Bishop Stika is giving permission to resume distribution of Holy Communion from the chalice. We hope to begin doing so at Saint Mary’s by November, provided we have enough trained and commissioned extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to do so consistently at each Dominical Mass (i.e. Saturday evening and Sunday).
“What’s This All About?”
In the eucharistic Liturgy we are joined with Christ on the altar of the cross and at the table of the upper room. The Eucharist perpetuates the sacrifice of Christ, offered once and for all for us and for our salvation, making present the victory and triumph of Christ’s death and resurrection. The Eucharist constitutes the Church’s entire spiritual wealth, that is, Christ Himself, our Passover and living bread.
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible. A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.
After the consecration the true body of our Lord and his true blood exist along with his soul and divinity under the form of bread and wine. His presence is not momentary nor simply signified, but wholly and permanently real under each of the consecrated species of bread and wine. The body is present under the form of bread and the blood under the form of wine, and the body is under the form of wine and the blood under the form of bread.
Since Christ is present whole and entire under each species, there is no need for the faithful to receive Holy Communion from both the ciborium and the chalice. However, the local bishop may permit the faithful to receive under both kinds as a fuller sign of the Eucharistic banquet.
When the size of the congregation requires it, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him. Their number should not be increased beyond what is required for the orderly and reverent distribution.
All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine.
Should there be any mishap—as when, for example, the consecrated wine is spilled from the chalice—then the affected area should be washed with water, and this water should be then poured into the sacrarium.
It is desirable that there be generally two ministers of the Precious Blood for each minister of the Body of Christ, lest the liturgical celebration be unduly prolonged.
The chalice is offered to the communicant with the words “The Blood of Christ”, to which the communicant responds, “Amen”.
The chalice may never be picked up by the communicant for self-communication, nor may the chalice be passed from one communicant to another. There shall always be a minister.
After each communicant has received the Blood of Christ, the minister carefully wipes both sides of the rim of the chalice with a purificator. This action is a matter of both reverence and hygiene. For the same reason, the minister turns the chalice slightly after each communicant has received the Precious Blood.
It is the choice of the communicant, not the minister, to receive from the chalice.
Children are encouraged to receive Communion under both kinds provided that they are properly instructed and that they are old enough to receive from the chalice.
The communicant, including the extraordinary minister, is never allowed to self-communicate, even by means of intinction. Communion under either form, bread or wine, must always be given by an ordinary or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.
Only sick people who are unable to receive Communion under the form of bread may receive it under the form of wine alone.
When more of the Precious Blood remains than was necessary for Communion, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from their chalice of distribution.
The reverence due to the Precious Blood of the Lord demands that it be fully consumed after Communion is completed and never be poured into the ground or the sacrarium.
The sacred vessels are to be purified by the priest, the deacon or an instituted acolyte. Provided the remaining Precious Blood has been consumed, it is permitted to leave vessels needing to be purified on a corporal, suitably covered, on the credence table, and to purify them immediately after Mass.
When Communion under both kinds is first introduced by the diocesan bishop and also whenever the opportunity for instruction is present, the faithful should be properly catechized on the following matters in the light of the teaching and directives of the General Instruction:
- the ecclesial nature of the Eucharist as the common possession of the whole Church;
- the Eucharist as the memorial of Christ’s sacrifice, his death and resurrection, and as the sacred banquet;
- the real presence of Christ in the eucharistic elements, whole and entire—in each element of consecrated bread and wine (the doctrine of concomitance);
- the kinds of reverence due at all times to the sacrament, whether within the eucharistic Liturgy or outside the celebration; and
- the role that ordinary and, if necessary, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are assigned in the eucharistic assembly.
FUN MEMORY CHALLENGE
In the eucharistic Liturgy we are joined with Christ:
A. on the altar
B. on the cross
C. at the table
D. all of the above
In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should:
A. not be conscious of grave sin
B. have fasted for one hour
C. A. & B.
D. Neither A. nor B.
Frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance:
A. is encouraged for all
B. is discouraged for all
C. is required for all
D. none of the above
The body of Christ is present:
A. under the form of bread alone
B. under the form of wine alone
C. under the forms of wine and bread
D. under the form of neither bread nor wine
The faithful are invited to receive under both kinds as a fuller sign of:
A. the Eucharistic banquet
B. the Eucharistic fast
C. the Eucharistic bread
D. the Eucharistic wine
The priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him:
A. when the size of the congregation requires it
B. whenever he feels like it
C. when the congregation is bored
D. only on Sunday
All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by:
A. their demeanor
B. their attire
C. their handling of Bread or Wine
D. all of the above
Should there be any mishap—as when, for example, the consecrated wine is spilled from the chalice—then the affected area should be washed with water, and this water should be then poured:
A. into the sacrarium
B. into the tabernacle
C. into the ciborium
D. into the pix
It is desirable that there be generally how many ministers of the Precious Blood for each minister of the Body of Christ?
A. two
B. four
C. six
D. eight
The chalice is offered to the communicant with the words:
A. “The Lamb of God”
B. “Behold the Lamb”
C. “Take and drink”
D. “The Blood of Christ”
The chalice may be picked up by the communicant for self-communication, or may be passed from one communicant to another:
A. at the choice of the communicant
B. at the choice of the minister
C. at the choice of the priest
D. never
After each communicant has received the Blood of Christ, the minister carefully wipes both sides of the rim of the chalice with a purificator. This action is a matter:
A. reverence
B. hygiene
C. A. & B.
D. neither A. nor B.
The minister turns the chalice slightly:
A. after each communicant has received the Precious Blood
B. only after the last communicant has received the Precious Blood
C. only after every other communicant has received the Precious Blood
D. only after child communicants have received the Precious Blood
The choice to receive from the chalice belongs to:
A. the pastor
B. the ordinary minister
C. the extraordinary minister
D. the communicant
Children are encouraged to receive Communion under both kinds only if they are:
A. properly instructed
B. old enough
C. Confirmed
D. A. & B.
Intinction is allowed:
A. if the communicant dips the Bread into the Wine
B. if the extraordinary minister dips the Bread into the Wine for the communicant
C. by the extraordinary minister if he/she dips the Bread into the Wine for himself/herself
D. if the Wine is poured over the Bread
Who may receive Holy Communion under the form of wine alone?
A. sick people who are unable to receive Communion under the form of bread
B. the priest
C. the deacon
D. every communicant who wishes to do so
When more of the Precious Blood remains than was necessary for Communion, who may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from the chalice?
A. priests and deacons
B. acolytes
C. extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion
D. all of the above
After distribution of the Holy Communion is complete, any Precious Blood remaining in the chalice should be:
A. poured onto the ground
B. poured into the sacrarium
C. consumed completely after Mass
D. consumed completely during Mass
The sacred vessels may be purified by:
A. a priest
B. a deacon
C. an acolyte
D. all of the above
After distribution of the Holy Communion, it is permitted to wait until after Mass to purify vessels, provided the unpurified vessels are:
A. on the credence table
B. on a corporal
C. covered with a cloth
D. A., B. & C. required
