Christians: can you answer a question about communion during COVID19?

Our local parishes are closed, although they streamed the Easter service. The Bishop has granted a dispensation from meeting the Easter obligation (Catholics are supposed to participate in communion at least once during the Easter Season.)

Communion is part of the Mass, but can be given outside of Mass. My 96 year old mother lives in a Board and Care facility, and a Eucharistic minister comes by once a week and gives her communion. But they have not been by since early March, and not expected anytime soon. My mother told me over the phone she really misses it.

During the H1N1 episode ten years ago, everyone handing out communion would purelll their hands before handing out communion. They would place the host into the hands of the recipient. I am not sure what parishes will do when they reopen.

People are stupid beyond belief.

Some may mean the body and blood communion but others simply mean communion with other believers, which is biblical.

@zenvelo So, you mean the actual wafer, as opposed to what @KNOWITALL mentions that it could mean being with others.

Regarding the wafer, I know a girlfriend of mine used to help give communion at her church, I always assumed that meant she was giving out the wafers, so I guess that doesn’t need to be done by a Priest, is that right? Additionally, if it’s done at the long term living facility it doesn’t have to be done in a church. Can people just buy the wafers and take one while they watch mass on TV from their homes? What’s the obligation regarding being in church or who administers it?

No, you can’t “just buy the wafer”. Holy Communion is a sacrament, a holy event. It is a representation of the Last Supper, and is a matter of a “shared” meal. When a Eucharistic Minister gives it to someone who cannot make it to church, they are performing an act of reassuring the person that they are still a part of the Church as a whole; they are still included. The wafers (we call them hosts) are consecrated by a Priest before being given out.

@KNOWITALL is speaking with regard to non Catholic denominations, in which being together is a matter of being in communion with the church.

When my parents lived in Saudi Arabia on the late 70s/ear;y 80s, my faither smuggled consecrated hosts to give out to Catholics on his staff.

The reception of communion is kind of like saluting a flag. It’s a symbol of allegiance to the Catholic faith. Their need for communion is them wanting to express their faith. It’s also a sin to not receive communion every Sunday, but the Church is excusing this given the circumstances. My parents’ church have been streaming masses every weekend but they haven’t been receiving the Eucharist, and neither have any of the other parishioners.

You have to have the title of Eucharistic Minister to give communion to others. The title means there’s some process you have to go through.

@zenvelo I think of communion as the wafer too, but I was raised around mostly Catholics, but I don’t think the people holding up the signs and making such a stink in the bible belt states are likely Catholics. My Catholic friends are already going back into their churches though now that the churches are opening. I think the Pope has led the way for Catholics to be obedient to the suggestions of the health officials more than some of the Protestant religions, but I see a little bit of every reaction in all the different sects. Also, obviously, there are people making a stink in midwestern states too, even north of the bible belt, so I don’t meant to necessarily pick on those states, but I just doubt the majority of the people in the crowds that also carry guns and confederate flags are Catholic. There might be some in there though, I realize my assumptions could be wrong.

@dxs So, a way to make sure you keep coming into the church.

@JLeslie The people here in my area are upset because Walmart, Home Depot, liquor stores and abortion clinics are all open but they are being ticketed for even being in a church parking lot in their cars.

We call getting together ‘fellowship’ not communion, but I’ve heard both used.

Matthew 18:20 ESV
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

@dxs That isn’t accurate. it is not a sign of allegiance, it is a ritual of inclusion in a community. It is not a sin to not receive communion on a Sunday.

@zenvelo I was taught (in Catechism) that it’s only a sin if you haven’t confessed or said an Act of Contrition. And I was told that you should take Communion at every mass if possible.

The reason was to acknowledge the sacrifice of Jesus until his return.

I don’t honestly know any Catholics that call it anything other than the Eucharist.

Most Baptists I know say ‘fellowship’ and ‘communion’ (grape juice and wafers) is only offered at Easter or some churches do it once a month, like a night service.
Fun fact: Wine is not offered in ANY Baptist churches in my area.

They never gave me NEAR enough grape juice in communion!

@Dutchess_lll haha, same! My mom used to clean the church, etc… and I always got to finish the extra cups poured but not used.

@KNOWITALL I see people on my Facebook upset they can shop at stores, but not go to church. I personally think a parking lot confession is fine. I saw a Priest was doing that. Probably, a service in a parking lot should be fine too.

In my state the governor never closed churches, but the distancing orders were in place and he STILL continues to warn that congregating in large groups inside is higher risk behavior, but he at the same time stated if he can be in a room with the press distanced why not in church. The thing is a lot more people are usually crowded into a church than the ten to twenty people from the press core that follow him. I do understand that for some people church is like food, food for the soul, and also gives them a sense of control.

Any churches that were closed in my state were done by local authorities or by the clergy themselves (which the governor supported). That’s kind of how DiSantis gets around it all with his evangelicals here in my state.

I think what people aren’t understanding is each exposure is another exposure. You need to buy food, that’s one, then you go to church, that’s another. Moreover, church is near someone for a prolonged period. If you get a few stray droplets on your mouth from the cashier your system might fight it off, but if you have someone breathing or talking to you for 20 minutes straight, more risk. If you have someone singing behind you for 20 minutes, much higher risk. If you are in a place long enough that you need to use the bathroom, more risk.

To me, the worst thing I see among a subgroup of evangelicals is a total dismissal of any risk or any care of bringing risk to others. I find that very disappointing. They are being influenced by groups that are not their own, the influencers are not good Christians, possibly not Christian at all, but rather people using Christians as pawns. It’s just a subgroup like I said, I don’t know how large, who are buying into every conspiracy theory being thrown at them. Some of the ultra religious Jewish groups have taken risks congregating that are also a problem, but I don’t know if they are living in as much fear as I see some of my Christian friends. The counter to the fear seems to be taking big risks. It’s unfortunate.

I know many Christians feel for years the central government is trying to remove Christianity from the country, so they are hypersensitive to churches being closed, but it wasn’t that Christian churches were closed, it was all religious services in those places where places of worship were closed.

@JLeslie Ahaha of course.

@zenvelo Regarding your first comment, that’s simply a difference of perspectives. As for the second, any good Catholic knows not to skip Mass on Sunday, no questions about it.

Any good Catholic worth his/her salt knows that, to remain a Catholic in good standing, he/she has to go to church at least once a year during Lent, if memory serves me correctly. (And if memory doesn’t serve me correctly, then at least once a year, whenever it is.)

@kritiper Lol and still not go to confession that one time!

<not Catholic

There are individual wafer and communion cups available online. They could be handed out by gloved hands onto the hoods of cars if need be. It’s not that hard.