Lipstick for Communion

[Aramis]

Because of frequent kissing of icons, the chalice, the priest’s hand cross, the priest’s hand, when attending Byzantine Rite liturgies, the advice is simply “Don’t wear lipstick, please!”

As similar devotions return to Roman Rite praxis, such advice would seem equally valid there.

 

[ProVobis]

Good advice, Aramis.

As a pre-Vatican II altar server, some of that lipstick would really gross me out when people opened their mouths for communion. I can understand why the priests wanted to do away with communion on the tongue.

 

[ASD]

…really gross me out when people opened their mouths for communion. I can understand why the priests wanted to do away with communion on the tongue.

Understandable, sure. But not exemplary or admirable. I guess you’re being a little bit facetious, which obviously is OK. But, communion in the hand bugs me so much that I will make a humor-impaired, finger-wagging retort :tsktsk: :

A better attitude toward people and their grossness: Dorothy Day with the puking drunks on skid row; or Mother Teresa with the lepers; et al, seemingly endless list of Catholic heroes and heroines who see Christ in the grossest of the gross.

ASD​

Traditional Latin Mass: Translation and Grammar

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Understandable, sure. But not exemplary or admirable. I guess you’re being a little bit facetious, which obviously is OK. But, communion in the hand bugs me so much that I will make a humor-impaired, finger-wagging retort :tsktsk: :

A better attitude toward people and their grossness: Dorothy Day with the puking drunks on skid row; or Mother Teresa with the lepers; et al, seemingly endless list of Catholic heroes and heroines who see Christ in the grossest of the gross.

ASD

How can you compare the sick who would not choose their situation to some who knowingly wears greasy lipstick and receives on the tongue, from the chalice and/or kisses the tabernacle, statues or icons?

I’ve heard of priests who give on the tongue (or tell the kids to wash their hands and come back), if the hands are soiled, why not do the same for greasy lips?

Lux

 

[kage_ar]

Why would people have lipstick on their tongue?

One does not receive on the lips, where lipstick would be

 

[MarieVeronica]

What do you think of wearing heavy lipstick and receiving Holy Communion by mouth or receiving the Precious Blood? I feel it is very irreverent to use sacred vessels and linens in this manner.

Lux

You’ll probably get conflicting opinons on this… but, as for me… ICK! NO! NEVER! I agree with you, Lux. Lipstick at Mass (and especially those heavy, glossy types) shouldn’t be worn when receiving the Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord.

I usually put on only a thin layer of Chapstick.

 

[SMHW]

I remember that back when… …actually I don’t remember when receiving from the cup became commonplace. Was it back in the late 1970s or was it not until the 1980s?

In any case, I remember that back then ladies were asked to please NOT wear heavy lipstick if they planned to receive from the cup. But it’s probably been 15-20 years since I’ve heard such a request.

 

[ProVobis]

Understandable, sure. But not exemplary or admirable.

ASD, I don’t know how to tell you this, but not everyone thinks lipstick makes women look hot. A little vanity is ok, but Church is where both men and women present themselves before God and not for one another.

As for lepers, no, I haven’t been with lepers but I have been to Church (the Cathedral in Chicago) with homeless and very smelly people. I had to assume they were at their best they could be, rotten teeth and all. We worshipped together; that’s all I needed to know.

 

[tcraig]

I always put on lipstick before leaving the house for Sunday mass. By the time I’m ready to receive Holy Communion, most of it is gone/faded away. I’ve never worried about getting lipstick on anything, and have never seen this problem in any parish I’ve attended.

What are the ladies doing in the parishes that have a problem? Putting on lipstick right before receiving?

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Why would people have lipstick on their tongue?

One does not receive on the lips, where lipstick would be

True, but sometimes the lips touch the fingers, especially if the communicant does not open the mouth wide enough or closes it too quickly, and heavy lipstick will smudge off.

Lux

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

I always put on lipstick before leaving the house for Sunday mass. By the time I’m ready to receive Holy Communion, most of it is gone/faded away. I’ve never worried about getting lipstick on anything, and have never seen this problem in any parish I’ve attended.

What are the ladies doing in the parishes that have a problem? Putting on lipstick right before receiving?

I don’t know when they put it on, but the linen ladies & ministers (and anyone receiving after them) do wish they didn’t.

Lux

 

[love4mary]

I am an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC for short), when each person receives for the cup the Precious Blood of our Lord, I take the purificator and wipe that spot on the cup, then turn it for the next person. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get ALL the lipstick off the cup with the purificator which by the end of communion, is horribly stained with the lipstick.

As I am also the sacrastin and responsible for purifing the sacred vessals after Mass (Yes I know this is wrong, but this is the way our pastor wants it done), I have a difficult time washing it off the cups, They are heavily gold plated and scratch very easily, so scrubbing them is Out of the question.

Clean hand IF you choose not to recieve on the tongue and NO lipstick if you are recieving from the cup please, unless its the non-transferable type.

 

[lizaanne]

What do you think of wearing heavy lipstick …

Heavy lipstick is NEVER a good look, regardless of the situation!!!

So my vote is for no heavy lipstick in any setting.

I wear lipstick every day - but it is not ever heavy, is not the transferable kind, and has never come off on anyone when I’m receiving Holy Communion.

I consider wearing lipstick to be part of my proper grooming routine. It’s not that I wear it, it is what I wear and how that is important when receiving is concerned. I think this is just common sense for anyone. Sadly, not everyone possesses common sense.

~Liza