The Bread but not the Wine....why?

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In my parish, we receive both species. I’ve seen women receive only the Host; but I always thought maybe they were pregnant. I forget which poster mentioned it, but I do remember my Lutheran parents ask me if we’ve Catholics receive both species. If I remember my history right, one of the issues the Protestants had was that laity only received the Host?
 
Michael16 said:
If I remember my history right, one of the issues the Protestants had was that laity only received the Host?
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I can see why they’d think that. If they see the Eucharist as a mere symbol, then yes, receiving in one species only would be an incomplete symbol.

But for us, the Eucharist is Christ, and thus each species represents His fullness.
 
You have a good point, OraLabora. Oh, btw. I’m reading a Life of Saint Benedict by Carmen Avecedo Butler. A Benedictine sister, if I remember right. Wonderful book on a wonderful saint. I never knew his spirituality was so simple and so applicable outside the monastery. Wow.
 
  1. when we receive the body, we also receive the blood
  2. every parish around here offer the chalice to the laity on Sundays at the minimum, some do at daily mass also. Exactly what you propose is already implemented
  3. Even accepting you argument that we have to receive both to follow Jesus’s command (which I don’t), we would not need to receive every mass from the chalice.
 
Council of Trent, Sessio XXI

CANON I.–If any one saith, that, by the precept of God, or, by necessity of salvation, all and each of the faithful of Christ ought to receive both species of the most holy sacrament not consecrating; let him be anathema.

CANON II.–if any one saith, that the holy Catholic Church was not induced, by just causes and reasons, to communicate, under the species of bread only, laymen, and also clerics when not consecrating; let him be be anathema.

CANON III.–If any one denieth, that Christ whole and entire -the fountain and author of all graces–is received under the one species of bread; because that-as some falsely assert–He is not received, according to the institution of Christ himself, under both species; let him be anathema.

CANON IV.–If any one saith, that the communion of the Eucharist is necessary for little children, before they have arrived at years of discretion; let him be anathema.
 
The Council of Trent laid it out pretty well. And it is probably the most important Council the Church has had along with Nicaea. This question is something the Protestant heretics were touting at the time as well.

ON COMMUNION UNDER BOTH SPECIES, AND ON THE COMMUNION OF INFANTS

CANONS
CANON I.–If any one saith, that, by the precept of God, or, by necessity of salvation, all and each of the faithful of Christ ought to receive both species of the most holy sacrament not consecrating; let him be anathema.
CANON II.-if any one saith, that the holy Catholic Church was not induced, by just causes and reasons, to communicate, under the species of bread only, laymen, and also clerics when not consecrating; let him be be anathema.
CANON III.–If any one denieth, that Christ whole and entire -the fountain and author of all graces-is received under the one species of bread; because that-as some falsely assert-He is not received, according to the institution of Christ himself, under both species; let him be anathema.
CANON IV.–If any one saith, that the communion of the Eucharist is necessary for little children, before they have arrived at years of discretion; let him be anathema. As regards, however, those two articles, proposed on another occasion, but which have not as yet been discussed; to wit, whether the reasons by which the holy Catholic Church was led to communicate, under the one species of bread only, laymen, and also priests when not celebrating, are in such wise to be adhered to, as that on no account is the use of the chalice to be allowed to any one soever; and, whether, in case that, for reasons beseeming and consonant with Christian charity, it appears that the use of the chalice is to be granted to any nation or kingdom, it is to be conceded under certain conditions ; and what are those conditions : this same holy Synod reserves the same to another time,-for the earliest opportunity that shall present itself,-to be examined and defined.
 
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I agree, not to have the precious blood of Christ at mass takes away from the sacredness of this sacrament. Granted, the consecrated host is the body and blood of Christ as the Church teaches us. But the practical reality of giving a chalice is full of potential mishaps …spilling of the precious blood is a real possibility. To think that the Latin church can’t adopt the practice of how the Eastern church gives out sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is something I can’t figure. We need more vocations. – holy deacons and holy priests instead of Eucharistic ministers or whatever they call them now.
 
They are called extra-ordinary ministers of Holy Communion. The priest is the ordinary.
 
I would submit as a personal opinion only, so take it with a grain of salt… If you read St. Paul letters quite a few were addressed to Churches founded by him that were involved in debauchery when too much of the cup was taken.
The Church to stamp out this practice ceased to offer the cup to the laity and reserved it only for the priests and consecrated people.
In time the Church has deemed that the Cup can be reintroduced to the laity and this can be observed in many parishes where it is offered. As usual the choice remains up to the Bishop who decides if the parish will offer it.
As others have already pointed out when we receive either the bread or the wine we receive the whole body of Jesus. He is not split in pieces so the “meat” is the bread and the wine is the “blood”. And further more if a host were split in 2 because there are not enough to serve all the people if I were to receive 1/2 a host or a 1/4 or ever a crumb I would sill receive the whole Jesus Christ in me.
Peace!
 
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