I suppose it’s bound to happen eventually. In my lifetime I think I’ve gone to Communion and received the Eucharist thousands of times, if not tens of thousands. Eventually, I’m going to have trouble swallowing the Host.
Last Sunday, I went up to Communion as usual, and is my wont, I received on the tongue, and as I turned to receive from the cup, I felt the Blessed Sacrament slide down the wrong way, not into my esophagus, but my air pipe.
Normally this would occasion involuntary sputtering and gasping and, you know, choking. But this time… it didn’t.
Instead, the Blessed Sacrament, the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of Jesus Christ, did not cause me to gag and by the time I was back in my pew, had dissolved naturally.
Miracle? I don’t know. I have a tendency to credit God with any good thing that happens so it could be. Maybe the species was of such a kind as to dissolve quickly. Maybe I was calm from being in a prayerful and meditative state. I suppose you could find all kinds of rational reasons why I would not choke despite having a hair-trigger gag reflex. (Just ask my dentist.)
It doesn’t really matter, I suppose. Still it’s … interesting.
I wonder if anyone else has had trouble swallowing the Blessed Sacrament. You’d think that with the billions of Catholics over the centuries it must have.
Strange thoughts, I know, but then what’s a blog for if not to record them for the whole world to read, should they stop by.
Many years ago my crucifix broke just above Christ’s head and I was pretty well convinced I was going to hell. If I ever can’t swallow the host and begin to gag, I’ll take that as a confirmation…