Eucharist questions

[churchsecretary]

Out of my own curiosity, I am wondering exactly how Eucharist is offered in Catholic churches across the country (& world). In our church, we rarely are offered the consecrated wine–Father usually only gives out the Hosts. However, I understand that most churches in this country offer both. Is this true?

Tonight at a meeting at church (no priest present) we were talking about forms of the Eucharist. The neighboring parish (about15 miles away) uses communion bread that is made by someone in the parish. It is unleavened, containing only wheat flour & water, as it is supposed to, but it is very “tough”–you must actually chew it in order to swallow it. Has anyone else heard of this kind of thing? Our communion breads at our church are ordered from a convent of contemplative nuns–the norm, little white rounds with a cross imprinted on them.

Also, a lady who is a lay minister (went through 3 years of training through the diocese) recently came back from a missionary trip to Jamaica. The order of brothers there who work with the poor in the slums gave communion by intinction–each Host was dipped in the consecrated wine before being placed in each communicant’s mouth. I never heard of this in a Catholic church before! It was common in the Episcopal church I attended years ago.

How is the Eucharist offered in your parish?

 

[Phemie]

Out of my own curiosity, I am wondering exactly how Eucharist is offered in Catholic churches across the country (& world). In our church, we rarely are offered the consecrated wine–Father usually only gives out the Hosts. However, I understand that most churches in this country offer both. Is this true?

I’m in Canada (also a chuch secretary) and it varies by diocese and parish. The parish where I grew up might offer the chalice to a bride and groom but other than that nobody but the priest received under both species. In my present parish we receive from the chalice at all Masses.
While on holidays last year I attended Mass at two different parishes, two different diocese, one small town & one large city parish. No Communion from the chalice at either of those.

Tonight at a meeting at church (no priest present) we were talking about forms of the Eucharist. The neighboring parish (about15 miles away) uses communion bread that is made by someone in the parish. It is unleavened, containing only wheat flour & water, as it is supposed to, but it is very “tough”–you must actually chew it in order to swallow it. Has anyone else heard of this kind of thing? Our communion breads at our church are ordered from a convent of contemplative nuns–the norm, little white rounds with a cross imprinted on them.

I’ve actually baked some of those loaves for a few different parishes. Yes, that bread requires chewing. At one parish we used it every Sunday, at other we used it on Holy Thursday and at special celebrations. But as a rule in my present parish it’s whole wheat hosts from the good sisters.

Also, a lady who is a lay minister (went through 3 years of training through the diocese) recently came back from a missionary trip to Jamaica. The order of brothers there who work with the poor in the slums gave communion by intinction–each Host was dipped in the consecrated wine before being placed in each communicant’s mouth. I never heard of this in a Catholic church before! It was common in the Episcopal church I attended years ago.

It’s the norm I believe in some of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches and certainly an option in our Latin Rite although I haven’t seen it used much.
How is the Eucharist offered in your parish?

 

[japhy]

However, I understand that most churches in this country offer both. Is this true?

Can’t answer for the whole country, but in my diocese, Communion under both kinds is the norm at every Mass (Sunday or weekday) by mandate of our bishop. I don’t think that’s a prudent decision, since for most parishes (I would expect) this requires extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at every Mass, which makes them not so extraordinary, thus leading to confusion over the extraordinary nature of their ministry! It also can lead people to the erroneous (properly speaking, heretical) conclusion that Communion must be offered and received under both kinds.

The order of brothers there who work with the poor in the slums gave communion by intinction–each Host was dipped in the consecrated wine before being placed in each communicant’s mouth. I never heard of this in a Catholic church before!

Believe it or not, this was the preferred method of Communion under both kinds, according to the 1970 Instruction Liturgicae Instaurationes: “The method of having the communicants pass the chalice from one to another or having them go directly to the chalice to receive the precious blood does not seem advisable. Instead of this, communion should be by intinction.” (n. 6/c) I have never received via intinction.

I have attended Divine Liturgy at a few Eastern Catholic parishes, where Communion is received under both kinds in a form somewhat similar to intinction: the consecrated bread is placed into the Chalice with the consecrated wine and a portion is placed in your mouth via a metal spoon.