topic Re: The flu & taking communion in Community Chat

The flu & taking communion

151949 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:09:26 GMT

Our church has stopped doing the peace (everyone goes around and shakes hands) because of the flu. I think they should stop doing communion until this epidemic passes. The past 2 weeks I have not gone up to communion - as many others also. My DH went up & drank from that communal cup both weeks. I told him if he gets the flu and gives it to me I will be very angry at him.

Re: The flu & taking communion

cherry — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:12:31 GMT

I don't receive under both species. I refuse the chalice and only consume the host...

Re: The flu & taking communion

missy1 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:14:44 GMT

Flu or not, I could not drink after others have. Why can't they use indviduals cups?

Re: The flu & taking communion

151949 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:14:57 GMT

I used to be on alter guild. Many people touch those hosts too.

Re: The flu & taking communion

cherry — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:17:01 GMT

Only the priest or an EM touches our hosts. We never put our hands in the container. They are laid in our palm

Re: The flu & taking communion

151949 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:17:20 GMT

wrote:
Flu or not, I could not drink after others have. Why can't they use indviduals cups?

The church I grew up in used the little cups but the church I belong to now uses a communal cup. The nurse in me doesn't actually drink from it - I dip the host - but a lot of people drank from it already so it probably doesn't matter.

Re: The flu & taking communion

gidgetgh — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:18:01 GMT

I literally just shuddered. I wouldn’t drink from a communal cup during flu season or in the middle of summer. No way. No way at all. Oh. My. Gosh.

Re: The flu & taking communion

Kachina624 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:18:37 GMT

I wouldn't drink from a communal cup anytime under any circumstances. That IMHO defies common sense. Yuck.

Re: The flu & taking communion

Bri36 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:19:09 GMT

I never drink from the chalice. I just can’t ever do that

I will shake hands but I make sure not to touch my face. I’m a big hand washer

Re: The flu & taking communion

FrostyBabe1 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:20:54 GMT

We don't drink from the cup in my church/denomination. We take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. The church I atteneded previously passed the bread and grape juice seperately, and the juice was in tiny little individual cups. The people that prepare communion wear gloves. Of course, it doesn't completely cut down on the transmission of germs, but it does help some.

Re: The flu & taking communion

smb3 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:25:11 GMT

Our church stopped the drinking of the wine from the chalice and peace (hand shaking), I don't think they would do mass without communion though. Maybe the priests should just hand it to the person, and no handing to the mouth for now. Only the priest handles the hosts at my church.

Re: The flu & taking communion

151949 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:22:32 GMT

@cherry Before they are placed out on the plate for the priest to bless them they are touched by the alter guild person who puts them out.They come in a big cardboard box -the alter guild person takes them from that box and places them on the plate then puts that plate out for communion. Any that aren't used are then placed back in the big cardboard box for use the next week.They have now been touched by at least one or two alter guild ladies plus the priest.When they get put out the next week it repeats again.

Re: The flu & taking communion

cherry — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:25:39 GMT

Our communion ritual is 2000 years old. All of the apostles received from the chalice Christ served to them, they didn't have separate cups

No one is obligated to drink from it ,if they would rather not

The priest consumes all of the leftover dregs of the precious blood, and he always seems to be in robust health

I love our faith, it is beautiful, and I wouldn't have it any other way

Re: The flu & taking communion

cherry — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:24:37 GMT

Ours is done differently and the left overs are not put into a box. They go into the tabernacle

Re: The flu & taking communion

sunshine45 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:28:58 GMT

@cherry

i always felt something special and spiritual after drinking out of the chalice. i would not get the same feeling drinking out of a plastic cup. i also preferred that the priest place the host directly on my tongue rather than handing it to me. i dont blame or condemn anyone who want to continue the ritual.

it is quite easy to skip taking communion if you think or are afraid you will become sick.

Re: The flu & taking communion

cherry — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:33:39 GMT

@sunshine45 I stopped drinking from the chalice years ago. I prefer to receive both species by intinction, which is dipping the host and placing it on the tongue

I never shake during the rite of peace either. I just wish them peace

Re: The flu & taking communion

lulu1 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:35:55 GMT

wrote:
I don't receive under both species. I refuse the chalice and only consume the host...

@cherry

Me, too. Never wanted to drink from the communal chalice.

Re: The flu & taking communion

GCR18 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:39:34 GMT

I would try to sit away from the crowd and pass on communion until the flu has died down.

Re: The flu & taking communion

Carmie — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:39:40 GMT

wrote:
Ours is done differently and the left overs are not put into a box. They go into the tabernacle

Once the host are “changed into the body of Christ” they are not put back into a cardboard box. I agree, they go into the tabernacle and are used to give communion to the sick when the priest or nuns visit. It is the same in every Catholic Church.

My DH is Christian orthodox. In his church, a loaf of round bread is placed in a linen napkin. The bread is then passed to everyone in the pews where they kiss this loaf and pass it to the next person. By the time it gets back to the priest to use for services, it must be full of germs from hands and lips. I NEVER do communion in his church.

They also line up to kiss a large book that Is placed near the altar, not sure if it is a bible or not. I stay in the pew.

I am not a germaphobe, but I get queazy just thinking about it.

Re: The flu & taking communion

proudlyfromNJ — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 18:40:19 GMT

I grew up Methodist. We had Communion the first Sunday of every month. We always had individual little cups.