Sarah Mitchell
The Consecrated Host is considered sacred in the Catholic faith, and the accidental dropping of the Host during Holy Communion is a serious matter. In the event of a fallen Host, the person who dropped it, preferably the priest or Eucharistic Minister, should retrieve it immediately, ensuring no visible particles remain on the floor. If there are visible particles, a linen cloth is placed over the area, and the Host is consumed by the priest or Eucharistic Minister. The area is then cleaned with water, which is poured into the sacrarium, a sink in the sacristy that empties into the ground.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What to do if a Host is dropped | The person, preferably the Priest or Eucharistic Minister, should retrieve it at once, ensuring no visible particles remain on the floor. |
| What to do if there are visible particles | Place a linen cloth over the area where the Host fell, then clean the area with water after Mass. |
| How to dispose of a Host | The priest, deacon, or Eucharistic minister must dissolve it in water until it no longer resembles bread, then dispose of it in the sacrarium or in the earth. |
| What to do if the Host is partially consumed | The host should be dissolved in water and poured into the sacrarium. |
| What to do if the Precious Blood is spilled | Wash the area with water and pour the water into the sacrarium. |
| How to prevent Hosts from falling | Priests and ministers must be alert during distribution, ensuring recipients consume the whole Host. Recipients should also be mindful, extending their tongues far enough or forming a proper throne with their hands. |
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What You'll Learn
- Pick up the host immediately, preferably by a priest or Eucharistic Minister
- If there are visible particles, place a linen cloth over the area
- Wash the area with water and pour it into the sacrarium
- If the host is partially consumed, it may be dissolved in water
- The dissolved host must be disposed of immediately in the sacrarium or earth
Pick up the host immediately, preferably by a priest or Eucharistic Minister
Picking up the Host immediately is of utmost importance when it comes to handling a fallen Host during Holy Communion. As the Host is considered the Body of Jesus Christ, it is only fitting that it be treated with the utmost reverence and respect.
Ideally, a priest or Eucharistic Minister should be the one to retrieve the Host, as they are trained to handle such situations with the reverence required. They should pick up the Host with great care, ensuring that no visible particles are left on the floor. If there are visible particles, a linen cloth should be placed over the area where the Host fell, and the particles should be carefully collected.
Once the Host and any visible particles have been collected, the priest or Eucharistic Minister may choose to consume the Host directly. This act of consuming the Sacred Host is a way to honour and respect the Body of Christ, even in the event of an accident. It is important to note that the consumption of the Host by the priest or Eucharistic Minister should be done with the utmost reverence and adoration.
Alternatively, if the priest or Eucharistic Minister prefers, they may isolate the Host and any visible particles and rinse them down the sacrarium after Communion. The sacrarium is a special sink in the sacristy that empties directly into the ground, not the sewer system. This method ensures that any remnants of the Host are disposed of in a respectful and sacred manner.
In some cases, if the Host has fallen on an unclean floor or has been partially consumed, it may be necessary to dissolve it in water. This process ensures that the Host no longer has the appearance of bread, and it is then disposed of in the sacrarium or in the earth. This method of disposal is particularly relevant when the Host cannot be consumed due to health or sanitation concerns.
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If there are visible particles, place a linen cloth over the area
If there are visible particles after a Host has been dropped, it is important to place a linen cloth over the area. This is done to ensure that the area where the Host fell is purified and that no particles are left on the floor. The linen cloth acts as a temporary marker, indicating that the area needs to be cleaned and purified after Mass.
The linen cloth, also known as a purificator, is used to show reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. By covering the area with the linen cloth, it sets the spot apart as sacred and respected. This is especially important when the Host falls on the floor during Communion, as it can be a shocking and upsetting experience for those present.
The use of the linen cloth also allows for the distribution of Communion to continue without interruption. The priest and altar servers can carefully step around the covered area, resuming the ceremony while still showing respect for the Blessed Sacrament. This balance between continuity and reverence is an important aspect of the ritual.
After Mass, the linen cloth is removed, and the area is cleaned with water. This water is then poured into the sacrarium, a special sink in the sacristy that empties directly into the ground and not into the sewer system. This act of purification ensures that the area where the Host fell is properly sanctified.
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Wash the area with water and pour it into the sacrarium
When a host or any particle of it falls, it should be picked up reverently. If the Precious Blood is spilled, the area must be washed with water, and this water should be poured into the sacrarium in the sacristy. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal 280 provides guidance on this.
The sacrarium is a special sink used for the reverent disposal of sacred substances. It is also called a piscina, which means "fish pool". The sacrarium has a cover, a basin, and a special pipe and drain that empty directly into the earth, rather than into the sewer system. The pipe may be made of lead, copper, or earthenware. The basin should have a lockable cover and be labelled to prevent it from being used for other purposes.
The water used to clean the area where the Precious Blood has been spilled should be poured into the sacrarium. The same applies to the water used to rinse purificators, corporals, or vessels. Baptismal water and old holy oils can also be poured into the sacrarium.
If a host has been dropped, it should be consumed by the priest(s) and deacon(s) either after Communion or after Mass. If the host is in a condition that renders it unhealthy to consume, it may be dissolved in water and poured down the sacrarium.
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If the host is partially consumed, it may be dissolved in water
If a partially consumed host has fallen from a communicant's mouth or has been unintentionally dropped, it can be dissolved in water. This is a special condition that requires the host to be dissolved to the point where it no longer resembles bread. The host may need to be broken into smaller pieces before being placed in water. It is important to wait for the host to be fully soaked in water, out of respect for what once contained the presence of Christ. Once the host is saturated, it should be disposed of immediately in the sacrarium or in the earth.
The process of dissolving a partially consumed host in water involves placing the host in a designated bowl and covering it with hot water. The bowl should be covered and left until the host has dissolved. After Mass, a priest, deacon, or sexton will pour the dissolved host down the sacrarium, flushing the drain with hot water. This method of disposal is common in senior care centers, where residents may have difficulty swallowing and may unintentionally eject the host after it has been administered.
In some cases, simply dissolving the host is not a legitimate option, especially when dealing with a large fragment of a broken host. In such cases, the host should be properly consumed by the minister or distributed to staff members who also receive Communion.
It is important to note that the host should be dissolved in water only when it has been dropped or partially consumed. If the host is intact and has fallen on the floor, it can be picked up reverently and consumed by the communicant or minister.
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The dissolved host must be disposed of immediately in the sacrarium or earth
If a host falls, it should be picked up immediately, both out of respect for the Lord and to prevent it from being trampled. If the host is still clean, it should be consumed directly by either the minister or the communicant.
However, if the host is soiled, it must be dissolved in water and disposed of in the sacrarium or in the earth. The host must be dissolved in water until it no longer resembles bread. This may require breaking the host into smaller pieces. Once the host is fully saturated, the water and dissolved host must be disposed of immediately.
The dissolved host should be poured into a sacrarium, a special sink with a drain that leads directly into the ground, not the sewer. If a sacrarium is not available, the liquid should be poured onto the ground in a location that will not be walked over, such as behind a flower bed or at the foot of a statue.
It is important to note that the disposal of the dissolved host must be handled with reverence and respect, as it once contained the presence of Christ. Under no circumstances should a host be buried or disposed of in a sewer or septic system.
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Frequently asked questions
If you accidentally drop the Host during Holy Communion, you should retrieve it at once, ensuring that no visible particles are left on the floor. If there are visible particles, place a linen cloth over the area where the Host fell, and clean the area with water after Mass. The water should then be poured down the sacrarium.
If you see someone else drop the Host, you should inform the priest or Eucharistic Minister at once so that they can retrieve it. If the Host has fallen from a communicant's mouth, it may be necessary to dissolve it in water before disposing of it in the sacrarium.
The sacrarium is a special sink in the sacristy that drains directly into the ground, rather than into the sewer system. It is used to dispose of sacred substances, such as water used to clean up spilled Hosts or Precious Blood.
