Is self-intinction ever allowed?

[savedbychrist]

In the Diocese where I live in, most people receive the Communion in the hand, and self-intinction (dipping the Body of Christ into the Chalice by the communicant) is the common way (and how catechumens are taught) to receive from the Chalice.

However, I think it is explicitly prohibited by the Holy See, so I checked the diocesan documents. It is stated that the Diocese had submitted these documents that allowed self-intinction to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments of the Holy See for documentation (they didn’t say if it was approved).

I want to ask: Is self-intinction normatively allowed or prohibited by the Holy See? If prohibited, what is the reason behind?

 

[TheLittleLady]

Read the “General Instruction of the Roman Missal” #50

50. 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.

 

[TomH1]

I want to ask: Is self-intinction normatively allowed or prohibited by the Holy See?

Prohibited! Only a priest can do this. The priest must dip the Sacred Host in the Precious Blood and then place it on the communicant’s tongue. It can only be given on the tongue. Plus a communion plate must be used.

 

[phil19034]

ONLY Priests and Bishops are allowed self-intinction. I don’t think Deacons are allowed to do it (though I could be wrong)

Self-intinction is a mortal sin, esp for priests and/or bishops allowing it.

 

[Gorgias]

I don’t think Deacons are allowed to do it (though I could be wrong)

No, they are not.

Only priests may intinct.

Self-intinction is a mortal sin

Umm… I might get behind “self-intinction is a grave sin”, if you were able to make the case that it either was by its very nature a sacrilege, or explicitly an attempt to disobey Church law. But… “mortal sin”, straight up? Hmm…

 

[Phemie]

ONLY Priests and Bishops are allowed self-intinction. I don’t think Deacons are allowed to do it (though I could be wrong)

Self-intinction is a mortal sin, esp for priests and/or bishops allowing it.

Well lets be clear that it’s not a mortal sin to the person who’s been instructed to do so by his pastor, unless that person is very much aware that it is forbidden. Your average PIP who are told to “dip the Host into the consecrated wine” by their pastor don’t have the GIRM or any other document at their fingertips, and most are not even aware that such documents exist.

 

[Phemie]

I want to ask: Is self-intinction normatively allowed or prohibited by the Holy See? If prohibited, what is the reason behind?

From 2004’s document Redemptionis Sacramentum (note the bold part):

1. The norms of the Roman Missal admit the principle that in cases where Communion is administered under both kinds, “the Blood of the Lord may be received either by drinking from the chalice directly, or by intinction, or by means of a tube or a spoon”.191 As regards the administering of Communion to lay members of Christ’s faithful, the Bishops may exclude Communion with the tube or the spoon where this is not the local custom, though the option of administering Communion by intinction always remains. If this modality is employed, however, hosts should be used which are neither too thin nor too small, and the communicant should receive the Sacrament from the Priest only on the tongue.192

104. The communicant must not be permitted to intinct the host himself in the chalice, nor to receive the intincted host in the hand. As for the host to be used for the intinction, it should be made of valid matter, also consecrated; it is altogether forbidden to use non-consecrated bread or other matter.

 

[savedbychrist]

104. The communicant must not be permitted to intinct the host himself in the chalice, nor to receive the intincted host in the hand. As for the host to be used for the intinction, it should be made of valid matter, also consecrated; it is altogether forbidden to use non-consecrated bread or other matter.

It seems pretty clear that the Holy See would not approve of it. I think I would approach the Bishop directly, since it’s a diocesan instructed practice, not just abuses among parishes.

 

[phil19034]

phil19034:

I don’t think Deacons are allowed to do it (though I could be wrong)

No, they are not.

Only priests may intinct.

Self-intinction is a mortal sin

Umm… I might get behind “self-intinction is a grave sin”, if you were able to make the case that it either was by its very nature a sacrilege, or explicitly an attempt to disobey Church law. But… “mortal sin”, straight up? Hmm…

It’s a grave sin for sure. For the priest, it would be mortal has his is totally disobeying the Church.

And I would argue that for the layperson who knows better, it would be mortal too.

 

[InThePew]

Is it allowed? No.

The rationale behind it is that we receive the Eucharist (as in we’re given it) rather than taking it - which is effectively what self-interaction involves. I’ve never really asked a “dipper” (as I like to call them) why they do what they do, but I imagine it has something to do with a desire to avoid drinking from the same chalice as others (which sort of goes against the whole idea of communion) for fear of germs (of course their finger touching the precious blood might not be so helpful for others). Certainly a priest can self-intinct and probably should if he’s unwell but a priest has to receive both species. Intinction by a priest for members of the congregation is allowed but most Western parishes aren’t really set up for it. Ultimately, it’s just one of these things that’s lingered persistently and been left in the too hard basket bu bishops and priests since it’s not really that widespread (admittedly, I rarely distribute the previous blood so don’t’ have an idea of how many of my parishioners might self-intinct) and is probably seen as being too thorny.

Edit: is it a mortal sin? Only if done in deliberate defiance, as opposed to ignorance or well-meaning misguidedness

 

[maryjk]

Our EMHC have been told to cover the Cup with their hand to stop those that try to “dip.”

Our pastor is having none of that.

Interestingly I’ve seen our previous pastor do it. He was very obviously sick.

 

[CRV]

GIRM #287 Vatican website
" 287. If Communion from the chalice is carried out by intinction, each communicant, holding a communion-plate under the chin, approaches the priest who holds a vessel with the sacred particles, a minister standing at his side and holding the chalice. The priest takes a host, dips it partly into the chalice and, showing it, says, Corpus et Sanguis Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ). The communicant responds, Amen , receives the Sacrament in the mouth from the priest, and then withdraws."

USCCB - Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America
#49. Holy Communion may be distributed by intinction in the following manner: “Each communicant, while holding a Communion-plate under the mouth, approaches the Priest who holds a vessel with the sacred particles, with a minister standing at his side and holding the chalice. The Priest takes a host, intincts it partly in the chalice and, showing it, says: ‘The Body and Blood of Christ.’ The communicant replies, ‘Amen,’ receives the Sacrament in the mouth from the Priest, and then withdraws.
50. 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.”

Redemptionis Sacramentum
" 103 … … the option of administering Communion by intinction always remains. If this modality is employed, however, hosts should be used which are neither too thin nor too small, and the communicant should receive the Sacrament from the Priest only on the tongue.
104. The communicant must not be permitted to intinct the host himself in the chalice, nor to receive the intincted host in the hand. As for the host to be used for the intinction, it should be made of valid matter, also consecrated; it is altogether forbidden to use non-consecrated bread or other matter."