What to do with Crumbs on your hands from Eucharist

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iwannabesomeone

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I recieved the Eucharist this morning and there were maybe two or three crumbs on my hands after I ate it. What am I supposed to do with the crumbs? I ate what I could. Some crumbs fell to the floor. Are we supposed to wipe or shake them off our hands?
 
I suppose this makes a good case for receiving on the tongue. Nevertheless, you should consume the sacrament as best you can. If you can see the crumbs that fall to the floor, I would pick them up and either consume them or dispose of them in the special sink in the sacristy that is reserved for cleaning the holy vessels which flows into the ground versus the sewer system.
 
Every part, even the **smallest **speck, of the Eucharist is entirely Christ. So that should answer your question with nothing else being said…God Bless…teachccd 🙂
 
If someone gave you gold-dust, how careful would you be not to drop any of it?

Then even more care shold be given to our Eucharistic Lord.
 
I believe it is the Didache that exhorts Christians to receive the Eucharist making the “right hand a throne for the left to receive the King of Glory” or words to that effect. It would seem to me that one could make one’s left palm then a “diskos/paten” or “chalice” of sorts to hold the crumbs after consuming them. An open palm would just create issues with spilling.

Of course, in the East all communion is given through intinction. So we do not have this issue of communion in the hand, even though it is an ancient and worthy Christian practice.

The Didache also speaks of taking the residue (not crumbs) from the Eucharist remaining on the lips after receiving the precious Blood from the chalice and anointing the senses. I have personally adopted this practice over the years.

I think we need to be vigilant in our care for the Eucharist, without descending into either carelessness or scrupulosity. Our Lord has condescended to become Bread for us. I think He knows the risk of that!

Peace,

Gordo
 
iwannabesomeone said:
I recieved the Eucharist this morning and there were maybe two or three crumbs on my hands after I ate it. What am I supposed to do with the crumbs? I ate what I could. Some crumbs fell to the floor. Are we supposed to wipe or shake them off our hands?
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Just the opposite. Do NOT wipe them on your shirt or pants, Do NOT brush them onto the floor. Carefully moisten the tip of your finger, pick them up and eat them. I would also let the pastor know. He may have switched suppliers of the hosts or something…
 
I didn’t know what to do after going to a Church yesterday where they used a softer bread in dense cakey cubes instead of the nice wafers. There were so many crumbs I was horrified and licked my hands.

The thing is that I almost always receive on the tongue, but watched people walking away picking at their hands while they were walking away, like they were eating skittles. I thought it was strange that they would offer little pieces, so I put out the hands and noticed how many very small crumbs flaked off on my hands.
Next time the tongue is going out.

Br. Rich, you’re right. The Pastor should be notified. I’ll call that Parish today and let them know what happened.
 
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