I was watching a video on youtube that showed Orthodox from Georgia (the country not the state) closing their mouth around the spoon when receiving eucharist instead of keeping mouth open and letting priest flip it in there.
I know a Gk. Cath. priest here in N. America who detests the practice of closing lips around the spoon, so if someone does it, he always "clacks" the spoon against their teeth. Can't say I recommend his way of handling it...
In my OCA parish I've noticed both. Some open wide, some close the mouth around the spoon.
As a BC, I remember being instructed at First Communion to open wide and the priest would drop the particle in. Everyone I saw take communion did it that way.
As a BC, I remember being instructed at First Communion to open wide and the priest would drop the particle in. Everyone I saw take communion did it that way.
Likewise, I've heard these instructions repeatedly over the course of my lifetime in the BC Church. The typical instructions of our priests, at weddings or when we clearly have a number of guests present, normally assume familiarity with Latin Catholic practice (on the tongue, not in the hand) and typically go something like this:
"The Eucharist is given in both species, in the form of a small cube of bread saturated in wine and water, and administered via a small spoon. When receiving the Eucharist, tilt your head slightly back, open your mouth widely, do not extend your tongue and do not attempt to say 'Amen' after you have received. When done correctly, the spoon should not come in contact with your mouth, and thus there should be no personal health concerns."
That said, similarly to the experience of other posters, I have seen many faithful close their mouth when receiving in Divine Liturgies celebrated in our sister churches overseas. I have no idea why that might be the case.
"When done correctly, the spoon should not come in contact with your mouth, and thus there should be no personal health concerns."
That said, similarly to the experience of other posters, I have seen many faithful close their mouth when receiving in Divine Liturgies celebrated in our sister churches overseas. I have no idea why that might be the case.
The mere idea of "personal health concerns" in regards to the Blood and Body of Christ is repugnant to the point of being heretical.
The mere idea of "personal health concerns" in regards to the Blood and Body of Christ is repugnant to the point of being heretical.
What would the heresy be?
I am going to use Thomistic language here, but the accidents of bread and wine remain even if the substance is changed, and so germs can still be transmitted by these accidents, and certainly by the spoon.
I'm sure others can find way to express it that makes more sense from an Eastern point of view.
To take another example, someone with severe celiac disease can have a reaction after receiving, even though it's not bread anymore, it's Our Lord.
"When done correctly, the spoon should not come in contact with your mouth, and thus there should be no personal health concerns."
That said, similarly to the experience of other posters, I have seen many faithful close their mouth when receiving in Divine Liturgies celebrated in our sister churches overseas. I have no idea why that might be the case.
The mere idea of "personal health concerns" in regards to the Blood and Body of Christ is repugnant to the point of being heretical.
I agree.
While I know it's none of my business, I've noticed an older couple in my parish that haven't taken communion in the five years I've been there. I'm thinking they must be afraid of "germs". Otherwise, what could have anyone done that was that bad to keep them from the eucharist for so long.
"When done correctly, the spoon should not come in contact with your mouth, and thus there should be no personal health concerns."
That said, similarly to the experience of other posters, I have seen many faithful close their mouth when receiving in Divine Liturgies celebrated in our sister churches overseas. I have no idea why that might be the case.
The mere idea of "personal health concerns" in regards to the Blood and Body of Christ is repugnant to the point of being heretical.
I can't necessarily say that I disagree, but I've heard it more than once ...
"When done correctly, the spoon should not come in contact with your mouth, and thus there should be no personal health concerns."
That said, similarly to the experience of other posters, I have seen many faithful close their mouth when receiving in Divine Liturgies celebrated in our sister churches overseas. I have no idea why that might be the case.
The mere idea of "personal health concerns" in regards to the Blood and Body of Christ is repugnant to the point of being heretical.
BTW - more often than not, the concern is expressed by guests, not our own faithful. And most often by Latin Catholics, as I have both heard directly and been told by some of our pastors. Not to disparage our Latin Catholic brothers and sisters, but it is interesting to think that some who are likely accustomed to first placing the Blessed Host in their own hand would think such of our Eastern practice.
Also, some context - I'm currently on Long Island, where only last year there was a well-publicized "scare", when over 100 parishioners of an RC parish in Nassau County were suspected of contracting Hepatitis A after receiving Holy Communion on Christmas Day 2010.
One only needs to do a simple Google search to find dozens of articles and even full websites devoted to the subject.
Also, some context - I'm currently on Long Island, where only last year there was a well-publicized "scare", when over 100 parishioners of an RC parish in Nassau County were suspected of contracting Hepatitis A after receiving Holy Communion on Christmas Day 2010.
One only needs to do a simple Google search to find dozens of articles and even full websites devoted to the subject.
I did google the incident. None of the several articles that I read states that more than 100 parishioners were suspected of contracting Hepatitis A. They stated that parishioners "may have been exposed to the virus", which was apparently a concern of Health Department officials, not necessarily the faithful. They urged the more than 1300 people attending Mass on Christmas Day to be vaccinated. Apparently, one person who had touched hosts on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day later was diagnosed with Hepatitis A. More fear mongering, if you ask me. At least one year, our local Latin Bishop gave directive that Communion was not to be given on the tongue during flu season. I don't think the current Bishop has continued that policy. I think it is so sad.
"When done correctly, the spoon should not come in contact with your mouth, and thus there should be no personal health concerns."
That said, similarly to the experience of other posters, I have seen many faithful close their mouth when receiving in Divine Liturgies celebrated in our sister churches overseas. I have no idea why that might be the case.
The mere idea of "personal health concerns" in regards to the Blood and Body of Christ is repugnant to the point of being heretical.
The concern is not with the Body and Blood of Christ but with the cup, spoon, or hand used to distribute. I myself don't worry about it but I understand those who do.
Hence both priests and prelates must employ some shift in time of a plague to enable them to administer communion to the sick without violating this Canon; not, however, by placing the Holy Bread in currants, but in some sacred vessel, so that the dying and the sick may take it thence with tongs or the like. The vessel and the tongs are to be placed in vinegar, and the vinegar is to be poured into a funnel, or in any other manner that they can that is safer and canonical.
What is the source of such controversial notions?
It is a footnote in the Rudder on Canon 28 of the 102 Canons of the 6th Ecumenical Council. The footnotes are the work of St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain.
The concern is not with the Body and Blood of Christ but with the cup, spoon, or hand used to distribute. I myself don't worry about it but I understand those who do.
Exactly. I remember the priest at a church we visited letting the spoon wack against the inside of my mouth, and feeling a bit odd about it. It certainly didn't ruin anything, and I probably exposed myself to more germs 10 other ways later in the day, but still.
If indeed the Rusyns and Ukies have developed a method of reception in America as distinct from the method of European counterparts, it's a little rich to blame any squeamishness on visiting Latins.
I know a Gk. Cath. priest here in N. America who detests the practice of closing lips around the spoon, so if someone does it, he always "clacks" the spoon against their teeth. Can't say I recommend his way of handling it...
I know this an old post, but my priest does this to me all the time! I don't know why, but I can never keep my mouth open, so I always close. He gets kind of flustered and clacks it against my teeth.
It is very troubling to see men and women refusing to drink from the chalice in the Roman / Latin Rite churches. They receive the Host yet walk right by the chalice. When asked, the usual answer is that it is unsanitary. How ridiculous So in other words Jesus Christ in the Real Presence is loaded with germs and bacteria?
There are more germs on pew books or hymnals than on the spoon or lip of the chalice. I always kiss the chalice after receiving from the spoon in the byzantine Churches I attend. Receiving on the tongue is unsanitary, not because of the body of Christ, but because the priest often touches the tongue with his hand when he does this in a Roman Catholic mass Unless you eat of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ and DRINK his blood you shall not have life everlasting.
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