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Receiving Multiple Hosts

Question:

Can a person consume more than one host at a time?

Answer:

Generally speaking, there is no need for this. Receiving more than one host at a time would seem to imply that receiving a single host is not enough and thus would encourage heresy regarding the Eucharist.

However, there are limited circumstances where it is appropriate:

  • If some hosts fall upon the floor, it would be appropriate to consume the hosts that fell.
  • If Mass is said in a location with no tabernacle, then all the unconsumed hosts would need to be consumed.
  • If a minister of communion to the sick had leftover hosts with no reasonable way to return them to the tabernacle, the minister of communion could reverently consume the leftover hosts.
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