Taking the Bread but not the Wine?

[pnewton]

Our diocese, at the bishop’s discretion, has directed that all parishes offer Communion under both species. It is a common occurance to see people receive under one kind, maybe a little less than half.

 

[Phemie]

During Communion, communicants do not “take”, they “receive”. The only ones who “take” are the clergy. There seems to be a misunderstanding. To “take” means to snatch and grab at something, much like Adam and Eve did when they “took” the forbidden fruit. They were, in essence, snatching at divinity.

When we go up for Holy Communion, we go to “receive” Jesus.

With all due respect, getting hung up on ‘take’ vs ‘receive’ ignores the fact that the word ‘take’ has many definitions and that most people who use it when referring to Communion don’t mean it in the way you define.

If someone offers me something I ‘take’ it. I also take some food or medication, meaning I consume it. Both are perfect examples of what we do at Communion.

 

[Phemie]

Our diocese, at the bishop’s discretion, has directed that all parishes offer Communion under both species. It is a common occurance to see people receive under one kind, maybe a little less than half.

Our bishop has also directed that we offer both. Hadn’t realized that until the end of the H1N1 scare when a letter arrived saying, in essence, “OK, folks, scare’s over now, time to get back to normal” but specifically 'It’s important to resume offering both species, this full sign, ASAP."

I estimate that fewer than a third of our communicants receive from the chalice. It can’t be offered without using an EMHC, so if none is available, rather than appoint someone just for the occasion, Father doesn’t offer the cup.

 

[MissRose73]

My aunt is a Celiac, and cannot eat anything made from most types of grains like wheat no matter how minute it is without ill effects on her health. She must have gotten permission to only have the wine (blood) at Communion, and no has issues with her doing so that way. When she is an extraordinary minister of Communion, she only does the cup too.

My parents’ church and the one I belong to, give both species. When the wine/blood runs out, its out. There are more than enough hosts to be distributed as it is hard to predict how many will come to Saturday evening or Sunday Mass. Most churches I’ve had the chance to attend in my diocese (and my state) give both species. Only when I go to EF Mass, its only the host.

I take both species as it does not effect my health at all to do so. I do notice many only take the host, and I will not concern myself why they do not partake in the wine/blood but for some its a health reason like my mother.

 

[mellowcalico]

It is not required that parishes offer communion under both species. Many do not. My parish normally offers communion under one species only. The parish is too large to routinely offer communion under both species. It would require a multiplication in the number of EMHC’s and there are already too many.

Same here. My parish also only offers one species (although I see the priest allows a few people to come up to the alter to receive the Precious Blood–maybe they have allergies to wheat). In fact, all the parishes I’ve ever been to my entire life have only offer one except for the one my mom and dad moved into a few years ago (but it’s a small parish–not a huge one like mine).

 

[benedictgal]

With all due respect, getting hung up on ‘take’ vs ‘receive’ ignores the fact that the word ‘take’ has many definitions and that most people who use it when referring to Communion don’t mean it in the way you define.

If someone offers me something I ‘take’ it. I also take some food or medication, meaning I consume it. Both are perfect examples of what we do at Communion.

But, in the case of medicine, you actually remove it from the bottle and you give it to yourself (in most cases). The concept is different in Holy Communion because the communicant is receiving Jesus either on the tongue or in the hand.

 

[Phemie]

But, in the case of medicine, you actually remove it from the bottle and you give it to yourself (in most cases). The concept is different in Holy Communion because the communicant is receiving Jesus either on the tongue or in the hand.

But I also ‘took’ medication when mom poured it into a spoon and placed it in my mouth. When we get so hung up on a word like ‘take’, which most people would never equate with going to retrieve the Blessed Sacrament from the ciborium themselves at Communion time, we risk being ignored when we try to teach on more important aspects of Communion.

 

[Jim_Roberts]

Hey everyone.

So especially during the winter/flu/cold season, a lot of people don’t take the Wine when they go up to communion. This makes total sense, but I’m wondering if there is anything that specifically allows this, and if somehow the Body is considered slightly more important than the Blood?

Thanks.

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Please understand when you just take the host you are receiving both the BREAD and BODY; the wine doesn’t have to be present because it is present while receiving Communion

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU

 

[eegardner]

In my parish many bypass the Chalice. Some because they are afraid of drinking after others, or as mentioned, because of cold or flu and some that are a recovering alcoholics.

 

[SKWill]

My aunt is a Celiac, and cannot eat anything made from most types of grains like wheat no matter how minute it is without ill effects on her health. She must have gotten permission to only have the wine (blood) at Communion, and no has issues with her doing so that way. When she is an extraordinary minister of Communion, she only does the cup too.

I don’t think anyone would need permission to to receive the Precious Blood only – after all many people receive the Body and bypass the cup on their own.

 

[smichhertz]

Hey everyone.

So especially during the winter/flu/cold season, a lot of people don’t take the Wine when they go up to communion. This makes total sense, but I’m wondering if there is anything that specifically allows this, and if somehow the Body is considered slightly more important than the Blood?

Thanks.

Hi MilTownCath,

You might find the following thread helpful:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=572789

 

[Irishgal49]

During Communion, communicants do not “take”, they “receive”. The only ones who “take” are the clergy. There seems to be a misunderstanding. To “take” means to snatch and grab at something, much like Adam and Eve did when they “took” the forbidden fruit. They were, in essence, snatching at divinity.

When we go up for Holy Communion, we go to “receive” Jesus.

We do not refer to the sacred species as wine because although it looks like it and tastes like it, it has now become the Precious Blood.

Regarding your question, some parishes have employed the method of intinction where the Sacred Host is dipped into the Precious Blood by the priest. However, only a priest/bishop can do this.

GREAT ANSWER! I like the reminder that I RECEIVE our Lord’s Body and Blood not TAKE. I have never been in a parish where they practiced intinction. We have both and I receive both.

 

[JerrySeibert]

If predisposed to an allergy there are allergy tolerant variations to the eucharist that are available. There is a young man at our Parish with such an allergy. Father only needs to know what Mass they are attending and he consecrates this host along with the rest and gives it to the young man. Great points made in this post.

 

[TuAutem]

This whole discussion was fascinating to me: I’ve been to many churches in France and in England and don’t think I have ever seen the chalice offered to the laity!

 

[Phemie]

This whole discussion was fascinating to me: I’ve been to many churches in France and in England and don’t think I have ever seen the chalice offered to the laity!

I know of no parish where it is offered in the diocese where I grew up. In my present diocese the bishop made it clear that he expected it to be offered everywhere. In my parish it is only offered when there are enough EMHCs so sometimes at the Saturday evening Mass it’s Host only because there is no EMHC present.

 

[I_love_rocks]

Jesus said, “Take this, ALL OF YOU, and drink it. This IS my BLOOD.” Not - wine. Not - some of you. Not - receive it with half-a-heart. But all of you [every person], and all of you [give Him everything, nothing held back]. Not - only during fair weather / cold season. That’s what the purificator is for. I have never, ever heard of someone getting sick from receiving the Blood of Christ. Is that even possible? God would never allow that. I believe it’s an act of trustful surrender. It [He] is- And we receive, the Bread of Life and the CUP of SALVATION. A Franciscan Father once told me that when I receive the blood of Christ from the cup of Salvation [The chalice] I am receiving His cross. I receive The Holy Eucharist under both species. And - I have never received bread or wine at Mass.

 

[Phemie]

Jesus said, “Take this, ALL OF YOU, and drink it. This IS my BLOOD.” Not - wine. Not - some of you. Not - receive it with half-a-heart. But all of you [every person], and all of you [give Him everything, nothing held back]. Not - only during fair weather / cold season. That’s what the purificator is for. I have never, ever heard of someone getting sick from receiving the Blood of Christ. Is that even possible? God would never allow that. I believe it’s an act of trustful surrender. It [He] is- And we receive, the Bread of Life and the CUP of SALVATION. A Franciscan Father once told me that when I receive the blood of Christ from the cup of Salvation [The chalice] I am receiving His cross. I receive The Holy Eucharist under both species. And - I have never received bread or wine at Mass.

Perish the thought that we should call it what the Church calls it:
“When we eat this bread and drink this cup
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory.”