Should I have given Communion to my bride at our wedding?

[neijcn]

At the rehearsal before our wedding, the priest told me that at Communion time, after he gave both my wife and me the Holy Eucharist, he would then give me the chalice with the precious blood. After I received, he said that I was to then turn with the chalice to my wife and say “The blood of Christ, my wife.” He explained to us the symbolism involved here.

It has been several years since our wedding and I was just informed that this was incorrect since only a priest, deacon, or another approved minister should distribute Communion. Was it incorrect for me to present the blood of Christ in this situation?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

The information given you that only a priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of holy Communion should distribute Communion was correct. Your priest was wrong on two counts: 1., the matter of asking you to give the chalice to your wife; and, 2., the formula with which Communion is distributed (a minister of Communion only says “The body of Christ” or “The blood of Christ” and does not add anything else such as a name).

Because you were acting on your priest’s instructions and had no reason to believe at the time that he was incorrect, you did not do anything wrong by giving your wife Communion. The person who would bear responsibility for the action is the priest, who should have been aware of the norms of the distribution of Communion.

Recommended reading:

"The Body of Christ, Steven"