So last Sunday, I was all suited up for varying purposes for the day, but the cool thing about being suited up is that it is the best I can wear to Mass. I might not suit up all the time for Mass, but when I do...I try to serve in some way.
I signed up to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the 11AM Mass I was attending. Mass was normal. The usual.
When it came to ministering the Body of Christ to the faithful...one of the greatest fears for any Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion occurred. To me. First time. Ever.
Jesus fell on the floor! :-( :"-( T_T
As an EMHC, you usually try to be adaptive to the various postures and gestures people have in orienting their hands/mouth to receive the Eucharist. But, bless her heart, this little girl came up to receive the Body. And I tried placing Him in her hand, but she, instead, tried to grab the Body from my fingers before I placed Him in her hands. And that's when Jesus fell on the floor...
So, our protocol is to pick Jesus up and place the Eucharist under the ciborium and to make note of the place where He fell and to guard it to prevent people from stepping on Jesus. No sooner had I picked up Jesus from the ground when an altar server immediately appeared behind me with a purificator and water for cleanup in front of Pew #1. It's like...he was watching and waiting for something like that to happen. Then boom. Like a Catholic ninja, he was there.
Shout out to the altar server! Definitely eased my mind knowing that the situation was rectified and taken care of in less than a minute. My freaking out only lasted a few seconds, haha. I know this probably occurs every so often to many an EMHC...but...the first time it happens to you has more of that shock value...But, thankfully, other servers have got my back!
Faith. Hope. Charity. And quick responses.
- JD
