Re: Handling of the Eucharist

[chris_chan]

I am from SE Asia and recently there was a letter to the editor of the local Catholic newspaper from a new convert to the catholic church who was describing the experiece of a retreat whereby they were told to hold the Eucharist in their hand to pray and later return the Eucharist to the ciborium and placed on the altar where more prayers were said. It was later described as a very meaningful experience by the author. I would like to respond to this letter because I do not want catholics to get the wrong idea and start holding onto to the Eucharistand doing their own private veneration, so my question is there something written in the church that limits the handling of the Eucharist by the laity?
Thank you.
chris

 

[lizaanne]

The Eucharist should be consumed immediately after receiving. I’m sure someone can quote you chapter and verse of the GIRM or other document. What they did at that retreat is completely unacceptable, and is an abuse.

~Liza

 

[Sirach2]

they were told to hold the Eucharist [unconsecrataed?] in their hand to pray and later return the Eucharist to the ciborium and placed on the altar where more prayers were said ******

Not having seen the article, and realizing it is second-hand hearsay, is it possible the facts were misunderstood? It was the practice a number of years ago that people entering a small chapel for daily mass and intending to receive the Eucharist, would put their unconsecrated host on the paten. This would insure that no hosts would be remaining after distribution of communion. Possibly, this would be the procedure for a small retreat group. Your country may have rubrics that permit this.

You did not mention whether the hosts were unconsecrated, and later put into the ciborium for consecration. Could that be the case?

 

[R_C]

they were told to hold the Eucharist in their hand to pray and later return the Eucharist to the ciborium

I do not think that the Blessed Sacrament can be handled this way. It does not appear to be in conformity with the norms for Eucharistic adoration outside of Mass.

While I hope someone can give a clear, concise answer to your concern, you can become more familiar with the official documents of the Church on these matters:

• Eucharistiae Sacramentum (Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass)
• Eucharisticum Mysterium (Instruction On Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery)
• Redemptionis Sacramentum ((On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist)

Then, for your information, here is an extensive list of Church documents on the Holy Eucharist, among which those on adoration outside of Holy Mass.

 

[chris_chan]

Thank you for the references which I will look up for the appropriate response, I also hope that what I understood was not what happened as I am familiar with the practise of placing unconsecrated hosts in the ciborium in order to ascertain the exact number to consecrate. In any case I just want to write in and clarify to avoid unnecessary scandal and misunderstanding on the part of others who may have read the letter. God Bless you.

 

[R_C]

You are very welcome.

I did some further research, focusing on the possibility that the host was not consecrated.

While it was a very quick research, I did find that there are retreats in which unconsecrated hosts may be employed.

) Word document(Google quick view):

Materials: unconsecrated communion hosts (one per student), paten or small bowl.

Purpose: to prepare to receive First Holy Communion

…]
Since a practice is not the actual sacrament, we will not be giving you the Body of Christ today. I will pretend to be the priest or special minister of the Eucharist, and what I will give you is an unconsecrated host. Has anyone heard the term “unconsecrated host’? (It is a host that has not been changed into the Body of Jesus by the priest at Mass.)
…]

(2)

Second graders from St. Joseph School and from Parish Religious Education classes attended a First Communion retreat on April 22 in anticipation of receiving communion for the first time on April 28th. One of the themes of the retreat was “We’re God’s Hands” and the activities they engaged in reflected that. Along with the retreat, second graders had the opportunity to practice with unconsecrated hosts

It is therefore a possibility that the retreat described was just that: a preparation for First Communion in which the faithful prayed with unconsecrated hosts. It was, of course, a mistake on the writer to call the host “Eucharist”, because this name indicates the consecrated Bread of Life. Please keep that possibility in mind for your reply