Receiving the Precious Blood: Do we have to say "Amen"?

[JesuXPIPassio]

My problem with this isn’t that I don’t want to say it, but rather that it’s hard to say it at that time. After receiving the Eucharist, it takes me a little while to swallow because it’s dry. Since I get in line for the Precious Blood right after that, there isn’t much time to consume it before I have to respond when the Eucharistic Minister says “The Blood of Christ.”

What can I do? I don’t want to answer “Amen” because my mouth is still full of the Consecrated Bread, and speaking with your mouth full is not only disrespectful, but worse, particles of the Host might fall out. I suppose I could just nod in agreement instead of saying “Amen,” but I know the rules don’t call for that. People might construe it as me being disrespectful to the Eucharist.

It’s a little nasty to have to address this issue, but since the Eucharist is the most important thing we have, I need to figure out a reverent way to deal with this. What is a good way to deal with this? Also, if you receive the Precious Blood too, what do you do to avoid this problem?

 

[tee_eff_em]

We are directed to do so, yes.

1. If Communion of the Blood of Christ is carried out by communicants’ drinking from the chalice, each communicant, after receiving the Body of Christ, moves and stands facing the minister of the chalice. The minister says, Sanguis Christi (The Blood of Christ), the communicant responds, Amen, and the minister hands over the chalice, which the communicant raises to his or her mouth. Each communicant drinks a little from the chalice, hands it back to the minister, and then withdraws; the minister wipes the rim of the chalice with the purificator.

tee

 

[kmleo]

Okay, so based on Tee’s post, it sounds like you should try to say Amen. I have had your problem, and I also wondered, so thanks for bringing it up. I just try to say it softly, and with the host in the back of my mouth to prevent losing any of it, or showing it to the chalice holder.

 

[Newbie2]

Heh, heh.

Here’s a good reason to receive in the hand.

 

[tee_eff_em]

It is not permitted to receive the precious blood in the hand – Sip, spoon, straw or intinction.

tee

 

[japhy]

Here’s a good reason to receive in the hand.

I don’t follow… are you suggesting receiving in the hand, carrying it over to the Chalice, saying “Amen” there, then consuming the Host and drinking from the Chalice?

I assume by your you’re just fooling around, but I’m curious what your suggestion would actually entail.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My problem with this isn’t that I don’t want to say it, but rather that it’s hard to say it at that time. After receiving the Eucharist, it takes me a little while to swallow because it’s dry. Since I get in line for the Precious Blood right after that, there isn’t much time to consume it before I have to respond when the Eucharistic Minister says “The Blood of Christ.”

What can I do? I don’t want to answer “Amen” because my mouth is still full of the Consecrated Bread, and speaking with your mouth full is not only disrespectful, but worse, particles of the Host might fall out. I suppose I could just nod in agreement instead of saying “Amen,” but I know the rules don’t call for that. People might construe it as me being disrespectful to the Eucharist.

It’s a little nasty to have to address this issue, but since the Eucharist is the most important thing we have, I need to figure out a reverent way to deal with this. What is a good way to deal with this? Also, if you receive the Precious Blood too, what do you do to avoid this problem?

You are supposed to nod in addition to saying Amen. Mouthing the word with your lips should be sufficient.

 

[pnewton]

I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. Just give the profound bow called for and say “Amen” the best you can. If that is no more that a little lip movement and a heartfelt internal “Amen”, I am sure God knows.

 

[tee_eff_em]

It is possible to say *Amen *with teeth firmly clenched (Try it! ). That ought to contain things sufficiently.

tee
th firmly clenched

 

[Newbie2]

It is not permitted to receive the precious blood in the hand – Sip, spoon, straw or intinction.

tee

I don’t follow… are you suggesting receiving in the hand, carrying it over to the Chalice, saying “Amen” there, then consuming the Host and drinking from the Chalice?

I assume by your you’re just fooling around, but I’m curious what your suggestion would actually entail.

Sorry, I was responding to:

" I don’t want to answer “Amen” because my mouth is still full of the Consecrated Bread" in the OP.

Receiving in the hand, one would say “Amen” when the host is placed in their hand, before the communicant places it in their mouth.

Practical, yes, but a wink because I didn’t want to start up the old “receiving on the tongue is better than in the hand or vice-versa” discussion.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Sorry, I was responding to:

" I don’t want to answer “Amen” because my mouth is still full of the Consecrated Bread" in the OP.

Receiving in the hand, one would say “Amen” when the host is placed in their hand, before the communicant places it in their mouth.

Practical, yes, but a wink because I didn’t want to start up the old “receiving on the tongue is better than in the hand or vice-versa” discussion.

But the OP indicates no problem answering *Amen *before the host is placed in his mouth – Only before receiving from the cup (by which time the minister or the communicant ordinarily should have placed placed the host into his mouth).

tee

 

[Newbie2]

Read it wrong…my bad.

Well…perhaps just a wisper of an “AMEN” would do then, eh?

 

[JMJ_coder]

Yet another reason to make reception of Communion via intinction the normative practice.

 

[colliric]

My problem with this isn’t that I don’t want to say it, but rather that it’s hard to say it at that time. After receiving the Eucharist, it takes me a little while to swallow because it’s dry. Since I get in line for the Precious Blood right after that, there isn’t much time to consume it before I have to respond when the Eucharistic Minister says “The Blood of Christ.”

What can I do? I don’t want to answer “Amen” because my mouth is still full of the Consecrated Bread, and speaking with your mouth full is not only disrespectful, but worse, particles of the Host might fall out. I suppose I could just nod in agreement instead of saying “Amen,” but I know the rules don’t call for that. People might construe it as me being disrespectful to the Eucharist.

It’s a little nasty to have to address this issue, but since the Eucharist is the most important thing we have, I need to figure out a reverent way to deal with this. What is a good way to deal with this? Also, if you receive the Precious Blood too, what do you do to avoid this problem?

Swallow before saying Amen because the Eucharistic Minister is actually obliged to wait for your Response so is naturally obliged to wait for you to finish swallowing. They have to wait for your “Amen” before they hand you the chalice, and your amen can only occur after you’ve fully consumed the host. They are supposed to wait for you, not hurry you up.

I know why you feel that you are rushed, I’ve experienced that too when I’ve been swallowing and they say “The blood of Christ”, But there is no real need because they will wait for your response and can surely see your still struggling to swallow the body.

 

[colliric]

Yet another reason to make reception of Communion via intinction the normative practice.

I disagree with this. Intinction seems a bit too economical to me if you know what I’m saying.

 

[JMJ_coder]

I disagree with this. Intinction seems a bit too economical to me if you know what I’m saying.

No, I don’t. Please explain.