Body and Blood of Jesus Christ

spyridon · Post by **spyridon** » Sun 13 March 2005 3:42 pm

These are 2 questions.
1-were there any saints,elders,monastics,nuns,etc.that didnt participate
in the Body and Blood of Christ with the Church,for any reasons at all?I mean some of the cave dwellars or/and those living as hermits to the world,did they just prepare the holy mystery of communion themselves?

2- this is the body of both questions.Im allergic to Any type of Alcohol,and well im in a situation that well having newly changed rites(not a Convert)for my Generation from Mexico has always belived and participated as Orthodoxy,only we have always been Catholic,and never fully understood the changes of the roman church and all its authority,but needless to say still Catholic.(we have been forgotten from the begining of time by man,but God has always kept us together and our faith has Grown strong,we have much in common with the east as far as piety,and long-suffering,and most importantly Faith.) wow I got into a whole different topic,SORRY. again Im allergic to Alcohol,now what do I do,for I know that the Chalice really contain the Body and Blood of Christ,but what will my organs think,when the Alcohol enters and takes on its reaction and multiply....very confused......
pray for me not only a sinner but a walking child at the age of 34

Stepanov · Post by **Stepanov** » Sun 13 March 2005 11:31 pm

I think you should really ask a priest, Spyridon.

On the one hand, I believe the Lord would never allow His Holy Eucharist to harm anyone ( who receives it worthily, in faith).

On the other hand, I am not really qualified to give you a definitive answer.

May God guide and help you, brother.

joasia · Post by **joasia** » Mon 14 March 2005 9:15 pm

The Body and Blood of Christ is not bread and wine, when we take it. It's Christ's Body and Blood. This is where we should exercise our faith in God. Have full faith that It is His True Body and His True Blood. Otherwise, what's the point of having Holy Communion?

God created us and therefore offers to us what is meant for us to have. Do you think He would create something that would be detrimental to our health?

I once ate a year-old egg that was blessed for Pascha. My parents were shocked when they saw me do this, but I wanted to show them that the blessed egg was a true blessing of God and that I should have no fear in eating it, because I fully trusted God. I was perfectly fine, no adverse reactions. The egg was in the state of freshness as if it was cooked the day before.

The main point is that we have to live by the faith we confess, 100%, with no doubts. The saints are the living example of that.

Never waiver in faith, even for the littlest things.

Ephraem · Post by **Ephraem** » Tue 15 March 2005 2:25 pm

Best to ask your priest.

There was a very interesting discussion regarding alcohol in the sacrament at the Monachos forum last year. It was entitled "Alcoholism and the Eucharist" and was in their Praxis section.

Of particular interest was Fr. Averky's post (4/8/2004) regarding the "dry" preparation of the eucharist for special cases.

joasia · Post by **joasia** » Tue 15 March 2005 8:40 pm

Of particular interest was Fr. Averky's post (4/8/2004) regarding the "dry" preparation of the eucharist for special cases.

Does this mean that no wine is used?? Can you post this article? I'd really love to see this explanation.

Sabbas · Post by **Sabbas** » Thu 17 March 2005 12:23 pm

I agree entirely with joasia. I am reminded of when St.John of Shanghai and San Francisco was serving the Eucharist to a women in the hospital with rabies. The woman vomited up the sacred gifts and St.John immediately consumed them knowing the Lord's Body and Blood is not to be wasted even though rabies is very contagious. Of course nothing happened!

On the other hand remember that we give babies just a sip of the Eucharist without bread. It is the Communing that is of utmost importance. I will pray for you Spyridon.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » Fri 18 March 2005 3:50 pm

Sabbas wrote:
I agree entirely with joasia. I am reminded of when St.John of Shanghai and San Francisco was serving the Eucharist to a women in the hospital with rabies. The woman vomited up the sacred gifts and St.John immediately consumed them knowing the Lord's Body and Blood is not to be wasted even though rabies is very contagious. Of course nothing happened!

On the other hand remember that we give babies just a sip of the Eucharist without bread. It is the Communing that is of utmost importance. I will pray for you Spyridon.

That reference alone tells the story of a saint.
Not too many would have the stomach to do that. Most would wipe it up and burn the cloths.

Getting back to the OP.

I have allergies also to alcohol and to bread and I don't have any problems.

Just recently I have found out that my son and husband have celiac disease. They make sure that whenever they eat wheat products that they take alfalfa (liquid chlorophyll} which seems to counteract the effects of eating wheat. Alfalfa contains Vitamin K.

These are their symptoms of CELIAC DISEASE:

DECREASED PLATELET COUNT: Whenever they consumed wheat, oftentimes they suffered from nosebleeds. This situation was helped by taking liquid chlorophyll made from alfalfa.

DIARRHEA frequently occurred after eating wheat products especially pizza and spahgetti. Going to an Italian restaurant was delicous but devastating. When they took vitamin B3 (flush free niacin or regular niacin), it helped to relieve this symptom tremendously. Also taking a stress B vitamin (mega dose) with meals helped them.

FEVER

COLD OR FLU SYMPTOMS seemed to trigger a terrible relapse of celiac disease where they had to avoid anything containing gluten.

PERNICIOUS ANEMIA is often associated with celiac disease. Here the doctor prescribed B12 INJECTIONS.

Yours in Christ our God,
Maria

[correcting typos]