It is interesting that you would post this now.
I had a conversation this weekend with a fellow Catholic woman regarding the Eucharist. We are both members of Catholic Daughters of the Americas and we were having a bake sale so we spent the whole day Sunday at church. Lots of time for conversation!
Allow me to offer a little background. I am a revert and when I returned to the Church I went to confession, received Communion and volunteered as a lector and EM. When filling out a form to also teach CCD, one of the questions was, “Are you married in the Church?” I wasn’t even sure what it meant and asked my priest. To my utter dismay, I learned that having been married by a Protestant minister, I was not to receive any Sacraments until my marriage was blessed by the Church.
Long story short, it was nearly 8 years before that happened and for 8 years I attended Mass without receiving.
Happily on Nov. 24th of last year, my husband and I, with our two children stood before my priest and were married.
I have resumed acting as a lector, EM and CCD teacher.
Back to the conversation....
I was saying what a joy it was to be the one who brought Communion to the handicapped and elderly in the church who could not get to the altar.
My friend said that she could never do that. I asked her why and she told me that she had never touched a consecrated Host. Though it is common practice now, she had never received the Eucharist in the hand and could never imagine helping to distribute Jesus at Mass. She felt herself to be unworthy to do so.
I wonder how many others think the same way. I thought about it later and thought that it was kind of sad that she thought that way.
Jesus was human. We know that people touched Him during his life and after His death. St. Thomas even placed his hands in the Holy Wounds of Jesus.
I had thought about starting a caucus thread about it, but now, God in His goodness has given me the opportunity to ask the question of my fellow Catholics here.
How many deny the Church their service in this way because of feeling they too are not worthy?
Great question.
Not being contentious, but this came to mind: “Lord I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the Word and I ahall be healed.”
Wonderful testimony! Thanks so much!