The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

346 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.Serapion received only the sacred bread at the handsof the priest. And in the life of St. Ambrose, weare told that in his last illness the consecrated hostalone was given to him.The Christians in time of persecution, confessorsof the faith confined in prison, travellers on theirjourney, soldiers before engaging in battle, andhermits living in the desert, were permitted to keepwith them, and to fortify themselves with, the consecrated bread, as Tertullian, Cyprian, Basil, Ambrose, and other Fathers of the Church testify.Moreover, in the Mass of the Presanctified> celebrated in the Latin church on Good Friday only,and in the Greek church on every day in Lent,except Saturdays and Sundays, the officiating Priestreceives the consecrated bread alone. 1In all these instances, the communicants neverdoubted that they received the Lord sSupper in itsintegrity. And surely the conscientious guides ofthe faith would sooner withhold altogether the sacredhost from their flocks, than permit them to partakeof a mutilated Sacrament.2. In the primitive days of the Church, the HolyCommunion used to be imparted to infants, but onlyin the form of wine. The priest dipped his fingerin the consecrated chalice, and gaveit to be suckedby the infant. This custom prevails to this dayamong the schismatic Christians of all the Oriental1Alzog s Hist., Vol. L, p. 72L