Fr. Dwyer's book, Mass Class may be ordered from the publisher
Excerpt from Mass Class by Father Dave Dwyer, Copyright © 2022 by David P. Dwyer.
Published by Paulist Press, Inc., New York/Mahwah, NJ. Reprinted by permission of Paulist Press, Inc.
Question (as it appears in Oct 13th Bulletin):
If the Eucharist accidentally drops on the floor, what should be done?
Short Answer:
There are two people involved in this exchange: you, the communicant, and the minister (priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion).
It is my firm opinion that in the case of a dropped host, the communicant should do nothing. Just stand still for a moment. I know it's counterintuitive because you can't help but want to react to something like that. Please try. Almost assuredly, you both know what just happened. Allow the person who is trained, practiced, and spirituality formed for this moment to deal with it.
Again, I encourage you to not react quickly, if for no other reason than to avoid the inevitable head collision if you both bend down quickly to grab the dropped host.
However, let's say for the sake of argument that for some reason the communion minister does not notice that the host dropped. In that case, you as the communicant have two options: you can point it out to the minister, who will then take one of the courses of action I just mentioned, or you can pick the host up of the floor and consume it yourself. Some people might be worried that doing that is somehow sacrilegious, or that the host is "desecrated" by hitting the floor. Neither are true.
Complete Answer:
This does rarely happen, but let me underscore one word in your question: accidentally. As careful and as reverent as we are, accidents do happen, and God is not mad. If you're a parent, for instance, you may remember the first time your child got a cut or scrape or bruise while playing. Tears! Screaming! Wailing! To them, because they had never experienced it before, it was like the end of the world. You as the wizened parent, however — while smiling, hugging, and consoling- knew it was really no big deal. GIven that this was your first experience with what we here at Busted Halo call a “Mass Hap”, I cannot tell you you should not have felt mortified. But please know that God, our Heavenly Parent, was giving you the same consoling hug on Sunday. Okay, but onto your question: "What should be done?”
There are two people involved in this exchange: you, the communicant, and the minister (priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion). It is my firm opinion that in the case of a dropped host, the communicant should do nothing. Just stand still for a moment. I know it's counterintuitive because you can't help but want to react to something like that. Please try. Almost assuredly, you both know what just happened. Allow the person who is trained, practiced, and spirituality formed for this moment to deal with it. They will pick it up off the floor and one of a few things might happen next.
They may quickly consume the host themselves; they may hold onto it separately from the rest of the hosts to do something with it later; they may walk away so they can put the host somewhere else to be dealt with later (in some cases, the host might be left to dissolve over time in holy water); or... they may just try to offer you that same host again, the one they just picked up off the floor. That last option would be rare, I think, but not unimaginable. The most likely scenario is that the minister picks it up and gives you a new host right away, which you then consume as usual and return to the pew trying hard not to blame yourself (God doesn’t).
Again, I encourage you to not react quickly, if for no other reason than to avoid the inevitable head collision if you both bend down quickly to grab the dropped host.
However, let's say for the sake of argument that for some reason the communion minister does not notice that the host dropped. In that case, you as the communicant have two options: you can point it out to the minister, who will then take one of the courses of action I just mentioned, or you can pick the host up of the floor and consume it yourself. Some people might be worried that doing that is somehow sacrilegious, or that the host is "desecrated" by hitting the floor. Neither are true. More folks might have a justified concern about germs. Five-second rule? If you're not comfortable eating something off the church floor, simply make the communion minister aware of what happened.
Whatever you do, please do not either leave it there on the floor and walk away, nor pick it up and bring it back to your seat, hoping to deal with it after Mass. Consume it as soon as you pick it up.
Remember, God is not mad when the host drops. He likely has more reason to be angry with us when we overlook the poor, post mean-spirited things on the internet, or withhold forgiveness from someone who has harmed us. Yet, even in those cases, God offers us mercy.
If the Eucharist accidentally drops on the floor, what should be done?
Short Answer:
There are two people involved in this exchange: you, the communicant, and the minister (priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion).
It is my firm opinion that in the case of a dropped host, the communicant should do nothing. Just stand still for a moment. I know it's counterintuitive because you can't help but want to react to something like that. Please try. Almost assuredly, you both know what just happened. Allow the person who is trained, practiced, and spirituality formed for this moment to deal with it.
Again, I encourage you to not react quickly, if for no other reason than to avoid the inevitable head collision if you both bend down quickly to grab the dropped host.
However, let's say for the sake of argument that for some reason the communion minister does not notice that the host dropped. In that case, you as the communicant have two options: you can point it out to the minister, who will then take one of the courses of action I just mentioned, or you can pick the host up of the floor and consume it yourself. Some people might be worried that doing that is somehow sacrilegious, or that the host is "desecrated" by hitting the floor. Neither are true.
Complete Answer:
This does rarely happen, but let me underscore one word in your question: accidentally. As careful and as reverent as we are, accidents do happen, and God is not mad. If you're a parent, for instance, you may remember the first time your child got a cut or scrape or bruise while playing. Tears! Screaming! Wailing! To them, because they had never experienced it before, it was like the end of the world. You as the wizened parent, however — while smiling, hugging, and consoling- knew it was really no big deal. GIven that this was your first experience with what we here at Busted Halo call a “Mass Hap”, I cannot tell you you should not have felt mortified. But please know that God, our Heavenly Parent, was giving you the same consoling hug on Sunday. Okay, but onto your question: "What should be done?”
There are two people involved in this exchange: you, the communicant, and the minister (priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion). It is my firm opinion that in the case of a dropped host, the communicant should do nothing. Just stand still for a moment. I know it's counterintuitive because you can't help but want to react to something like that. Please try. Almost assuredly, you both know what just happened. Allow the person who is trained, practiced, and spirituality formed for this moment to deal with it. They will pick it up off the floor and one of a few things might happen next.
They may quickly consume the host themselves; they may hold onto it separately from the rest of the hosts to do something with it later; they may walk away so they can put the host somewhere else to be dealt with later (in some cases, the host might be left to dissolve over time in holy water); or... they may just try to offer you that same host again, the one they just picked up off the floor. That last option would be rare, I think, but not unimaginable. The most likely scenario is that the minister picks it up and gives you a new host right away, which you then consume as usual and return to the pew trying hard not to blame yourself (God doesn’t).
Again, I encourage you to not react quickly, if for no other reason than to avoid the inevitable head collision if you both bend down quickly to grab the dropped host.
However, let's say for the sake of argument that for some reason the communion minister does not notice that the host dropped. In that case, you as the communicant have two options: you can point it out to the minister, who will then take one of the courses of action I just mentioned, or you can pick the host up of the floor and consume it yourself. Some people might be worried that doing that is somehow sacrilegious, or that the host is "desecrated" by hitting the floor. Neither are true. More folks might have a justified concern about germs. Five-second rule? If you're not comfortable eating something off the church floor, simply make the communion minister aware of what happened.
Whatever you do, please do not either leave it there on the floor and walk away, nor pick it up and bring it back to your seat, hoping to deal with it after Mass. Consume it as soon as you pick it up.
Remember, God is not mad when the host drops. He likely has more reason to be angry with us when we overlook the poor, post mean-spirited things on the internet, or withhold forgiveness from someone who has harmed us. Yet, even in those cases, God offers us mercy.
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Fr. Dwyer's book, Mass Class may be ordered from the publisher
Question (as it appears in Oct 13th Bulletin):
If the Eucharist accidentally drops on the floor, what should be done?
Short Answer:
There are two people involved in this exchange: you, the communicant, and the minister (priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion).
It is my firm opinion that in the case of a dropped host, the communicant should do nothing. Just stand still for a moment. I know it's counterintuitive because you can't help but want to react to something like that. Please try. Almost assuredly, you both know what just happened. Allow the person who is trained, practiced, and spirituality formed for this moment to deal with it.
Again, I encourage you to not react quickly, if for no other reason than to avoid the inevitable head collision if you both bend down quickly to grab the dropped host.
However, let's say for the sake of argument that for some reason the communion minister does not notice that the host dropped. In that case, you as the communicant have two options: you can point it out to the minister, who will then take one of the courses of action I just mentioned, or you can pick the host up of the floor and consume it yourself. Some people might be worried that doing that is somehow sacrilegious, or that the host is "desecrated" by hitting the floor. Neither are true.
Complete Answer:
This does rarely happen, but let me underscore one word in your question: accidentally. As careful and as reverent as we are, accidents do happen, and God is not mad. If you're a parent, for instance, you may remember the first time your child got a cut or scrape or bruise while playing. Tears! Screaming! Wailing! To them, because they had never experienced it before, it was like the end of the world. You as the wizened parent, however — while smiling, hugging, and consoling- knew it was really no big deal. GIven that this was your first experience with what we here at Busted Halo call a “Mass Hap”, I cannot tell you you should not have felt mortified. But please know that God, our Heavenly Parent, was giving you the same consoling hug on Sunday. Okay, but onto your question: "What should be done?”
There are two people involved in this exchange: you, the communicant, and the minister (priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion). It is my firm opinion that in the case of a dropped host, the communicant should do nothing. Just stand still for a moment. I know it's counterintuitive because you can't help but want to react to something like that. Please try. Almost assuredly, you both know what just happened. Allow the person who is trained, practiced, and spirituality formed for this moment to deal with it. They will pick it up off the floor and one of a few things might happen next.
They may quickly consume the host themselves; they may hold onto it separately from the rest of the hosts to do something with it later; they may walk away so they can put the host somewhere else to be dealt with later (in some cases, the host might be left to dissolve over time in holy water); or... they may just try to offer you that same host again, the one they just picked up off the floor. That last option would be rare, I think, but not unimaginable. The most likely scenario is that the minister picks it up and gives you a new host right away, which you then consume as usual and return to the pew trying hard not to blame yourself (God doesn’t).
Again, I encourage you to not react quickly, if for no other reason than to avoid the inevitable head collision if you both bend down quickly to grab the dropped host.
However, let's say for the sake of argument that for some reason the communion minister does not notice that the host dropped. In that case, you as the communicant have two options: you can point it out to the minister, who will then take one of the courses of action I just mentioned, or you can pick the host up of the floor and consume it yourself. Some people might be worried that doing that is somehow sacrilegious, or that the host is "desecrated" by hitting the floor. Neither are true. More folks might have a justified concern about germs. Five-second rule? If you're not comfortable eating something off the church floor, simply make the communion minister aware of what happened.
Whatever you do, please do not either leave it there on the floor and walk away, nor pick it up and bring it back to your seat, hoping to deal with it after Mass. Consume it as soon as you pick it up.
Remember, God is not mad when the host drops. He likely has more reason to be angry with us when we overlook the poor, post mean-spirited things on the internet, or withhold forgiveness from someone who has harmed us. Yet, even in those cases, God offers us mercy.
If the Eucharist accidentally drops on the floor, what should be done?
Short Answer:
There are two people involved in this exchange: you, the communicant, and the minister (priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion).
It is my firm opinion that in the case of a dropped host, the communicant should do nothing. Just stand still for a moment. I know it's counterintuitive because you can't help but want to react to something like that. Please try. Almost assuredly, you both know what just happened. Allow the person who is trained, practiced, and spirituality formed for this moment to deal with it.
Again, I encourage you to not react quickly, if for no other reason than to avoid the inevitable head collision if you both bend down quickly to grab the dropped host.
However, let's say for the sake of argument that for some reason the communion minister does not notice that the host dropped. In that case, you as the communicant have two options: you can point it out to the minister, who will then take one of the courses of action I just mentioned, or you can pick the host up of the floor and consume it yourself. Some people might be worried that doing that is somehow sacrilegious, or that the host is "desecrated" by hitting the floor. Neither are true.
Complete Answer:
This does rarely happen, but let me underscore one word in your question: accidentally. As careful and as reverent as we are, accidents do happen, and God is not mad. If you're a parent, for instance, you may remember the first time your child got a cut or scrape or bruise while playing. Tears! Screaming! Wailing! To them, because they had never experienced it before, it was like the end of the world. You as the wizened parent, however — while smiling, hugging, and consoling- knew it was really no big deal. GIven that this was your first experience with what we here at Busted Halo call a “Mass Hap”, I cannot tell you you should not have felt mortified. But please know that God, our Heavenly Parent, was giving you the same consoling hug on Sunday. Okay, but onto your question: "What should be done?”
There are two people involved in this exchange: you, the communicant, and the minister (priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion). It is my firm opinion that in the case of a dropped host, the communicant should do nothing. Just stand still for a moment. I know it's counterintuitive because you can't help but want to react to something like that. Please try. Almost assuredly, you both know what just happened. Allow the person who is trained, practiced, and spirituality formed for this moment to deal with it. They will pick it up off the floor and one of a few things might happen next.
They may quickly consume the host themselves; they may hold onto it separately from the rest of the hosts to do something with it later; they may walk away so they can put the host somewhere else to be dealt with later (in some cases, the host might be left to dissolve over time in holy water); or... they may just try to offer you that same host again, the one they just picked up off the floor. That last option would be rare, I think, but not unimaginable. The most likely scenario is that the minister picks it up and gives you a new host right away, which you then consume as usual and return to the pew trying hard not to blame yourself (God doesn’t).
Again, I encourage you to not react quickly, if for no other reason than to avoid the inevitable head collision if you both bend down quickly to grab the dropped host.
However, let's say for the sake of argument that for some reason the communion minister does not notice that the host dropped. In that case, you as the communicant have two options: you can point it out to the minister, who will then take one of the courses of action I just mentioned, or you can pick the host up of the floor and consume it yourself. Some people might be worried that doing that is somehow sacrilegious, or that the host is "desecrated" by hitting the floor. Neither are true. More folks might have a justified concern about germs. Five-second rule? If you're not comfortable eating something off the church floor, simply make the communion minister aware of what happened.
Whatever you do, please do not either leave it there on the floor and walk away, nor pick it up and bring it back to your seat, hoping to deal with it after Mass. Consume it as soon as you pick it up.
Remember, God is not mad when the host drops. He likely has more reason to be angry with us when we overlook the poor, post mean-spirited things on the internet, or withhold forgiveness from someone who has harmed us. Yet, even in those cases, God offers us mercy.
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Excerpt from Mass Class by Father Dave Dwyer, Copyright © 2022 by David P. Dwyer.
Published by Paulist Press, Inc., New York/Mahwah, NJ. Reprinted by permission of Paulist Press, Inc.
