Author Topic: Holy Communion (Read 4450 times)

Vladimir · « **on:** October 23, 2009, 11:03:24 PM »

During Holy Mass, why does the priest alone drink the Blood of Christ, and not the lay-people? I know that the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ is present under both species, but I am confused as to why the priest alone drinks the Blood.

(Sorry, I have had no formal catechism in my whole life)

Caminus · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2009, 11:53:25 PM »

The holy communion of the priest under both kinds constitutes an integral part of the Sacrifice itself. Standing as an alter Christus, the priest takes the Chalice in completion of the sacrificial offering. This is true from the viewpoint of the Consecration itself (the double consecration is necessary for the true sacrifice) and in view of the integrity of the entire offering, since a priest's reception of the sacrificial Victim is an integral part of the sacrifice as well. It is also a mystical representation of the Chalice of the Passion referred to by Christ Himself, which further accentuates the priesthood of Christ.

Now the reason why the laity only receive holy communion under one kind is, I think, mostly derived from the practical consideration of safeguarding the reverence due to this Sacrament.

RomanCatholic1953 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2009, 11:53:25 PM »

The Mass is the sacrifice of the New Law in which Christ, through
the priest, offers Himself to God in an unbloody manner under
the appearance of bread and wine. Lesson 27.

Father McGuire's The New Baltimore Catechism No. 1,
Benziner Brothers, Inc. Imprimatur 1942.

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2009, 10:23:52 AM »

From what I've been taught, the body and blood are contained within the Sacred Host which the laypeople receive. The priest takes it under both species by necessity. Since laypeople are only assisting at Mass, it is only the one species that we can receive to get both. Handing out Communion is not actually part of the Mass at all. Only the taking of the Body and Blood during the Priest's communion is part of the Mass.

Both species used to be given out, as I understand it, but there was unnecessary risks, such as illness from drinking out of the same cup, and spilling of that Sacred Blood on the ground. The distribution of the Sacred Host to the people is a lot less risky, as It is under the appearance of bread. If the people were to receive It under the appearance of wine, there was a possibility of It getting spilled on the ground. Great lengths are taken to clean such a very sad mess up. We wouldn't want to tread on It if It did spill on the ground, so the priest had to clean It up very carefully, so that none of His Blood would be trodden on.

If only the priest was taking the Species under the appearance of wine, this would not ever happen, unless by an accident of the priest. It's a lot more likely that someone would spill It than the priest taking It himself.

Vladimir · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2009, 05:10:07 PM »

Thank you everyone for the answers.

Quote from: parentsfortruth

From what I've been taught, the body and blood are contained within the Sacred Host which the laypeople receive. The priest takes it under both species by necessity. Since laypeople are only assisting at Mass, it is only the one species that we can receive to get both. Handing out Communion is not actually part of the Mass at all. Only the taking of the Body and Blood during the Priest's communion is part of the Mass.

Both species used to be given out, as I understand it, but there was unnecessary risks, such as illness from drinking out of the same cup, and spilling of that Sacred Blood on the ground. The distribution of the Sacred Host to the people is a lot less risky, as It is under the appearance of bread. If the people were to receive It under the appearance of wine, there was a possibility of It getting spilled on the ground. Great lengths are taken to clean such a very sad mess up. We wouldn't want to tread on It if It did spill on the ground, so the priest had to clean It up very carefully, so that none of His Blood would be trodden on.

If only the priest was taking the Species under the appearance of wine, this would not ever happen, unless by an accident of the priest. It's a lot more likely that someone would spill It than the priest taking It himself.

Yes, I had understood that. I have heard that during the Middle Ages, laypersons rarely, if ever, received Holy Communion, but I am not sure.

Caminus · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2009, 09:42:46 PM »

The Saints recommended received once a week as a general rule. To abstain for longer periods or to receive daily was done under the direction of a priest to ensure proper dispositions.

Lybus · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2009, 03:41:25 PM »

This is all very interesting. I knew that wine was refrained from the lay people because of diesease, but I never knew that the actual handing out of communion was not part of the mass. I suppose it makes sense. Seems to add a different dimension to the Mass I wasn't aware of.