We've been naughty

A few months ago, our church welcomed its new priest, an English fellow named Father John. He has been getting settled and has now begun to make some changes.

Today, right before the distribution of Holy Communion, he turned to the congregation and said, "When you receive Holy Communion, take the host and consume it immediately. Then, if you choose, you may drink the Holy Blood from the chalice. Now, I know that it has been the tradition in this Church to dip the host in the wine, but that practice is forbidden by the Vatican."

Oops. We've been doing it all wrong. Many of us were pretty sure of that, but we've kept our mouths shut.

I've checked around on the internet and if everyone handles drinking the wine correctly (wiping and turning the chalice after each use, using a high proof wine that kills germs quickly, using a gold or silver chalice that is inhospitable to germs), the chances of catching something when taking the wine is very small. You have a much greater chance of catching something shaking hands during the sign of peace. However, I still feel squeamish about drinking from the chalice, so I was happy to dip, but no more.

Row by row, people began getting in line to receive Communion. When my kids and I stood up and before the choir began singing again, I was overcome by a strong urge to sneeze. And so, there in front of the majority of congregants of a mostly silent church, I sneezed a loud, satisfying sneeze. And I felt dozens and dozens of sets of eyes alight on me and I could almost read the thoughts going through people's minds, "Oh, God. Please don't let her drink from the chalice. Please don't let her drink from the chalice."

No worries. I don't have any plans to take the wine, whether I'm sick or not.