Consuming the Eucharist

[Ash Wednesday]

Growing up, my mom told me when taking communion that it was more proper to let the host dissolve on the tongue rather than chew it -- often I swallow it when it has softened.

Was anyone else told not to chew it?

[zunshynn]

In Angela's Ashes Frank was told not to chew the host for his first communion. But his was a nutty Irish family...

I've always been confused about that though...

Cause you are supposed to consume the host immediately right? But how can you consume it immediately without chewing?

Edited November 23, 2005 by zunshynn

[Ash Wednesday]

That's an interesting question. Of course "immediately" doesn't have a specific time frame -- (I suppose the purest occurance of immediate would be having the host spontaneously disappear when you receive it in the mouth.) My guess is that "immediately" means not carrying it around or doing something else stupid like putting it in a pocket.

[Totus Tuus]

I have heard conflicting opinions, but I find for myself it is most respectful to allow the host to soften and then swallow it. I feel it would be kind of disrespectful to chew the Host, but I don't think it's wrong.

[jezic]

it dealt with the translation of the text.

I believe you should chew it. The word that Christ used (when he talked about eating his flesh) more literally means to chew. It relates to a passover lamb in the OT and the sacrificial lamb both were chewed.

In slightly less recent times, this was a doctrine held by many (the not chewing thing) but i think now we are supposed to.

Edited November 23, 2005 by jezic

[philothea]

I have tried both... and not-chewing doesn't seem to work for me. Nothing like a host stuck to the roof of the mouth to make one feel awkward.

Like Jezic said, the gospel does say "chew" (or "gnaw" or "munch" -- a word roughly that crude), and I can't see Our Lord thinking of chewing as being disrespectful. This whole becoming-bread thing was his crazy idea in the first place.

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

[quote name='jezic' date='Nov 22 2005, 10:03 PM']it dealt with the translation of the text.

I believe you should chew it. The word that Christ used (when he talked about eating his flesh) more literally means to chew. It relates to a passover lamb in the OT and the sacrificial lamb both were chewed.

In slightly less recent times, this was a doctrine held by many (the not chewing thing) but i think now we are supposed to.
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I think that there was a heresy at one time that said you cannot chew the sacred body of our Lord in the Host, because it was overtly scrupulously taken to literally cause him pain or something. That is why they started saying that Our Lord is Sacramentally present.

But, there are still some, who out of reverence who prefer to let the Sacred Host melt. I prefer to chew, because that is what Jesus meant there.

SHALOM

[Ash Wednesday]

Argh! So now I'm SUPPOSED to be chewing? I rather liked not chewing -- don't know why, I guess it makes me more mindful and quietly meditative.

I don't have a problem if someone is going to chew the host so long as their mouth is closed.

And for the record, when I mean to chew or not to chew, it's not a question of whether or not it's a sin -- it's a question of devotional practice.

[Paladin D]

I chew Christ, for I'm a chewer.

Man, that sounds so bad. Sorry God.

[philothea]

[quote name='Paladin D' date='Nov 22 2005, 11:33 PM']I chew Christ, for I'm a chewer. 

Man, that sounds so bad.  Sorry God.
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[phatcatholic]

i think the advice to not chew is rooted in a misunderstanding about the substantial presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. when we consume the Host, we effect only the accidents of bread and wine, NOT the substance of Jesus Christ. thus, there is no reason for us to view consumption of the Eucharist as a repulsive act, or one that does Jesus harm, or is disrespectful to him. plus, he commanded it, and like jezic pointed out, the greek word used for Jesus' command means to gnaw or chew.

[photosynthesis]

depending on the type of wafer... some dissolve quicker than others. If the wafer doesn't dissolve before I have to start cantoring for the communion hymn, I chew it. I just like recieving that way...but I never thought it should be universal.

[tojo]

I've always chewed because I always receive the cup and it seems much easier to me to have swallowed the Host before I drink the Precious Blood. I have wondered about this though, so I'm glad to see a discussion of it.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

Father Always chews on his Eucharist.

[zunshynn]

[quote]I have tried both... and not-chewing doesn't seem to work for me.  Nothing like a host stuck to the roof of the mouth to make one feel awkward. [/quote]

But what could be cooler to have stuck to the roof of your mouth?

[quote]I've always chewed because I always receive the cup and it seems much easier to me to have swallowed the Host before I drink the Precious Blood. I have wondered about this though, so I'm glad to see a discussion of it.[/quote]

When I go to a mass with both species I let the host sit on my tongue until I recieve the Precious Blood... it seems nice to have them together... Even though they already are.. i dunno.

[Proud2BCatholic139]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' date='Nov 22 2005, 09:38 PM']Growing up, my mom told me when taking communion that it was more proper to let the host dissolve on the tongue rather than chew it -- often I swallow it when it has softened.

Was anyone else told not to chew it?
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[/quote]

Yes, I have been told not to chew it. I let it sit on my tongue for a minute then I pray. It's amazing, Jesus, is in me!!! I think it is more reverent not to chew constantly because the Holy Euchrist, is on my tongue. However, depending on the size, try to chew as little as possible.

I hope I helped.

[Ash Wednesday]

Hey Proud, you can change your title. Maybe put "Not a chewer" under it. :

[Proud2BCatholic139]

Um...actually, I was going to put Saint in Training. How does that sound?

[Aloysius]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' date='Nov 23 2005, 12:21 AM']Argh! So now I'm SUPPOSED to be chewing? I rather liked not chewing -- don't know why, I guess it makes me more mindful and quietly meditative.

I don't have a problem if someone is going to chew the host so long as their mouth is closed.

And for the record, when I mean to chew or not to chew, it's not a question of whether or not it's a sin -- it's a question of devotional practice.
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you don't have to chew. while the word Christ used refers to chewing, gnawing, actually literally eating his flesh-- that should not be taken as a command to definitely chew on it, because the real meaning He meant was to actually consume. it's just the word he used to describe eating. just the same as if someone said "go run to the store"

I used to chew, now I don't. It really helps my faith in the Eucharist-- not chewing-- I feel more intimate with the host cradled on my tongue and then traveling into me.

chewing is fine, not chewing is fine.

[Aloysius]

[quote name='zunshynn' date='Nov 23 2005, 02:41 PM']But what could be cooler to have stuck to the roof of your mouth?   
When I go to a mass with both species I let the host sit on my tongue until I recieve the Precious Blood... it seems nice to have them together... Even though they already are.. i dunno.
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[/quote]
hmm... I wonder if that would be considered self-intiction... which would be a no-no