www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy Close lips around eucharistic spoon?

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.

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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.

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.

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.

Fr. David

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.

Sorry, but anyone who thinks they could become ill by receiving the Holy Gifts is unworthy to receive them.

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 tend to agree. I finally quit my Latin parish when my bishop forbid any reception but in the hand during a flu outbreak.

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.