Question on the Eucharist.

[graceandfaith]

I started RCIA a few weeks back. I’m in the phase of Inquiry; and I have a quick question. The question I have is: Would it be acceptable for a pregnant woman to take the “blood of Christ”(wine) during Communion? If it indeed is the blood of Christ, would it be now safe for a pregnant woman to drink? I just had this thought this morning, and I don’t wish to stir the pot. I just want you thought on the matter.

 

[graceandfaith]

I started RCIA a few weeks back. I’m in the phase of Inquiry; and I have a quick question. The question I have is: Would it be acceptable for a pregnant woman to take the “blood of Christ”(wine) during Communion? If it indeed is the blood of Christ, would it be now safe for a pregnant woman to drink? I just had this thought this morning, and I don’t wish to stir the pot. I just want you thought on the matter.

 

[InternetWoman]

Is your concern that the chalice contains alcohol and pregnant woman aren’t supposed to take too much alcohol? Normally when you drink from the chalice it is just a sip. I seriously doubt it would affect the baby. However, concerned women can skip the chalice - the host is sufficient. Both the host and the chalice contain the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus.

 

[MarkThompson]

I started RCIA a few weeks back. I’m in the phase of Inquiry; and I have a quick question. The question I have is: Would it be acceptable for a pregnant woman to take the “blood of Christ”(wine) during Communion? If it indeed is the blood of Christ, would it be now safe for a pregnant woman to drink? I just had this thought this morning, and I don’t wish to stir the pot. I just want you thought on the matter.

There are two responses to this:

1. As a theological matter: Although the substance of the wine changes into the Blood of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist, the “accidents” – appearance and physical properties – remain. Thus it continues to look and smell like wine, will not show blood cells under a microscope, and will make you drunk if you guzzle a lot of it.
2. As a medical matter: A small sip of wine (or consecrated Precious Blood with the physiological properties of wine) will have absolutely no effect on an unborn child. It’s not cyanide. Drinking a bottleful of it every day might be a bad idea, though.

 

[929dad]

My wife is pregnant with our second child and she made the choice to not receive the precious blood. Though she’s confident that there are no health risks to the unborn child, she feels more comfortable.

I would say this as well. Jesus is completely present, body, blood, soul and divinity under both species. Receiving only one doesn’t make communion incomplete. People with celiac disease, for example, might normally only receive from the cup out of medical necessity.

God bless you in your discernment. The whole Church looks forward to welcoming you into our midst!

 

[midori]

Drinking from the Chalice is fine.

It’s the ten mimosas at after-church brunch that pregnant women need to be cautious about.

 

[Evan]

The ‘blood’ still contains the chemical alcohol. It will still effect the body the same as any alcohol.

There is no transformation of wine to blood. There is a transubtantiation of wine to Blood of Christ. The substance, not the form, is changed.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

A pregnant woman can choose to skip the chalice if she wants to.

A small sip of alcohol won’t hurt a developing baby. My sister-in-law actually had a glass of wine here and there throughout her pregnancy with no problems. The issue comes when you slam down a TON of it.

An important thing to bear in mind about communion too is that while it becomes the body and blood of Christ in it’s spiritual/physical context, it is still chemically exactly the same as bread and wine. This is why those with a severe gluten allergy only take wine, and cannot receive the host.

There is a lot of really great literature out there about this.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

The Precious Blood contains no alcohol, but it still has all the accidents of wine, and so you will end up with true ethanol in your bloodstream despite not having consumed any.

I don’t know how much risk would be involved in that very small amount of alcohol, but if a woman is uncomfortable with the risk she can just receive the host, and in so doing not receive any less of Jesus.

 

[silicasandra]

My wife is pregnant with our second child and she made the choice to not receive the precious blood. Though she’s confident that there are no health risks to the unborn child, she feels more comfortable.

I would say this as well. Jesus is completely present, body, blood, soul and divinity under both species. Receiving only one doesn’t make communion incomplete. People with celiac disease, for example, might normally only receive from the cup out of medical necessity.

God bless you in your discernment. The whole Church looks forward to welcoming you into our midst!

I made the same decision when I was pregnant, though I will also admit that I was less concerned about the baby’s health (I knew it would be fine) than how other people might interpret my actions. Frankly, I did not want to have to deal with people who thought I would need a “talking-to”, and these people seem to multiply by the hundreds when it comes to pregnancy.

Consider also that, while hard to believe, many many women continue to drink throughout pregnancy. Besides just avoiding the busybodies, there may be a woman in the congregation who sees a pregnant woman take the cup and, missing the theological significance of that act, thinks that it “must be no big deal if she does it” and then think it’s okay to consume alcohol while pregnant. (I wouldn’t worry about this, except that so many women still drink while pregnant. I think it’s better to just avoid any appearance that it’s an okay practice.)

I hope this helps!

 

[Aelred_Minor]

A pregnant woman can choose to skip the chalice if she wants to.

A small sip of alcohol won’t hurt a developing baby. My sister-in-law actually had a glass of wine here and there throughout her pregnancy with no problems. The issue comes when you slam down a TON of it.

An important thing to bear in mind about communion too is that while it becomes the body and blood of Christ in it’s spiritual context, it is still chemically exactly the same as bread and wine. This is why those with a severe gluten allergy only take wine, and cannot receive the host.

Obviously the doctrine of transubstantiation was defined before modern chemistry, but according to how I understand it at least I wouldn’t say that consecrated elements are chemically the same as bread and wine. Rather, if we can speak of a resurrected body as composed of chemicals then they have the chemical composition of the resurrected body of Christ, since they are Christ Himself. What they have is the appearances to the senses of bread and wine, and when these appearances no longer exist (such as through digestion) they produce, so to speak, the by-products of what would have been produced had they been simple bread and wine, which is why you still get gluten or alcohol in your body despite not having consumed any.

To say the consecrated hosts and wine still have the chemical composition of bread and wine while becoming Christ in a “spiritual context” would seem to me to be a form of Consubstantiation, in which the bread and wine continue to be there as before but Jesus is somehow present as well, or indeed even simply the idea of “spiritual presence in the bread and wine.” That or a sort of incarnation into bread and wine, which is even worse.

 

[po18guy]

I started RCIA a few weeks back. I’m in the phase of Inquiry; and I have a quick question. The question I have is: Would it be acceptable for a pregnant woman to take the “blood of Christ”(wine) during Communion? If it indeed is the blood of Christ, would it be now safe for a pregnant woman to drink? I just had this thought this morning, and I don’t wish to stir the pot. I just want you thought on the matter.

Do you have a copy of Catholicism for Dummies? It is an excellent book for all Catholics to have, but particularly those in RCIA. Its contents will be of great assistance as you progress through the program.

 

[Orleans_Attny]

. . .Consider also that, while hard to believe, many many women continue to drink throughout pregnancy. Besides just avoiding the busybodies, there may be a woman in the congregation who sees a pregnant woman take the cup and, missing the theological significance of that act, thinks that it “must be no big deal if she does it” and then think it’s okay to consume alcohol while pregnant. (I wouldn’t worry about this, except that so many women still drink while pregnant. I think it’s better to just avoid any appearance that it’s an okay practice.)

Brief Hijack…

It probably is OK in light moderation. There is no good reason why a healthy mother with a normal pregancy should, after the first couple months, avoid having a glass of wine with dinner.

Here’s an interesting article discussing the lack of science to back pregnancy hysteria, which is quite common in the US (and far less common in countries with far better mortality rates).

LINK

Pax,
OA

 

[silicasandra]

Brief Hijack…

It probably is OK in light moderation. There is no good reason why a healthy mother with a normal pregancy should, after the first couple months, avoid having a glass of wine with dinner.

Here’s an interesting article discussing the lack of science to back pregnancy hysteria, which is quite common in the US (and far less common in countries with far better mortality rates).

LINK

Pax,
OA

Thanks for this! I actually agree with you; I just think it’s hard (at least in the USA) for many people to separate “light moderation” from “who wants another shot?!”

back to the topic at hand…

 

[RosaryFan]

I started RCIA a few weeks back. I’m in the phase of Inquiry; and I have a quick question. The question I have is: Would it be acceptable for a pregnant woman to take the “blood of Christ”(wine) during Communion? If it indeed is the blood of Christ, would it be now safe for a pregnant woman to drink? I just had this thought this morning, and I don’t wish to stir the pot. I just want you thought on the matter.

Although it is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ, the accidents of wine remain (including alcohol content). Therefore, if a pregnant woman wants to avoid consuming alcohol, then the Precious Blood should be avoided. Note, however, that it is only a tiny sip - it’s not like you’re required to drink the whole cup to yourself. We must share,share, share!

FYI: When I was pregnant, I had a glass of wine with dinner every Friday night and we all survived!!

What I’m saying is avoiding the Precious Blood for that reason is a bit overly cautious, in my opinion.

In the case of a recovered alcoholic, though, it is to be totally avoided because there is an alcohol content. But one little sip once a week is not going to hurt a pregnancy.

 

[graceandfaith]

That you all so much for the clarification. I was not aware of the ‘accidents’. It was just a thought that popped into my head yesterday morning. Where better else to find the answers, right? Thanks!

 

[Link0126]

In Europe they typically drink wine while pregnant, I think you’ll be fine. Also, goodness, back a generation or two they smoked and drank and those kids turned out alright… people are overly concerned about the smallest things now days.

 

[MarkThompson]

Also, goodness, back a generation or two they smoked and drank and those kids turned out alright…

No, I’m pretty sure that’s why I had childhood asthma, for which I had to be hospitalized several times.

people are overly concerned about the smallest things now days.

Yes, that’s the problem – hysteria, and the inability to see the difference between going on a three-day bender and having a bit of wine or a tiramisu made with rum.

 

[silicasandra]

In Europe they typically drink wine while pregnant, I think you’ll be fine. Also, goodness, back a generation or two they smoked and drank and those kids turned out alright… people are overly concerned about the smallest things now days.

Would not be so sure about that…

Fetal alcohol syndrome is devastating, and smoking while pregnant (or in the house with a child) puts the child at risk for several health problems including asthma, which has risen in the population dramatically over the past few generations.

Do people worry about small things? Yes. Is consuming alcohol regularly while pregnant a good idea? No. No amount of alcohol has been proven safe, even if in some cultures women don’t abstain entirely while pregnant without (apparent) ill effect.

But taking the cup (if you wish) should be fine. Just be prepared for everybody who will think you need a talking to.

 

[puzzleannie]

I started RCIA a few weeks back. I’m in the phase of Inquiry; and I have a quick question. The question I have is: Would it be acceptable for a pregnant woman to take the “blood of Christ”(wine) during Communion? If it indeed is the blood of Christ, would it be now safe for a pregnant woman to drink? I just had this thought this morning, and I don’t wish to stir the pot. I just want you thought on the matter.

a Catholic who is otherwise properly disposed to receive communion can receive either under the form of consecrated bread or the Precious Blood (if it is offered) and receives the entire undivided Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord under either species. There is no theological problem. It is doubtful a sip, not even a mouthful, but a sip of wine would be a problem for any pregnant woman unless there is another medical issue. She should ask her doctor if she has a medical questions. There is no problem with the sacramental aspect.

yes the Precious Blood retains all the accidental physical properties of wine. When I was pregnant doctors were still recommending beer because of vitamin B and “it helped your milk” or a glass of sherry before dinner as beneficial things. These things change generationally, or as science learns more about them. Medical questions should be refered to a doctor.