Accidents Happen: Was That a Flying Host?

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Father Joe

QUESTION

I have a question regarding proper treatment of the Host. I attended Easter vigil Mass this evening where a friend was being received into the Faith. My friend’s wife, who is not Catholic and goes to a non-denominational Christian church, was also there and I was cognizant during Mass of trying to make her not think anything incorrect about the Faith or of Mass in general. While receiving Holy Communion, I received in the hand and then placed the host in my mouth before turning to walk back to my pew. Given the crowd, once I got back and was edging into the pew past my friend’s wife, I said “that was a little confusing.” As I said that, I believe something small and white popped out of my mouth about three feet in front of me. I looked to see if any portion of Host was on the ground but I couldn’t see anything. I am heartsick that I mistreated the Host. I am planning on going to Confession about this. Did I commit a sin in my actions this evening?

RESPONSE

Please take note that the description of a church as “no-denominational” is false. It is a deception to make inquirers think that the faith community in question is somehow neutral or balanced between Catholic and Protestant. Such churches in truth are one of a great many varied Protestant churches that diverge or separate themselves from Catholicism.

We should all be diligent when taking Holy Communion but what you describe is not entirely under our control, as when someone coughs. If the particle is so small as to be hard to see then it is likely the motion of something that caught your eye. We should be careful about such matters but scrupulosity about the microscopic would only cause unnecessary anxiety. We do what we can to honor and to venerate the sacrament. Beyond that we must trust that the Lord can take care of himself.

Sins are deliberate, not accidental.