should we chew the Host?

[CWBetts]

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?

Well you did manage to quote saints…and not a word about chewing, or abstining from food for 15 minuites. And still no encyclical, nothing from the Catechism, no papal bull, to consular document. Just your own opinions and intrpretations. Color me stunned.

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

Can you provide a SINGLE CHURCH DOCUMENT supporting that the only thing to be in your stomach is the Holy Eucharist? Just one.

Well you did manage to quote saints…and not a word about chewing, or abstining from food for 15 minuites. And still no encyclical, nothing from the Catechism, no papal bull, to consular document. Just your own opinions and intrpretations. Color me stunned.

It went over your head I suppose… obviously the Saints held the time while Christ is physically present within us to be a most sacred and valuable time. If simply busying yourself and doing other things is offensive to Christ (see again the quotes above especially St. Faustina) how much more would eating, without a sufficient reason, filling your stomach with bacon and eggs right alongside the physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist in your stomach. You don’t need an encyclical to tell you that and once again to suggest so is just plain asinine. You won’t find any conciliar document or papal encyclical on a host of issues which the Catholic Church has always promoted such as the use of patens for communion, modesty in dress in Church, keeping your voice down in Church out of respect for the Real Presence - these are common sense issues and if you want to play by those rules then show me a document where it says to indiscriminately chew the Eucharist as ordinary food and that it’s okay to just walk out of Church and go to breakfast without giving thought to what you hold within you.

Now answer me several questions (any one feel free to answer) - and they’re multiple choice so it should be easy:

**1. While the Eucharistic species physically reside in your stomach which is more respectful of the Divine Presence: **

A) Prayerfully keep Our Lord company while making acts of faith, hope, charity, and petitioning him on behalf of ourself and others while abstaining from food and drink until the Eucharistic species are no longer present - usually about 10-15 minutes.

B) Eat coffee and doughnuts so that they can keep Our Lord company for us while we busy ourself with talking with others and doing other things.

**2. Which is the more reverent action while consuming the Eucharist:
**
A) Chew as you would ordinary food, thus getting particles stuck in the crevices of your teeth, which will continue being the Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity of Christ until the appearance of bread no longer remains, and risk profaning this most holy sacrament.

B) Gently break apart the host to help enable swallowing if neccessary or let the host dissolve in your mouth to a consistency easier to swallow thereby minimizing the possibility of particles remaining in your teeth and the risk of later profanation of the sacrament.

3. I was specifically taught in catechism, RCIA, a Catholic religious book, or by someone in an official capacity within the Church that I should indiscriminately chew the Eucharist as I would common food.

A) Yes
B) No

 

[rlg94086]

To the OP…Happy Easter and welcome to the Church!

…I can see that all of us here at CAF have helped clear up the chewing question in our normal fashion.

Regardless of whose advice you took, may the Peace of Christ be with you this Easter.

 

[CWBetts]

It went over your head I suppose… obviously the Saints held the time while Christ is physically present within us to be a most sacred and valuable time. If simply busying yourself and doing other things is offensive to Christ (see again the quotes above especially St. Faustina) how much more would eating, without a sufficient reason, filling your stomach with bacon and eggs right alongside the physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist in your stomach. You don’t need an encyclical to tell you that and once again to suggest so is just plain asinine. You won’t find any conciliar document or papal encyclical on a host of issues which the Catholic Church has always promoted such as the use of patens for communion, modesty in dress in Church, keeping your voice down in Church out of respect for the Real Presence - these are common sense issues and if you want to play by those rules then show me a document where it says to indiscriminately chew the Eucharist as ordinary food and that it’s okay to just walk out of Church and go to breakfast without giving thought to what you hold within you.

Now answer me several questions (any one feel free to answer) - and they’re multiple choice so it should be easy:

**1. While the Eucharistic species physically reside in your stomach which is more respectful of the Divine Presence: **

A) Prayerfully keep Our Lord company while making acts of faith, hope, charity, and petitioning him on behalf of ourself and others while abstaining from food and drink until the Eucharistic species are no longer present - usually about 10-15 minutes.

B) Eat coffee and doughnuts so that they can keep Our Lord company for us while we busy ourself with talking with others and doing other things.

**2. Which is the more reverent action while consuming the Eucharist:
**
A) Chew as you would ordinary food, thus getting particles stuck in the crevices of your teeth, which will continue being the Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity of Christ until the appearance of bread no longer remains, and risk profaning this most holy sacrament.

B) Gently break apart the host to help enable swallowing if neccessary or let the host dissolve in your mouth to a consistency easier to swallow thereby minimizing the possibility of particles remaining in your teeth and the risk of later profanation of the sacrament.

3. I was specifically taught in catechism, RCIA, a Catholic religious book, or by someone in an official capacity within the Church that I should indiscriminately chew the Eucharist as I would common food.

A) Yes
B) No

Again, as per usual, you are adding a tone of irreverence to those who disagree with you, thereby changing the meaning of our intent. It is you, not I, who have mosunderstood the saints. They are referring to completely ignoring the Lord after recivieing communion. This has no bearing on how long that the wafer is being digested, but the overall relationship of the Christian with Christ. It is directed at the Sunday Catholic who recieves comunion on SUnday, and ignores the Savior the rest of the week. It is about he who recieves communion without thinking about Who it is being recieved. The Saint’s reference to food were figurituve speech for illustration (the “as” is a dead giveaway for simile) It probably went over your head.

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

Again, as per usual, you are adding a tone of irreverence to those who disagree with you, thereby changing the meaning of our intent. It is you, not I, who have mosunderstood the saints. They are referring to completely ignoring the Lord after recivieing communion. This has no bearing on how long that the wafer is being digested, but the overall relationship of the Christian with Christ. It is directed at the Sunday Catholic who recieves comunion on SUnday, and ignores the Savior the rest of the week. It is about he who recieves communion without thinking about Who it is being recieved. The Saint’s reference to food were figurituve speech for illustration (the “as” is a dead giveaway for simile) It probably went over your head.

CW, I’m sorry but I just figured that you knew what making a thanksgiving after communion was and why it is done. The quotes of the saints I provided were speaking of thanksgiving - what you’re describing would not be described as making a thanksgiving at all but would be a complete lack of one. Your implication is that just as long as you realize Who you are receiving at the time you’re receiving then whatever follows is irrelevant but this is not in keeping with the nature of Communion - note the word ‘communion’ a time for communing with God - not just eating and ignoring. Communion is not just a 10 second ordeal - eat and it’s done - it lasts as long as the Eucharistic species remain which is why Our Lord complained to St. Faustina, "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."

So to clarify - Baltimore Catechism:

Q. 913. What should we do after Holy Communion?

A. After Holy Communion we should spend some time in adoring Our Lord, in thanking Him for the grace we have received, and in asking Him for the blessings we need.

Q. 914. What length of time should we spend in thanksgiving after Holy Communion?

A. We should spend sufficient time in Thanksgiving after Holy Communion to show due reverence to the Blessed Sacrament; for Our Lord is personally with us as long as the appearance of bread and wine remains.

Q. 915. What should we be particular about when receiving Holy Communion?

A. When receiving Holy Communion we should be particular:

1. About the respectful manner in which we approach and return from the altar;
2. About our personal appearance, especially neatness and cleanliness;
3. About raising our head, opening our mouth and putting forth the tongue in the proper manner;
4. About swallowing the Sacred Host;
5. About removing it carefully with the tongue, in case it should stick to the mouth, but never with the finger under any circumstances.

 

[Lycoming]

So to clarify - Baltimore Catechism…

I hope you realize you have yet to quote anything authoritative/binding from the Church. That’s why some get tired of people like you…

Did you review your 33%/real presence mistake yet?

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

I hope you realize you have yet to quote anything authoritative/binding from the Church. That’s why some get tired of people like you…

Did you review your 33%/real presence mistake yet?

Okay, so what is it that you don’t agree with now? Are you disagreeing on what making a thanksgiving after Communion means? I’m sorry but you two are showing, and apparently proud of, the dismal state of Catholic catechesis in America.

Feel free to answer the following questions I posed earlier:

**1. While the Eucharistic species physically reside in your stomach which is more respectful of the Divine Presence: **

A) Prayerfully keep Our Lord company while making acts of faith, hope, charity, and petitioning him on behalf of ourself and others while abstaining from food and drink until the Eucharistic species are no longer present - usually about 10-15 minutes.

B) Eat coffee and doughnuts so that they can keep Our Lord company for us while we busy ourself with talking with others and doing other things.

**2. Which is the more reverent action while consuming the Eucharist:
**
A) Chew as you would ordinary food, thus getting particles stuck in the crevices of your teeth, which will continue being the Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity of Christ until the appearance of bread no longer remains, and risk profaning this most holy sacrament.

B) Gently break apart the host to help enable swallowing if neccessary or let the host dissolve in your mouth to a consistency easier to swallow thereby minimizing the possibility of particles remaining in your teeth and the risk of later profanation of the sacrament.

3. I was specifically taught in catechism, RCIA, a Catholic religious book, or by someone in an official capacity within the Church that I should indiscriminately chew the Eucharist as I would common food.

A) Yes
B) No

Concerning your 33% link - that reply by Jimmy Akin is an embaressment to Catholic Answers:

Here’s the Gallup Poll Question:

"Which one of the following statements about Holy Communion do you think best reflects your belief:

"[A] When receiving Holy Communion, you are really and truly receiving the body and blood, soul and divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine,

"** When receiving Holy Communion, you are receiving bread and wine, which symbolize the spirit and teachings of Jesus and in so doing are expressing your attachment to his Person and words

"[C.] When receiving Holy Communion, you are receiving bread and wine, in which Jesus is really and truly present, or

“[D.] When receiving Holy Communion, you are receiving the body and blood of Christ, which has become that because of your personal belief”

"[E.] Don’t Know

“[F.] Refused [to answer].”

The Catholic answer is absolutely positively unmistakably [A] - but Jimmy Akin says:
Jimmy Akin:

Now let’s put the pieces together: **Options A and D both essentially describe transubstantiation, though option D omits mentioning Christ’s soul and divinity and includes the erroneous notion that transubstantiation is dependent on one’s personal faith. Nevertheless, add the two together and it turns out 53 percent of American surveyed believe in transubstantiation. **

So Jimmy decides that a protestant definition of communion is good enough to be counted as transubstantiation even though it “omits mentioning Christ’s soul and divinity and includes the erroneous notion that transubstantiation is dependent on one’s personal faith” All I can say is WOW!

Then to make it worse:

**Now add in option C, which does assert the Real Presence, even though an erroneous view of it (i.e., consubstantiation), and it turns out that 63 percent believe in the Real Presence. **

Double WOW! SO now Jimmy thinks that consubstantiation and transubstantiation are the same thing! And that’s good enough to count it as belief in the “real presence” too!

Then the icing on the cake:
Jimmy Akin:

Presumably, some of the remaining eight percent would also believe in the Real Presence. Consider, for example, a person who would have said yes to option D except for the fact that it omits reference to Christ’s soul and divinity; this person may well have said “none of the above” even though he clearly believed in the Real Presence.

Oi Vey! So Jimmy’s just concluded that all the wrong answers are actually right! They all describe transubstantiation and therefore everyone picked the right answer so in reality it’s not 30% of Catholics that believe in the Real Presence it’s actually 75%.

I’m stupid but not that stupid and his asessment lacks honesty but I’ll give him credit for some of his final remarks that they probably called a few fallen away Catholics who still identify themselves as Catholics.**

 

[Lycoming]

…Concerning your 33% link - that reply by Jimmy Akin is an embaressment to Catholic Answers:…

:banghead:

 

[RUINATION_IPA]

:banghead:

Uhh… so you read the first sentence and stopped reading? You agree with Jimmy that those who picked consubstantiation should be given credit for really intending to pick transubstantiation? Close enough?

 

[nsper7]

It went over your head I suppose… obviously the Saints held the time while Christ is physically present within us to be a most sacred and valuable time. If simply busying yourself and doing other things is offensive to Christ (see again the quotes above especially St. Faustina) how much more would eating, without a sufficient reason, filling your stomach with bacon and eggs right alongside the physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist in your stomach. You don’t need an encyclical to tell you that and once again to suggest so is just plain asinine. You won’t find any conciliar document or papal encyclical on a host of issues which the Catholic Church has always promoted such as the use of patens for communion, modesty in dress in Church, keeping your voice down in Church out of respect for the Real Presence - these are common sense issues and if you want to play by those rules then show me a document where it says to indiscriminately chew the Eucharist as ordinary food and that it’s okay to just walk out of Church and go to breakfast without giving thought to what you hold within you.

Now answer me several questions (any one feel free to answer) - and they’re multiple choice so it should be easy:

**1. While the Eucharistic species physically reside in your stomach which is more respectful of the Divine Presence: **

A) Prayerfully keep Our Lord company while making acts of faith, hope, charity, and petitioning him on behalf of ourself and others while abstaining from food and drink until the Eucharistic species are no longer present - usually about 10-15 minutes.

B) Eat coffee and doughnuts so that they can keep Our Lord company for us while we busy ourself with talking with others and doing other things.

I am sorry, I could not help but laugh at 1B. That is a humorous wording. Was it sinful that I thought so? In fact, this thread kind of has me chuckling: “indiscriminate chewing” and I get the image of someone smacking their lips while while receiving the Host. I’m sorry, but this kind of makes me laugh a little, but then I worry if that is sacreligious or something.

Anyway, I think some people are making way too much of a big deal on things. In terms of reverence, I think it all comes down to the heart. The parish I go to, I do not think they serve food immediately afterwards anyway.

 

[CWBetts]

CW, I’m sorry but I just figured that you knew what making a thanksgiving after communion was and why it is done. The quotes of the saints I provided were speaking of thanksgiving - what you’re describing would not be described as making a thanksgiving at all but would be a complete lack of one. Your implication is that just as long as you realize Who you are receiving at the time you’re receiving then whatever follows is irrelevant but this is not in keeping with the nature of Communion - note the word ‘communion’ a time for communing with God - not just eating and ignoring. Communion is not just a 10 second ordeal - eat and it’s done - it lasts as long as the Eucharistic species remain which is why Our Lord complained to St. Faustina, "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."

So to clarify - Baltimore Catechism:

Q. 913. What should we do after Holy Communion?

A. After Holy Communion we should spend some time in adoring Our Lord, in thanking Him for the grace we have received, and in asking Him for the blessings we need.

Q. 914. What length of time should we spend in thanksgiving after Holy Communion?

A. We should spend sufficient time in Thanksgiving after Holy Communion to show due reverence to the Blessed Sacrament; for Our Lord is personally with us as long as the appearance of bread and wine remains.

Q. 915. What should we be particular about when receiving Holy Communion?

A. When receiving Holy Communion we should be particular:

1. About the respectful manner in which we approach and return from the altar;
2. About our personal appearance, especially neatness and cleanliness;
3. About raising our head, opening our mouth and putting forth the tongue in the proper manner;
4. About swallowing the Sacred Host;
5. About removing it carefully with the tongue, in case it should stick to the mouth, but never with the finger under any circumstances.

I DO make a thanksgiving after I recieve, thank you very much. I am making thanksgiving in the communion line, I make tanksgiving immediately after, I continue on my way back to the pew, I spend time in thanksgiving for the rest of the service, which, depending on how many peaple are there, how close I was to the front of the line, length of the song, etc can take up to 10-15 more minuites. You are trying to enforce your own OPINION as dogma,[edited].

 

[Orogeny]

Ruination_IPA (by the way, is that the name of your favorite drink or something else?),

You can end this discussion in your favor very simply. Give us the official Church teaching that says that chewing is to be avoided and that there is a mandatory 15 minute fast following reception of the precious body and blood. So far, you have only established that we should spend time in thanksgiving following reception which is not something that has been disputed.

Peace

Tim

 

[Monica4316]

Well, I received my first Communion!
Here is what I did… I let the Host soften in my mouth a little bit and then (very softly) chewed it - but not like ordinary food…I just broke it apart a little so that I could swallow it. I found that it’s better to swallow it than keep the Host forever in your mouth cause the whole point is to receive Jesus into yourself.

 

[Orogeny]

Well, I received my first Communion!

Congratulations!

Peace

Tim

 

[Monica4316]

thanks Tim!

btw, I think I might have misworded what I said earlier… I didn’t really chew the Host but just made it a little softer so that I could swallow it. I found that this worked pretty well and no part of it was left in my mouth.

btw, I see there has been some discussion about thanksgiving after Communion.

I just wanted to say…

after I received the Eucharist I found it difficult to talk to people or think about other things, I meant it just felt wrong and I was almost compelled to go and pray for a while. So I did lol, and - I highly recommend staying after Mass for a bit before the Tabernacle to spend some time with Our Lord. It just made it so much better. I couldn’t really do it after the Vigil, but I did on Easter morning, and it was great I recommend!! that is all.

To the OP…Happy Easter and welcome to the Church!

…I can see that all of us here at CAF have helped clear up the chewing question in our normal fashion.

Regardless of whose advice you took, may the Peace of Christ be with you this Easter.

thank you!
and - lol - true about CAF

God bless!

 

[CWBetts]

I think the general consesus among most uf us posting is if you need to chew, then do so. If you prefer not to chew, then don’t! Just remember Who it is we are consuming.

 

[DrFloyd]

When I was small, I read in the missalette that Catholics should fast for an hour before receiving the Host. I do not recall any specific teaching on what to do after, but my father told me to never chew and simply let it dissolve a great deal and then swallow, which is what I have always done. I agree that chewing allows for the risk that It will get stuck between the teeth (and mine in particular are prone to getting food stuck there) and that would be profane.