should we chew the Host?

[RUINATION_IPA]

That’s simply not true.

It’s not true that the host gets caught in your teeth? I don’t know about you but I don’t have flat teeth. I think that’s why the old catechisms even recommended not spitting for at least an hour after receiving.

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

Did the apostles let the bread dissolve in their mouths?

If Jesus didn’t want us to chew, He would have limited the sacrifice to His blood.

Peace

Tim

I’m not the one who said they let it dissolve in their mouth. I’m just saying if you’re chewing it up like an ordinary cracker it’s irreverent.

 

[Orogeny]

I’m not the one who said they let it dissolve in their mouth. I’m just saying if you’re chewing it up like an ordinary cracker it’s irreverent.

Did the apostles chew normally or did they use the method you recommend?

Peace

Tim

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

Did the apostles chew normally or did they use the method you recommend?

Peace

Tim

I don’t know and neither do you but I personally think they received with great reverence in being in the presence of the Almighty,having witnessed the first Mass (and the fulfillment of his promise in John 6) the fulfilling of the passover mystery and being ordained Priests of the New Covenant all in the same night. You’re implying that the apostles chewed the Eucharist up like normal food and that if that’s the case that it’s the preferred way - but on the contrary, the the Holy Ghost has inspired the Church in subsequent ages and our reverence for such a profound mystery has grown from a bud to a flower in full bloom. The Apostles didn’t have Eucharistic processions - are you in opposition to that as well?

 

[rwoehmke]

Jesus said,“My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink”… Does one chew food? Ya, you betch’a! There are a lot of little devout practices that were taught to us older folks in Catholic school that have nothing to do with dogmas and doctrines.

 

[lyre]

To chew or not to chew, that is the question. Wether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous legalistic nipicking (LK 11:37-41), or to take up arms against a sea of trouble, and in so doing, end them. (EPH 6:10-17)

 

[CWBetts]

Tell me agin why people are arguing about this? Whever said it’s irreverent to chew is being just a tad judgemental. How can you possibly know what is in someonel elses heart as they recieve?

 

[VociMike]

I’m not the one who said they let it dissolve in their mouth. I’m just saying if you’re chewing it up like an ordinary cracker it’s irreverent.

I doubt the concept of “reverent chewing” actually exists.

God tells us it is food, and he tells us we are to eat it. We should be careful in adding conditions to that.

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

I doubt the concept of “reverent chewing” actually exists.

God tells us it is food, and he tells us we are to eat it. We should be careful in adding conditions to that.

Conditions like what? A paten? Eucharistic adoration? Eucharistic Procession? Benediction? God tells us it’s His Body, Blood Soul & Divinity and if you’re popping it into your mouth like it’s a potato chip and chewing with your mouth open then there’s something wrong upstairs and there has been a disconnect from head to heart.

Christ remains as long as the species retains the appearance of bread and the smallest particle is the entire Christ - nondiscriminate chewing retains pieces of the host in your teeth which will prolong the real presence in your mouth without you even knowing it - unlike in your stomach where common oppinion is about 15 minutes before the stomach fluids break down the host and the Real Presence is gone. How many people chew the host like a cracker then will go to breakfast immediately afterwards - it’s just plain disrespect.

 

[Phemie]

Conditions like what? A paten? Eucharistic adoration? Eucharistic Procession? Benediction? God tells us it’s His Body, Blood Soul & Divinity and if you’re popping it into your mouth like it’s a potato chip and chewing with your mouth open then there’s something wrong upstairs and there has been a disconnect from head to heart.

Christ remains as long as the species retains the appearance of bread and the smallest particle is the entire Christ - nondiscriminate chewing retains pieces of the host in your teeth which will prolong the real presence in your mouth without you even knowing it - unlike in your stomach where common oppinion is about 15 minutes before the stomach fluids break down the host and the Real Presence is gone. How many people chew the host like a cracker then will go to breakfast immediately afterwards - it’s just plain disrespect.

 

[CWBetts]

Now there are some pretty traditional Catholics in my parish, and I have never heard such a thing. Are you intentionally trying to put stumbling blocks in place?

 

[VociMike]

Conditions like what? A paten? Eucharistic adoration? Eucharistic Procession? Benediction? God tells us it’s His Body, Blood Soul & Divinity and if you’re popping it into your mouth like it’s a potato chip and chewing with your mouth open then there’s something wrong upstairs and there has been a disconnect from head to heart.

Listening to the Church is one thing, listening to people who just have a feeling about things is quite another.

Christ remains as long as the species retains the appearance of bread and the smallest particle is the entire Christ - nondiscriminate chewing retains pieces of the host in your teeth which will prolong the real presence in your mouth without you even knowing it - unlike in your stomach where common oppinion is about 15 minutes before the stomach fluids break down the host and the Real Presence is gone. How many people chew the host like a cracker then will go to breakfast immediately afterwards - it’s just plain disrespect.

This is exactly what I’m talking about. Nowhere does the Church teach that ordinary food is not to mix in our stomach with the Eucharist. This is just a made-up rule, above and beyond what the Church teaches. You can do it if you want, but that does not make you more reverent or respectful than those who do not.

 

[CWBetts]

Listening to the Church is one thing, listening to people who just have a feeling about things is quite another.

 

[Lycoming]

Listening to the Church is one thing, listening to people who just have a feeling about things is quite another.

This is exactly what I’m talking about. Nowhere does the Church teach that ordinary food is not to mix in our stomach with the Eucharist. This is just a made-up rule, above and beyond what the Church teaches. You can do it if you want, but that does not make you more reverent or respectful than those who do not.

So darned true!

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

Listening to the Church is one thing, listening to people who just have a feeling about things is quite another.

This is exactly what I’m talking about. Nowhere does the Church teach that ordinary food is not to mix in our stomach with the Eucharist. This is just a made-up rule, above and beyond what the Church teaches. You can do it if you want, but that does not make you more reverent or respectful than those who do not.

Now there are some pretty traditional Catholics in my parish, and I have never heard such a thing. Are you intentionally trying to put stumbling blocks in place?

I’m not putting a stumbling block anywhere and I’m not even remotely implying that people are sinning because I do not know anyone’s conscience. I am however stating a traditional practice and encouraging not a casual lip smacking time in consuming the Eucharist.

I can almost guarantee that those who have oppined here that they see nothing wrong with chewing the Eucharist as an ordinary cracker, as common food, have not ever been taught anything on the subject. I can just about guarantee that such a view comes from a complete lack of instruction on this point and as a result people just do whatever they feel like doing. So to those who see nothing disrespectful in chewing as if the Eucharist is a product of the Keebler Elf, have you been positively taught to consume the host in this fashion or did you just wing it and do this on your own initiative without further thought?

This is exactly what I’m talking about. Nowhere does the Church teach that ordinary food is not to mix in our stomach with the Eucharist. This is just a made-up rule, above and beyond what the Church teaches. You can do it if you want, but that does not make you more reverent or respectful than those who do not.

Ignoring Christ is definitely irreverent and disrespectful and if deliberately done is sinful. If you’re making an adequate thanksgiving after Mass you are keeping Christ company for the entire duration of his physical stay in your heart. It’s downright disrespectful to our Sovereign God to invite Him into your heart for Communion then go immediately to the KofC breakfast downstairs while the Real Presence of Christ still exists in your heart. The Saints taught about making a proper thanksgiving after Communion which is almost extinct in most Churches. If you’ve just received Christ in Communion then you go off immediately to yack in the back of the Church, go to eat breakfast whatever then you’re ignoring your Divine Spouse. We would never invite a dignified guest into our home then ignore him and sit down at our table and eat a bowl of cereal while talking with everyone else but our guest. Why do you condone it with Christ our King?

Why is everyone up in arms over showing Christ proper respect? If your smacking now then try to be more reverent - the Eucharist is not common food and if you need to go home and floss your teeth because you still have pieces of the Eucharist in your teeth then you have a real problem that needs to be resolved.

 

[CWBetts]

The only one who has referred to “a common cracker” is YOU. I chew. I keep my mouth closed. I do not act like its a potato chip. You are reading things that aren’t there. Can you provide a SINGLE CHURCH DOCUMENT supporting that the only thing to be in your stomach is the Holy Eucharist? Just one.

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

The only one who has referred to “a common cracker” is YOU. I chew. I keep my mouth closed. I do not act like its a potato chip. You are reading things that aren’t there. Can you provide a SINGLE CHURCH DOCUMENT supporting that the only thing to be in your stomach is the Holy Eucharist? Just one.

Wow, I can’t believe you’re actually condoning eating while the Real Presence of Christ still dwells within you. Read St. Faustina’s Divine Mercy Diary where Christ complains that people receive Him and ignore him and then go back and read my last post; if you’re eating and still have the Host in your stomach then you’re ignoring God and not giving Him proper respect. The Church doesn’t have to issue an ‘official document’ to tell people the obvious - what you suggest is just plain silly. Common piety and respect (as well as common sense) ain’t so common these days.

In a time when only 30% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence it’s no wonder! Little children see your actions and if your going off after receiving communion to indulge in the doughnuts and coffee mere minutes after receiving while Christ is still PHYSICALLY present within you, waiting for you to give Him the attention He deserves, that is simply impiety.

 

[Lycoming]

I’m not putting a stumbling block anywhere and I’m not even remotely implying that people are sinning because I do not know anyone’s conscience. I am however stating a traditional practice and encouraging not a casual lip smacking time in consuming the Eucharist.

What do you mean by that? It’s not something the Church demands or even encourages. If it’s something YOU prefer to do and that’s fine but relate it to us as such.

I can almost guarantee that those who have oppined here that they see nothing wrong with chewing the Eucharist as an ordinary cracker, as common food, have not ever been taught anything on the subject. I can just about guarantee that such a view comes from a complete lack of instruction on this point and as a result people just do whatever they feel like doing. So to those who see nothing disrespectful in chewing as if the Eucharist is a product of the Keebler Elf, have you been positively taught to consume the host in this fashion or did you just wing it and do this on your own initiative without further thought?

Your “guarantee” is without accuracy or value. You’re guessing while you judge others you don’t even know. I think it’s one of the things that offends others. You also go off in the land of hyperbole to try and make a case and that too if offensive to many.

Ignoring Christ is definitely irreverent and disrespectful and if deliberately done is sinful. If you’re making an adequate thanksgiving after Mass you are keeping Christ company for the entire duration of his physical stay in your heart. It’s downright disrespectful to our Sovereign God to invite Him into your heart for Communion then go immediately to the KofC breakfast downstairs while the Real Presence of Christ still exists in your heart. The Saints taught about making a proper thanksgiving after Communion which is almost extinct in most Churches. If you’ve just received Christ in Communion then you go off immediately to yack in the back of the Church, go to eat breakfast whatever then you’re ignoring your Divine Spouse. We would never invite a dignified guest into our home then ignore him and sit down at our table and eat a bowl of cereal while talking with everyone else but our guest. Why do you condone it with Christ our King?

Still judging others based on not what the Church taught you or demands from you? Why?

Why is everyone up in arms over showing Christ proper respect? If your smacking now then try to be more reverent - the Eucharist is not common food and if you need to go home and floss your teeth because you still have pieces of the Eucharist in your teeth then you have a real problem that needs to be resolved.

“Proper respect?” By whose measure? Your own? I think a lot of people get irritated by those who feel their personal beliefs hold the weight of Church direction and they do not. One can always offer their opinions but they should do so as just that – their opinions.

 

[Lycoming]

Wow, I can’t believe you’re actually condoning eating while the Real Presence of Christ still dwells within you. Read St. Faustina’s Divine Mercy Diary where Christ complains that people receive Him and ignore him and then go back and read my last post; if you’re eating and still have the Host in your stomach then you’re ignoring God and not giving Him proper respect. The Church doesn’t have to issue an ‘official document’ to tell people the obvious - what you suggest is just plain silly. Common piety and respect (as well as common sense) ain’t so common these days.

Malarkey. Now you’re getting offensive. You’re entitled to your personal views – just don’t infer the Church supports them.

In a time when only 30% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence it’s no wonder! Little children see your actions and if your going off after receiving communion to indulge in the doughnuts and coffee mere minutes after receiving while Christ is still PHYSICALLY present within you, waiting for you to give Him the attention He deserves, that is simply impiety.

Malarkey II. Where did you get the 30% statistic? Another red herring being spread by someone who does not know. catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9910qq.asp

Your comments are potentially problematic if people took them seriously. They are also a massive turn-off.

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

Once Saint Philip Neri noticed that a parishioner usually left the church immediately after receiving Holy Communion. To correct him, he told two acolytes to accompany the man with lighted candles as he walked home. The people in the streets stared in surprise. When the man returned to St. Philip to ask why, St. Philip replied, “We have to pay proper respect to Our Lord, Whom you are carrying away with you. Since you neglect to adore Him, I sent two acolytes to take your place.” Realizing his fault, the man knelt and made proper thanksgiving after Holy Communion.

Pope John Paul II on 17 April 1980:

“The faithful are to be recommended not to omit to make a proper thanksgiving after Communion. They may do this during the celebration with a period of silence, with a hymn, psalm or other song of praise, or also after the celebration, if possible by staying behind to pray for a suitable time” (Inaestimabile Donum, 17).

**St. Faustina Kowalska **said that she received a private revelation from Jesus who told her: “My great delight is to unite myself with souls…When I come to a human heart in communion, my hands are filled with graces which I want to give to souls. But souls do not pay attention to me: they leave me to myself and busy themselves with other things. They do not recognize love. They treat me as a dead object.”

St. John Chrysostom, “when a person has eaten some delicious food at a banquet, he is careful not to take anything bitter in his mouth immediately after, lest he should lose the sweet flavour of those delicate viands. In like manner, when we have received the precious Body of Jesus Christ, we should take care not to lose its heavenly flavour by turning too soon to the cares and business of the world.”

St. Teresa of Ávila urged her daughters not to rush out after Mass but to treasure the opportunity for thanksgiving:" Let us detain ourselves lovingly with Jesus," she said, “and not waste the hour that follows Communion.”

St. Alphonsus said, “There is no prayer more agreeable to God, or more profitable to the soul, than that which is made during the thanksgiving after Communion. It is the opinion of many grave writers (Suarez, Cajetan, Valentia, De Lugo, and others), that the Holy Communion, so long as the sacramental species lasts, constantly produces greater and greater graces in the soul, provided the soul is then constant in disposing itself by new acts of virtue. Father Balthasar Alvarez used to say, that we should set great value on the time after Communion, imagining that we hear from the lips of Jesus Christ himself the words that he addressed to his disciples: But you do not have me always with you.”

St. Magdalena de Pazzi said, “The minutes that follow Communion are the most precious we have in our lives.”

St. Louis de Montfort wrote, “I would not give up this hour of Thanksgiving even for an hour of Paradise.”

St. Alphonsus Liguori: There is no prayer more agreeable to God, or more profitable to the soul, than that which is made during the thanksgiving after Communion

St. Padre Pio,
“When Mass was over I remained with Jesus in thanksgiving. Oh how sweet was the colloquy with paradise that morning! It was such that, although I want to tell you all about it, I cannot. … The heart of Jesus and my own — allow me to use the expression — were fused. No longer were two hearts beating but only one. My own heart had disappeared, as a drop of water is lost in the ocean. Jesus was its paradise, its king. My joy was so intense and deep that I could bear it no more and tears of happiness poured down my cheeks.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_after_Communion

Mmmm…but there is nothing wrong in immediately seeking to fill your belly after receiving?