Choreography for receiving only from the cup

[Digitonomy]

For those who are allergic to wheat, or for whatever other reason may not partake of the bread, what is the procedure for approaching the cup? Does one first approach the priest or minister of the Eucharist in the form of bread, then skip by toward the minister of the chalice? I ask because the GIRM provides no guidance for communicants not receiving the Body of Christ.

1. If Communion of the Blood of Christ is carried out by communicants’
   drinking from the chalice, each communicant, after receiving the Body of Christ,
   moves and stands facing the minister of the chalice. The minister says: Sanguis
   Christi (The Blood of Christ), the communicant responds: Amen, and the minister
   hands over the chalice, which the communicant raises to his or her mouth. Each
   communicant drinks a little from the chalice, hands it back to the minister, and
   then withdraws; the minister wipes the rim of the chalice with the purificator.

 

[kell0618]

Speak to your priest how he wishes it to be handled if you don’t think you can easily and reverently go to the cup and bypass the Eucharist while in line. We have a few parishioners at our Church who cannot have wheat and they go up and receive from the cup when the Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist receive.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

For those who are allergic to wheat, or for whatever other reason may not partake of the bread, what is the procedure for approaching the cup? Does one first approach the priest or minister of the Eucharist in the form of bread, then skip by toward the minister of the chalice? I ask because the GIRM provides no guidance for communicants not receiving the Body of Christ.

That would normally be the way. Go up as usual in line as the person in front of you receives follow them over to the Chalice of Precious Blood, and simply receive as you would normally.

 

[I_Believe]

One could simply stand in line, receive a blessing from the priest instead of The Bread, then proceed.

 

[DallasCatholic]

One could simply stand in line, receive a blessing from the priest instead of The Bread, then proceed.

In many parishes people who are not fit to receive communion go up and get a “blessing”. So is an EMHC saw someone get a blessing and then come to receive from the cup they might get confused.

I recently faced this exact dilemma because my mouth has been wired shut to heal a broken jaw. I just went in the regular line and followed the person in front of me to the cup.

 

[I_Believe]

In many parishes ** people who are not fit to receive communion go up and get a “blessing”. ** So is an EMHC saw someone get a blessing and then come to receive from the cup they might get confused.

I recently faced this exact dilemma because my mouth has been wired shut to heal a broken jaw. I just went in the regular line and followed the person in front of me to the cup.

Ouch That’s an awful harsh description of folks who get blessings. I’d say they should be respected for the respect they are showing for the Body of Christ by not receiving at that particular time.

Anyhow, if it were me, I’d just have the priest give the EMHC a heads up before Mass. From then on, they would remember you

 

[DallasCatholic]

Ouch That’s an awful harsh description of folks who get blessings. I’d say they should be respected for the respect they are showing for the Body of Christ by not receiving at that particular time.

Anyhow, if it were me, I’d just have the priest give the EMHC a heads up before Mass. From then on, they would remember you

I don’t see how my description is harsh or not showing respect. Is there a reason you would get a blessing instead of receiving communion if you were fully able to receive communion? Personally, if I am not fit to receive communion I stay in my seat most of the time, although sometimes I have been moved to go up to the Priest to receive a blessing.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Well in our parish we have been told not to come up for blessings. And we are not offered the precious Blood of Christ. And I have never seen in five years a priest offer anyone the chalice other than the deacon.

 

[I_Believe]

I don’t see how my description is harsh or not showing respect. Is there a reason you would get a blessing instead of receiving communion if you were fully able to receive communion? Personally, if I am not fit to receive communion I stay in my seat most of the time, although sometimes I have been moved to go up to the Priest to receive a blessing.

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean you yourself were looking down on someone receiving a blessing. Just the words, “people who are not fit”, seem harsh.

Perhaps it is because I had a… cold … reaction from someone in my parish. Someone came up to me and said " I’m not being nosey, but I noticed you receiving a blessing at Mass the other day". I smiled and politely said " Yes, Fr H invited me to do so"
The person waited a few moments, expecting further explanation, which I didn’t offer. They finally said “Oh, I see. Well, bye now”

Ever since, if I’m near this person at Mass, they won’t even look my way, even during the sign of peace. Many others, who do know why I’m getting a blessing instead of Communion, have no problem with me whatsoever.

Anyhow, like I said, the words “not fit” made me think of that person.

If I was out of line with my comment, please accept my apology

 

[lak611]

One could simply stand in line, receive a blessing from the priest instead of The Bread, then proceed.

There would be no need for a blessing. You are still receiving all of Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in His Precious Blood, just as you would if you only received the Host.

 

[I_Believe]

There would be no need for a blessing. You are still receiving all of Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in His Precious Blood, just as you would if you only received the Host.

Right. My reply was in response to the original question.

 

[CatholismRox]

I know you can go in the line and when you get to the priest make a x over your chest with both your arms and that is a sign the priest you can’t recieve the Eucharist. I would just talk to your priest though.

 

[lak611]

I know you can go in the line and when you get to the priest make a x over your chest with both your arms and that is a sign the priest you can’t recieve the Eucharist. I would just talk to your priest though.

That would be confusing to the deacon or EMHC who has the chalice. I am an EMHC, and if I saw somebody get a blessing instead of the Host, I would hesitate to offer that person the chalice. However, if that person skipped the Host and just came to me to receive from the chalice, I would not hesitate to offer him the chalice. We are trained to notice these things. For instance if somebody received the Host and did not consume (for example started walking back to the pew with the Host in his hand), I would tell the communicant that he must consume the Host.

 

[LilyM]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with simply bypassing the line for the host and directly approaching the minister of the chalice. Although you might want to make a gesture of reverence (bow or genuflection) towards the host as well. I do that for the cup when I don’t receive.

As an EMHC myself, I wouldn’t think oddly of anyone who did this. To be honest I’m not usually looking at the line for the host anyways, so I wouldn’t usually know who had received the host and who hadn’t.

 

[lak611]

As an EMHC myself, I wouldn’t think oddly of anyone who did this. To be honest I’m not usually looking at the line for the host anyways, so I wouldn’t usually know who had received the host and who hadn’t.

I was trained to look for this in order to eliminate any abuses of the Host.

 

[LilyM]

I was trained to look for this in order to eliminate any abuses of the Host.

Of course I do when my attention isn’t required to be on my own duties as minister of the chalice

But simply choosing to receive the cup alone isn’t an abuse in any way - although if I saw someone who had merely received a blessing in the Communion line it’d ring bells. Our church doesn’t do blessings at communion time though.

 

[lak611]

But simply choosing to receive the cup alone isn’t an abuse in any way

I know.

• although if I saw someone who had merely received a blessing in the Communion line it’d ring bells.

Exactly what I was referring to. If someone received a blessing, I would think that they either were not Catholic or not disposed to receive, so if they received a blessing from the priest, and I was ministering the chalice, I would hesitate to offer them the chalice.

 

[DallasCatholic]

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean you yourself were looking down on someone receiving a blessing. Just the words, “people who are not fit”, seem harsh.

Perhaps it is because I had a… cold … reaction from someone in my parish. Someone came up to me and said " I’m not being nosey, but I noticed you receiving a blessing at Mass the other day". I smiled and politely said " Yes, Fr H invited me to do so"
The person waited a few moments, expecting further explanation, which I didn’t offer. They finally said “Oh, I see. Well, bye now”

Ever since, if I’m near this person at Mass, they won’t even look my way, even during the sign of peace. Many others, who do know why I’m getting a blessing instead of Communion, have no problem with me whatsoever.

Anyhow, like I said, the words “not fit” made me think of that person.

If I was out of line with my comment, please accept my apology

Your response was quite understandable given your context. Your answer to a rude question was perfect. God Bless you.

 

[MusicMan]

If you were only receiving the Host, would you then cross your arms and have the Deacon who is ministering the Cup bless you? If your answer is “no,” then you shouldn’t cross your arms and have the Priest who is ministering the Host bless you when you are only receiving from the Cup. Either Species is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus, and we are not required to receive from both Species.

As for this business of “blessing” someone in the Communion line… Could someone show me where in the Ritual Books this is given as an option? I know it’s not in the GIRM. It’s one thing for a Priest or Deacon (of his own initiative) to bless a child who is not old enough to receive (in the Latin Rite) and is in line with his/her parents, but it’s another thing for a grown adult who is not properly disposed to receive the Sacrament to go through and receive a blessing. I really question the propriety and licity of this practice.

Receiving from only the Cup, while perfectly licit and allowable, is also something of an out-of-the-ordinary practice. It may be wise of you to discuss this situation with your priest. Then follow his guidance on the matter.

 

[maryjk]

O K back on track.

I have Celiac, and I receive from the cup.

I have spoken to my priest and we have worked this out. This is from an email I received from my priest.

You might want to stop and bow toward the Eucharist held by me (or whoever is distributing Communion in the center aisle) before going on to receive from the chalice. That way it will not look like you are simply ignoring the Real Presence in the center aisle.

So, I go up the center aisle. Bow toward the Eucharist held by the priest. Turn toward the left, go the Cup and receive. If the priest is a visiting priest. I shake my head ever so gently, still holding my hands in prayer, bow and turn toward the Cup.

You might also want to keep in mind that the main Chalice has a small piece of the Host in it. The person receiving should receive from another Chalice.