Priest passes out, hosts fall: what do you do first?

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UKcatholicGuy

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OK, here’s the hypothetical situation:

You’re the ONLY person at a Mass (just go along for the sake of the question). Suddenly, as the priest is walking down to the aisle to give you Holy Communion, he faints! The dish of consecrated hosts (yes, he has a dish with him even for one person for the sake of the question) falls to the floor, and all the consecrated hosts fall everywhere on the floor. Likewise, the priest is knocked out, obviously injured laying on the floor.

You stand there in shock over what’s just happened. You’re mind is racing. Here’s the question: WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST??

VOTE!!
 
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UKcatholicGuy:
OK, here’s the hypothetical situation:

You’re the ONLY person at a Mass (just go along for the sake of the question). Suddenly, as the priest is walking down to the aisle to give you Holy Communion, he faints! The dish of consecrated hosts (yes, he has a dish with him even for one person for the sake of the question) falls to the floor, and all the consecrated hosts fall everywhere on the floor. Likewise, the priest is knocked out, obviously injured laying on the floor.

You stand there in shock over what’s just happened. You’re mind is racing. Here’s the question: WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST??

VOTE!!
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Look after the priest, of course - the Hosts can be cleared up later. There is no point in revering Christ in the Sacrament, if we ignore Christ in our fellow-men; for what we do to others, is done to Christ.​

 
ok, I’ll bite. imho, what Jesus would and DID do was to put human life and human suffering above ritual, above offerings, above all else. One must remember that he was an observant Jew and nevertheless set aside laws regarding the sabbath and sacrifices in favor of human needs. For heaven’s sakes, (literally) pick up the poor priest and get the guy to a hospitol.
Lil’
 
I’m sincerely asking, so please dont read any sarcasm or harshness into this:

but isnt opting to attend to the priest first and worry about the dignity of the Blessed Sacrament later the same as saying that, if both Jesus and John (or another apostle) were laying injured on the ground, one would opt to help John first, rather than Jesus? and if it is the same, how is that justified? shouldnt we serve God before man? Maybe we dont truly believe in the real presence
 
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UKcatholicGuy:
OK, here’s the hypothetical situation:

You’re the ONLY person at a Mass (just go along for the sake of the question). Suddenly, as the priest is walking down to the aisle to give you Holy Communion, he faints! The dish of consecrated hosts (yes, he has a dish with him even for one person for the sake of the question) falls to the floor, and all the consecrated hosts fall everywhere on the floor. Likewise, the priest is knocked out, obviously injured laying on the floor.

You stand there in shock over what’s just happened. You’re mind is racing. Here’s the question: WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST??

VOTE!!
Click to expand...
UK:

It’s not a good question. The priest I know who often has had only one person at Mass besides himself (Daily Mass - often me) and would be at risk for such an incident (he’s had a major stroke in the past) would never have a “Plate of Hosts” in that situation, but only the ONE Priest’s Host which we would share…

Although he might appreciate me taking care of him at the time, he would be upset with me if I didn’t pick up the ONE host and attend to it (by eating it quickly), unless he were seriously injured. He also want me to deal with any crumbs in the same way You see, the one host is the BODY & BLOOD OF CHRIST.

The only exception would be if he were seriously injured. In which case, my obligation must shift to the priest who is seriesly injured until I have summoned help, at which point, I am to deal with Our Lord’s BODY & BLOOD which is on the floor.

As I said, I do have one priest in my Parish where at least part of the question is a possibility, so we have discussed this.

Blessings and Peace, Michael
 
The priest needs tended to first because the host will not likely be further damaged by a few minutes delay, but the priest could die.

It seems that dialing 911 and then picking up the host would be a good solution. Jesus would want us to love our brother and it seems that we can do this without harming the Blessed Sacrament. Now, I wouldn’t step on the host to tend to the priest or allow anyone to step on the Host, so the Host would also be a priority, but getting help for the priest would be first in my opinion as long as the Host will not be further damaged.
 
Jesus would want me to attend to the priest first. I voted wrong because I only half read the question and rushed into it…wish I could change my vote.

Bob
 
Note that You’re the ONLY person at a Mass. Thus there is no danger of the hosts being trampled. They’ll wait. Do what you can for the priest, call 911, then pick up at least enough hosts to give the EMTs access to the priest.
 
This really is a no-brainer.

Of COURSE we believe in the Real Presence…and in doing so we accept that Jesus puts the needs of his servants before his own.

If it were John and Jesus lying side by side as in the example given, Jesus would rebuke us and ask us why we didn’t attend to his servant.

If the consecrated host is not in immediate danger, then we’d better be checking the pulse and breathing of the poor priest who may be dying. Jesus is not going to rot away on the floor in just a few moments it takes to ascertain the condition of the priest and call 911.

If CPR is called for then do CPR. If the host is crushed by the feet of the emergency workers who may be completely oblivious, remember that Jesus died for them, too and would rather that he be stepped on rather than lose the life of a holy priest whose work is not yet done on earth.

If you need to attend the priest constantly (if he is unconscious and you are protecting his airway or if he is in need of CPR or some other aid), and you are able to do so, you can warn the emergency workers to avoid the consecrated hosts and as they are human also, they will by the grace of God, even if not Catholic, follow your direction be respectful towards your beliefs and the beliefs of the priest they are attending.

As an FYI…at least in Minnesota and I believe nationwide, every ambulance carries holy water in the event of a stillborn baby or other child in distress so that an emergency baptism can be completed. Along with this they carry a book which for those who are not Catholic gives the words needed at baptism. I learned this in an EMT class and it is not only practiced but I believe there was a questino about it ont the National Exam.

Emergency workers, encompassing police, EMT’s, paramedics, firefighters, etc…are aware of faith and the importance of some of our beliefs. And there are many Catholics among them that even if not practicing would do their part to also protect the hosts.

I hope this gives you comfort.
 
Should we use the 3 second rule or the 10 second rule? Since it is only you and the priest I would attend to the priest, but if there were other people and possible foot traffic that would harm the host that is something to consider.
 
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renee1258:
Should we use the 3 second rule or the 10 second rule? Since it is only you and the priest I would attend to the priest, but if there were other people and possible foot traffic that would harm the host that is something to consider.
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If there are other people then this is another no-brainer. The others can attend according to their knowledge…if a doctor is in the audience then he/she can attend the priest. Etc.

Other people make it easier and erase the existance of a dilemma.

Those who go to daily mass tend to be pretty devout or at least knowledgeable.

==
Elliott, regarding “one hand for both”…well, I’d like to see that in action. How are you going to pick up the hosts AND attend to the needs of the priest at the same time? Especially if something labor-intensive such as CPR is needed?

If you can do this then you are super-human. I appaud the idea but unfortunately the physical world we live in binds us by physical rules.
 
this actually happened – except there wasn’t an empty church…it was Christmas eve mass…and UK guy, we were in the UK…LOL! The priest had a stroke – apparently, just as I approached to receive communion…he stumbled off the altar as I stepped forward; I reached forward, steadied him and he waved me off as if to say “I’m fine, thanks” – in a nice way, not “leave me alone” – He insists he just got dizzy, but the slack jaw and limp arm said differently. He was taken to hospital and confirmed he had indeed had a stroke - albeit a minor one. Maybe this is awful, but I didn’t think past catching him – and didn’t need to, so I don’t know what I would have done if he’d dropped the plate…but it’s really not all that far fetched…many many of our priests are of an age where physical uncertainty is common…it could be you next time, so figure out what you’d do!!! 😉
 
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leaner:
this actually happened – except there wasn’t an empty church…it was Christmas eve mass…and UK guy, we were in the UK…LOL! The priest had a stroke – apparently, just as I approached to receive communion…he stumbled off the altar as I stepped forward; I reached forward, steadied him and he waved me off as if to say “I’m fine, thanks” – in a nice way, not “leave me alone” – He insists he just got dizzy, but the slack jaw and limp arm said differently. He was taken to hospital and confirmed he had indeed had a stroke - albeit a minor one. Maybe this is awful, but I didn’t think past catching him – and didn’t need to, so I don’t know what I would have done if he’d dropped the plate…but it’s really not all that far fetched…many many of our priests are of an age where physical uncertainty is common…it could be you next time, so figure out what you’d do!!! 😉
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Leaner:

You should be called catcher - You probably kept the priest from DROPPING THE PLATE! WELL DONE!

Those who go to Daily Mass with older priests, or priests whose health might be questionable, would do well to talk to their priests about this.

I firmly believe that If possible, Christ’s body and blood should be quickly picked up and consumed before attending to the priest. There are going to be times where the priest’s condition is so serious that that won’t be possible, But, even then, esp. with older more traditional priests, I would make sure that he has OK’d being taken care of first.

It only takes one simple conversation, and most priests will appreciate the fact that you are asking about it instead of waiting to react.

At least that’s what mine says.

Blessings and Peace, Michael
 
Christ tells us to love our neighbors, I have a First Aide card so it would be my duty to attend to the priest first. Christ gave of himself while he was here. I don’t think he would mind, and God saw to it that I am First Aid certified for a reason! 😃
 
I chose:

Attend to the priest-- worry about picking up Hosts later.

The hosts will not melt or scream from being on the floor, I would simply pick them up when i found out the priest wasn’t dead and while waiting on the ambulance, then off course i woud seach the priest’s pockets for loose change and his wallet ;):D:D jk
 
Well I agree that attending to the priest first and then picking up the Sacred Host is the right thing to do;but what if a priest faints during the consecration of the Sacred Blood…as was shown in a movie on the death of archbishop Oscar Romero,shot while saying mass at a hospital chapel,in that case how does one go about collecting the Sacred Blood and preventing desecration,will be quite a task I guess.
I presume first attend to the priest while preventing the Sacred Blood from spreading too much and then collecting it with a purificator (the cloth the priest uses to wipe the sacred vessels) or something like that. Hope I can get an informed responce as it has been on my mind for quite a long time now after I saw that movie (Ive forgotten the name).In the movie they didnt show anything about what was done though.
 
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