Receiving the Real Presence: Tube-Fed Catholic Consumes Christ in the Eucharist

[Michie]

‘Here we have a young man who worked for a whole year to receive the Eucharist!’ exclaimed Paul Gannucci’s pastor.

L to R: Paul Gannucci holds a statue of his confirmation saint, St. Pio. Rob and Annette Gannucci flank their son, Paul, in St. James Church in Duluth, Minnesota, on his First Communion Day. (photo: Courtesy of Annette Gannucci)

Every night for 11 months, Paul Gannucci prayed the Rosary with his family and then practiced receiving Holy Communion. He received the Eucharist for the first time on June 3, a few days before his 21st birthday. Unlike other first Communicants, the Host is the only solid food he has ever consumed.

Gannucci was born with Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects a person’s physical development and often includes heart defects. Because he was too weak to eat on his own as a baby, doctors inserted a feeding tube into Paul’s stomach when he was 3 months old. He underwent heart surgery at 6 months, and then received a heart transplant shortly after his first birthday.

Continued below.

Receiving the Real Presence: Catholic Man Unable to Eat Solid Food Consumes Eucharist

‘Here we have a young man who worked for a whole year to receive the Eucharist!’ exclaimed Paul Gannucci’s pastor.

www.ncregister.com

 

[AlexB23]

‘Here we have a young man who worked for a whole year to receive the Eucharist!’ exclaimed Paul Gannucci’s pastor.

L to R: Paul Gannucci holds a statue of his confirmation saint, St. Pio. Rob and Annette Gannucci flank their son, Paul, in St. James Church in Duluth, Minnesota, on his First Communion Day. (photo: Courtesy of Annette Gannucci)

Every night for 11 months, Paul Gannucci prayed the Rosary with his family and then practiced receiving Holy Communion. He received the Eucharist for the first time on June 3, a few days before his 21st birthday. Unlike other first Communicants, the Host is the only solid food he has ever consumed.

Gannucci was born with Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects a person’s physical development and often includes heart defects. Because he was too weak to eat on his own as a baby, doctors inserted a feeding tube into Paul’s stomach when he was 3 months old. He underwent heart surgery at 6 months, and then received a heart transplant shortly after his first birthday.

Continued below.

Receiving the Real Presence: Catholic Man Unable to Eat Solid Food Consumes Eucharist

‘Here we have a young man who worked for a whole year to receive the Eucharist!’ exclaimed Paul Gannucci’s pastor.

www.ncregister.com

This is a wholesome story. Glad that Paul can finally eat solid food, or at least the Eucharist. Does the Church have provisions for liquid Eucharists, for those who can not consume solid food?

 

[joymercy]

Yes, the Catholic Church teaches that the entire Christ is present in every drop of consecrated wine, so Catholics can receive the Real Presence in the wine only. The Church calls this the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist, and it refers to the belief that the bread and wine are transformed into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, while still appearing as bread and wine.

USCCB

 

[RileyG]

IIRC Terri Schiavo received the most precious blood through her feeding tube.

 

[AlexB23]

Awesome stuff guys, that liquid can be allowed to be used as a Eucharist.

 

[RileyG]

Awesome stuff guys, that liquid can be allowed to be used as a Eucharist.

The precious blood IS the Eucharist. 100%.

 

[AlexB23]

The precious blood IS the Eucharist. 100%.

Amen to that. It is good that the church uses wine (precious blood) as well.

 

[Lady Bug]

I didn't know this could be done. That is good.

 

[AlexB23]

I didn't know this could be done. That is good.

Agreed, this is very good. I am glad that the Catholic church accommodates to folks with disabilities.