Should we show reverence to the blood too?

[Dawn_VanName]

I was wondering what others thoughts are on this.
I kneel to receive the Eucharist and also kneel to Christ’s blood in the chalice even if for some reason that Sunday I do not drink from the Chalice. Some people take the Eucharist only (body and blood) but not drink the blood from the chalice and walk right by without even making some sort of reverence like the sign of the cross, a nod, or bow to the precious cup of blood.
My question is this:
Do you think that people should give some type of reverent gesture to the precious blood too or just walk by it? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Toni]

I think that a bow of your head just like with the precious body should be done also. I see a lot of this and always pray harder for the lack of reverence
in church.

 

[Annunciata]

Dawn VanName:

I was wondering what others thoughts are on this.
I kneel to receive the Eucharist and also kneel to Christ’s blood in the chalice even if for some reason that Sunday I do not drink from the Chalice. Some people take the Eucharist only (body and blood) but not drink the blood from the chalice and walk right by without even making some sort of reverence like the sign of the cross, a nod, or bow to the precious cup of blood.
My question is this:
Do you think that people should give some type of reverent gesture to the precious blood too or just walk by it? Thanks for your thoughts.

Good question. I always receive the Precious Blood because I wouldn’t dream of walking past… (though one doesn’t have to receive both) and I do bow my head before receiving both…either one is totally the Body , Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Annunciata

 

[NightRider]

In our Archdiocese we are instructed to always bow before receiving both the Body and the Precious Blood, i.e. bow at receiving the Body and bow again at receiving the Precious Blood.

Although some do walk by the Precious Blood and do not receive it, I think this is so because there was a time, not too long ago, where only the priest received both and the laity received only the Body, and those folks learned how to receive that way in their pasts, without the Precious Blood.

When I was in Ireland the Precious Blood was not offered to the laity, at the parish I attended for Sunday Mass. I don’t know if this is common all over the island but it was interesting to note.

 

[drforjc]

I always receive the Precious Blood because I wouldn’t dream of walking past…

I have a bad cold right now and don’t wish to receive from the chalice for this reason. I am never quite sure what to do at that point.

 

[JNB]

NightRider:

In our Archdiocese we are instructed to always bow before receiving both the Body and the Precious Blood, i.e. bow at receiving the Body and bow again at receiving the Precious Blood.

Although some do walk by the Precious Blood and do not receive it, I think this is so because there was a time, not too long ago, where only the priest received both and the laity received only the Body, and those folks learned how to receive that way in their pasts, without the Precious Blood.

When I was in Ireland the Precious Blood was not offered to the laity, at the parish I attended for Sunday Mass. I don’t know if this is common all over the island but it was interesting to note.

   Outside of the English speaking world, and parts of Westren Europe, communion under both species is rare, and even when it is given, communion under both species is given via intinction(The priest or deacon dipping the host in the precious blood).

In many cases, at least when I lived on the West Coast, some parishes only have 10-25% of the parishones recieveing the precious blood.

 

[mercygate]

One little nuance here. If one has just received the Sacred Body, perhaps it is still in one’s mouth – then the Body needn’t reverence the Precious Blood . . . But I do anyway.

 

[Beaver]

drforjc:

I have a bad cold right now and don’t wish to receive from the chalice for this reason. I am never quite sure what to do at that point.

In this case bow touch the base of the cup and say “Amen”, then you are still showing the respect do the precious blood.

 

[Brendan]

If you have just recieved the Body of Our Lord, you are a living Tabernacle. No reverence to that which is outside is necessary, as the same Presence is WITHIN you.

BTW, for that very reason, I rarely recieve the Precious Blood, do so offers no additional Grace than what is already inside me.

 

[triciafrancess]

Brendan:

If you have just recieved the Body of Our Lord, you are a living Tabernacle. No reverence to that which is outside is necessary, as the same Presence is WITHIN you.

BTW, for that very reason, I rarely recieve the Precious Blood, do so offers no additional Grace than what is already inside me.

Hi, Brendan,

I don’t quite understand your post. Are you saying that after one receives the Body of Christ, it’s okay just to walk past the Precious Blood without bowing? I have seen people do that (most, in fact), but on the rare occasions when I don’t receive the Precious Blood, it seems disrespectful just to walk past as if He isn’t there. I’m not arguing or disagreeing – I’m just trying to understand.

Last year during flu season (there was also a vaccine shortage), our Bishop directed the priests not to distribute the Precious Blood. That seems like a good idea, and I think it’s considerate of anyone who thinks they might be coming down with something to refrain. I’m not germ-a-phobic, but if I hear a lot of coughing and sneezing during Mass, I sometimes receive only the Body.

Tricia Frances

 

[Brendan]

triciafrancess:

Hi, Brendan,

I don’t quite understand your post. Are you saying that after one receives the Body of Christ, it’s okay just to walk past the Precious Blood without bowing? .

Tricia Frances

trica,

Yes, it most certainly is. Do you not walk past fellow parishiners who have just recieved the Eucharist.

Explain exactly how they differ from the the Cup itself? Do they also not hold the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ within them?

Do you bow to them? No, one Tabernacle does not bow to another. They hold the same thing.

YOU ARE THE CHALICE after you Recieve. YOU are the TABERNACLE.

Christ is just as present within you as He is within that Chalice!! No more no less!! Remember that and cherish it!! It’s the greatest gift of the Eucharist.

 

[Brendan]

I sometimes receive only the Body

That is all I normally do. There is nothing inside the Chalice that is not already within me. I can neither add to it, or take away from that Presence. It is full and complete with just the one species.

 

[BrianDay]

I am too lazy to look it up at the moment, but you are to make a sign of reverence (in this case a bow in the US) before receiving the Sacred Host **and **before receiving the Most Precious Blood. If one chooses not to receive from the chalice, reverence to the chalice is not required as reverence is not required in a (communion) procession.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with showing reverence to the chalice out of personal piety.

 

[Brendan]

BrianDay:

Of course, there is nothing wrong with showing reverence to the chalice out of personal piety.

There kind of is.

The focus should be on the Blessed Sacrament WITHIN YOU, not external to you.

 

[mercygate]

Brendan:

. . . There is nothing inside the Chalice that is not already within me. I can neither add to it, or take away from that Presence. It is full and complete with just the one species.

True, of course, Brendan.

But "he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you.’ Mt. 26:27. It would seem that if the Precious Blood is offered, the greater reverence, obedience and gratitude would be to receive it.

 

[yinekka]

As far as I am aware, Redemptionis Sacramentum says that no gesture of reverence is required before receiving the Precious Blood or when walking past It. Your post has got me thinking though. I bow before I receive the Host so why don’t I bow when walking past the Precious Blood (I don’t like receiving from the chalice) I will have to think about that one.

 

[JNB]

mercygate:

True, of course, Brendan.

But "he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you.’ Mt. 26:27. It would seem that if the Precious Blood is offered, the greater reverence, obedience and gratitude would be to receive it.

Do not pick and choose bible verses, that is what Protestants do, not Catholics. The Council fo Trent states that the Body and Blood of Christ are fully present in either species. The vast majority of masses celebrated by the Pope only offer the host. Respect the Catholics that only take one of the species aas being every bit as faithful as you are.

 

[Brendan]

mercygate:

True, of course, Brendan.

But "he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you.’ Mt. 26:27. It would seem that if the Precious Blood is offered, the greater reverence, obedience and gratitude would be to receive it.

You already recieve the Blood when you recieve the Host.

It is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The two are consecrated seperated on the Altar as a sign of death. Death occurs when the Body and Blood are seperated.

But they are re-unitied AT the consecration itself. They become unified because they are unified in Christ Himself. Christ is Risen, Alive and His Body and Blood are together and cannot be seperated.

 

[Brendan]

yinekka:

I bow before I receive the Host so why don’t I bow when walking past the Precious Blood (I don’t like receiving from the chalice) I will have to think about that one.

Do you bow before all you other parishioners who have recieved before you? They to have the Blood of Christ within them. Your fellow parishoners are a Living Chalice of the Lord.

But of course you don’t. It probably never occured you. Nor should it.

Once you recieve the Eucharist, for as long as the accidents of the species remain, YOU ARE THE CHALICE!

Concentrate on the Grace that is inside you.

 

[mercygate]

JNB:

Do not pick and choose bible verses, that is what Protestants do, not Catholics. The Council fo Trent states that the Body and Blood of Christ are fully present in either species. The vast majority of masses celebrated by the Pope only offer the host. Respect the Catholics that only take one of the species aas being every bit as faithful as you are.

Apparently, I did not make myself clear. I did affirm Brendan’s statement that one receives fully both the Body and Blood of Christ in either species. I did not say that receiving in only one kind is in any way defective. I merely observed that if the precious Blood is offered, it would be a greater obedience to receive it based on an important dominical statement. Among all the Churches, only the Latin Church has chosen to emphasize the full presence of Christ in both species by withholding the Precious Blood – and it wasn’t that long ago.

Whatever may have been the inadequacy of my statement that led you to misunderstand my intention, it is an injustice to say that I pick and choose Bible verses like a Protestant or that I desrespect those who receive in only one kind.