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

[ktm]

UKcatholicGuy:

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

Let’s change the question slightly.

Your mother is an EMHC carrying the consecrated hosts and suddenly clutches her left arm and keels over with a heart attack.

Are you telling us you would let your mother lie there dying while you picked up the hosts?

Sorry if this comes across as harsh, but I’m trying to get your attention.

 

[Tietjen]

UKcatholicGuy:

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

Or… maybe we know that Christ will survive and possibly the Priest will not. I’m not taking offense to your hypothetical question, but our lives here on earth are important to God and failing to assist our brother, Father ______, would be to ignore what Christ Himself taught. Of course we are to show holy reverence to the consecrated host but the first priority should be to the priest. Do you believe that Christ’s body will somehow be destroyed by remaining on the ground while the priest is attended to? Christ literally hung on a cross and died for you. His sacrifice proves He loves us and I am very sure that He would understand my assisting the priest and THEN picking up the consecrated hosts.
God bless.

 

[UKcatholicGuy]

ktm:

Let’s change the question slightly.

Your mother is an EMHC carrying the consecrated hosts and suddenly clutches her left arm and keels over with a heart attack.

Are you telling us you would let your mother lie there dying while you picked up the hosts?

Sorry if this comes across as harsh, but I’m trying to get your attention.

that’s an emotional argument. it wouldnt change anything. our first duty is to Christ. we should have faith that, if we serve Him first, He will take care of the rest. “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all else will follow.” Don’t you think Christ would reward us for putting Him before a creation? He would take care of the priest far more efficiently than calling 911, if we attend to Christ first. everyone who’s saying that Christ wants us to help our fellow brother before Him is basically arguing for the social Gospel: put people before God, rather than the other way around.

Christ has given Himself to us so humbly and freely in the Blessed Sacrament. We have a grave responsibility to care for this wonderful gift. “To him who much is given, much is expected.” What a slap in Christ’s face that, after giving Himself to us in the Sacrament, we would ignore Him and let Him lay there. Do you not have faith that Christ will help the priest if you serve Christ first?

This thread has truly revealed that many Catholics must not accept the True Presence when it comes down to it. Sure, we accept the idea in our mind, but when faced with a situation like the one argued here, thats when true faith shows.

 

[Rascal]

UKcatholicGuy:

that’s an emotional argument. it wouldnt change anything. our first duty is to Christ. we should have faith that, if we serve Him first, He will take care of the rest. “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all else will follow.” Don’t you think Christ would reward us for putting Him before a creation? He would take care of the priest far more efficiently than calling 911, if we attend to Christ first. everyone who’s saying that Christ wants us to help our fellow brother before Him is basically arguing for the social Gospel: put people before God, rather than the other way around.

So what if you are the way or method Christ wanted to take care of the priest but instead picked up each individual host? By your argument, if God did not want anything to happen to this priest, why did he have the stroke in the first place?

On a sort of related story, my priest had told our congregation a story from his prior parish. The church was broken into, and desecrated, urine, broken statues, horrible stuff. He then noticed the tabernacle was tipped over or otherwise emptied. He was very emotional over this particular violence. The police were there as he was picking it up. The police officer (not Catholic) was surprised and respectful of what my pastor was going through. I wonder how this influenced this police officer who witnessed someone’s devotion to “bread crumbs” or something material?

 

[chadwilliams]

UKcatholicGuy:

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

Preposterous! In your hypothetical situation, only the priest and I are in the church, so there is no worry about any desecration being done to the Blessed Sacrament. It would be perfectly normal to attend to the priest and once that situation is under control, to properly recover the hosts. PLUS, while we’re at it, if it is just me and the priest, he’d only have dropped ONE host! So, you could concieveably pick the one host up and place it back on the paten and put it on the altar without losing too much time to tend to the priest.

Either way, it is ridiculous to say we don’t truly believe in the Real Presence based on your poll question!

 

[pprimeau1976]

Jesus in the form of a man, walked on the same ground that we walk on. If the host happens to fall, the life of the priest is more important. Afterwards, we should attend to the host.

It would also be a good idea to take one of the hosts and give it to the priest so that the priest, if he happens to be near death, can be closer to the Lord.

 

[UKcatholicGuy]

hmm. im willing to concede that i overreacted. but i’d still attend to the Host first.

 

[ChristopherMich]

This reminds me of another post the other day. It was something along the lines of would you save your dog or would you save the person. That is a ridiculous question.

 

[ktm]

UKcatholicGuy:

that’s an emotional argument. it wouldnt change anything. our first duty is to Christ. we should have faith that, if we serve Him first, He will take care of the rest. “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all else will follow.” Don’t you think Christ would reward us for putting Him before a creation? He would take care of the priest far more efficiently than calling 911, if we attend to Christ first. everyone who’s saying that Christ wants us to help our fellow brother before Him is basically arguing for the social Gospel: put people before God, rather than the other way around.

Christ has given Himself to us so humbly and freely in the Blessed Sacrament. We have a grave responsibility to care for this wonderful gift. “To him who much is given, much is expected.” What a slap in Christ’s face that, after giving Himself to us in the Sacrament, we would ignore Him and let Him lay there. Do you not have faith that Christ will help the priest if you serve Christ first?

This thread has truly revealed that many Catholics must not accept the True Presence when it comes down to it. Sure, we accept the idea in our mind, but when faced with a situation like the one argued here, thats when true faith shows.

WOW that’s quite a charge! I guess next you’ll tell us we’re all going to Hell.

I usually enjoy reading your posts on the CA Forums, but this thread has been a real disappointment. Whether you realize it or not, you are coming across as being very self-righteous.

 

[Fergal]

I would take care of the Priest and let the Angels look after the Sacred Hosts…

After spending 3 years acting as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, I ***know ***they are there catching even the tiny particles that fall.

I now know that when a Host falls God has put his Angels in charge of the Host. Remember scriptures?? "Scriptum est enim : Quia angelis suis mandavit de te, et in manibus tollent te, ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum." Which reads: “It is written: That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Why are we so quick to forget the invisible realities???

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

UKcatholicGuy:

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

Actually in this case, too, I would go to John first. As Jesus is God.

What does the Gospel say?

Matthew 25
31: “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32: Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33: and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
34: Then the King will say to those at his right hand, Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; *35:* for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, *36:* I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' *37:* Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
38: And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
39: And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’
40: And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' *41:* Then he will say to those at his left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
42: for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43: I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44: Then they also will answer, Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' *45:* Then he will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’
46: And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

 

[Lil]

… further, the gospel repeatedly tells stories of Judaic practices that were put aside by Jesus in order to attend to human needs. Healing on the Sabbath, defying the laws of kashrut, turning over the tables w/ their various sacrifices outside the temple. All these wre clearly challenging to those who believed their “sacraments” (of the time) were more important than the living breathing needy that surrounded them every day, but who they were, in fact, oblivious to because of their attachment to ritual instead of charity. The sacraments are blessed with love. Such Love is admittedly beyond my understanding, nevertheless, I am convinced that it is the love, not the physical representation, that endures.
Lil’

 

[BayCityRickL]

UKcatholicGuy:

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

Naaah. This one is easy. Take care of the priest. There’s nothing to discuss.

 

[springbreeze]

Dear friend

‘Jesus’ fell in the Priest, he had just confected the Eucharist and consumed it and is made in the image of God, attend to the Priest first, then attend to the Eucharist by consuming it, maybe offering it up for the health of the Priest!

Interesting to set humanity up against God in a question like this, very interesting, I can’t see as God would be pleased with that notion.

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa

 

[UKcatholicGuy]

UKcatholicGuy:

This thread has truly revealed that many Catholics must not accept the True Presence when it comes down to it. Sure, we accept the idea in our mind, but when faced with a situation like the one argued here, thats when true faith shows.

Friends,

If you’re at all familiar with my posts, you probably know I have very strong opinions. But I will always admit when I’m wrong or when I’m out of line.

I’m out of line. I’m wrong. The quoted post by, yes, me, is insulting and self righteous. Thank you for pointing it out. I need to be corrected when I’m obviously being proud or just downright rude.

Spiritual pride, as it was for St Paul, is often a problem for me. CA family, please accept my apology and I ask your forgiveness. You have my word that I will always acknowledge my failures in public. I don’t want to be a poster who attacks and then splits. No, I just have a strong opinion-- and it proves to be too strong at times.

I see that there are valid reasons for attending to the Host after the priest, although I still believe it’s perfectly valid to attend to the Host first. At any rate, thanks for dealing with me, and I hope you’ll forgive me.

UKcatholic

 

[legeorge]

I would pray to never be in this situation!

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Dear UKcatholicGuy,

I appreciate your candor. Of course you knew you were treading on sensitive territory but you really gave me something to think about.

After some of the insanity I’ve been watching in another thread, one would think that the Real Presence belief commands us all to seek and destroy any possible abductors of wafers that are allegedly consecrated.

One could bridge the issues. Spending time in frantic pursuit of captured wafers does take us away from the ability to do other good elsewhere. Even though your example was a bit contrived, it speaks to the underlying issue of how “realistically” we take that it was actually Christ. We have limited resources and have to choose how we spend our time.

Alan

 

[rastell]

UKcatholicGuy:

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

**1. I believe in the Real Presence 100% and **
2. I would help the priest first.
If the Church felt that it was very horrible for the Blessed Sacrament to land on the floor occasionally then there would be all sorts of precautions to prevent this such as altar boys holding trays under a person’s chin like they used to do. But the Church does not do that. So if this is not important to the Church in everyday life, why should I make it important at the risk of a human life?

 

[jeffreedy789]

IF all of these unlikely things were to take place then i would dial 911 on my cell phone while i picked up the hosts.

same time, in other words.

 

[jeffreedy789]

I’m out of line. I’m wrong. The quoted post by, yes, me, is insulting and self righteous. Thank you for pointing it out. I need to be corrected when I’m obviously being proud or just downright rude.

btw, wow. thanks for that humble post. i heartily appreciate your candor and honesty.

you have to realize, too, UK (i’m not beating a dead horse, i’m continuing to answer your question behind the questions) - people don’t always act on what they believe. in a crisis situation (even a hypothetical one), we don’t always know what to do - know what’s best.

that doesn’t diminish the depth of our beliefs. it only means that we haven’t yet learned how to live them out.