Touching the Exposed Host

[smad0142]

The Perpetual Adoration Chapel I frequest has recently removed the glass in which the Host is encased in the Monstrance. In addition to this I have now observed people toucing the Exposed Host. Is either of these practices acceptable? Thanks!!

 

[passus]

The Perpetual Adoration Chapel I frequest has recently removed the glass in which the Host is encased in the Monstrance. In addition to this I have now observed people toucing the Exposed Host. Is either of these practices acceptable? Thanks!!

No, it’s not acceptable. The exposed host is to be contained in the luna (the glass “window”) and it is not permissible for people to touch the monstrance, the luna, or a host improperly exposed for adoration.

Speak to the director of the adoration chapel you visit or, if it’s associated with a church, the pastor.

 

[smad0142]

Any sources to help me back this up? Thanks!!

 

[passus]

There’s nothing on the books that says “don’t touch the exposed host.” Only that all prescribed rituals and guidelines for exposition of the blessed sacrament must be followed. Since none of those guidelines provides for touching the exposed host, I guess you could make an argument from what’s not there. But you shouldn’t need to.

It goes without saying that what’s going on here is extremely disrespectful and I don’t think anyone would put up a fight. If you get in touch with the appropriate personnel and you don’t see any corrective action taken, you should send a certified letter detailing very objectively the occurrence and the location of this chapel, the date and time you observed it, etc. to the bishop of the diocese in which this is going on.

 

[ElToro]

The Perpetual Adoration Chapel I frequest has recently removed the glass in which the Host is encased in the Monstrance. In addition to this I have now observed people toucing the Exposed Host. Is either of these practices acceptable? Thanks!!

Did they get rid of the LUNA that actually holds the Blessed Sacrament and in turn attaches to the monstrance:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/RELIC-LUNA-REPLACEMENT-Monstrance-Custodial-2-5-/00/$(KGrHqN,!lUE3HcjBp8ZBOBjv0F51!~~0_3.JPG

Or did they remove the glass from the chamber on the monstrance where the luna attaches?

Either way you won’t find any documentation that says the Blessed Sacrament must be encased in glass. In fact the Blessed Sacrament may be exposed in a chalice or a ciborium. What you will find is language saying that every precaution must be taken to avoid profaning the Blessed Sacrament.

As far as touching the Blessed Sacrament simply for the sake of touching it, that would be monumentally bad form in that setting.

 

[Elizium23]

The best argument that I can think of is that the Blessed Sacrament is true food, and must ultimately be consumed by someone. Touching it with random dirty hands is contamination, pure and simple. There is a regulation in my parish that EMHCs must cleanse their hands before distributing Holy Communion. The priests always use a hand sanitizer before celebrating Mass. Tell your pastor that there is risk of passing disease if people continue to touch the host in this fashion. That would hopefully spur some action.

 

[ElToro]

Even more important there is something screwy going on. Just what do people believe who are touching the consecrated host? Jesus Christ is sacramentally present in the Blessed Sacrament. His actual Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity but in a sacramental form.

If people think they are touching Jesus Christ in the same way He was touched in Luke 8:45 then they are mistaken…

 

[AntalKalnoky]

There’s nothing on the books that says “don’t touch the exposed host.” Only that all prescribed rituals and guidelines for exposition of the blessed sacrament must be followed. Since none of those guidelines provides for touching the exposed host, I guess you could make an argument from what’s not there. But you shouldn’t need to.

It goes without saying that what’s going on here is extremely disrespectful and I don’t think anyone would put up a fight. If you get in touch with the appropriate personnel and you don’t see any corrective action taken, you should send a certified letter detailing very objectively the occurrence and the location of this chapel, the date and time you observed it, etc. to the bishop of the diocese in which this is going on.

Only the Priest, Deacon, or Eucharistic Minster are Allowed to Touch the Eucharist to give it In Communion. It Is the Body.Blood of Christ, Most Sacred. The Pastor must Prohibit any open Eucharist; If he does not immediatelly, notify the Bishop promptly. This is a Grave Abuse. The Priest washes his Hands after Communion, swallows the Consecrated Wine, locks the remaining Communion Hosts. All our Ushers, the Vatican on down, and the Eucharitic Minsters are on Communion Watch at Communion, to assure Everyone Swalloing Our Lord’s Body/Blood. It is Cannon Law, universally; every Priest is responsible for assuring Total Protection of Our Lord’s Presence in the Host.

Only the Priest, maybe the Deacon are allowed to handle the Monstrance, because it Does contain the Real Presence Lord. It’s all Formal Catholic Policy everyone should know.
Nor is any Layman allowed to even Touch the sealed Monstrance.

 

[puzzleannie]

the glass is also to preserve the host, which still has the physical properties of bread, from spoiling, which will happen in short order this way, so the presiding minister should consume the host after each exposition if they are doing it this way as it will spoil all the quicker from being touched

the reason this sacrilege is arising is evident but I don’t want to go there on this forum as I think the topic is discourages.

 

[ElToro]

Only the Priest, Deacon, or Eucharistic Minster are Allowed to Touch the Eucharist to give it In Communion. It Is the Body.Blood of Christ, Most Sacred. The Pastor must Prohibit any open Eucharist; If he does not immediatelly, notify the Bishop promptly. This is a Grave Abuse. The Priest washes his Hands after Communion, swallows the Consecrated Wine, locks the remaining Communion Hosts. All our Ushers, the Vatican on down, and the Eucharitic Minsters are on Communion Watch at Communion, to assure Everyone Swalloing Our Lord’s Body/Blood. It is Cannon Law, universally; every Priest is responsible for assuring Total Protection of Our Lord’s Presence in the Host.

Only the Priest, maybe the Deacon are allowed to handle the Monstrance, because it Does contain the Real Presence Lord. It’s all Formal Catholic Policy everyone should know.
Nor is any Layman allowed to even Touch the sealed Monstrance.

Actually no Catholic with good intent is expressly prohibited from touching the Blessed Sacrament. Many of us do so on a regular basis at Holy Communion. It’s not a grave abuse if the Blessed Sacrament is exposed without being encased in glass. In fact exposition can take place with the Blessed Sacrament in a chalice or ciborium.

Laypersons may indee touch/handle the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament in the absense of clergy. No where is this prohibited. They may not however perform Benediction.

 

[paperwight66]

Laypersons may indee touch/handle the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament in the absense of clergy. No where is this prohibited. They may not however perform Benediction.

Yes, indeed, laypersons are allowed to repose the Blessed Sacrament back in the tabernacle, which involves removing the luna, if there is no priest (or in the case when I had to do it, the priest had had an operation on his hands and was temporarily unable to manage the fiddly little fastenening on the monstrance).

So I presume that they are also allowed to take the luna out of the tabernacle and install it in the monstrance in similar circumstances, as it wouldn’t be logical if one were permitted and the other not.

It’s interesting when some of these threads crop up as it brings out posters who have an almost superstitious attitude towards vessels, and also the area of the sanctuary. It reminds me of that scene in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, when those who touched the Ark were killed by an avenging awfulness coming out of the Ark itself.

Folks, someone has to clean things or repair things or just cope with the problems that crop up from time to time. Our Lord told us to use the most common foods of the time to remember Him by, He cooked fish for His disciples, He spat on the ground to make a paste to cure the blind man , He allowed all and sundry to touch and jostle Him. I think He knows all about commonsense, I don’t think we should put ourselves in a ‘Raiders of the Losr Ark’ mindset. Reverence, yes, superstitious dread, no.

 

[Lapey]

Actually no Catholic with good intent is expressly prohibited from touching the Blessed Sacrament. Many of us do so on a regular basis at Holy Communion. It’s not a grave abuse if the Blessed Sacrament is exposed without being encased in glass. In fact exposition can take place with the Blessed Sacrament in a chalice or ciborium.very true on this point. in fact we sometimes loose sight of the fact that we can have adoration periods by simply opening the tabernacle and then remove the cover of the vessel containing the Eucharist. For that matter, adoration can take place without even opening the tabernacle, in faith we know who is there and we adore Him!

Laypersons may indee touch/handle the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament in the absense of clergy. No where is this prohibited. They may not however perform Benediction.

Lay persons can indeed expose and repose the Blessed Sacrement, but they must have a commissioning of the pastor to do so licitly. He or she must be authorized and trained.

But I must say that adoration, in a perpetual adoration chapel, of the Blessed Sacrement fully exposed should not be the norm. There is too much opportunity for profanation of the Eucharist. I would say that this is an abuse of the norms of an adoration chapel. For the most part, these 24-7 adoration chapels are new to most parishes. Yes there are some that have been around forever, but that is the exception not the rule.

I hope this doesn’t come out as judgemental, but many people with all good intensions seem to get “carried away” when given more oportunities to do so. This is one oportunity that would allow abuse to develope, touching the exposed and unprotected host is one of them. In communion we are “allowed” to touch the host, but this is different. This should be reported and stopped. Please write and meet with your pastor and if that does not change things let him know you will write and visit the bishop’s office.

 

[Lapey]

Even more important there is something screwy going on. Just what do people believe who are touching the consecrated host? I agree here, what’s the purpose of actually touching the unprotected host? Jesus Christ is sacramentally present in the Blessed Sacrament. His actual Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity but in a sacramental form.

If people think they are touching Jesus Christ in the same way He was touched in Luke 8:45 then they are mistaken…

Not sure what you mean here, not Jesus?

 

[Lapey]

Yes, indeed, laypersons are allowed to repose the Blessed Sacrament back in the tabernacle, which involves removing the luna, if there is no priest (or in the case when I had to do it, the priest had had an operation on his hands and was temporarily unable to manage the fiddly little fastenening on the monstrance).

So I presume that they are also allowed to take the luna out of the tabernacle and install it in the monstrance in similar circumstances, as it wouldn’t be logical if one were permitted and the other not.again, with commisioning a lay person can expose and repose.

It’s interesting when some of these threads crop up as it brings out posters who have an almost superstitious attitude towards vessels, and also the area of the sanctuary. It reminds me of that scene in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, when those who touched the Ark were killed by an avenging awfulness coming out of the Ark itself.

Folks, someone has to clean things or repair things or just cope with the problems that crop up from time to time. Yes this is true, but if work is done in the sanctuary, normally the reserved Eucharist is removed from the tabernacle. I mean work, not routine cleaning.Our Lord told us to use the most common foods of the time to remember Him by, He cooked fish for His disciples, He spat on the ground to make a paste to cure the blind man , He allowed all and sundry to touch and jostle Him. I think He knows all about commonsense, I don’t think we should put ourselves in a ‘Raiders of the Losr Ark’ mindset. Reverence, yes, superstitious dread, no.

I may be reading into your words a little too much here, but are you saying that its ok to have people, multiple people at random touch the exposed host? To use your words, common sense tells me that over a short period of time the host will begin to be discolored and deteriorate because of perspiration and oils naturally found on the hand. Even though you wash completely, there will still be profanation over a period of time.

This is not superstition, but common sense. There are certain norms which must be followed when handling vessels, and most importantly, the Blessed Sacrament. Can we be scrupulous? Yes, but there is another extreme. I think this situation is an example of the other end of the spectrum.

 

[TimothyH]

There is no prohibition against the laity touching a monstrance per se.

As an altar server who serves at novenas and benedictions, I handle monstrances regularly although always empty. I retrieve the monstrance from the vestry, bring it to sacristy, and place it on the altar before the benediction and do the reverse after. Again, always empty. Sacrasintes and children alter servers do the same.

I’m not sure about the monstrance with the Sacrament exposed. I have seen people kneel before the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament and pray for a moment of adoration, and as a gesture of reverence, they may gently touch the base of the monstrance briefly, as one would touch a statue or relic. This was not a monstrance in the sanctuary on the altar, where one would have to mount the steps. It was in a perpetual adoration chapel where the monstrance is easily accessible. I always thought that this type of reverence was permitted

I’d love to see some documentation about touching the host.

-Tim-

 

[paperwight66]

I may be reading into your words a little too much here, but are you saying that its ok to have people, multiple people at random touch the exposed host? .

No, of course not, just as I would not offer a sandwich or a cake to someone if it has been touched by someone else, still less, by many people. I’ve sure we’ve all said to our children, ‘You’ve touched it now, you must take it from the plate’ .

But that’s a matter of hygiene, not reverence.

I’m talking of what could be called ‘referred sacredness’ For instance, there was a poster who described how his parish priest let no-one touch a chalice that had been used by a Pope. Only he, the priest to whom it had been given, could use it for Mass, and not even other priests were allowed to say Mass with it.

And I was recalling a thread sometime ago, when a poster wanted to bring back gloves for altar-servers, on the grounds that only a priest’s hands should touch the vessels. I can understand gloves if the servers’ hands were grubby, perhaps in the old days more than now. But gloves because of excessive reverence towards the objects themselves, as if they had taken on some kind of magic? That’s verging on superstition.

 

[Lapey]

No, of course not, just as I would not offer a sandwich or a cake to someone if it has been touched by someone else, still less, by many people. I’ve sure we’ve all said to our children, ‘You’ve touched it now, you must take it from the plate’ .

But that’s a matter of hygiene, not reverence.

I’m talking of what could be called ‘referred sacredness’ For instance, there was a poster who described how his parish priest let no-one touch a chalice that had been used by a Pope. Only he, the priest to whom it had been given, could use it for Mass, and not even other priests were allowed to say Mass with it.

And I was recalling a thread sometime ago, when a poster wanted to bring back gloves for altar-servers, on the grounds that only a priest’s hands should touch the vessels. I can understand gloves if the servers’ hands were grubby, perhaps in the old days more than now. But gloves because of excessive reverence towards the objects themselves, as if they had taken on some kind of magic? That’s verging on superstition.

I gotcha. Thanks for clarifying. I remember that thread!

 

[zab]

No, of course not, just as I would not offer a sandwich or a cake to someone if it has been touched by someone else, still less, by many people. I’ve sure we’ve all said to our children, ‘You’ve touched it now, you must take it from the plate’ .

But that’s a matter of hygiene, not reverence.

I’m talking of what could be called ‘referred sacredness’ For instance,** there was a poster who described how his parish priest let no-one touch a chalice that had been used by a Pope. Only he, the priest to whom it had been given, could use it for Mass, and not even other priests were allowed to say Mass with it.**

And I was recalling a thread sometime ago, when a poster wanted to bring back gloves for altar-servers, on the grounds that only a priest’s hands should touch the vessels. I can understand gloves if the servers’ hands were grubby, perhaps in the old days more than now. But gloves because of excessive reverence towards the objects themselves, as if they had taken on some kind of magic? That’s verging on superstition.

You are misunderstanding the situation.

 

[paperwight66]

You are misunderstanding the situation.

Please explain.

 

[TheMc]

Only the Priest, Deacon, or Eucharistic Minster are Allowed to Touch the Eucharist to give it In Communion.

Last time I checked, the extraordinary ministers of holy communion are also permitted to touch the host when distributing.