Intinction by Laity

[Saintlucy]

I have read your posts with great interest but I just don’t understand why anyone would even want to do this. Anyone with any proper devotion would not carry the Host the few feet away from where they received to an extraordinary minister with the chalice, surely!

However, I have only ever received Communion on the tongue, except when I have had a contageous condition or I have been given the Host by a priest or extraordiary minister who was in so much of a hurry that they didn’t understand my intention. Not in my own parish, I hasten to add.

I was taught, as a child, that both species are fully the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord and God.

I have never witnessed this (Intinction by Laity) in the UK.

 

[pnewton]

1. Yes, I am a Catholic priest.

Lest this question keep popping up, FrDavid has passed muster with the moderators, who do not allow fakery of that sort here. This was addressed when he first started posting.

 

[pnewton]

Regarding the issue of intinction, Francis Cardinal Arinze offered this explanation on the documents of the Holy See when the issue was raised:

Well if Cardinal Arinze said this, and I remember when that happened, that should settle the issue. The quote from the GIRM used the word “only” but placed the word in such a manner that grammatically relates it to the receiving on the tongue, not the word “priest”.

Also, the reference to the papal Mass does not apply to all Masses.

I think allowing a deacon to intinct would have to depend on just how much confidence a priest put in his deacon’s competence.

 

[Brendan]

Yes, thank you for pointing to the source of the contention.

*Redemptionis Sacramentum *cites GIRM #287, which likewise indicates only a priest.

But for further confusion: GIRM 161 (distribution under the species of bread alone) *also *indicates only a priest (and I think, by implication, the priest celebrant)!

tee

One thing I am wondering is if the word ‘only’ describes the priest or the tounge.

It would be interesting to have a Latin guru look at the original ( and thus authoritative) Latin for R.S.

 

[tee_eff_em]

One thing I am wondering is if the word ‘only’ describes the priest or the tounge.

It would be interesting to have a Latin guru look at the original ( and thus authoritative) Latin for R.S.

I don’t self-describe as a guru but I have looked at the Latin.
*Si autem hic modus usurpetur, adhibeantur hostiae, quae ne nimis tenues neque nimis parvae sint, et communicandus a Sacerdote Sacramentum

tantummodo

ore recipiat.*
*Tantummodo *(only) is an adverb, so can “only” be modifying the verb phrase – “only {receive from the priest by mouth}” not “receive from {the priest only} by mouth”.

:twocents:
tee

 

[Stewmont]

The rubrics in the GIRM restrict inticntion to being done by Deacons and Priests.

Where is that in the GIRM? I have never come across that. Thanks.

If it’s in the GIRM then it must be followed. If it’s not in the GIRM then I see absolutely no reason why an EMHC could not distribute via intinction.

If they have been trained to to distribute via one species, they should be able to distribute via intinction, sans any actual instruction not to.

One thing is certain. If the practice of distributing communion via intinction is to be limited to clerics, the GIRM would be exceedingly clear on the matter.

 

[zab]

For those parishes that only have one priest, it might be rather difficult for the priest, who normally distributes the Host to do intinction. How would he hold both the ciborium and chalice at the same time especially for a large number of people?

 

[benedictgal]

For those parishes that only have one priest, it might be rather difficult for the priest, who normally distributes the Host to do intinction. How would he hold both the ciborium and chalice at the same time especially for a large number of people?

They have special vessels where a “cup” device fits into the ciborrium (bown) so that he does not have to hold two different vessels.

 

[zab]

They have special vessels where a “cup” device fits into the ciborrium (bown) so that he does not have to hold two different vessels.

It seems like having such vessels would encourage the practice.

 

[benedictgal]

It seems like having such vessels would encourage the practice.

Someone in another thread downloaded and posted a picture of what the vessel looks like. I have seen them in two parishes. However, when they are used, I prefer to receive from the priest since he is the one who is supposed to do this, not an EMHC. Furthemrore, if one receives via intinction, it is only via the tongue.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Someone in another thread downloaded and posted a picture of what the vessel looks like.

Such a set is pictured in this post [post=4097761]Re: Intincture[/post] [sic]

Alternatively, the priest could employ another minister to stand next to him with the ciborium, as described in the GIRM.

I have seen them in two parishes. However, when they are used, I prefer to receive from the priest since he is the one who is supposed to do this, not an EMHC. Furthemrore, if one receives via intinction, it is only via the tongue.

In a nearby parish that uses such a set, one of the priests administers it, while EMsHC distribute individual species at other stations. I am always grateful to take the opportunity to receive via intinction when I visit there.

tee

 

[Saintlucy]

I have read your posts with great interest but I just don’t understand why anyone would even want to do this. Anyone with any proper devotion would not carry the Host the few feet away from where they received to an extraordinary minister with the chalice, surely!

However, I have only ever received Communion on the tongue, except when I have had a contageous condition or I have been given the Host by a priest or extraordiary minister who was in so much of a hurry that they didn’t understand my intention. Not in my own parish, I hasten to add.

I was taught, as a child, that both species are fully the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord and God.

I have never witnessed this (Intinction by Laity) in the UK.

But why bother anyway? I don’t see the point of discussing this.

 

[zab]

Such a set is pictured in this post [post=4097761]Re: Intincture[/post] [sic]

Alternatively, the priest could employ another minister to stand next to him with the ciborium, as described in the GIRM.

In a nearby parish that uses such a set, one of the priests administers it, while EMsHC distribute individual species at other stations. I am always grateful to take the opportunity to receive via intinction when I visit there.

tee

In my opinion, such a set would be useful If there are several people with a preference for intinction in the parish and there was another priest to assist at Mass. Otherwise, it seems to me that having such a set would only encourage more people to receive this way. And I am not sure that this practice is something that should be encouraged.

 

[tee_eff_em]

In my opinion, such a set would be useful If there are several people with a preference for intinction in the parish and there was another priest to assist at Mass. Otherwise, it seems to me that having such a set would only encourage more people to receive this way. And I am not sure that this practice is something that should be encouraged.

Does distributing under separate species “encourage” the faithful to receive that way? Should they be “encouraged” to receive under separate species?

tee

 

[maryjk]

Saw self-intinction once at my parish.

Almost had a cow. I have Celiac and at the time I was receiving only from the Chalice. It now had the host in it.

Now, to be honest, I had already received. But I knew there would be other Celiacs behind me to receive. Yes, have a lot at our parish.

I brought the incident to the attention of my priest. He said he would remind the Deacon and the EMHC about it. And mentioned that since it didn’t happen often, most likely it was a visitor.

I do know that when I visit a parish, I ask how they receive. And I ask if the Chalice will be offered. I was once surprise to find out they offered a low gluten host.

 

[jonnyws]

I have just finished my training as a Eucharistic minister and we were told that if someone attempts intinction you cannot refuse them as that would be to refuse them the cup and that although it is not aloud the best course of action and the one we should take as Eucharistic ministers is to take the host from the communicant, intinct it for them and place the chalice under their mouth and give them communion. This is to stop them spilling the blood. We were also told that we should tell the priest about it after Mass and they will have a quiet word with the communicant so they know not to in the future.

 

[Coder]

Your theology is somewhat flawed. The Body and Blood are already mingled, they are equally present in both species.

Hi,

I was speaking informally and referring specifically to the act of intinction. I was pointing out that the act of placing the Body in the Blood (intinction) seems like something only a priest should do. I was speaking very informally and expressing my own “sense of the faithful”.

 

[Coder]

Hi Jonny,

…we were told that if someone attempts intinction you cannot refuse them as that would be to refuse them the cup…

How is that refusing the cup? Instruct them to consume the Host and then offer them the cup.

It seems that among Catholics today there may sometimes be more fear to offend people than Jesus.

 

[jonnyws]

Hi Jonny,

How is that refusing the cup? Instruct them to consume the Host and then offer them the cup.

It seems that among Catholics today there may sometimes be more fear to offend people than Jesus.

We have a large number of non-English speaking people at our Mass who wouldn’t understand and instruction to consume the Host and would just get very upset. They usually just ignore what your saying, look at you weirdly and sort of try and get to the cup and self-intinct. Rather than having someone trying to worm a consecrated Host past your hand and jostling the Precious Blood its easier, in our community anyway, just to intinct for them and then let the priest deal with it after Mass (he’s pretty multilingual)

 

[Coder]

We have a large number of non-English speaking people at our Mass who wouldn’t understand…

I do see the dilemna. I recommend that the ministers stay near a priest so that he can perform the intinction if this situation arises.