communion question

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I'm not saying that it is positively going to happen but I think it is a possibility and I don't like taking chances. It's like playing Russian roulette.

The Bible says that only those who partake in an unworthy manner are at physical and spiritual risk; for the faithful only goodness and blessings come from the Eucharist.

 

[GracetotheHumble]

The Bible says that only those who partake in an unworthy manner are at physical and spiritual risk; for the faithful only goodness and blessings come from the Eucharist.

So are you saying that people can't get sick from germs?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

We use the individual cups, although I wish we offered a chalice as well.

But I do disagree that using the individual cups is not scriptural, unless you're then willing to say that the wine you use is not scriptural nor is the bread you use scriptural. The important part about communion isn't the device it's served in, but that it is the body and blood of Christ.

 

[Arcangl86]

We use the individual cups, although I wish we offered a chalice as well.

But I do disagree that using the individual cups is not scriptural, unless you're then willing to say that the wine you use is not scriptural nor is the bread you use scriptural. The important part about communion isn't the device it's served in, but that it is the body and blood of Christ.

Scripture talks a lot about one cup though.

 

[Athanasias]

The Bible says that only those who partake in an unworthy manner are at physical and spiritual risk; for the faithful only goodness and blessings come from the Eucharist.

Amen! Amen Mark!

In a similar fashion, a priest friend of mine would sometimes find consecrated host laying in places like the bathroom floor after Mass. This seems to happens often with some non-Catholics who come to Mass and who go up but have no idea what to do with the host once they get it so they discard it after its placed in their hands. The priest cannot throw away the host because it is Jesus himself so he must either receive it or dissolve it. With the precious blood if spilled or left over it cannot be thrown away or even rinsed down a regular drain that would go to the sewer because Its Jesus. I ask him about this once and he said "I just receive it, Jesus is not going to hurt me". And He has been a priest for over 35 years and no serious illness yet.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

So are you saying that people can't get sick from germs?

A Pastor I knew had a Master's degree in Science. He had to do a paper for one of his classes in Sem. That paper was titled "Aids and the Common Cup" I believe. As with all good science, he had a lot of other related background information on other disease. It's been about 30 years, but as I recall, there was no statistical difference in the incidence of any disease among sample groups that used a common cup and those that either did not, or belonged to Churches that did not have communion of any kind; including Aids, Common Cold, Influenza; various types of Hep, etc.

I used the common cup before I read that; it affirmed my experience and I continue to use it to this day.

If I did not have faith in Christ and His promises, I would use the individual cup and play it safe. Since I have faith; I AM safe in the arms of my Lord!

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Amen! Amen Mark!

In a similar fashion, a priest friend of mine would sometimes find consecrated host laying in places like the bathroom floor after Mass. This seems to happens often with some non-Catholics who come to Mass and who go up but have no idea what to do with the host once they get it so they discard it after its placed in their hands. The priest cannot throw away the host because it is Jesus himself so he must either receive it or dissolve it. With the precious blood if spilled or left over it cannot be thrown away or even rinsed down a regular drain that would go to the sewer because Its Jesus. I ask him about this once and he said "I just receive it, Jesus is not going to hurt me". And He has been a priest for over 35 years and no serious illness yet.

That is faith!

 

[GracetotheHumble]

If I did not have faith in Christ and His promises, I would use the individual cup and play it safe. Since I have faith; I AM safe in the arms of my Lord!

So you are saying those who use the individual cups lack faith...got it...

Well I'd rather be safe then sorry. I am going to continue using the individual cups.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

So you are saying those who use the individual cups lack faith...got it...

Well I'd rather be safe then sorry. I am going to continue using the individual cups.

No, I stated why I use the Chalice and why I see no point in using the individual cups. None.

 

[Tangible]

Pr. Wolfmeuller says that the purpose of rotating the chalice during distribution is so that the germs will get dizzy, fall down into the wine and drown.

LOL.

 

[Taom Ben Robert]

I prefer a chalice ( hope I spelled that right)

 

[seekingsolace]

No, I stated why I use the Chalice and why I see no point in using the individual cups. None.

What if some old ladies false teeth fell in?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Scripture talks a lot about one cup though.

Because that's how they did things back then. Just like the wine back then was totally different than the wine we use now. Just like the bread was made differently than it is now.

What if some old ladies false teeth fell in?

That has actually happened.

Maybe if we suck down some germs we'll be dead and we won't have to worry about taking communion any longer.

I have faith in my Lord and Savior, but I still look both ways before I cross the street.

I did read somewhere that all the germ tests done on chalices were done on ones that were silver or gold. I don't know of a lot of churches who have pure gold or pure silver chalices. They're quite expensive.

I personally don't fear germs from the chalice, although there was a time where I was pretty sure I caught strep after a church service - I just don't know if that would've come from the common cup or any of the people sitting around me. I also know that if there's both being offered and I am not feeling well, I will take an individual cup out of courtesy.

 

[Athanasias]

Because that's how they did things back then. Just like the wine back then was totally different than the wine we use now. Just like the bread was made differently than it is now.



That has actually happened.



I have faith in my Lord and Savior, but I still look both ways before I cross the street.

I did read somewhere that all the germ tests done on chalices were done on ones that were silver or gold. I don't know of a lot of churches who have pure gold or pure silver chalices. They're quite expensive.

I personally don't fear germs from the chalice, although there was a time where I was pretty sure I caught strep after a church service - I just don't know if that would've come from the common cup or any of the people sitting around me. I also know that if there's both being offered and I am not feeling well, I will take an individual cup out of courtesy.

I can't speak for all Lutheran Churches but I work for a religious store that does chalices. Most chalices are not pure gold or silver that would be way too expensive and pure gold is way too soft. however most chalices that we do and we do alot of Lutheran and Catholic chalices in St. louis, most of them are brass chalices that are plated with gold and silver. So the test done to them will come from those types of chalices. Some of the metals have properties that help with the prevention of certain things. Anyway these chalices are dipped into a liquid metal(Gold 24 kt or silver or both) and lazered on them. Now if the chalice is glass(which would be horrible) then that is different.

 

[GracetotheHumble]

I have faith in my Lord and Savior, but I still look both ways before I cross the street.

I did read somewhere that all the germ tests done on chalices were done on ones that were silver or gold. I don't know of a lot of churches who have pure gold or pure silver chalices. They're quite expensive.

I personally don't fear germs from the chalice, although there was a time where I was pretty sure I caught strep after a church service - I just don't know if that would've come from the common cup or any of the people sitting around me. I also know that if there's both being offered and I am not feeling well, I will take an individual cup out of courtesy.

That's nice of you to take the individual cup when you are ill but do you always know right away when you are contagious?

 

[Albion]

I personally don't fear germs from the chalice, although there was a time where I was pretty sure I caught strep after a church service - I just don't know if that would've come from the common cup or any of the people sitting around me. I also know that if there's both being offered and I am not feeling well, I will take an individual cup out of courtesy.

I used to feel this way, too. I'd heard and trusted all the explanations--the pastor would be sick all the time (if he consumes the unused but consecrated wine as is the rule in my church) if contagion were a problem...or God wouldn't allow it...or the alcohol kills the germs. BUT recent studies (already commented on here on CF) confirm that the common chalice is swimming in germs.

Anyway, I had a perfect 'test case' recently. A woman in my pew was coughing almost uncontrollably, spitting sputum into a handkerchief, sounding like her lungs were very deeply congested, so much so that she could hardly clear her throat despite trying. "She won't go to the communion rail," I thought. No, I was wrong.

And she was positioned at it only one person ahead of me as the pastor moved down the line with the chalice. Sure enough, a couple of days later I came down with all the same symptoms she had and was sick, sick, sick for a week or more.

I'm now seeing individual cups in a different light! By the way, some Lutheran churches have a pouring spout on the side of the chalice and the pastor fills each person's own little cup as he goes along. Have you seen that done? It strikes me as a pretty good compromise.

 

[MNKeith]

Do some of you refuse to shake hands during the "sharing of the peace"?

Just as many germs there.

 

[Albion]

Do some of you refuse to shake hands during the "sharing of the peace"?

Just as many germs there.

What he said.

 

[GracetotheHumble]

You double dipped the chip....that's like putting your whole mouth in the dip.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Do some of you refuse to shake hands during the "sharing of the peace"?

Just as many germs there.

When I am sick or my husband is sick, we don't do the grip and greet after the service. And not all churches shake hands during "sharing of the peace". We just tell everyone to greet each other before they are dismissed.