MERGED: Communion during flu season

[Lapey]

I’ve learned that our diocese has asked parishes to suspend the distribution of the Precious Blood to the faithful because of the flu epidemic. I’m fine with that.

1. Should priests also ask (not demand or insist) that the faithful also refrain from receiving Communion on the tongue during this time for the same reason (to avoid the possible spread of germs)?
2. If you receive Communion on the tongue, would you willingly suspend this practice for a month or two out of concern for your fellow parishioners’ health?

1. Priests are not allowed to refuse distribution on the tongue or hand in the USA. Answer no.
2. No I would not be willing to recieve on the hand. I do not feel right asking the priest to put Jesus in my hand.

 

[centurionguard]

The Holy Father has made this abundantly clear. Communion on the tongue is the universal norm for receiving communion, and no Catholic is to be refused communion on the tongue.

When a number of bishops tried to suspend communion on the tongue during the H1N1 over-reaction, Rome told them they couldn’t do that.

I would absolutely NOT be willing to suspend this practice for a month or two. I would be willing to have the congregation NOT receive communion (communion reception for the faithful is completely optional) if there was such a threat to the health of everyone, but I absolutely WILL NOT receive communion in the hand.

It’s really wierd; and I remember last year when the H1N1 Virus was at it hight between 2011-2012, bishops even placed directives in all parishes to cease all (“handshaking”) at the Peace of Christ.
That lasted for the majority of the summer of 2012 before some parishioners in the fall felt safe returning to a norm. Many still don’t like shaking hands at the peace of Christ. I’m one of them.

 

[garn9173]

I’ve had my flu shot, not a big deal for me.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

It’s really wierd; and I remember last year when the H1N1 Virus was at it hight between 2011-2012, bishops even placed directives in all parishes to cease all (“handshaking”) at the Peace of Christ.
That lasted for the majority of the summer of 2012 before some parishioners in the fall felt safe returning to a norm. Many still don’t like shaking hands at the peace of Christ. I’m one of them.

I attend the EF, so I just don’t like the sign of peace hand-shaking in general.

When the H1N1 first broke out in 2009, our bishop suspended communion on the tongue. When our priest from the FSSP said he couldn’t give communion in the hand, and tried to compromise with the bishop, the Masses were suspended until the bans were lifted.

 

[Usige]

The chances of a priest contracting the flu while distributing on the tongue is extreamly low. The issue is more with others contracting from someone that is already sick. This is just as likely to occur from a priest, deacon, or EMHC handling the host regradless if they distribute on the tongue or in the hand.

I guess if a person is really that worried about getting sick should they not just refrain from receiving rather than dictate how others should receive?

 

[The_Idiot]

You do realise that the Eastern Catholic Churches still , through all these flu alerts, continue to Receive Communion - under both kinds - as normal.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

You do realise that the Eastern Catholic Churches still , through all these flu alerts, continue to Receive Communion - under both kinds - as normal.

I know this. When our Masses were suspended, we sought refuge at the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

 

[paperwight66]

The chances of a priest contracting the flu while distributing on the tongue is extreamly low.

I don’t think that is the concern. The concern is whether a priest could pick up germs from a person’s tongue, on to his fingers, then transfer these germs on to the next Host or directly to the next tongue he touches.

Or not even by touching a tongue/saliva, but just by the person breathing on his fingers.

 

[Catholic_Wife]

I’ve had my flu shot, not a big deal for me.

That’s nice, but around here the majority of people coming into area hospitals with flu-like symptoms have had the flu shot. Thousands are sick and almost 20 people have died throughout the country.

 

[jorgeraul3]

We are doing this now at our parish right now, it truly saddens me. Some people say the Vatican stated that this was not allowed, is there any documentation I could share with our pastor?

 

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

That’s nice, but around here the majority of people coming into area hospitals with flu-like symptoms have had the flu shot. Thousands are sick and almost 20 people have died throughout the country.

This is the reason that I go the “natural route”. Taking the flu shot is no guarantee that you
will not catch the flu especially since the vaccine is made from past strains and not the
flu that has mutated to this year’s flu.

 

[triumphguy]

We are doing this now at our parish right now, it truly saddens me. Some people say the Vatican stated that this was not allowed, is there any documentation I could share with our pastor?

If the Local Bishop gives the OK then there is nothing the Vatican can do. The Bishop is the chief Liturgist in his diocese. And chief canon lawyer. etc., etc.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

If the Local Bishop gives the OK then there is nothing the Vatican can do. The Bishop is the chief Liturgist in his diocese. And chief canon lawyer. etc., etc.

This is not true. The Pope is above the Bishops. This was made clear after the incident in Calgary.

 

[Usige]

I don’t think that is the concern. The concern is whether a priest could pick up germs from a person’s tongue, on to his fingers, then transfer these germs on to the next Host or directly to the next tongue he touches.

Or not even by touching a tongue/saliva, but just by the person breathing on his fingers.

Oh I understand what the concern is. My point is everything has a risk and if that risk factor is too high for your comfort then it is your responsibility to decide what you will do, not dictate what others should do. If you are at an at danger group then your best choice might be to not receive or perhaps ask for a dispensation since there are almost a guarantee that someone in the pews have the flu.

There is greater risk that an EMHC could be infecting people since they are more likely to contact sick people while in the pew, so isn’t it better to suggest that EMHCs wash their hands immediately before distributing rather than focusing on the miniscule number of people that receive on the tongue?

 

[Agape_et_Shalom]

Our diocese has done the same today. I don’t like it. The Church keeps watering down our faith. My son asked this morning, “Isn’t it the body and blood of Jesus Christ?” How do we show our faith to others? Worst case, we die taking the body or blood of our Savior. One always has the option of not drinking from the Chalice.

 

[triumphguy]

This is not true. The Pope is above the Bishops. This was made clear after the incident in Calgary.

You will never see the Pope telling the Bishop what to do in a case like this.

And when the Pope comes to a diocese he comes as an Equal - different, but equal.

 

[Joannm]

No you will noy get the flu from drinking from the chalice–the chalice is pure gold and as one consumes the wine the germs go away quickly;

As for communion in the hands, after the sign nof peace, this does carry with it germs, so to ber on the safe side, I would receive it on the tongue.

God bless you now

I know very few parishes that have chalices of pure gold. They could never afford it. While the priest’s personal chalice might be of a better quality of gold plating or made of silver or other metal, most of the others used to distribute to the assembly are gold plated brass and they do corrode after awhile.

 

[Brendan]

If the Local Bishop gives the OK then there is nothing the Vatican can do. The Bishop is the chief Liturgist in his diocese. And chief canon lawyer. etc., etc.

The bishop has no authority to act against instructions from the Vatican. This was made clear in Pastor Aeternus (Vatican I)

1. Wherefore we teach and declare that, by divine ordinance, the Roman Church possesses a pre-eminence of ordinary power over every other Church, and that this jurisdictional power of the Roman Pontiff is both episcopal and immediate. Both clergy and faithful, of whatever rite and dignity, both singly and collectively, are bound to submit to this power by the duty of hierarchical subordination and true obedience, and this not only in matters concerning faith and morals, but also in those which regard the discipline and government of the Church throughout the world

 

[centurionguard]

No you will noy get the flu from drinking from the chalice–the chalice is pure gold and as one consumes the wine the germs go away quickly;

As for communion in the hands, after the sign nof peace, this does carry with it germs, so to ber on the safe side, I would receive it on the tongue.

God bless you now

The fact that a chalice is gold or silver plated concedes little value to protecting anyone from sickness or sterilizing the consecrated wine that most usually has low-level alcohol under 16%. The fact that a chalice or ciborium is gold or silver plated lends primarily to the aesthetic value of the precious metal of the sacredness of the vessels.

Like any number of people who might drink water from the same cup your bound to get backwash. So too happens when numerous faithful drink precious bood under the appearence of wine from a common chalice. However minimal it may be, backwash does happen. Personally; I never give this much thought as too having far greater focus on reception of both the body and blood of our Lord.

One should be reminded that the total Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ resides in either species. One species being no greater than the other.

 

[Mike30]

I’ve learned that our diocese has asked parishes to suspend the distribution of the Precious Blood to the faithful because of the flu epidemic. I’m fine with that.

1. Should priests also ask (not demand or insist) that the faithful also refrain from receiving Communion on the tongue during this time for the same reason (to avoid the possible spread of germs)?
2. If you receive Communion on the tongue, would you willingly suspend this practice for a month or two out of concern for your fellow parishioners’ health?

Since many diseases, flu, colds etc. have beeen proven to be passed by touching an infected persons hands, could not the exact same thing be argued for stopping reception in the hand during the flu season?

It goes both ways.