The Consecrated Host

[lakotak]

I have, perhaps, a strange question.

When the priest breaks off a tiny piece of the Host and drops it in the cup, what is the proper thing to do if you take a sip from the cup and that piece of Host gets attached to the side of the cup so that it will probably be wiped or could be wiped away by the EM when he/she wipes the cup for the next person in line. What should be done in this case?

Thanks,

 

[Newbie2]

The EM or EMHC should take care of it; either by discreetly lifting it off with a finger and consuming it, or possibly lifting it off with the purificator, then consuming it. The idea, we know, is to prevent inadvertantly “losing” the fragment or dropping it.

When I was an newbie Catholic, I always thought the fragment was a “floater” from someone’s mouth. I was very relieved to find out that it was not.

 

[paperwight66]

As am EMHC, i have sometimes come across this. I either gently push the fragment down into the Precious Blood, using as little of a corner of the purificator as I can, or else tilt the chalice a little so that the fragment is taken down, which is better.

I have to say, though, that most communicants look askance at the fragment when they glance into the chalice before receiving, and avoid it by only taking a little sip. I wonder sometimes if they assume the previous person has dropped it from their mouth into the chalice, to be honest.

 

[Lapey]

I have, perhaps, a strange question.

When the priest breaks off a tiny piece of the Host and drops it in the cup, what is the proper thing to do if you take a sip from the cup and that piece of Host gets attached to the side of the cup so that it will probably be wiped or could be wiped away by the EM when he/she wipes the cup for the next person in line. What should be done in this case?

Thanks,

This happens often. What should be done is talk to the ministers who serve the celebrants cup. Normally this is the blood minister who is stationed with the priest. Training is everything, let the people know. Care should be taken to rotate the cup to either allow for a trained person to take a sip which would include the piece of body, or, care should be taken that the piece is allowed to remain on the side of the cup untill purification by the deacon or priest who knows what to do with this.

In my home parish, the celebrants cup remains on the altar, so this only happens with the EMHCs. So I am normally the minister of the blood to them, so I take care of this normally.

Hope this helps.

 

[zab]

That would never happen in our parish because the priest’s chalice is never used to distribute the Precious Blood to the faithful. However, in the senario that you have described, the EMHC should be careful to wipe only the outside of the cup with the purificator.

 

[lakotak]

As am EMHC, i have sometimes come across this. I either gently push the fragment down into the Precious Blood, using as little of a corner of the purificator as I can, or else tilt the chalice a little so that the fragment is taken down, which is better.

I have to say, though, that most communicants look askance at the fragment when they glance into the chalice before receiving, and avoid it by only taking a little sip. I wonder sometimes if they assume the previous person has dropped it from their mouth into the chalice, to be honest.

When this happens is it the responsibility of the EMHC to see this and act accordingly?

 

[paperwight66]

When this happens is it the responsibility of the EMHC to see this and act accordingly?

How do you mean? Do you mean that the EMHC should leave his/her station and take the chalice over to the priest/deacon to deal with?

Or do you mean that the EMHC should whisper an explanation to the communicant?

Sorry, I don’t understand your question.

 

[lakotak]

How do you mean? Do you mean that the EMHC should leave his/her station and take the chalice over to the priest/deacon to deal with?

Or do you mean that the EMHC should whisper an explanation to the communicant?

Sorry, I don’t understand your question.

Suppose you know that you have not been able to consume the Host particle as it floated towards you when you went to take a sip and know it is stuck to the side of the chalice or strongly suspect it. What do you do at this point?

 

[Lapey]

When this happens is it the responsibility of the EMHC to see this and act accordingly?

As I stated in my responce, yes. But they need to be taught about this situation to know what to do.

 

[Newbie2]

This happens often. What should be done is talk to the ministers who serve the celebrants cup. Normally this is the blood minister who is stationed with the priest. Training is everything, let the people know. Care should be taken to rotate the cup to either allow for a trained person to take a sip which would include the piece of body, or, care should be taken that the piece is allowed to remain on the side of the cup untill purification by the deacon or priest who knows what to do with this.

In my home parish, the celebrants cup remains on the altar, so this only happens with the EMHCs. So I am normally the minister of the blood to them, so I take care of this normally.

Hope this helps.

Yes, training is everything.

Our priest pours the remaining consecrated wine into one of the other station’s chalice (Yeah, I know…) so it could end up anywhere, particularly since we have 6 stations.

 

[Lapey]

Yes, training is everything.

Our priest pours the remaining consecrated wine OUCH!!!into one of the other station’s chalice (Yeah, I know…) so it could end up anywhere, particularly since we have 6 stations.

 

[lakotak]

Yes, training is everything.

Our priest pours the remaining consecrated wine into one of the other station’s chalice (Yeah, I know…) so it could end up anywhere, particularly since we have 6 stations.

Thing that bothers me is that the particle of Jesus’ Body is going to get wiped away and end up who know where. That I guess is my concern with this situation. See my last reply above.

 

[TheDoctor]

Suppose you know that you have not been able to consume the Host particle as it floated towards you when you went to take a sip and know it is stuck to the side of the chalice or strongly suspect it. What do you do at this point?

As has been discussed above, you do nothing but receive and move on. The minister of the cup (Priest, Deacon, EMHC) has the responsibility to take care of this. You don’t hold the cup. You don’t stop the line by pointing it out to them. You trust that they know their responsibilites and you move on.

 

[lakotak]

As has been discussed above, you do nothing but receive and move on. The minister of the cup (Priest, Deacon, EMHC) has the responsibility to take care of this. You don’t hold the cup. You don’t stop the line by pointing it out to them. You trust that they know their responsibilites and you move on.

Thank you for this information. I just did not want to feel guilty that I should do something when this happens.

Thanks again.