The Elements

[Plutoniua]

Cold medicine can have you thinking some pretty strange things. I looked up the history of Grape Juice and I have to admit that I was wrong. Grape juice is made by pasteurizing the grapes and killing the yeast in the juice which causes fermentation. Had nothing to do with refrigeration. Welch developed it in 1869 and his son started the Grape Juice company 24 years later.

You know, some people still believe that Jesus turned water into grape juice and that the Last Supper Jesus and the disciples drank grape juice and not wine.
It usually originates from those who think alcohol is the drink of the devil.

 

[DaRev]

You know, some people still believe that Jesus turned water into grape juice.

That just proves that they haven't read all of John 2.

 

[jcj3803]

Who'd a thunk it?

Ok, seriously, I have a question. IF we must use unleavened bread, doesn't that rule out the wafers? Are they actually unleavened wheat bread? They seem more like little rice cakes to me or those translucent Japanese rice noodles. I'd think matzos should be used instead.

Not trying to stir the pot, I'm truly curious.

 

[DaRev]

Who'd a thunk it?

Ok, seriously, I have a question. IF we must use unleavened bread, doesn't that rule out the wafers? Are they actually unleavened wheat bread?

Yes, they are.

 

[synger]

Whenever I think of the various ways people look at the elements, I am reminded of a scene in the book Angela's Ashes. The grandmother is devout Catholic, and they venerate the elements. The boy has just had his first confession and first communion, and he is ill. He ends up vomiting in the back yard, and his grandmother gets all upset, sure that there must be a special way to clean it up, since it is God's body. When the priest says to clean it with water, she asks if she should use holy water.

I think it was the first time I'd really begun to understand how seriously some Catholics take the elements.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Whenever I think of the various ways people look at the elements, I am reminded of a scene in the book Angela's Ashes. The grandmother is devout Catholic, and they venerate the elements. The boy has just had his first confession and first communion, and he is ill. He ends up vomiting in the back yard, and his grandmother gets all upset, sure that there must be a special way to clean it up, since it is God's body. When the priest says to clean it with water, she asks if she should use holy water.

I think it was the first time I'd really begun to understand how seriously some Catholics take the elements.

Serious they are... This is a true story.

About 35 or 40 years ago St. Columban RC Church was in the process of doing some post Vatican II renovations. The Altar had been removed, and a temporary Tabernacle made of pine had been set up until the new one arrived. A poor starving "Church mouse" chewed a hole in the back of it and consumed some of the consecrated host. Since the mouse had consumed Christ's body it was decided that killing it would be out of the question. The Priest eventually caught the "Sanctified rodent" and kept it as a pet for some time. It eventually died, and was buried in consecrated ground in the parish cemetery. (I probably shouldn't laugh).

 

[LutheranHawkeye]

About 35 or 40 years ago St. Columban RC Church was in the process of doing some post Vatican II renovations. The Altar had been removed, and a temporary Tabernacle made of pine had been set up until the new one arrived. A poor starving "Church mouse" chewed a hole in the back of it and consumed some of the consecrated host. Since the mouse had consumed Christ's body it was decided that killing it would be out of the question. The Priest eventually caught the "Sanctified rodent" and kept it as a pet for some time. It eventually died, and was buried in consecrated ground in the parish cemetery. (I probably shouldn't laugh).

I laughed too, but aren't we supposed to view the Elements sort of like this too?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I laughed too, but aren't we supposed to view the Elements sort of like this too?

Maybe not as much.

I mean...and I don't want to be gross, but...

We take communion, right? Then we go potty. We still flush the toilet, right? Get the idea?

Yes we take the elements seriously, but not so seriously that we end up sounding ridiculous. Up on the communion rail at my old church, my pastor likes to point out all the little spots where people have spilled their wine over the years. Come to think of it, I don't know why a good carpet cleaning doesn't take care of that, actually. But he uses it as an illustration in catechism class.

And, for the rat, I don't care if it did eat of the Host. I would've still smooshed it with a frying pan.