Woman sneaks Host to her son after Communion

[anamchara]

It is NEVER the place of someone who is not commissioned to distribute the Eucharist to do so.

I believe we already acknowledge that a few pages back. I’m not sure what you are saying here.

 

[Darnok]

This woman should not be walking away without having consumed the host.

Something tells me there is a lot more going on then meets the eye.

My husband said when this issue first came up (like 25 years ago) he was told that the proper way was to receive the host, step to the side and place the host in your mouth BEFORE you turn to walk back to your seat.

This is how I remember being taught in the '70s to take it in the hand. At my parish, they make it easier (for those who do it properly). The person with the Chalice stands a few steps behind the person giving the Host. If there is no one in the “side-line” to receive the Chalice, then that person sees me take the Eucharist and then I step up for the Cup.

I think you should inform the priest and maybe suggest that he announces the proper way for people to receive in the hand, so that he can see if people are consuming the host properly and reverently.

This is an excellent idea. Every now and then people need to return to the basics.

 

[preV2tradcath]

I agree that the first thing that needs to be done is the op speaking to the priest. He is the one who should be taking care of the situation.
If the priest would agree, my suggestion would be that the priest or eucharistic minister, preferably the priest, go to the boy and give him communion.

 

[Spiller]

Tell the pastor what you did see and think happened. Then plan to sit either next to her or right behind her next Sunday if Father asks you to. When you see her return to her pew watch that she consumes the Host. If not and she breaks it, STOP her and tell her to either give it to you or consume it herself. But first let Father know just to be sure that they are not Eastern Catholics, attending your Latin parish.

This really is bad advice.

 

[wjp984]

I believe you are incorrect. It is the liturgical law of the Byzantine Church that prohibits all from receiving in the hand at the Divine Liturgy, not Canon Law. When a Latin Catholic attends the DL, s/he must receive in the mouth, due to the liturgical laws.

A Byzantine Catholic attending a Latin Mass would certainly have the option to receive in the hand, because they would be bound by the liturgical law of the Latin Mass.

Much in the same way, you cross yourself appropriate to the Rite you are attending in, not the Church you belong to, and you say or omit The Filioque based upon the Rite you are attending, not the Church you belong to.

I usually do not say the creed very loud since it confuses me too much because of the differences. I am a very assimilated in the Roman Rite Byzantine Catholic so the filoque is not a problem but I for some reason find myself saying remission of sins and can’t seem to remember that it is forgiveness.

As far as the sign of the cross, while I am very Latinized, the Eastern way of signing the cross is one of the only parts of Eastern Catholicism that I appreciate and prefer over the Roman Rite so I will make the sign of the cross the Eastern way even while going to mass, and I go to mass way more often than a Divine Liturgy. It reminds me that as assimilated as I am I still have some appreciation of my rite whether I want to admit it or not.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

This really is bad advice.

And how is that? I don’t know about you, but I would risk my life to protect the Blessed Sacrament. Without any second thoughts! The majority of people today would “close the blinds and say it’s none of my business, I don’t want to get involved.” Me, no doubt, I would confront her and in a nice way explain that what she is doing is not allowed, no exceptions. If her son is permitted to receive he must receive from the minister distributing Holy Communion, not second hand from her. I have picked up Hosts from pews, books and off the floor after Mass too many times, to stand by and do nothing, but mind my own business.

 

[Spiller]

And how is that? I don’t know about you, but I would risk my life to protect the Blessed Sacrament. Without any second thoughts! The majority of people today would “close the blinds and say it’s none of my business, I don’t want to get involved.” Me, no doubt, I would confront her and in a nice way explain that what she is doing is not allowed, no exceptions. If her son is permitted to receive he must receive from the minister distributing Holy Communion, not second hand from her. I have picked up Hosts from pews, books and off the floor after Mass too many times, to stand by and do nothing, but mind my own business.

It’s extremely bad advice. The consecrated host is not being desecrated – it’s being consumed by a child. Put the heroics aside and work through the pastor – it’s his responsibility.

It’s interesting. My parish holds about 1,100. For more than a couple of decades I have helped to “clean-up” after Mass and I have never found a host in the pews, hymnals, trashcans, etc.

 

[VociMike]

Would everybody at least agree that no communicant has any business walking off with a host? That every communicant should be consuming the host immediately upon receiving it?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Would everybody at least agree that no communicant has any business walking off with a host? That every communicant should be consuming the host immediately upon receiving it?

Yes.

And add:

That no communicant has any business breaking the Host, with the possibility of particles or pieces falling to the floor?

 

[snhs]

It’s extremely bad advice. The consecrated host is not being desecrated – it’s being consumed by a child. Put the heroics aside and work through the pastor – it’s his responsibility.

It’s interesting. My parish holds about 1,100. For more than a couple of decades I have helped to “clean-up” after Mass and I have never found a host in the pews, hymnals, trashcans, etc.

Firstly I’m not sure you can definitively say that the Host is not being desecrated. From the 1912 Catholic Encyclopedia “Theft, sale, or use of the host for a profane purpose is considered a grave sin and sacrilege”. Obviously slightly out of date but the substance of it almost certainly remains valid. The key part as regards this case seems to be the “use for a profane purpose”. Given that no one knows for sure her purpose in giving part of the Host to the child we cannot know what her intent was. She could well have been desecrating it. That being the case I think it is very good advice to stop her and prevent what could be desecration from occurring.

The Priest has a very important role in safeguarding the Eucharist. However that does not excuse us from protecting the Blessed Sacrament when the Priest is not in a position to, which would include this case when it would be nearly impossible for him to prevent it without disrupting the Mass.

 

[paperwight]

It’s extremely bad advice. The consecrated host is not being desecrated – it’s being consumed by a child. Put the heroics aside and work through the pastor – it’s his responsibility.

It’s interesting. My parish holds about 1,100. For more than a couple of decades I have helped to “clean-up” after Mass and I have never found a host in the pews, hymnals, trashcans, etc.

I have the same experience - I, too, have been tidying up after Mass for over twenty years, and have never found a Host either.

Brother Rich, what on earth is going-on in your church? Or were you exaggerating?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have the same experience - I, too, have been tidying up after Mass for over twenty years, and have never found a Host either.

Brother Rich, what on earth is going-on in your church? Or were you exaggerating?

No, unfortunately, I was not exaggerating. This has been the experience in several different parishes, and not only here.

 

[MusicMan]

Incorrect. The Byzantine Typikon has the Eucharistic species, comingled, distributed on a spoon. As such, reception is on the tongue. The rubrics for the DL are not binding on the faithful, meaning they don’t have to receive that way when in a Roman Catholic Mass. They are binding on the Liturgy, meaning a priest offering a Divine Liturgy is bound to them, unless directed otherwise. Otherwise, all Roman Catholics could insist on receiving in the hand at a Divine Liturgy since their Mass rubrics allow for it. The rubrics don’t cover the people, but the service.

You are and I were saying the same things. The liturgical law for the Rite covers all the faithful when they attend that Rite, regardless of which Particular Church they belong to. Thus, all Catholics at a Divine Liturgy must receive in the mouth, and all Catholics at the Mass may receive in the hand. We said the same things, why am I incorrect?

 

[allhers]

Would everybody at least agree that no communicant has any business walking off with a host? That every communicant should be consuming the host immediately upon receiving it?

Agreed! Talk to the Priest about it. If I saw someone doing that I am sure I would question it. (after Mass I would certainly make that known to Father.) If they attempted to leave Mass instead of consuming the Host I know I would stop them and ask them to consume the Host. Of course this would all be done in kindness. She may have permission from Father to do this, but I doubt it. You won’t know though unless you speak to Father about it. As others have said, no reason why Father or one of the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion couldn’t go to him if he were unable to go up to receive.

 

[MysteriorumDei]

The young Byzantine Catholic would need to have been baptized
and have received first communion (and christmation.)

4 and 5 year olds would not go through RCIA.

By definition, a Catholic (of any rite) must have been baptized already. Un-baptized children of Catholic families are technically pagans. (I wouldn’t hold it against them, though. ) And since Byzantine Catholics receive all three sacraments of initiation at once, any Byzantine Catholic initiated according to the Byzantine rite has received first communion (and chrismation aka confirmation).

 

[wifenmommy]

Would everybody at least agree that no communicant has any business walking off with a host? That every communicant should be consuming the host immediately upon receiving it?

…second that!! (or third:blush: )

 

[Maria_Soledad]

Judge not, lest ye be judged. Express concern to the Priest, but do not harbor anger against this woman. We do not know the cause for her actions, and we can’t read her heart. If she is ignorant, she commits no sin. If she sins, then only God can judge her and offer her correct. In this case the Priest should “instruct the ignorant” if this is the case.

What I do love is that you have a good heart and a concern for the Lord God, who is our Host.

 

[CatsAndDogs]

A few weeks ago at Mass, I noticed a woman in front of me carry the Host back to her pew, break it in half, and give half to her little boy sitting in the pew. She made quite a scene doing it and it looked like the Priest saw what she did, and it looked like he was pretty mad. So, I’d assume maybe he said something to her after Mass.

Well, I went to the same Mass this weekend and the same lady was sitting in front of me. I am pretty sure I saw her do it again, although this time she was very, very discreet about it. I didn’t actually SEE her give it to him. But I saw her walking back getting ready to put the Host in her mouth, like she was going to break it in half (I didn’t actually see her break it, but it looked like that’s what she was doing), a moment later I saw her hand up by her sons mouth and saw him chewing. This kid is probably no older than 6 years old.

I’m not sure what I should do here. I didn’t actually see her give the Host to the kid, and I totally could have got it wrong. I said something to my mom about it when we got out to the car and she insisted I go in and tell Father. But I’m hesitatant because I don’t want to be a “tattletale” with something I’m not totally sure about…and I’m not very comfortable approaching this priest anyway.

I figured maybe I’d wait and see if she does it again, but I don’t intent to watch her next time because I don’t need that kind of distraction during Communion. So I’m not sure what to do…

This whole thing just makes me mad! Why do people have to be so disobedient?!

Quite obviously, this is a matter between the Priest and this lady. You should tell the Priest what you saw, without interpretation (no adjectives, only nouns and verbs!), and let him deal with it.

I “imagine” this lady thinks she’s doing what is best for the kid, while that is certainly not the case. She needs, as do we all in various things, an education about correctness of action.

If she gets that education from the Priest and is still disobedient, then that’s on her head. She may well not realize that one is actually supposed to do as a Priest instructs one to do as regards matters like this, which I’ve seen any number of “good Catholics” do regularly, and need even more, and firmer education that we think she needs at THIS point!

At any rate, it’s no one’s job to enforce due correction other than the Priest and/or the Bishop, and what they can (really) do only God knows, such as with the situation with “The Rudster” Juliani.

N’est-ce pas?

 

[Lee_M]

Actually, I have done this myself. At my previous parish, my neice would always ask the priest for an extra host to take back to her mom in the pew who is disabled. She gave her mom the host, who then consumed it. On several occasions I was with her and did the same thing for her when the neice was not present. On several occasions there was a priest I did not know so didn’t feel comfortable making the request. In that case I did break the host, consume half, and give the other half to the mom.

Only priests, deacons, or extraordinary ministers of holy communion should be giving communion to another person. If you are not one of those, you shouldn’t be taking communion to another person.

 

[Lee_M]

Firstly I’m not sure you can definitively say that the Host is not being desecrated. From the 1912 Catholic Encyclopedia “Theft, sale, or use of the host for a profane purpose is considered a grave sin and sacrilege”. Obviously slightly out of date but the substance of it almost certainly remains valid. The key part as regards this case seems to be the “use for a profane purpose”. Given that no one knows for sure her purpose in giving part of the Host to the child we cannot know what her intent was. She could well have been desecrating it. That being the case I think it is very good advice to stop her and prevent what could be desecration from occurring.

The Priest has a very important role in safeguarding the Eucharist. However that does not excuse us from protecting the Blessed Sacrament when the Priest is not in a position to, which would include this case when it would be nearly impossible for him to prevent it without disrupting the Mass.

I agree with you 100%. It is our job to protect the Blessed Sacrament. If we fail to do this, then we have committed sin of omission.