COMMUNION BREAD

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22769, 22 July 1939, Page 20

COMMUNION BREAD

*0 THE EDITOR OT .THE PRESS. Sir, —Your correspondent agitates himself needlessly in this matter. During the ages of Faith* holiness and filth were by no means incompatible; indeed, amongst other disciplines strangely repulsive to our fastidious and unbelieving generation, the Rule of St. Benedict, that luminary of Holy Church, prescribes abstention from use of the bath as an important aid to salvation. Nor should we forget the example of that other Saint who accounted the pediculous inhabitants of her person as "Pearls of the Lord.” Abiding thus in the odour of sanctity, holy men scrupled not to dispense and to absorb their sacred elements. The dangerous implication of consecrated bread becoming susceptible to pollution gravely argues heretical pravity, if not propagation of apostasy which in the abstract (so reasons the Rev, R. Knox) constitutes a crime more deadly than murder.—Yours, etc., CREDO QUIA IMPOSSIBILE. July 19, 1939. TO TEE EDITOR 0E THE PRESS. Sir, —I was very pleased with "Hygiene’s” letter in “The Press” of last Saturday. Some months ago I brought the subject before a prominent official of the church to which I belong He agreed with me that the handling of the bread by the minister was objectionable, and said the offering of the bread on the plate for the communicant to take it himself or herself was much to be preferred. For the minister to pick up the bread is against all standards of present-day hygiene. I have heard communicants say they would like to ignore the minister’s hand when offering the bread in his fingers, and take it themselves from the plate. The question how the Sacrament should be administered could easily be settled by the officials of the churches concerned inquiring among the members, and acting according to their wish.—Yours, etc., HYGIENE NO, 2. July 19. 1939.