Taking home the Eucharist?

  • Thread starter Thread starter nursestephanie
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
N

nursestephanie

Guest
At mass today, I saw a lady break the Eucharist she was to receive in half and put half of it in her pocket. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to stop her, I even got up out of my seat and walked to the back of the Church as she was leaving, but I wasn’t sure what to do. We told the priest about this after mass and he said more than likely she was taking it to a sick loved one…but aren’t Catholics aware that this is wrong? What should I have done…I feel like I should have said something to her!!!😊
 
It should be consumed immediately. The priest should make a mention of this at Sunday Mass so it does not hapen again.

People are so poorly catechised these days. I have a BIL who has come back to the Church after 30 years (& his wife converted) who thinks if he goes to their old non-Catholic church sometimes instead of Mass, it fulfills his Sunday obligation.

We have begun a Q & A on our Parish bulletin to answer questions. When we don’t receive any for the week I suggested they address situations like this.
 
I had a parishioner approach fro Communion once who wanted to take Eucharist home to a spouse. I quietly instructed them to meet me after Mass. I was able to get a Pyx for them to transport the Eucharist in a proper manner.

It is appropriate to have Communion taken to those who are unable to attend Mass. We have many volunteers trained to do exactly this. A spouse who has been instructed in the proper administration of Communion to those who are homebound or hospitalized can certainly perform this function.

I am sure that your parish priest will look for this person and discuss it with them. You can approach them, too [just remember to be compassionate]

On an aside, we had teenagers at the Christmas Eve Mass who took the Eucharist and then went to the back of the parish hall [where this Mass was being said] and began cursing it and talking trash with it. A EMHC just went over and took the Host from the offending teens in a business like manner…I think they were too stunned to respond in any manner…and rightly so. No scene was made, no discussion, no shouting. Except for those of us in the immediate area, no one probably even knew…As there were so many people present that normally are not there it was impossible to do any more or to indentfy the offenders for father after Mass…

We have also had elderly people who sometimes get confused [as in alzheimers]. I once had a gentleman attept to give me a dollar when i offered him the Cup…father saw this and came and removed the Host he had still in his hand…After mass father spoke with his daughter who was visiting and had brought him to mass. He just told her to be attentive and ready to assit hi when he got confused. HE also spoke with her about getting our home care ministers to assist in bringing Communion to his home.
 
You may want to ask your pastor how you should handle this if you see it again.

Because it can be difficult for the priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister to assure each person has consumed the Eucharist, many pastors in our area have instructed the ushers (or extraordinary ministers who are not assisting) to watch for and approach anyone who hasn’t consumed and to gently tell them to do so - and then after Mass, let the priest know what happened.
 
After I am done praying sometimes I actually watch people sometimes. I feel like its a kind of bad habit…but one time I almost had to go get up and stop someone because they didn’t immediately consume it.

If it happens again though, and no one is there to do anything about it, I would get up and speak with them. It is Our Lord Jesus Christ after all, and there is nothing wrong with ensuring that His body is given absolute respect and reverence.
 
nursestephanie said:
At mass today, I saw a lady break the Eucharist she was to receive in half and put half of it in her pocket. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to stop her, I even got up out of my seat and walked to the back of the Church as she was leaving, but I wasn’t sure what to do. We told the priest about this after mass and he said more than likely she was taking it to a sick loved one…but aren’t Catholics aware that this is wrong? What should I have done…I feel like I should have said something to her!!!😊
Click to expand...
Believe it or not I personally think you should have stopped her and asked her for the Host. I would have! If I saw her place it in a pyx that might be a bit different and I would take that up with the pastor.
 
Can I mention something kind of bothering me this past Sunday.
I hope it is not off topic.

After communion while kneeling and praying, I noticed a mother with a child about five years old. It looks like the mother requested 2 hosts (not sure about this, it seemed she said something to the priest). I saw the mother put the host into her mouth, then while walking back, the boy looked up and opened his mouth wide, the mother put the other host into the boy’s mouth (again, not sure). I was on the second row, and I was sick and very weak yesterday, so I am not sure she actually put a host into his mouth or just played a pretending game. The only thing I am sure is the boy looked up, opened his mouth widely and the mother had a gesture of putting something into his mouth. I still feel weird and concerned. That is not the Mass I usually attend. Just want to mention this to you guys.
 
This subject is near and dear to my heart.

Take great care that no one ever walks away with the Holy Eucharist - either in their hand or in their pocket. If they don’t consume the Host as soon as Father or the EMHC places the Host in their hand and they walk away, they are to be stopped IMMEDIATELY and asked (nice and politely) to consume the Host. If they refuse to eat the Host or look confused, ask them to give you the Host. I’ve never had anyone refuse me in the half-dozen times I’ve had to stop someone. If they say that they’re taking the Host to the pew to eat it and pray, don’t let them. They may not keep the Host to take to their pew or to their home for any reason.

Only those who are commissioned to take Holy Communion to the homebound are permitted to do so. They are properly trained and should have a pyx. They are supposed to present their pyx before Mass so that the sacristan or Father can place a Host (or several) into their pyx and then have the hosts inside the pyx consecrated during Mass. Father or the sacristan will then give them back the pyx to take to the homebound.

Even though they may be well intentioned, someone may not take Communion to their sick spouse at home unless they are properly commissioned. If someone asks you if they can do so, ask them to speak to Father. He can direct them to whomever coordinates Communion to the homebound.

Never, ever let someone walk away with a Host. There are bad people out there that want to profane the Host, or even well-intentioned people that take Communion but don’t know what to do and they sometimes end up stuffing the Hosts in the pew seats and inside Missalettes. I’ve found them in both places, all dried up and shrivelled.

Saint Tarcisius gave up his life defending the Consecrated Hosts from bad guys who wanted to steal the Hosts that he was carrying to the sick. His heroic deed led to his canonization.

We all must take care of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Believe me, it’s never fun, but He always gives me courage when I need to intervene (which really isn’t very often, but does happen from time to time).
 
I really wanted to stop her and I regret not doing so. I can’t stop thinking that what if she didn’t take it to a sick relative or what if something terrible happened to it…and I would partially be to blame for not stopping her.

I really didn’t know what to say to her or how to go about stopping her, I just really wish I would have done something.😦
 
nursestephanie said:
I really wanted to stop her and I regret not doing so. I can’t stop thinking that what if she didn’t take it to a sick relative or what if something terrible happened to it…and I would partially be to blame for not stopping her.

I really didn’t know what to say to her or how to go about stopping her, I just really wish I would have done something.😦
Click to expand...
Let it go.

Consider it on-the-job training for next time.

That’s what’s so wonderful about these forums. We can learn from one another, and encourage one another.🙂
 
nursestephanie said:
I really wanted to stop her and I regret not doing so. I can’t stop thinking that what if she didn’t take it to a sick relative or what if something terrible happened to it…and I would partially be to blame for not stopping her.

I really didn’t know what to say to her or how to go about stopping her, I just really wish I would have done something.😦
Click to expand...
I would simply step in front of them and say "excuse me, I noticed that you placed a Host or part of a Host in your purse/pocket. You are not permitted to do that. No one is permitted to take the Blessed Sacrament out of the church except the priest, deacon and special ministers, and always in a special container. Please let me have the Host.
 
Also, if you are in this situation and the person gives you the host, you should bring it to the priest, not consume it yourself because that would be self-communicating?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top