In the Life of St. Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarn,[[496]] we read that a quantity of consecrated wafers were found on his breast. Amalarius cites of the Venerable Bede, that a holy wafer was placed on the breast of this saint before he was inhumed; "oblata super sanctum pectus positâ."[[497]] This particularity is not noted in Bede's History, but in the second Life of St. Cuthbert. Amalarius remarks that this custom proceeds doubtless from the Church of Rome, which had communicated it to the English; and the Reverend Father Menard[[498]] maintains that it is not this practice which is condemned by the above-mentioned Councils, but that of giving the communion to the dead by insinuating the holy wafer into their mouths. However it may be regarding this practice, we know that Cardinal Humbert,[[499]] in his reply to the of the patriarch Michael Cerularius, reproves the Greeks for burying the Host, when there remained any of it after the communion of the faithful.
Footnotes:
[[490]] Greg. Magn. lib. ii. Dialog. c. 23.
[[491]] Aug. de St. Virgin. c. xlv. 364.
[[492]] Greg. lib. ii. Dialog. c. 34.
[[493]] Amphil. in Vit. S. Basilii.
[[494]] Vide Balsamon. ad Canon. 83. Concil. in Trullo, et Concil. Carthagin. III. c. 6. Hippon. c. 5. Antissiod. c. 12.
[[495]] Vit. S. Othmari, c. 3.
[[496]] Vit. S. Cuthberti, lib. iv. c. 2. apud Bolland. 26 Martii.
[[497]] Amalar. de Offic. Eccles. lib. iv. c. 41.