Taking the Eucharist

[coco2]

Today at Mass, I saw a young man take the Eucharist in his hand, but didn’t put it in his mouth. He walked out of church with it in his hand. I saw something like this one other time. I saw a woman take the Eucharist and put it in her purse. I did tell the priest about the woman after mass. He asked her age…she looked like a college student ( college town). Why would someone do this? I felt frantic both times. What should a person do in this circumstance? Confront the person during Mass? Try to catch them after Mass, or just tell the priest after Mass?

This whole scenario frightens me because I can’t think of any reason they would take the Eucharist unless it was for evil reasons. What other reason could their be???Has anyone heard of this happening?

 

[YADA]

You are correct in feeling disquieted by this … and you could have inquired of the person [and you should always tell your priest when you observe this behanvior with a good description of the person] …

As to other reasons beside the nefarious … there are a few …

I once had a woman approach at Communion who besides receiving our Lord attempted to place the Holy Eucharsit in a Kleenix … I refused to allow it - gently - asked her why … she intimated that she wanted to take the Eucharist to an ill family member … I told her the Kleenix was not apprpriate and asked her to see me after Mass. I met with her and Father … Needless to say - her intentions were very good - she just lacked proper foramtion/training/instruction …

Needless to say - it is possible to take the Eucharist to those who are unable to attend Mass but only after receiving instruction/formation/knowledege and being authoirsized and when the person can adequately transport the Eucharist [a Pyx]. Our parish maintains a Pyx that a properly authorized individual may use …

Once I had an elderly gentleman approach the Cup after having received th Eucharist from Father … When I said “The Blood of Christ” he extended his hand with a dollar bill … Father approahed - He had the Eucharist in his other hand … which Father retrieved … after Mass - Father approached his daughter - who had brought the man to Mass … she was no longer practicing and was visiting her father … The man was suffering from Alzheimers - Father asked the daughter to assist her father when she brought him to Mass to ensure that he received properly … and also let her know about the services we could offer her father on an ongoing basis - like our ministry to the home bound …

Not everyone has desecrating our Lord in mind … and sadly poor catechesis can be a real issue …

And then there are the Wackos - like the professor who encouraged people to steal the Eucharist to fuel anti-Catholic hatred … they live in every age …

 

[ethereality]

Regarding the OP’s fear:

God is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient and loving. St. Padre Pio comes to mind in saying, “Pray, hope and don’t worry.” So, in addition to acting in love of God and neighbor, combat anxiety and fear with the decision to pray, hope and not worry!

 

[coco2]

Glad to hear that it might not have been for evil reasons, because that worries me. Both times the people were in their 20’s, probably college students as this church is in a small college town.

 

[fermat]

This has happened at my parish and we chased them down to get the host back. It is usually a case where the person felt compelled to go in line and took the host because they just didn’t know what else to do.

 

[colmcille1]

Hi all,
I wonder would it be viable to make communion on the tongue obligatory again?
This would do away with these unfortunate scenes.
God Bless,
Colmcille.

 

[belmontmac]

I’ve seen our parish priests run after people who didn’t consume right after receiving. One time during a first communion last spring, he went chasing after someone, yelling" Hey excuse me sir…", and finally caught up with him at the back of the Church.

Anyone ever notice at some of the Papal Masses on EWTN, thinking of the one in Portugal, how people grab the Eucharist instead of receiving it, kinda bothered me.

 

[Adeodatus]

If you see someone doing this, you should try to stop them. Get the ushers involved… that’s what they’re there for.

Obviously, you’re aware that atheists and also witches / Satanists desecrate the Eucharist in order to strike at our Lord. Don’t let them get away with it.