Receiving the blood only

[Mirror_Mirror]

I noticed today at mass that a mother carrying her infant walked up late to communion and the eucharistic ministers and the priest and deacon that were giving the body were already gone and this mother proceeded to go straight to the minister with the blood.

I am not sure if she received the body, but it got me to think, can you receive the blood without receiving the body? I know you can receive the body and then not the blood, but I was not sure if it was okay to do it the other way around?

 

[AJV]

I noticed today at mass that a mother carrying her infant walked up late to communion and the eucharistic ministers and the priest and deacon that were giving the body were already gone and this mother proceeded to go straight to the minister with the blood.

I am not sure if she received the body, but it got me to think, can you receive the blood without receiving the body? I know you can receive the body and then not the blood, but I was not sure if it was okay to do it the other way around?

Yes. It’s not usual, but Christ is fully present under either species.

 

[jpjd]

Yes, you can receive the Blood only. Remember, we receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity whole and entire in each species.

 

[lak611]

Some people can only receive the Precious Blood because of celiac disease.

 

[patrick457]

I noticed today at mass that a mother carrying her infant walked up late to communion and the eucharistic ministers and the priest and deacon that were giving the body were already gone and this mother proceeded to go straight to the minister with the blood.

I am not sure if she received the body, but it got me to think, can you receive the blood without receiving the body? I know you can receive the body and then not the blood, but I was not sure if it was okay to do it the other way around?

That’s okay. Both the Host and the Wine in the Chalice fully and completely contain the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. So whether you eat only the Host or drink the Chalice only you’ll receive the whole Jesus.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
I am not sure if she received the body, but it got me to think, can you receive the blood without receiving the body?

yes, celiacs do it all the time. Jesus Christ is fully sacramentally present, Body Blood Soul and Divinity, undivided, under both species. The ministers should be educated to look around and make sure everyone has been attended to, including the handicapped, those that move slowly being encumbered by infants, walkers, etc. We have several very petite children who recently made first communion, but who are overlooked by the ministers who simply are not paying attention.

 

[kell0618]

I echo the answers you have received and wish only to add that we have had posters on this forum specifically ask how they should go about requesting to receive from the Cup only due to a health condition that requires they abstain from the wheat contained within the Eucharist.

Kelly

 

[Brendan]

I echo the answers you have received and wish only to add that we have had posters on this forum specifically ask how they should go about requesting to receive from the Cup only due to a health condition that requires they abstain from the wheat contained within the Eucharist.

Kelly

Talk to the priest prior to Mass.

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

Thank you all for your replies. Deep down I knew that it was okay to do this, but to explain the reasoning, I would have fell short. Thanks for the replies!

 

[jonnyws]

I echo the answers you have received and wish only to add that we have had posters on this forum specifically ask how they should go about requesting to receive from the Cup only due to a health condition that requires they abstain from the wheat contained within the Eucharist.

Kelly

Our priest also keeps a supply of wheat free hosts. As we don’t have a tabernacle in our university hall where mass is said he simply leaves these and the normal hosts out at the front and people put the relevant host for them in a bowl which is brought up at the offertory. Works very well.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I noticed today at mass that a mother carrying her infant walked up late to communion and the eucharistic ministers and the priest and deacon that were giving the body were already gone and this mother proceeded to go straight to the minister with the blood.

I am not sure if she received the body, but it got me to think, can you receive the blood without receiving the body? I know you can receive the body and then not the blood, but I was not sure if it was okay to do it the other way around?

Yes, a person can receive only the Blood of Christ as Holy Communion.

 

[BillyT92679]

Our priest also keeps a supply of wheat free hosts. As we don’t have a tabernacle in our university hall where mass is said he simply leaves these and the normal hosts out at the front and people put the relevant host for them in a bowl which is brought up at the offertory. Works very well.

Hosts that do not contain wheat are invalid matter. The Precious Blood should be available and be used instead.

 

[lak611]

Our priest also keeps a supply of wheat free hosts. As we don’t have a tabernacle in our university hall where mass is said he simply leaves these and the normal hosts out at the front and people put the relevant host for them in a bowl which is brought up at the offertory. Works very well.

Hosts that do not contain wheat are invalid matter. The Precious Blood should be available and be used instead.

Perhaps the hosts are low-gluten, not completely wheat free. There are low gluten hosts available, but persons with severe wheat allergy will still need to avoid them. Receiving only the Precious Blood from a chalice that does not contain any particles of Host is acceptable for celiacs.

 

[Brendan]

Our priest also keeps a supply of **wheat free **hosts.

I hope that you mean “Low Gluten”. Those are wheat wafers made with little Gluten.

A Host made of any other grain than wheat (rice, oats, barley, corn, etc…) cannot be consecrated into the Eucharist. It will remain just bread and should be treated as such.

 

[dylanschrader]

As said above, Christ is fully present under the species of wine alone.

Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America
says:

1. The Precious Blood may not be reserved, except for giving Communion to someone who is sick. Only sick people who are unable to receive Communion under the form of bread may receive it under the form of wine alone at the discretion of the priest.

Therefore, reception under one species should normally be under the species of bread alone rather than under the species of wine alone.

 

[dylanschrader]

The reception of Communion under the species of wine alone is generally allowed only for those who are unable to receive under the species of bread; it should not be done except in case of necessity.

Eucaristicum Mysterium says (#41):

In case of necessity, depending on the judgment of the bishop, it is permitted to give the Eucharist under the species of wine alone to those who are unable to receive it under the species of bread.

Canon Law says:

Can. 925 Holy communion is to be given under the form of bread alone, or under both species according to the norm of the liturgical laws, or even under the form of wine alone in a case of necessity.

Therefore, Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America says:

1. The Precious Blood may not be reserved, except for giving Communion to someone who is sick. Only sick people who are unable to receive Communion under the form of bread may receive it under the form of wine alone at the discretion of the priest.

 

[MelanieAnne]

The reception of Communion under the species of wine alone is generally allowed only for those who are unable to receive under the species of bread; it should not be done except in case of necessity.

Eucaristicum Mysterium says (#41):

Canon Law says:

Therefore, Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America says:

Opposite to the question stated, at times, my son’s parish has been known to run out of wine. (I saw it happen a few weeks ago!) The Real Presence was there even tho’ only the bread was the only element left.

Aren’t we all blessed to have the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity available to us in these various forms?

Thanks be to God!