Pre-Packaged Communion

[GKC]

No difference. Same prayers.

Continuity is always comforting. Change is more dubious.

 

[Zabdi_Premjit]

I have never seen a pre-packaged communion set. It does interest me how terrible it is in the eyes of some though. Jesus took actual bread aND broke it. It occurs to me that many churches use a factory made and packaged wafer instead of actual bread, maybe someone can explain how that is different.

What do you mean?

If you are complaining about the mechanisation of the process, then that is fine, and I’d like you to elaborate your thoughts.

However, if you are saying that bread cannot come in the form of a wafer, then I think you have a(n inaccurately) narrow conception of what constitutes “bread.”

 

[Wannano]

What do you mean?

If you are complaining about the mechanisation of the process, then that is fine, and I’d like you to elaborate your thoughts.

However, if you are saying that bread cannot come in the form of a wafer, then I think you have a(n inaccurately) narrow conception of what constitutes “bread.”

The only thing I was pointing out is that the commercial wafer churches buy is a pre-packaged item. No big deal either way for me.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

When I was in the Church of England, it was Confirmation that was the big event. Then we simply attended Holy Communion the next Sunday, normal dress etc whereas we wore white and veils for Confirmation and always the Bishop.

That has changed?

Of course Confirmation is the Sacrament here and is still as wonderful as it ever was. For some parishes, first communion is what has changed, at least the timing of it. It’s not tied to Confirmation in many cases. Graceful Lamb, perhaps you were remembering Confirmation as the primary rite, tied to first communion at the same time.

 

[Reuben_J]

I once attended an Anglican service, and they had pre-packaged communion - individually packaged too. You peeled open the first section and took out the bread, then you peeled open the second section, which contained grape juice.

I am just curious about how common this practice is. Has any one seen it before?

Never been to their service, but hey, this is a pretty good idea. Just imagine the sterility, and why, one can bring them to picnic too.

 

[Rosebud77]

Never been to their service, but hey, this is a pretty good idea. Just imagine the sterility, and why, one can bring them to picnic too.

Partly my thought too as an immune-challenged person. Also that maybe I could bring some home… All but impossible now to get to mass… and when I was in hospital … would be great there

Someone of my age group though raised the point of how to get them open! These easy to open packs are anything but to old fingers…

 

[Zabdi_Premjit]

Never been to their service, but hey, this is a pretty good idea. Just imagine the sterility, and why, one can bring them to picnic too.

Alcohol is pretty sterile. Wouldn’t placing the bread into the wine render transmission of disease very minimal?

For the ancient churches that believe that the Eucharist literally become the body and blood of Christ, there is the added question: can the body and blood of Christ convey disease?

As for the picnic, that seems like a recipe for the Eucharist to be seen and treated like just another piece of food. Also, didn’t the Church stop allowing Christians to take home the Eucharist after the persecutions ended because they questioned how respectful the new converts would give to the Eucharist? Do we really trust people now to be properly respectful now? Isn’t that a risk?

 

[Reuben_J]

Alcohol is pretty sterile. Wouldn’t placing the bread into the wine render transmission of disease very minimal?

Like I said, I’ve never been to their service, …. but you gave a very good post.

I guess so about the alcohol, I didn’t think about that. I was thinking more on the bread. Pre-packed would obviously reduce the possibility of contamination as each pack is being isolated from the other.

For the ancient churches that believe that the Eucharist literally become the body and blood of Christ, there is the added question: can the body and blood of Christ convey disease?

Yes, since they don’t literally become the body and blood of Christ. The process is called transubstantiation, where only the substance changed but not the accident, the one that you can see.

Thus the host can be contaminated and perishable where bacteria and fungus can grow on it. But do not tell this to my fellow Catholics in the liturgy section. They would be very angry with me over there for saying this. They would agree with what you said; one can really admire their faith.

But yes, the practical aspect of it – you can bring infection, cross infection, to the communicants through the host. I am a communion minister in our church, and I would personally decline to be on duty if I had flu, afraid that I may transmit my disease to them, or if I did so, I would be very careful for my hand to be sterile, to avoid cross-infection.

As for the picnic, that seems like a recipe for the Eucharist to be seen and treated like just another piece of food. Also, didn’t the Church stop allowing Christians to take home the Eucharist after the persecutions ended because they questioned how respectful the new converts would give to the Eucharist? Do we really trust people now to be properly respectful now? Isn’t that a risk?

Yes, I guess that was part of the reason (disrespectful) for not allowing the bread to be brought home. Also, the logistic – as Christians grew in numbers, it would be just logistically nightmarish to prepare loaves and loaves of bread for the congregation.

The Catholic Church saw the problem, decided that the host could not be brought home.

Tradition had it that the Bishop of Rome would have the consecrated bread distributed to his fellow priests/believers around Rome after the mass so that they were really in communion with him. Those breads were transported through horse backs and delivered on the same day.

 

[Reuben_J]

Partly my thought too as an immune-challenged person. Also that maybe I could bring some home… All but impossible now to get to mass… and when I was in hospital … would be great there

Someone of my age group though raised the point of how to get them open! These easy to open packs are anything but to old fingers…

You can’t bring them home, Rose, unfortunately. Maybe in Protestant service, maybe can, I don’t know.

I am sorry to hear that you can’t get to mass. You can arrange a priest or a Communion Minister to give you Communion at home perhaps. :hug1:

God bless you.

 

[Reuben_J]

The Catholic Church saw the problem, decided that the host could not be brought home.

Since we are at the subject … Abuses, using the host not for it intended purpose, are very big problem too. There are stories nowadays about how people abuse the host.

Since it is sacred host, the Church with all her capability within her power, has to make sure it does not happen and it is her duty to guard its sacredness.

In our church, we have the altar servers who assist the priest while giving Communion, to make sure the communicants put the host in their mouths before reaching back to their pews.

 

[Rosebud77]

You can’t bring them home, Rose, unfortunately. Maybe in Protestant service, maybe can, I don’t know.

I am sorry to hear that you can’t get to mass. You can arrange a priest or a Communion Minister to give you Communion at home perhaps. :hug1:

God bless you.

Kind man and please do not worry.I have permission to “attend” mass on the internet here in my bed and am happy with that as I can focus properly without the pain.

Here i have seen for example an old man with a special little silver case being given and extra Host to take home to his sick wife so I think in rural areas and in hardship that is allowed at the discretion of the priest. And rightly so.

I am not attached to a parish church here and am so far out in the woods, literally, that I would not ask; they are all hardpressed here and my ability to receive visitors is erratic now. My spiritual home here was the cathedral and they are so hard pressed now.

And there have been years when I was out of reach of any church or priest and God honours that,

Down to once a year here now. And that is fine too.

The real danger is bugs.

 

[Peter_J]

I though main line protestants were all obsessed with social justice?

Not enough so, IMO, wrt being prolife.

 

[Peter_J]

First Holy Communion in the Episcopal Church, which used to be when one was confirmed, is no longer the tradition. Children, even infants, take communion (as they do in the Orthodox branch). There may be some parishes that wait until Confirmation, but in every church I have been to, that is not the case.

Well, except that those infants in the Orthodox Church are Confirmed first, as it was done in the early church.