaps, but not surprising as in “shocking”.

 

[Petergee]

I would think the reason for his response would be (b).

But I don’t see this as “shocking”. Disappointing, perhaps, but not surprising as in “shocking”.

If blatant sacrilege against the Blessed Sacrament has become so rampantly common in a parish that its pastor feels powerless to do anything to prevent or combat it, “disappointing” is a far too mild word to describe the situation.

You weren’t born in England by any chance were you? The English fetish for understatement is so pronounced that I once heard an Englishman in a late 1940s film describe World War Two as “the recent unpleasantness”.