Not sure how common something like this is, but

[ibkc]

This morning at mass, our pastor noticed a fellow had taken a host in the hand, but did not consume it. Father paused his communion line, went into the pew and demanded that the young fellow return the unconsumed host. He also denied communion to the fellow’s companion, and the two of them beat a hasty, red-faced retreat from the church. There may be more to the story that I didn’t see, and of course there is no way to know if the two young men were acting out of ignorance, or if they were up to something bad (there are sick people who like to get their hands on consecrated hosts for profane purposes). But I was very happy to see our pastor guard the integrity of the Eucharist.

This same pastor told us in RCIA that he prefers that people receive on the tongue, and after witnessing this incident, I can totally understand why.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Redemptionis Sacramentum

1. Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice, if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand.

If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.

I do not know if the highlighted portion may be at the discretion of the pastor, or if it must be from the ordinary.

tee

 

[ethelzguy]

This morning at mass, our pastor noticed a fellow had taken a host in the hand, but did not consume it. Father paused his communion line, went into the pew and demanded that the young fellow return the unconsumed host. He also denied communion to the fellow’s companion, and the two of them beat a hasty, red-faced retreat from the church. There may be more to the story that I didn’t see, and of course there is no way to know if the two young men were acting out of ignorance, or if they were up to something bad (there are sick people who like to get their hands on consecrated hosts for profane purposes). But I was very happy to see our pastor guard the integrity of the Eucharist.

This same pastor told us in RCIA that he prefers that people receive on the tongue, and after witnessing this incident, I can totally understand why.

Three cheers for your priest. :tiphat: :tiphat: :tiphat:

I’m glad he personally took charge of the matter to protect the right of us who prefer to receive in the hand. Perhaps he’s had his eye on these fellows for more than one Mass?

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Your pastor totally dis the correct thing. Hats off to him.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[ibkc]

Three cheers for your priest. :tiphat: :tiphat: :tiphat:

I’m glad he personally took charge of the matter to protect the right of us who prefer to receive in the hand.

That’s an interesting way to look at it, hadn’t thought of it that way. As I said, he’s not a fan of communion in the hand.

Perhaps he’s had his eye on these fellows for more than one Mass?

I don’t know. Our parish is huge, there are a ton of people at all the Sunday masses every week, the pastor and parochial vicars rotate which masses they say each week, and I am sure it’s tough to keep up with everything and everyone all the time.

 

[mark_a]

A deacon at our church told us a similar story where he had to actually take the host from the young man.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I have only seen something close to this one time at a daily Mass with a small number in attendance. A man sat toward the front and never participated in any of the Mass but approached for Communion. When it was his “turn” the priest asked him if he was a Catholic and the man said he was and then the priest mentioned about his non-participation and the man became quite incensed. The priest stepped back and guarded the chalice and said he would be glad to speak to him after Mass and perhaps give him Communion then. The man angrily left the Church. I think the priest did the correct thing in that situation also.

 

[allhers]

I have only seen something close to this one time at a daily Mass with a small number in attendance. A man sat toward the front and never participated in any of the Mass but approached for Communion. When it was his “turn” the priest asked him if he was a Catholic and the man said he was and then the priest mentioned about his non-participation and the man became quite incensed. The priest stepped back and guarded the chalice and said he would be glad to speak to him after Mass and perhaps give him Communion then. The man angrily left the Church. I think the priest did the correct thing in that situation also.

That is also covered in Redemptionis Sacramentum

Thus the participation of the lay faithful too in the Eucharist and in the other celebrations of the Church’s rites cannot be equated with mere presence, and still less with a passive one, but is rather to be regarded as a true exercise of faith and of the baptismal dignity.

1. The constant teaching of the Church on the nature of the Eucharist not only as a meal, but also and pre-eminently as a Sacrifice, is therefore rightly understood to be one of the principal keys to the full participation of all the faithful in so great a Sacrament.97 For when “stripped of its sacrificial meaning, the mystery is understood as if its meaning and importance were simply that of a fraternal banquet”.98

 

[allhers]

For those who might want to read it further:
Redemptionis Sacramentum
The purpose of the Instruction, published 23 April 2004 by the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, is indicated in its subtitle, “On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist.” The Instruction is not a compendium of norms on the Eucharist, but rather emphasizes certain existing norms, establishes others by which the “earlier ones are explained and complemented,” and defines the separate roles of Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and the Laity in celebration of the Eucharist. LITURGY MASS LITURGICAL ABUSES ECUMENICAL ECUMENISM RECOGNITIO PRIESTHOOD CLERICALIZATION SERVERS BREAD WINE HOSTS WORD BIBLE HOMILY CREED SIGN OF PEACE FRACTION HOLY COMMUNION CONFESSION PENANCE COMMUNION-PLATE CHALICE INTINCTION LATAE SENTENTIAE EXCOMMUNICATION GRAVIORA DELICTA LATIN VESSELS VESTURE VESTMENTS RESERVATION TABERNACLE ECHARISTIC ADORATION EXPOSITION EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS PREACHING
ewtn.com/vlibrary/search2.asp

 

[YADA]

My experiences on similar occasions:

Once when I was an EMHC [being a cup minister] a man appraoched and offered me a dollar … I was not sure what was happening … Father came over and took the host from his hands … being a Cup Minister I had not been observing his reception of the Host - being focused on those aprroaching me and how they handle the Cup. … boy was I confused and a little shaken … at the time I was not accepting any money nor did I offer the Cup … I did look to his daughter … Father told me afterwaards that he was concerned as the man approached and that was why he was watching so closely after he gave him communion … he knew he was very confused when he say him offer me the dollar bill … but father gave the man communion when he presented himmself … father said it can be a tough call … it turned out the gentleman had alzheimers was brought to church by his daughter [occassionally] … father did talked with them [man and daughter] after mass … encouraged the daughter to be actively engaged and help her father when she brings him to mass and to contact the parish to obtain visits to his home/facility by our home care ministry folks … the daughter was probably not actively practicng her faith - father says encounters like this is are a pastoral moment that can help bring people home [or sadly drive them further away] …

A few years back - at a Christmas Eve Mass an EMHC had to ‘retrieve’ a Host taken by a teen who did not consume but took it to a corner and actually began cursing “Jesus” … and no, they had no qualms regarding demanding the Host be returned and actually obtaining same … sadly, they were not confronted after mass nor were their parents [if they were in fact ppresent] … Christmas Eve - Chaos - many unknown faces due to the high numbers of CEO catholics [Christmas -Easter - Obituary] in attendance … that was a case where father did not have the chance to follow-up …

Once I observed a man from the other side of the church receive communion - place a host in his pocket and walk out the door … could not stop him or follow him … but I did report to father what I saw and describe the individual, the EMHC was also informed and made aware of how to handle the situation in the future … in this case we believe it was someone who received an extra host to take to a person unable to attend mass … I have had people such as this approach me at Communion but without a pyx … I gently refuse them at that time - quietly and quickly ask them to contact me [or father] after mass … then - if appropirate they can obtain a pyx [on loan from the parish] or the parish can send a trained minister to the person so that they can receive communion properly … education is the key

As for Communion on the tongue - that is not any guarantee against abuse of the Blessed Sacrament … those who desire to obtain the Body of Christ for evil purposes could receive on the tongue and hold it there until they walk away from the priest or EMHC … [they can even mimic chewing an swallowing] then remove the host from their mouth … because if this Communion on the tongue is not any more ‘safe’ than receiving in the hand …

unless of course we are going to have to prove we have chewed and swallowed … then perhaps we could replace the EMHC with the EMCC [extraordinary minister of communion consumption] …

EMCC: “Please Open your Mouth so I can not observe the Body /Blood of Christ”

Commnuicant: “Aaah”

 

[po18guy]

My 16 year old daughter, an Altar server, noticed a man receive and not consume. She (bless her confrontational little heart!) told him, “Sir, you must consume the host”. The man just stared for about 10 seconds, then slowly walked away. I spoke with him directly after mass and found out that he was not even Catholic. “Something” had called him to our parish, he said, and he didn’t believe that he could consume the host. Well, we went to the priest quickly and the host was returned. I then engaged in a little concentrated apologetics with the man. He made inquiry into our faith and I hope to see him again. I did not even see it, because I was “in the zone” after receiving.

Christ’s peace.

 

[THurifer2]

I had a lady come up and put the host in her pocket. I eyed her and noticed that she had a very blank look on her face. We approached her after mass and it turned out she also had Alzheimers…poor old gal…

 

[LilyM]

I have only seen something close to this one time at a daily Mass with a small number in attendance. A man sat toward the front and never participated in any of the Mass but approached for Communion. When it was his “turn” the priest asked him if he was a Catholic and the man said he was and then the priest mentioned about his non-participation and the man became quite incensed. The priest stepped back and guarded the chalice and said he would be glad to speak to him after Mass and perhaps give him Communion then. The man angrily left the Church. I think the priest did the correct thing in that situation also.

I think that’s awful - what if the poor guy was used to TLMs or Eastern DLs and simply didn’t participate in the NO because he wasn’t familiar with it, or what if it was the poor man’s first Mass after 20 years away from the Church and he’d forgotten the prayers and responses or something?

I don’t think anyone who approaches for Communion, providing they’re Catholic, old enough, of sound mind, not disrespectful towards the Sacred Host or Chalice, and not in a state of mortal sin, should have to justify to the priest why they should be permitted to receive Communion.

 

[Timothysis]

I think that’s awful - what if the poor guy was used to TLMs or Eastern DLs and simply didn’t participate in the NO because he wasn’t familiar with it, or what if it was the poor man’s first Mass after 20 years away from the Church and he’d forgotten the prayers and responses or something?

I don’t think anyone who approaches for Communion, providing they’re Catholic, old enough, of sound mind, not disrespectful towards the Sacred Host or Chalice, and not in a state of mortal sin, should have to justify to the priest why they should be permitted to receive Communion.

You’re joking, right? There is a true duty to protect Christ in the Eucharist from profanation. I’ve never been to a Church where a missal wasn’t handy. If a person hasn’t been in a long time and has forgotten parts (is that even possible?), he can easily follow along. Besides, if he truly hasn’t been in 20 years he needs to go to confession first.

 

[LilyM]

You’re joking, right? There is a true duty to protect Christ in the Eucharist from profanation. I’ve never been to a Church where a missal wasn’t handy. If a person hasn’t been in a long time and has forgotten parts (is that even possible?), he can easily follow along. Besides, if he truly hasn’t been in 20 years he needs to go to confession first.

I’ve been to many many churches that didn’t have missals handy, so it’s a mistake to presume that all of them do. Even if they were, that doesn’t mean that a) he knew that they were available and b) he knew that they had the complete Order of Mass in them. And how does the priest know that he wasn’t ‘following along’ to the best of his ability even if he didn’t make any of the responses??

Moving on, I remember the one occasion I went to an Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy - they had booklets but due to my lack of experience with the DL, it was downright impossible for me to follow along even WITH a booklet.

And of course it’s possible to forget parts of the Mass - I know 'em because for at least 20 years of my life I’ve gone every single Sunday and Holy Day barring illness. I daresay it’s the same for you. Not everyone has had the benefit of regular Mass attendance to cement those prayers into their mind.

And I said first MASS, doesn’t mean he didn’t go to confession first. I was away from the Church for 12 years, I knew I had to go to confession before receiving Communion after that time.

 

[allhers]

LilyM,
If that were the case, then I don’t think that the man would have become incensed, as post # 7 says that he did. I think he would have been humbled and waited until the end of Mass and spoke with Father. Plus, I would think that Father would be the one to rightly judge this, not us. I think that any Priest who guards the Eucharist is to be thanked and I do thank God for them.

 

[Colin_Adian]

I have on occasion had to throw the Purificator over the Chalice to stop people from dipping the host. I wish there was more instruction on how to receive communion.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I don’t think anyone who approaches for Communion, providing they’re Catholic, old enough, of sound mind, not disrespectful towards the Sacred Host or Chalice, and not in a state of mortal sin, should have to justify to the priest why they should be permitted to receive Communion.

I respectfully disagree. If the man was away from the Church for some time wouldn’t he at least make the effort to stand when everyone else did…or kneel during the Consecration when everyone else was doing so…or attempt to show some sort of participation? I think the priest did the right thing and didn’t deny him altogether. he told him he would like to visit w/ him after Mass and at that time receive Communion.