This trend must stop: the EMHC hand sanitizing procession

[PeterT]

I’m not sure the brand to be honest. But the alcohol stench is indeed strong. I mean really strong. And it sure is not baloney. It is weird that you would assert that having no idea where I attend Mass.

I would assert because I’ve used a whole variety of hand sanitizers throughout my life, name brands, store brands, generic, some that really sting when applied, some that have stronger scents than others. Yet none — absolutely none of them — give off a strong lasting “stench” that should be noticeable to anyone receiving Holy Communion from someone who had sanitized their hands with a hand sanitizer.

 

[Hoosier-Daddy]

It is a strong stench. I’ll try to catch the brand at mass.

 

[Irishmom2]

So do you think that Hoosier daddy and myself and others are lying? I sit in the 6-7 row at mass. We have 8 EMHC at our mass and 3 servers. They all use the hand sanitizer that is available on a side table near the altar, and yes, I can smell it where I sit. I know for a fact that it is Purell.

 

[Norseman82]

In my parish the Purell ritual is a part of Mass. It has been years since I have smelled incense. But every week the stench of alcohol and the pageantry of the cleansing of the EMHCs hands is a large part of the liturgy.

So sad.

Actually I find the whole EMHC procession to the altar to be a distraction.

Would it help if the sanitizer were brought up at the Offertory with the rest of the gifts?

 

[ELCore]

I do not particularly want to provide myself as evidence, as it may very well be fatal to me. As it is, I am staring at one month or more of pneumonia, as that is simply how long viral infections last in my weakened immune system…

For the record, there are about 3,300 different viruses which have been medically and scientifically described. There are millions - millions - of viruses which remain unknown and their influence on the human body is also unknown.

Our existence is indeed fragile and in accordance with the grace of God.

You are in a rare situation. I understand that. However, what evidence is there that you have, or even could, have contracted pneumonia, or any other communicable disease, while receiving Holy Communion from a minister with un-sanitized hands?

Nobody can deny that people contract communicable diseases from other people, even through casual contact. But where is the evidence that this has happened when a minister of Holy Communion has un-sanitized hands? I don’t think there is any such evidence: if there were, I wouldn’t have had to ask for it.

BTW, the ministers of my church do this, and it does not bother me except that I think it is almost certainly a waste of time and it might very well be counter-productive, as some others on the thread have already explained. Similarly, I see people wiping down the handle on the grocery cart, and practically every door way (or so it seems) in local hospitals have a hand sanitizer dispenser: using them probably does no real good except for the bottom line of hand sanitizer manufacturers.

 

[JimG]

Actually I find the whole EMHC procession to the altar to be a distraction.

Nope. What would be best would be for the EMHC’s not to enter the sanctuary until returning the ciboria after communion. When they enter the sanctuary to receive, the EMHC communion seems to turn into a distinct communion rite of its own.

 

[Donkey]

The Last Supper was shared with a small group …
Long gone are small parishes that attract people from a short radius.
Sanitizing to prevent spread of disease is a small measure with a big impact in a world of people that really get around.
Thank you

 

[Hoosier-Daddy]

I’d just settle for a normal liturgy…

 

[po18guy]

Study viruses, if not virology.

I think that, if we all lasered in on the Tabernacle and rarely took our gaze off of it; if we noted the heavenly aroma of Christ; if we were awed by the very Presence of God; if we quivered with anticipation as the epiclesis approached; if we shook to our core when the Holy Spirit descended at the consecration; if we…if we…

…we would not be so utterly distracted by things extraneous to and ancillary to the mass and which, in eternity, matter not one whit.

 

[Cruciferi]

I can smell it where I sit. I know for a fact that it is Purell.

Personally, I like the smell. However, I also like the smell of gasoline, fresh paint, asphalt, and bleach.

 

[SeraficLeo]

Petition Purell to make Frankincense scented hand sanitizer: clean hands and a holy smell.

 

[Irishmom2]

Now that would be a big improvement!

 

[TheLittleLady]

Purell contains fragrance, heavy perfumes. I would suggest your parish fragrance free hand sanitizer as they will be less offensive to those with fragrance sensitivities.

GOJO 404 Error Look at the ingredients list

 

[OraLabora]

Personally, I like the smell. However, I also like the smell of gasoline, fresh paint, asphalt, and bleach.

To paraphrase from a famous movie: “I love the smell of diesel in the morning”.

I used to drive VW diesel cars until the diesel scandal hit. On a cold morning, they would rattle and clatter to life in a cloud of unburnt or semi-burnt diesel. I loved that smell, it was the smell of a car that could go 750 miles on a single tank of fuel.

Alas it turned out to be too good to be true. Gasoline doesn’t smell anywhere near as nice as diesel…

Petition Purell to make Frankincense scented hand sanitizer: clean hands and a holy smell.

As I mentioned above, I’m a retired chemist (or rather was one for the first half of my career; I retired as an IT analyst for medical applications). I scent a business opportunity

 

[TheLittleLady]

I LOVE the smell of original Liquid Paper.

 

[angel12]

However, I also like the smell of gasoline, fresh paint, asphalt, and bleach.

i was right there with you until the bleach.

 

[prayerrider]

I like the smell of the black smoke that belches out with some Colt .45 ammo. Especially the bone rattling +P loads. Rather smell that than Purell any day!

But I like the smell of horse sweat too.

 

[prayerrider]

And kind of funny that they’re still called “Extraordinary” since they are long since permanent fixtures. Kind of like “temporary” or “portable” classrooms.

 

[PeterT]

And kind of funny that they’re still called “Emergency,” since they are long since permanent fixtures. Kind of like “temporary” or “portable” classrooms.

Who or what are called “Emergency” ???

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

I’m scheduled to EM this weekend and this thread will totally be on my mind, thanks for nada