(100% Serious Question) Can a demonized person receive / administer The Eucharist ?

Wow - and I'm struggling in the Catholic Church - but I have not seen the likes of this. Sounds more like a problem of un-saved people partaking in what they should not.

From what I’ve experienced, the overall demeanor of the congregation is set by the priest. I’ve watched at a local parish I’ve attended many times the priest giving instructions and calling people out when needed.

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:

It's a strange question I know.

It's weird and I won't get into the specifics. It's just got me wondering.

So, I ask you all is it possible for demonized and wicked people to receive and administer The Eucharist ?



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I don’t know why they wouldn’t be. Think of Judas Iscariot (an apostle), Arius (a priest), or Nestorius (the bishop of Constantinople)

I tend to not believe people are demonized. I know there are accounts in the bible. But I don't really believe it exists as much as it is believed to exist.

Do you need authority to conduct the bread and wine? That's debatable. I tend to think people give themselves authority. Probably God only gives very few real authority.

And to add - I haven’t seen anything like this before. I’ve heard that the way saints tested if someone was possessed is to see how they reacted if given holy water to drink, told to venerate an icon or relic, etc. and generally the possessed would not do such things, so it may be the same for the Eucharist

the sins of the person administering the Eucharist doesn't nullify the Eucharist.

That's an odd set of questions. I hope it's hypothetical.


I'm not going to say I have the answers, but I don't think I've ever heard anything in Orthodoxy about having the "authority" to make the Eucharist to be the Eucharist. Of course the Divine Liturgy is celebrated by priests, but it is the power of the Holy Spirit that changes the Eucharist. Both the people (at least one) and the priest are necessary.

I have my doubts if a possessed person (demonized? Are you meaning possessed?) would be able to say the words of the entire Liturgy.

And if someone RECEIVED the Eucharist ... well if it came to them as medicine, perhaps they could receive it. But if they receive it evilly with intent, that could be quite dangerous for them.

I remember reading about a vision or something someone described. They talked about watching while people received the Eucharist and saw angels present. Some received and benefited. Others were described as turning dark as they received. I can't remember where I read that. But it's an interesting thought and in line with Scripture as far as spiritual effect.

~Anastasia~ said:

I remember reading about a vision or something someone described. They talked about watching while people received the Eucharist and saw angels present. Some received and benefited. Others were described as turning dark as they received. I can't remember where I read that. But it's an interesting thought and in line with Scripture as far as spiritual effect.

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Interesting - that sounds super familiar to me too. I’m sure I just heard or read something with that story recently. But I can’t place my finger on what it would be...

AMM said:

Interesting - that sounds super familiar to me too. I’m sure I just heard or read something with that story recently. But I can’t place my finger on what it would be...

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Well if anyone recognizes it, I'd love to read it again. I know I've forgotten some details, and I'd also like to know WHO saw or said it, and remember what kind of vision or idea it was supposed to be. It has stuck with me so much but I really need to be sure of those details in that case.

Saint Paisios said that those possessed by demons cannot endure things that are holy. I very much doubt that someone demon possessed would be able to perform the liturgy, let alone administer the Eucharist.

AMM said:

I’ve heard that the way saints tested if someone was possessed is to see how they reacted if given holy water to drink, told to venerate an icon or relic, etc. and generally the possessed would not do such things, so it may be the same for the Eucharist

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prodromos said:

Saint Paisios said that those possessed by demons cannot endure things that are holy.

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Oh, definitely.

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:

So, I ask you all is it possible for demonized and wicked people to receive and administer The Eucharist ?

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English isn't my native language so, at least for me there is a difference between „wicked” and „demonized”, especially if the one which is demonized isn't too much to blame for this. For example he isn't protected (wrong baptism, lack of confession, holy communion etc.) and he is the target of a concentrated demonic attack (eg. black-magic).

Everything here boils down to confession: if the one which confess doesn't have sins which holds him from receiving Eucharist THEORETICALLY he can receive Eucharist but, in practice, discrimination of an experienced priest is advised.

We had a case in which a young pilgrim had a medical condition and the evil one exploited the weakness of his nervous system in order to do nasty things. Immediately when he received Eucharist, the things settled down and the demonic attack vanished away.

devin553344 said:

I tend to not believe people are demonized. I know there are accounts in the bible. But I don't really believe it exists as much as it is believed to exist.

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Yes, indeed there are a tendency of some to believe that there are much more cases. However, such cases definitely exist and some of them are not noticeable in day by day life.
The problem is much more complex because there are various grades of demonic influence (partial or total) and when and how it manifests.
You must remember that demons are intelligent beings, so the things aren't simple at all if someone is outside of the cloak of Grace.

What about heretics? I don't think the Pope of Rome will be able to administer the Eucharist

he doesn't, since he isn't in the Church.

David Neos said:

What about heretics? I don't think the Pope of Rome will be able to administer the Eucharist

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as Fr Matt said - the pope isn't in the Church

but heretics in the Church can administer the Eucharist. Their errors in faith and their sins do not negate the sacraments; the people who attended Liturgy when Arius or Nestorius were presiding still received Christ's body and blood

AMM said:

as Fr Matt said - the pope isn't in the Church

but heretics in the Church can administer the Eucharist. Their errors in faith and their sins do not negate the sacraments; the people who attended Liturgy when Arius or Nestorius were presiding still received Christ's body and blood

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Interesting.

David Neos said:

Interesting.

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Yep, look up the Donatism controversy