As the weather begins to turn from summer to winter here in the Coastal Bend, the prospects of suffering from the flu or a cold increase. Here is a reminder of some Sunday Eucharist Best Behaviors that will diminish the risk of “the great spread.”
The Sign of Peace is a wonderful moment of solidarity with others in the community. A wave and a smile do just fine if you are suffering from the flu or a cold.
Receiving the Blessed Sacrament at Eucharist is a treasure not to be missed if you are not feeling well. By all means, come forward. It would be best and preferred to receive the Blessed Sacrament by extending your hands. This eliminates the possibility of the Eucharistic Minister or Clergy being “licked” and germs being passed on to the next communicant. The motto for flu and cold season: “Open your hands for Christ”
Receiving the Precious Blood from the Chalice is always an option. If you are suffering from the flu or a cold or are under the weather, it would be best to simply pass on the Precious Blood.
The practice of Intinction or dipping the host in the chalice by the communicant is not an approved practice in the Archdiocese. When and where it is approved, only the priest or deacon dips the host and offers it to the communicant. The communicant is never allowed to dip the host in the chalice. This comes from the Archdiocese and is the directive of the Cardinal himself. Don’t do it. And please, do not try to sneak this one in. Our Eucharistic Ministers are trained to cover the chalice, step back a step and wait until you move on.
The last thing we want is a little bit of the flu or a cold to keep us from Sunday Eucharist but we do want to be mindful of the community around us.