This doesn't seem right

[Cappadocious]

I don't think people in AA will tell alcoholics to be concerned about communion wine.

 

[Rurik]

I don't think people in AA will tell alcoholics to be concerned about communion wine.

I worked with one priest who was a recovering alcoholic of the AA variety. He would not partake of the wine in any circumstance and the instructions for the servers was to do all the purification.

 

[Sean611]

At the distribution of Communion in the small chapel, the priest went around with a minister. But when he came to me, I think he looked a bit perplexed on what he should do, he holds up the Host and says "The Body of Christ", shows it to me in front of my face, then puts it away. The whole thing seemed very ackward. Soon afterward the minister with the chalice followed behind him and seemed to walk past me until I gestured to bring the Chalice to me as I wanted to receive it. I left feeling grateful that I had received communion at all but upset that the whole thing was handled in what felt like a haphazard fashion. In some ways, I think I'd just prefer the Medieval practice of "Ocular Communion", where the laity don't actually receive the species at all, to what is going on.

The fact that this happened to you makes me disgusted as it represents a lack of good training and pastoral care on the part of the priest and Eucharistic minister. When I was training to become a Eucharistic minister, the manual that was used for training instructed that there are to be no interrogations or awkward questioning at the rail. It is not our job, at the rail, to interrogate someone on whether or not they have really been baptized or if they received the host or not. If a parishioner/visitor does not want to receive communion at all, they are to cross their arms and go to their seat after the priest's blessing. However, if they don't take the host and stay for the chalice, then it is only proper to offer the chalice to the communicant. Seems like standard stuff to me. Regardless of how often this happens or not is irrelevant, the priest and minister should always be prepared. Things like this happen all the time at my parish and we are quite small and have had no problems like this. It all goes back to good training and being prepared.

 

[FireDragon76]

Coca-Cola and potato chips would be pushing things in a direction I don't want to go...

 

[MKJ]

I remember the story of missionaries in the Amazon jungle who did communion with Coca-Cola and potato chips, because that was all they had. Just my opinion, but under the circumstances I think it was valid. The substances were wrong, but their hearts were right with God, doing the best they could with what they had.

But, hey, what do I know? I'm a former Pentecostal and still new to the apostolic/liturgical way of doing things.

Seriously, I do believe real wine is the proper/best thing to use. But there are people who aren't allowed to have it for medical reasons, or because they're recovering alcoholics afraid that it might cause a relapse. And also there are those with a personal conviction against consuming alcohol. I disagree with that, but I can respect it. I think in any of those circumstances it's best to settle for what you can have, rather than forgo it entirely. Possibly non-alcoholic wine might be an acceptable compromise? Though I've never had that and don't know if any of it is any good.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll pour myself a nice glass of cabernet.

What people might try and make work in an extreme situation is not quite the same as just choosing to use something different.

In any case, it is possible to get wine that has the same sort of alcohol content as juice, so it would make more sense to use that.

 

[ebia]

What people might try and make work in an extreme situation is not quite the same as just choosing to use something different. In any case, it is possible to get wine that has the same sort of alcohol content as juice, so it would make more sense to use that.

though it still raises questions about a common cup; not that the alcohol in wine is the biggest factor in its anti-bacterial properties, but still...

 

[PaladinValer]

I do know for a fact that a sisterhood in the Roman Catholic Church has developed ultra-low gluten wafers, which have a mere tiny fraction of the gluten of normal hosts.

Personally, I think we Anglicans should investigate it.

Otherwise, it is within dispensation limits to offer non-gluten hosts currently. Ask for them.

 

[FireDragon76]

I talked to the pastor privately and that went well, I think I am more at ease with receiving the Eucharist than I was. Gluten-free wafers are available also if I ask in advance.