This doesn’t happen often, but Fr. Simon was almost stumped!

He received a tricky question from Diane: If a consecrated host becomes rancid or moldy… does it still have the True Presence of Jesus?

Fr. Simon doesn’t think a consecrated host can go rancid because it’s not like meat or oil. A host can get moldy, though. Here’s the key part: As long as it’s still recognizable as the appearance of bread, it’s still the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ.

He gives this down-to-earth analogy: Just like our bodies won’t be us anymore when they’re just dust and ashes, Jesus’s Presence no longer remains when the appearance of bread is gone. If the host is totally moldy beyond recognition, then the True Presence is gone. That’s why priests are super careful about making sure the Eucharist is protected.

Then Fr. Simon takes us on a little tangent about how we’re not supposed to be afraid. He points out that Jesus is constantly saying, “Be not afraid,” and even uses the example of the Baby Jesus being placed in Mary’s arms: something that shouldn’t cause fear. Just like that, when we receive Holy Communion, it’s God placing Himself into our hands or on our tongue.

Seriously, it all comes back to that humble presence of God. Even after Communion: the Real Presence remains with us for about 10 minutes or so, until the host is digested. Father reminds us: Yes, God is so humble.

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