The inevitable consequences of Communion in the hand

A case from Germany. Original German article

Scuffle in a Church
“In order to protect the Host, if necessary, I would give my life.”

The visitor to a Mass in Wiesbaden did not eat the consecrated Host but put it into his pocket. After a physical scuffle in Church to which the priest was called to help, the visitor went immediately to the police and accused the priest of intimidation and grievous bodily harm. The Church visitor was accused in return of disrupting a religious service and attempted bodily harm, lawyer Hartmut Ferse.


The faithful noticed the theft of the Host

This incident took place on Wednesday at a service in the Catholic Church of St Boniface. Witnesses reported that some other faithful asked the priest in attendance the City Deacon, Johannes zu Eltz to intervene to prevent the theft of the Host. The priest tried to stop the man taking the Host with him and he held him by the arm, in the way that police are trained to do.

The Priest, “In order to protect the Host, if necessary, I would give my life.”

The Host is has a high value. It is the holiest for us Catholics. We pray to God in the form of a Host. In order to protect the Host, if necessary, I would give my life.”

Bruises and a swollen joint
The priest tried to apologise after the incident for his rather “emotional” reaction, according to the Legal officer of the Limburg Diocese, the man in question who has no specific denomination did not accept it. According to his own statement, the man had bruises and a swollen joint.

Comments

Anita Moore said…
The pastor of our Cathedral parish has addressed us a couple of times about finding Hosts on the floor, smashed between the pages of missalettes, and in garbage cans. It's true that if you're determined to commit a sacrilege with a Host, you could do it even after receiving it on the tongue; but receiving it on the hand makes it that much easier. So why SHOULD we make it that much easier?

I think that, in addition to Communion on the hand, the following also contribute to the lack of reverence for the Host:

1. Removal of the tabernacle from its rightful place in the center of the sanctuary.

2. Removal of the Communion rails, so that people are obliged to receive Communion standing instead of kneeling.

3. Constant access to the inside of the tabernacle by EMHCs, who travel back and forth between the tabernacle and the altar as though they are setting the table.

4. Priests, deacons and EMHCs who delve into the ciborium as though they are diving into a bowl of potato chips.

5. Priests who act as though they themselves don't believe in the Real Presence.

This is a great blog, by the way; I've added you to my list of Allies for Victory.
J Scott Bailey said…
I heartily echo this holy priest's sentiments. Would that all we priests would not only echo his words but live them. "Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friend." If "Gesu Sacramentato" is not our friend, who is?

As for the man who stole the Host, bruises and a swollen joint are nothing compared to what he will suffer for his sacrilege.

Rev. J. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.