From a reader:
My father-in-law has been battling tongue cancer (which has spread to
his lymph) and has been housebound for nearly 5 months. Moreover, he hasn’t eaten any solid foods for nearly 10 months. He has a feeding
tube for his nutrition.The liturgical question regards the fact that a priest friend of the
family suggested that they have a tabernacle in their bedroom,
containing the Precious Blood in a dropper bottle so that he can
receive a drop (since he cannot eat even a particle of the host).Is this an acceptable practice?
In general the Precious Blood may not be reserved. Under special circumstances, the Precious Blood may be kept briefly for the sake of distribution to the sick. Of course that must be done with great care.
Furthermore, the Blessed Sacrament may not be reserved in a home without the permission of the local bishop.
The best solution here would be for a priest to say Mass in the room and give the poor man some of the Precious Blood consecrated at the Mass. A second best solution would be for the true Eucharistic minister (bishop, priest or deacon) would bring the Precious Blood and give it to the fellow in the proper way.
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