In truth, most North American parishes probably offer the chalice to all who wish to receive. There may be exceptions here and there, but I’ve found that to be the general practice these days.
Not so much in Quebec. For a province that is very liberal otherwise, it is curiously conservative on this.
Our abbey used to do so, on many Sundays and always on Holy Thursday at the Mass of the Last Supper but it never does now. The problem is due to the fact that community is aging. When I became an oblate in 2003 there were around 40 monks in choir. Now there are 20 and the average age is now 70, though there are a few young monks. As the community shrinks it seems that the number of people attending grows in reverse proportion! Our area is very touristy and the abbey is a highlight on anyone’s tour, for the Gregorian chant, the cheese, the cider, the orchards. Already at least 4 priest-monks are needed to give communion to the faithful on most Sundays, more on big solemnities. Plus two to give communion to the non-priests monks who do receive in both species. So you would need a minimum of 8 monks to give in both species. Take away the 5 or 6 singing the communion antiphon in the schola, and those too feeble, and that takes a huge bite out of a community of 20-25 priests; we have one deacon; he helps the abbot give communion in the species of wine to the monks; there are
no EMHCs. Occasionally there are visiting priests on retreat to help, but still not enough.
As for the parishes, with all their EMHCs, I have no idea why it is so rare to receive in both species. I go to Mass at Sant’ Anselmo in Rome about 10 times a year and we receive in both species although as oblates there, we sit in the choir stalls with the community. The nave is usually empty, as Mass is at 6:20 am (tied with Lauds), except on Sundays.
no longer wine…
