Man receives Eucharist, then vomits....now what?

[hasikelee]

This is just one of those oddball questions that popped out of nowhere and is now bugging me.

If someone were to receive Communion, and then vomit or cough (essentially expel) what would be the procedure to preserve the sacredness of the materials?

Or is there a procedure?

Another example would be in the hospital where a person is sick.

 

[AJV]

This is just one of those oddball questions that popped out of nowhere and is now bugging me.

If someone were to receive Communion, and then vomit or cough (essentially expel) what would be the procedure to preserve the sacredness of the materials?

Or is there a procedure?

Another example would be in the hospital where a person is sick.

Eat it if you can…I’m serious! though I think in 95% of cases at least people wouldn’t be able to

If you can’t, gather it up, burn it and scatter the the ashes in the consecrated ground where the water from the sacrarium/piscina is usually poured. If you see, however, that the Host is still mostly ‘intact’ then leave it for some time until the bread (accidents only wise, of course) spoils, then burn it, etc.

 

[Digitonomy]

If you can’t, gather it up, burn it

What is the procedure for burning it? I imagine it’s not very flammable. And what vessel is it burned in?

 

[AJV]

What is the procedure for burning it? I imagine it’s not very flammable. And what vessel is it burned in?

No clue. All the moral theology manuals and mass expositions seem to assume its possible. I’ve not seen it it personally. Though whatever vessel it’s burned in probably ought to be washed with water as well and that water thrown along with the ashes.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I don’t think that burning is the proper procedure although I could be wrong. I believe one would dilute with water and then pour it down that special drain that runs into the ground and not into the sewer.

Not sure what would be the procedure if this happened outside of the church where the resources were not available.

 

[LilyM]

This is just one of those oddball questions that popped out of nowhere and is now bugging me.

If someone were to receive Communion, and then vomit or cough (essentially expel) what would be the procedure to preserve the sacredness of the materials?

Or is there a procedure?

Another example would be in the hospital where a person is sick.

I can’t imagine that if you vomited up a host it would have any of the external characteristics of the host - it’d be mush, basically. No external characteristics = no Jesus. No harm no foul.

As for coughing - it’d be the same as dropping it on the floor. If it’s in no state to be consumed it is nonetheless retrieved, dissolved in water which is either poured down the sacrarium in the church or otherwise poured into the ground.

 

[puzzleannie]

this does happen almost every year to at least one child during first communion, and it is something we mention to parents who are preparing them. some children have a gag reflex that causes this, which is why we practice with real unconsecrated hosts, and also dry crackers like wheat thins or oyster crackers.

the procedure is to try and catch what is spit up in something that can be washed (not tissue) like a purificator. if it falls on the floor, wipe with a purificator and clean the spot as you would for spilled precious blood, and wash the cloth in the sacrarium (special sink in the sacristy) until nothing visible remains, then hang to dry, and launder as usual.

one of the teachers usually tries to stand by and be prepared for any eventuality (my bag makes me look like the Wedding Planner).

be advised in cold and flu season if you get one of those nagging coughs, receiving can set you off and cause you to gag or even vomit, so it might be wise to refrain from receiving if you are having this problem. anybody who is sick to the point where they are gagging, vomiting or not retaining food should not be given the host in any case.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

This is just one of those oddball questions that popped out of nowhere and is now bugging me.

If someone were to receive Communion, and then vomit or cough (essentially expel) what would be the procedure to preserve the sacredness of the materials?

Or is there a procedure?

Another example would be in the hospital where a person is sick.

It is not recommended that anyone eat a Host that someone else has had in their mouth. Every parish should have a supply of “medical” gloves and a clear plastic “soup” containers with spill proof lids. I recommend EMHC visiting home bound have a small container with a glove or two tucked inside with them. Put on the glove, fill the container about half full with water. Pick up the Host place it in the water. Rinse the tips of your glove fingers in the water and seal the lid. The glove can be tossed away. The container should be taken back to the church and given to the priest, deacon, or placed in the tabernacle. After the Host is completely dissolved the water can be poured down the sacrarium.

 

[kage_ar]

I keep having the scene from the movie “Angela’s Ashes” run through my head…

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

be advised in cold and flu season if you get one of those nagging coughs, receiving can set you off and cause you to gag or even vomit, so it might be wise to refrain from receiving if you are having this problem. anybody who is sick to the point where they are gagging, vomiting or not retaining food should not be given the host in any case.

This is very true. I just got over a bad cough and when receiving Holy Communion, just the texture of the host started me coughing like crazy. I stopped receiving Holy Communion until my cough subsided so that I would not accidentally have something like that happen.

:heart:Blyss

 

[RandA]

this does happen almost every year to at least one child during first communion, and it is something we mention to parents who are preparing them. some children have a gag reflex that causes this, \

ahh, this is going to be my little one… he is “quick” on the gag!

 

[Cristiano]

It is not recommended that anyone eat a Host that someone else has had in their mouth. Every parish should have a supply of “medical” gloves and a clear plastic “soup” containers with spill proof lids. I recommend EMHC visiting home bound have a small container with a glove or two tucked inside with them. Put on the glove, fill the container about half full with water. Pick up the Host place it in the water. Rinse the tips of your glove fingers in the water and seal the lid. The glove can be tossed away. The container should be taken back to the church and given to the priest, deacon, or placed in the tabernacle. After the Host is completely dissolved the water can be poured down the sacrarium.

That is a really good suggestion. I think that one of the privileges of being an EMHC is to bring Communion to the sick and the elderly. However, I have not gone through the experience of someone gagging. Next time I will be prepared. Thanks!

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Most traditional parishes keep a little water-filled glass bowl with cover near the tabernacle called an ablution cup. This is designed for priests to dip their fingers in after touching the Host, but is also used to dissolve soiled Hosts so that they may be put into a sacrarium or poured onto a safe patch of earth. I have used one on several occasions.

 

[NoxSineStellae]

I keep having the scene from the movie “Angela’s Ashes” run through my head…

I haven’t seen the film, but the bit in the book is what popped into my head when I saw this thread - it was my favorite part of the book, I loved that priest and his reaction

 

[Parysa]

Why is it that some people gag? What is it about the texture or whatever it is that triggers this reflex?

 

[puzzleannie]

if you regularly take communion to the sick in hospitals and nursing homes, here, in addition to regular EMHC training, the hospitals here have a training required for ministers of all faiths, the visitors have to register, and issues of what to do in situations like this are covered.