Is it rude for the Catholic Priest to tell you to put the bread in your mouth if you are walking away with it?

Question

I was first in line and then I noticed half of the congregation did this.

I was going to put it in my mouth while walking away with it. Half of the people ate it while walking and half ate if while stepping aside and facing the front of the church. I just feel he should tell the whole congregation to do this not just me.

Answer 1

I can't tell by your post if you're Catholic or not, so I'm going to answer this the long way. And if you already know this stuff, great. Maybe it can benefit someone else.

I hate to be the one to say this because it sounds mean... But if you are not Catholic you are not supposed to take the host to begin with. It's still okay to go up and get blessed though. People who cannot receive Communion are supposed to put their right hand over their heart. When they get up to the front of the line they are blessed by the priest. If you are not Catholic and do not want to go up you do not have to. Many people at my church choose not to go up.

Now as for putting the host in your mouth before you head back to your seat, yeah you're supposed to do that. Some Catholics have this habit of turning to head back to their seats and then putting the host in their mouth as they walk away. That's just the habit of many years of receiving Communion. They kind of speed through the process. But I'm guessing you looked like you were going to walk all the way back to the pew with it.

It is perfectly okay for the priest to tell you to put the host in your mouth. In the Catholic religion it is believed that once the bread is blessed it IS Jesus, not just a symbol of Him. So you're supposed to put it in your mouth right away so that you don't accidentally drop Christ. Now if he said it rudely that obviously isn't priestly behavior. But just telling you to put the host in your mouth.. no that's not rude at all.

I hope that this one incident hasn't affected your view of Catholicism negatively. All religions have their quirks, and individuals aren't nice 100% of the time no matter what their religion is. But I hope this explained things a little bit. :)

Answer 2

Do you mean the priest told you, specifically, or did he tell everybody? I'm not quite sure what you mean - half of the congregation did what - walk away with the host in their hand, or do you mean half of them put the bread into their mouths first?

Answer 3

I was brought up RC but am now Bhuddist. I can defend the priest actions because the RC church believes in "Transubstantiation". The "Bread & wine" actually become "The Body& Blood " of Christ. He was only making sure that you would not in anyway desecrate it. When I was going to the RC church, the priest put it on your tongue and you were forbidden to even touch it with your hands.

Answer 4

They had a few problems with people taking the host (bread) away and using it during satanic ceremonies. I could understand why they want to make sure it is eaten immediately. Years ago the preist would put it onto your tongue himself.

Answer 5

Catholic is all about man made tradition and very little to do with the bible.

So listen to man and put your bible hidden away!

A good catholic must never read the bible.

NOW Go pray to all the saints and mary and all those images and Idols and never ever questions the authority of the priest and never ever read your bible... That will make you a good Catholic.

Answer 6

what were you going to do save it for lunch ?

Answer 7

That's what u r supposed to do!

Answer 8

I hear it's rude to ask for a bigger glass of wine...

Answer 9

no!
you profane the symbolism if you do not partake of it.

Answer 10

no, that is what you are supposed to do with it.