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Dropped Host procedure Dominick Sunday, January 15, 2006

Question:

Greetings-

In my parish I have witnessed extraordinary eucharistic ministers who have dropped the host during communion. To my surprise, with no reverence whatsoever, these ministers pick up the host and hold it under the ceborium. At the end of communion, they simply discreetly toss the host back into the ceborium.

When I was trained as an EUM at my former parish, we were taught to stop communion, kneel down in front of the dropped host, make the sign of the cross, and then consume the host. Not perfect by any means, and a far cry from the procedure I witneesed when young, but more adequate than simply tossing the host back into the vessel.

I feel that I should bring this issue up to the clergy and ask them to make corrections if necessary. To me, it seems like a total desecration of the body of Christ. And it upsets me greatly.

What is the proper procedure for recovering a dropped host?

Regards,
Dominick

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Dominick,

Yes the procedure you described is quite suitable for these unfortunate occaisions.  While I would never "wait till noone's looking" then toss the host back in, it is far better than the sinful alternative of leaving the host there until the end of Mass or simply discarding it into the trash.

I personally do not have an issue with consuming a host after it has touched the floor, that is after inspecting it for debris and if found reverently removing it while CAREFULLY ensuring that no particles of the host are lost.  I understand that some ministers may have a problem with this, if the do, they can reverantly reserve the host while immediately finding someone that can help them.

Mr. Slavek
Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.