Taking the Blood of Christ

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chief714

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I have a quick question.
My sisters friend was just diagnosed with HIV.
She’s been trying to bring him to Church and he’s coming this weekend.
I have no idea if he’s Catholic or not, or even religious at all and I do intend to ask.

However, if He’s Catholic, does he still take the Blood of Christ?
I’m just curious because I know that he has a broken front tooth and I’m not sure if that’s considered an open wound or not.

Thank you in advance
 
If he is indeed a Catholic in good standing, there is no reason that he should not be allowed to partake in the Holy Blood of Christ, as this is not considered an “open wound” assuming there is no blood in his mouth.

Though, it should noted, that in order to recieve the full Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ recieved during Eucharist, one only needs to recieve under one species, and does not require the reception of both, as He is fully present in both species.
 
I would not knowingly receive the Blood of Christ from a chalice that has been also distributed to a person with HIV. Call me ignorant or something, I don’t care, but I don’t consider that safe, at all. The man can still receive the Body of Christ. There is too much, WAY too much, to be risked here.
 
chief714 said:
I have a quick question.
My sisters friend was just diagnosed with HIV.
She’s been trying to bring him to Church and he’s coming this weekend.
I have no idea if he’s Catholic or not, or even religious at all and I do intend to ask.

However, if He’s Catholic, does he still take the Blood of Christ?
I’m just curious because I know that he has a broken front tooth and I’m not sure if that’s considered an open wound or not.

Thank you in advance
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The bigger issue would be his disposition to receive Communion. If she is “trying to bring him to Church” it sounds like he hasn’t been in some time. In that case, he wouldn’t be going to Communion until he has also gone to Confession.
 
As YoungTradCath says, it might be best to simply receive the Host so as to not unduly worry other parishioners who may become aware of his condition. Off the top of my head, I’m pretty sure saliva cannot transmit the virus, and that the broken tooth wouldn’t either, but “pretty sure” isn’t exactly reassuring :(.

Since Christ is indivisible, the Host already provides the graces of both the Body and Blood, so your sister’s friend would not be missing out. (The consecrated wine also provides the graces of the both Body and Blood for that matter)
 
chief714 said:
I have a quick question.
My sisters friend was just diagnosed with HIV.
She’s been trying to bring him to Church and he’s coming this weekend.
I have no idea if he’s Catholic or not, or even religious at all and I do intend to ask.

However, if He’s Catholic, does he still take the Blood of Christ?
I’m just curious because I know that he has a broken front tooth and I’m not sure if that’s considered an open wound or not.

Thank you in advance
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Drinking from the chalice is not required. Both the BODY AND BLOOD of Christ is in the host.
 
Saliva does NOT carry enough of the virus for it to be considered a real risk. Blood, blood products, semen - that’s where the viral load is high enough to endanger people through exposure. You will not risk contracting HIV from sharing a cup / chalice any more than you would from a kiss, provided there is no blood present in or on the person’s mouth.
 
Thank you all for your responses. This helps.

In response to someone who mentioned he would need to go to Confession first,

I completely understand that. I’m just trying to have all grounds covered. Maybe he’s been away for a while and with this situation gone to confession and is attempting to walk with God. I just don’t know the whole story yet.

Thank you all again for your help.

God Bless and have a great weekend 👍
 
IrishRush said:
Saliva does NOT carry enough of the virus for it to be considered a real risk. Blood, blood products, semen - that’s where the viral load is high enough to endanger people through exposure. You will not risk contracting HIV from sharing a cup / chalice any more than you would from a kiss, provided there is no blood present in or on the person’s mouth.
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Would you knowingly go drink out of a container that was also used, without being cleaned, by someone infected with HIV? I’m positive that no sane doctor would say yes, except for perhaps some petty political move.
 
Can you imagine the scandal if it were discovered that someone with HIV were drinking from a “public” chalice? Do you think that the members of the Church wouldn’t care that they were being exposed in such a manner? The charitable thing for this person to do is to refrain from receiving the Precious Blood and simply receive the Host. As has been said, we receive Christ whole whether we receive the Host or drink His blood. The Church has had enough scandals for a while; we don’t need another.
 
FYI,

One recieves the Blood of Christ, even if one only recieves in the species of bread

Christ is fully present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity under the appearance of both bread and wine.
 
Timothysis said:
Can you imagine the scandal if it were discovered that someone with HIV were drinking from a “public” chalice? Do you think that the members of the Church wouldn’t care that they were being exposed in such a manner? The charitable thing for this person to do is to refrain from receiving the Precious Blood and simply receive the Host. As has been said, we receive Christ whole whether we receive the Host or drink His blood. The Church has had enough scandals for a while; we don’t need another.
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Or, perhaps, receive last?
 
AHapka said:
Or, perhaps, receive last?
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Actually, the priest and/or deacon always receive(s) last, as they are the only ones authorized to perform the Purification Rite, which must be done on every chalice.
 
It is perfectly safe for a person infected with HIV to take from the chalice. As Christians we should show charity and love for our fellow man. We should not be amongst those who discriminate against those with HIV. Statistically there is much more likely to be a person at a Mass with Hepatitis B. They pose you a much greater risk of infection. If the person infected with HIV is taking anti-retroviral therapy they pose even less risk. No social contact with someone with HIV poses a risk. Drinking from the chalice is similar to sharing a cup: no risk. Please let’s have much more charity for our fellow man.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
It is perfectly safe for a person infected with HIV to take from the chalice. As Christians we should show charity and love for our fellow man. We should not be amongst those who discriminate against those with HIV. Statistically there is much more likely to be a person at a Mass with Hepatitis B. They pose you a much greater risk of infection. If the person infected with HIV is taking anti-retroviral therapy they pose even less risk. No social contact with someone with HIV poses a risk. Drinking from the chalice is similar to sharing a cup: no risk. Please let’s have much more charity for our fellow man.
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I believe that the charity should come from the one infected with HIV. As already said, there isn’t any reason for someone to receive both the Host and the Blood, so the need for this individual to partake of the Blood is actually non-existent. A person with Hepatitis B should also show charity to his fellow Catholic and not partake from a “public” chalice. We ask those with colds and the flu to refrain from possible infecting others at the the sign of peace so why would the same request here be out of line? I agree with YoungTradCath; I would not personally care to share from a communal cup with someone infected with such a disease. It is not about lack of charity or an absence of love; it is simply my preference and I do not think it to be out of line. And it also has nothing to do with discrimination since no one is saying he can’t receive communion. I think that it is up to this individual to show charity to others by not placing himself in such a scandalous position.
 
I can’t believe charity is actually coming in to play in this situation. This isn’t about charity, it’s about biological possibilities. I really can’t phrase my opinions more pleasantly about this.
 
Faith1960 said:
I’m just curious. You were open here about the fact he has it, I didn’t think you’d mind telling us how it came about.
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Well… I didn’t start the thread. I have no idea how he contracted HIV. Besides, there’s relatively few ways of getting it. Either you have sex with someone with it, or you come in contact with a bodily fluid containing the virus.
 
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