The Sacred Body, and the Precious Blood

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CMcLaurin

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The Eucharist is offered under both species at my parish. Both the Wine, and the Bread become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord.
My question is thus; Why is the Bread referred to as the Body, and the Wine the Blood-- if the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity are present in both?
 
I believe the separation of body and blood is to remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice – you separate your body from your blood and you die. This is just another visual for us to remember what Our Lord did for us.

But, indeed, Jesus is really and truly present in both forms.
 
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CMcLaurin:
My question is thus; Why is the Bread referred to as the Body, and the Wine the Blood-- if the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity are present in both?
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Both are fully and completly present in each species.

Christ is Alive, that means His Body and Blood are united, the Body without the Blood is dead, the Blood without the Body is dead. Since Christ IS Alive, then two must therefore be united.

In fact, it is 100% theologically proper for the priest to hold up the Host and say “Blood of Christ” and the deacon to hold up the cup and say “Body of Christ”

The GIRM specifies otherwise so it would be a sin of disobedience to do so, but theologically correct anyway.

We use the terminology for two reasons.

The first is because the Church desires to use the same words as Christ “This is my Body” for the Consecrated Bread and “This is my Blood” for the Consecrated wine.

The second is in deference to our human understanding. We associate Body with being solid and Blood with being a liquid. Both of these are external properties, known as ‘Accidents’. The accidents do not change, but the underlying ‘substance’ does.

The Substance in each case becomes the exact same thing, our Complete Body, Blood, Soul and Divinty of our Risen Lord.

It’s easier for our minds to grasp a very difficult mystery using specific terms for each species of the Eucharist, so God, through His Church encourages us to do so.
 
Thanks for the clear up. One more question; If The Eucharist is offered under both species, and you were to receive the Body and the Blood, would you be receiving the Eucharist twice?
 
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CMcLaurin:
Thanks for the clear up. One more question; If The Eucharist is offered under both species, and you were to receive the Body and the Blood, would you be receiving the Eucharist twice?
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I must admit that question has crossed my mind. But if so, I don’t believe you would receive any additional graces by receiving twice just as you would not be deprived of any graces by receiving under only one species.
 
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CMcLaurin:
If The Eucharist is offered under both species, and you were to receive the Body and the Blood, would you be receiving the Eucharist twice?
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From a physical perspective, yes of course.

From a Sacramental point of view, No.

Let’s say you have just received the Host. While the Host is present within you, retaining the properties of bread, you are a living Tabernacle of Our Lord.

Yes, the properties of bread will disappear, leaving only various sugars and amino acids behind, but while the Host still exists within you, even if swallowed, you are that Tabernacle.

The reception of the Blessed Sacrament in the form of wine adds or detracts nothing from the Grace. The smallest particle or either, or the greatest quantity is each the complete, whole Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. Each is fully apart of the same Sacrifice you have just seen re-presented.

When the deacon places the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle at Church, it doesn’t matter if he places each ciborium in one at a time, or all at once, he is placing the whole of Jesus in a place of Honor and Repose.

The same is true for you when you Receive from the chalice.
 
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