Sacred Host falling on the floor

St_Joseph_Cupertino · Aug 28, 2006

Hi guys!

During a weeknight Mass last week, I went up to receive out Lord and the host fell on the floor

I guess my tongue was not out far enough...

Anyway, the Priest just quickly bent, picked up the Host, put it in his hand, the one holding the seboreum(?) and proceeded with distributing our Lord to the attendants.
What is the correct procedure for this?
The Priest didn't come back to clean up on the spot where our Lord fell, so after the Mass was done, I went over to the (approximate) spot and knelt there and said a little prayer.

What is supposed to happen in such an event?

Thanks guys.

In Christ.

WordofGod · Aug 28, 2006

St_Joseph_Cupertino said:
Hi guys!

During a weeknight Mass last week, I went up to receive out Lord and the host fell on the floor

I guess my tongue was not out far enough...

Anyway, the Priest just quickly bent, picked up the Host, put it in his hand, the one holding the seboreum(?) and proceeded with distributing our Lord to the attendants.
What is the correct procedure for this?
The Priest didn't come back to clean up on the spot where our Lord fell, so after the Mass was done, I went over to the (approximate) spot and knelt there and said a little prayer.

What is supposed to happen in such an event?

Thanks guys.

In Christ.

You did good, treat the incident with reverence.

poppinskw · Aug 28, 2006

A couple of weeks back at a Sunday Mass, the youth were taking part in the Mass and they were also handing out the blessed Sacrament...

when they had finished the Priest came forward as he usually does to invite the children to come forward for a blessing, and he saw a host on the floor where one of the youth had been handing out, he just carried on walking forward picking it up on his way and quietly put it into his mouth then sat down so the children could come forward.

I never saw him do anything after that either.. I sort of had the feeling that everything was ok with that.

princess_ballet · Aug 28, 2006

When we were in 8th grade my friend was an alter server at a school mass. Afterward, she evidently knocked over the cup with all the extra hosts (for some reason mass wasn't in the church, it was in another building without a place for the cup) on the floor. She said that the priest freaked out about it and picked them up, but I don't think he wiped the floor up.

WordofGod · Aug 28, 2006

poppinskw said:
A couple of weeks back at a Sunday Mass, the youth were taking part in the Mass and they were also handing out the blessed Sacrament...

when they had finished the Priest came forward as he usually does to invite the children to come forward for a blessing, and he saw a host on the floor where one of the youth had been handing out, he just carried on walking forward picking it up on his way and quietly put it into his mouth then sat down so the children could come forward.

I never saw him do anything after that either.. I sort of had the feeling that everything was ok with that.

That is the customary practice of the faithful as the priest did. It is not the only way to deal with the incident but it is a preferred one of mine.

WordofGod · Aug 28, 2006

princess_ballet said:
When we were in 8th grade my friend was an alter server at a school mass. Afterward, she evidently knocked over the cup with all the extra hosts (for some reason mass wasn't in the church, it was in another building without a place for the cup) on the floor. She said that the priest freaked out about it and picked them up, but I don't think he wiped the floor up.

You see priests are human too, I feel for the little girl though, I hope the priest conforted her after over reacting.

princess_ballet · Aug 28, 2006

WordofGod said:
You see priests are human too, I feel for the little girl though, I hope the priest conforted her after over reacting.

Oh yes, I know they're human. I think she just quietly went back to class though.

epiclesis · Aug 28, 2006

I totally panic when something that happens...

a few weeks ago, I was serving Mass, and the servers and EMHC's were in line before the Agnus Dei, and Father was distributing the Eucharist to them.... he dropped one, and started to walk away, when he realized it.... it was right beside me, and he kind of started backing up to pick it up, but the way he was moving I thought he was going to step on it!

My first instinct made me bend down and pick it up, in fear he was going to step on it (as it was, his chasible was covering it).... oohh my poor stomach nerves! lol

Just thought I'd share my story.

WordofGod · Aug 28, 2006

Maybe this is a bad example but say I brought my 4 year old daughter an ice cream cone and she instantly triped and droped the whole thing in the garbage and proceeded to cry, I'm sorry daddy! Would I....

Scold her an tell her " How could you so foolishly waste my money like that?"

Or would I comfort her and buy her another and just suggest she be more careful?

What would our heavenly Father and Brother do?

I say he would do better than me.

Mysterium_Fidei · Aug 28, 2006

The priest shouldn't scold another for an accident, but should reverently consume the host and then clean the area. I think the corporal is usually placed over spot until the end of the Mass.

geocajun · Aug 28, 2006

I've had that happen twice to me.
The first time I was crushed by it, but like you, I did the right thing and stood perfectly still while the priest retreived the host. he asked me if I wanted it and I said "yes".
The second time I was receiving from Bishop Finn. The host fell, and I caught it in my hand. It made a rather loud slapping sound as it hit my hand and we both looked at eachother for a moment and I received from my hand and walked back to my pew.
After Mass Bishop Finn says "Nice catch!" and we laughed about it.

RoseofLima · Aug 28, 2006

If there are no particles on the floor, it is fine.

Ugh- I had a nightmare Mass, where I filled in as an EHMC (which I do NOT like to do...but will if there is absolutely no one else)...and we ran out of hosts. The priest and I had to keep breaking them in half and then in fourths THREE times Jesus fell on the floor (Once because a man dropped the host, and twice because of the breaking of the hosts) I just consumed Jesus revernently, looked to see if there were any particles on the floor, whispered a prayer, and went on offering Holy Communion.

WarriorAngel · Aug 28, 2006

Saturday I was with my child who was attending a server practice.

The priest explained that the chalice and everything is washed in a 'seperate' sink where everything is washed out unto the sand pile under the Church.

Even cloths with wine on it must be washed there.

So....IMHO, if I err on this I do not know.
But anything wiped up must be washed out in a 'special' sink that is lapped up by towels.

I believe they do this after Mass.

I am not certain and could ask.

EDIT to add; the priest is not to stop Mass for anything except if someone is dying.

princess_ballet · Aug 28, 2006

WarriorAngel said:
Saturday I was with my child who was attending a server practice.

The priest explained that the chalice and everything is washed in a 'seperate' sink where everything is washed out unto the sand pile under the Church.

Even cloths with wine on it must be washed there.

So....IMHO, if I err on this I do not know.
But anything wiped up must be washed out in a 'special' sink that is lapped up by towels.

I believe they do this after Mass.

I am not certain and could ask.

I remember after I was a server, we would wash all the "dishes" but we never had a special sink to do it in or anything. There was one on the side room and that is where the EMC wash their hands before they come out.

epiclesis · Aug 28, 2006

it's called a sacrarium

it's the "special sink"... it drains into the ground, because it would not be proper for the body and blood of Christ to just be drained into the sewer

all "dishes" from Mass are to be washed out in this sink.

PetertheRock · Aug 28, 2006

This is why I don't like recieving on the tounge. I know the Body can still fall in the hand but there is more of a chance of the Body falling when it is given out by mouth.

epiclesis · Aug 28, 2006

PetertheRock said:
This is why I don't like recieving on the tounge. I know the Body can still fall in the hand but there is more of a chance of the Body falling when it is given out by mouth.

my problem with receiving via hand is that Father usually places a sacred host from the large host he breaks into pieces before distributing the Eucharist, into my hand, and then I'm left with crumbs from it in my hand which forces me to lick them up in one way or another.

PetertheRock · Aug 28, 2006

Steph said:
my problem with receiving via hand is that Father usually places a sacred host from the large host he breaks into pieces before distributing the Eucharist, into my hand, and then I'm left with crumbs from it in my hand which forces me to lick them up in one way or another.

I have had the same thing happen to me too. The way to overcome the dropped host problem is to have the Altar server place the patten under mouth like they do at the TLM so that way if the Host does fall it won't fall to the floor.

lionroar0 · Aug 28, 2006

St_Joseph_Cupertino said:
Hi guys!

During a weeknight Mass last week, I went up to receive out Lord and the host fell on the floor

I guess my tongue was not out far enough...

Anyway, the Priest just quickly bent, picked up the Host, put it in his hand, the one holding the seboreum(?) and proceeded with distributing our Lord to the attendants.
What is the correct procedure for this?
The Priest didn't come back to clean up on the spot where our Lord fell, so after the Mass was done, I went over to the (approximate) spot and knelt there and said a little prayer.

What is supposed to happen in such an event?

Thanks guys.

In Christ.

The priest did the correct thing. When the Host falls on the floor. Usually the person whether it's a deacon, priest or EMC(sp?) they are supposed to pick it up and hold it with the hand holding the ceborium. Then they are either to consume it or put it in a container filled with water to dissolve, then after it's dissolved the water it supposed to be empied in the "special sink" or poured on the ground if there is no "special sink"

Peace

Sacred Host falling on the floor

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