In some churches, we receive the Holy Host dipped in the wine, that is, the Body and Blood of Jesus, during Communion. In others, however, only priests and deacons receive the Blood; lay people receiving only the Body. Father, could you explain why the Blood of Jesus is not also offered to lay people?
Wilson Zanola (via e-mail)
In every Eucharistic celebration, Jesus makes Himself present to be offered in sacrifice and received in Communion.
In the Catholic Churches of the Eastern rite – Melkite, Maronite and Ukrainian, among others – it is prescribed that Holy Communion be habitually distributed to the faithful under the species of consecrated bread and wine. In the Latin Rite Catholic Church, it is usually administered only under the species of consecrated bread, although there are some exceptions, as will be seen below.
The Code of Canon Law thus establishes in canon 925: “Holy communion is to be given under the form of bread alone, or under both species according to the norm of the liturgical laws, or even under the form of wine alone in a case of necessity.”
At Masses, the main celebrant and concelebrants, if any, should receive Communion under both species, that is, they should receive the Sacred Host consecrated there, as well as from the chalice (cf. Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Redemptionis sacramentum, n.98).
Communion under both forms is also permitted to priests who cannot celebrate or concelebrate the Holy Sacrifice, to deacons, and to all those who exercise some office in the Mass (cf. General Instruction on the Roman Missal, n. 283).
As for the faithful, Communion may be administered to them under both species, generally by intinction – when the priest dips the Sacred Host in the consecrated Wine – in certain circumstances, such as: to first communicants; for the bride and groom during the celebration of Marriage within Mass; on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, at the discretion of the celebrant.
The Diocesan Bishop has the faculty to permit Communion under both species, whenever it seems appropriate to the priest to whose pastoral care a particular community is entrusted, provided that three requirements are observed (cf. General Instruction on the Roman Missal, n. 283):
1. That the faithful are well instructed in this regard;
2. That there is no danger of profanation of the Blessed Sacrament;
3. That the rite does not become difficult due to the large number of participants or for any other reason.
To avoid profanation, care must be taken in the manner of administering the Eucharist. It is precisely for this reason that it becomes more difficult to give Communion under both kinds when there are numerous participants at Holy Mass.
Finally, it is important that the faithful be instructed that in the Sacred Host is present the Body of Christ, but also, concomitantly, His Blood, Soul and Divinity; and in the consecrated Wine is present the Blood of Christ, but equally His Body, Soul and Divinity (cf. CCC 1374). “This is why it is absolutely true that under each of the species is contained exactly the same as in both together, for Christ is wholly present under the species of bread and under any part of this species, and equally wholly present under the species of wine and under its parts” (Council of Trent. Decree on the Eucharist: DH 1641).
In the Sequence for the Mass of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, we find this beautiful teaching: “Wherefore now, with adoration, we, the host of our salvation, consecrate from bread and wine. Hear, what holy Church maintaineth, that the bread its substance changeth, into Flesh, the wine to Blood. […] Flesh from bread, and Blood from wine, yet is Christ in either sign, all entire, confessed to be. They, who of Him here partake, sever not, nor rend, nor break: but, entire, their Lord receive.”
Dear Wilson, Communion under both species certainly reflects more fully the character of the Eucharist as a sacred banquet, and our impression is greater when we also receive the consecrated Wine. Much more important than this, however, is the commitment to minimize the possibilities of profanation of the Blessed Sacrament. And this is why the Holy Church allows Communion under both kinds only in special circumstances.
However, as the subject lends itself to multiple and very interesting developments that would exceed the limits of this response, I suggested to the editorial board of Heralds of the Gospel Magazine that they write a more detailed article on the subject, a proposal that was accepted. We will return to the subject soon!
