Not having received the sacrament.
I forgot, until now, about the unhouseled.
I never knew the word until now.
I attended Roman Catholic schools from the 3rd grade through high school.
The student body, as well as the faculty and administration) comprised mostly Christians and Roman Catholics, but there were people of other faiths. I knew one Buddhist and a couple of Jewish kids.
The school conducted a monthly mass, and attendance was compulsory for everybody, including non-Christians.
When it came time to receive communion the majority of us got up and stood in line to receive the sacramental communion wafer.
A few people remained seated. I never thought about that part of the ritual until now. How uncomfortable must that have been for the small number of non-Christians at that school to remain seated while most of us lined up for communion.
I can see them now, like shadows in my mind, the unhouseled, remaining seated except to allow others to pass in the narrow church pews.
I do not remember giving the matter any thought at the time. Most of us stood up, some did not. No big deal.
Now it seems more significant to me.
