Since I was young I noticed that in most churches I attended we only recive the bread or body durring the Eucharist (only the Pastor himself partakes). In the few instances that they did offer the wine to the congregation, I have abstained due to the fact that I was unsure of the significance.

Why do most churches not offer Wine durring mass? Under what circumstances is the Wine offered? What if any are the instructions if Wine is offered and I wish to partake?

Thank You, Al

-- Alfredo Blanco (alfredo.blanco@verizon.net), August 17, 2003

Answers

Al, I just want to make sure about something ...

Are you referring to a Catholic Mass, wherein people receiving the Holy Eucharist consume the Body and Blood of Jesus (no longer "bread" and "wine"), or are you referring to a protestant "eucharist," wherein there is only bread and wine?

Thanks. John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 17, 2003.

Alfredo

see this thread

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00AnHD

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), August 17, 2003.

Al,

Sometimes the Blood is not offered. It might also be that this Church is very conservative. It doesn't really matter. Before Vatican II the Blood was not offered to the congregation. But since Vatican II it has. But some churches still don't offer the wine. But this is ok since you receive the fullness of Christ's Body and Blood with just a small piece of the "bread." You could also just receive the Blood and it would be ok. So don't be too confused. If they offer the Blood take it. If they don't, it's ok. It's probably just the tradition there.

-- Scott (papasquat10@hotmail.com), August 18, 2003.

Just two quick questions~ if the fullness of Christ;s flesh and blood is available in the "bread" than what reason do people have for thinking it is odd or wrong that the "wine" isn't given to them? Also, if the fullness of Christ is available in the "bread" only, what's the reason for giving the "wine" out at all?

-- Sandy Norris (Sandy@notinterestedinspam.com), August 21, 2003.

Jmj
Hello, Sandy.

I think that your questions (and then some) are answered in the section entitled "Communion under both kinds" of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2000 edition), found at the front of the Sacramentary (the prayerbook on the altar in your parish church). Here is what that section says:

----------------------------- Quote from GIRM ------------------
281. Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it is distributed under both kinds. For in this form the sign of the eucharistic banquet is more clearly evident and clear expression is given to the divine will by which the new and eternal Covenant is ratified in the Blood of the Lord, as also the relationship between the Eucharistic banquet and the eschatological banquet in the Father's Kingdom.

282. Sacred pastors should take care to ensure that the faithful who participate in the rite or are present at it are as fully aware as possible of the Catholic teaching on the form of Holy Communion as set forth by the Ecumenical Council of Trent. Above all, they should instruct the Christian faithful that the Catholic faith teaches that Christ, whole and entire, and the true Sacrament, is received even under only one species, and consequently that as far as the effects are concerned, those who receive under only one species are not deprived of any of the grace that is necessary for salvation.

They are to teach, furthermore, that the Church, in her stewardship of the Sacraments, has the power to set forth or alter whatever provisions, apart from the substance of the Sacraments, that she judges to be most conducive to the veneration of the Sacraments and the well-being of the recipients, in view of changing conditions, times, and places. At the same time, the faithful should be encouraged to seek to participate more eagerly in this sacred rite, by which the sign of the Eucharistic banquet is made more fully evident.

283. In addition to those cases given in the ritual books, Communion under both kinds is permitted for
a.Priests who are not able to celebrate or concelebrate Mass;
b.The deacon and others who perform some duty at the Mass;
c.Members of communities at the conventual Mass or "community" Mass, along with seminarians, and all who are engaged in a retreat or are taking part in a spiritual or pastoral gathering.

The Diocesan Bishop may establish norms for Communion under both kinds for his own diocese, which are also to be observed in churches of religious and at celebrations with small groups. The Diocesan Bishop is also given the faculty to permit Communion under both kinds whenever it may seem appropriate to the priest to whom, as its own shepherd, a community has been entrusted, provided that the faithful have been well instructed and there is no danger of profanation of the Sacrament or of the rite's becoming difficult because of the large number of participants or some other reason.

[Special instruction for the U.S. dioceses:] In all that pertains to Communion under both kinds, the "Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America" are to be followed (see nos. 27-54).

284. When Communion is distributed under both kinds,
a.The chalice is usually administered by a deacon or, when no deacon is present, by a priest, or even by a duly instituted acolyte or another extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, or by a member of the faithful who in case of necessity has been entrusted with this duty for a single occasion;
b.Whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ is consumed at the altar by the priest or the deacon or the duly instituted acolyte who ministered the chalice. The same then purifies, wipes, and arranges the sacred vessels in the usual way.
Any of the faithful who wish to receive Holy Communion under the species of bread alone should be granted their wish.

285. For Communion under both kinds the following should be prepared:
a.If Communion from the chalice is carried out by communicants' drinking directly from the chalice, a chalice of a sufficiently large size or several chalices are prepared. Care should, however, be taken in planning lest beyond what is needed of the Blood of Christ remains to be consumed at the end of the celebration.
b.If Communion is carried out by intinction, the hosts should be neither too thin nor too small, but rather a little thicker than usual, so that after being dipped partly into the Blood of Christ they can still easily be distributed to each communicant.

286. If Communion of the Blood of Christ is carried out by communicants' drinking from the chalice, each communicant, after receiving the Body of Christ, moves and stands facing the minister of the chalice. The minister says, Sanguis Christi (The Blood of Christ), the communicant responds, Amen, and the minister hands over the chalice, which the communicant raises to his or her mouth. Each communicant drinks a little from the chalice, hands it back to the minister, and then withdraws; the minister wipes the rim of the chalice with the purificator.

287. If Communion from the chalice is carried out by intinction, each communicant, holding a communion-plate under the chin, approaches the priest, who holds a vessel with the sacred particles, a minister standing at his side and holding the chalice. The priest takes a host, dips it partly into the chalice and, showing it, says, Corpus et Sanguis Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ). The communicant responds, Amen, receives the Sacrament in the mouth from the priest, and then withdraws.
------------------------- End quote from GIRM ------------------

Let us all note how the Church is careful in its terminology, never referring merely to bread or wine after the consecration, since the substance of those elements no longer remains.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 21, 2003.

Thankyou for your answer John. Your answer is helpful. I was though looking for a more personal answer based on the understandings from the g.i.r.m. Its a coincedence that I found this topic because the other day I brought a friend from out of town to mass at my church. After we left my friend was miffed that the cup wasn't offered.She said she felt deprived of Jesus in part. I had not thought about it much up until her comment. After her comment I started thinking about having the cup at mass be given to the assembly~and if it is sending different messages to different people~ becuase I thought it was wrong of her to think that she didn't get Jesus completely because she was only given the host. I wondered if others felt this way~ or the way my friend feels~ and why.

The g.i.r.m as I understood explains how the Eucharistic Banquet is more clearly expressed giving out both species, but I still don't understand ~ if the Eucharistic Banquet is contained entirely in the flesh and blood of Christ ~under the appearence of bread~ only, then what is a person more fully participating in ~or getting or expressing~ by being offered~and taking~ the blood too? And if they are participating ~or getting or expressing~ somehting in a fuller way by drinking from the chalice does my friend have a legitimate concern that she was deprived of Jesus in part? I'm not trying to find fault I'm just trying to understand a little deeper why we do the things we do and to understand things the way they are supposed to be understood.

-- Sandy Norris (Sandy@notinterestedinspam.com), August 22, 2003.

You cannot receive Jesus "in part", any more than someone can come to visit your home "in part". If He is there, then He is there whole and entire. Jesus cannot be subdivided, which is why the tiniest particle of a consecrated host is the fullness of Jesus Christ, just as a whole consecrated host is, or a whole ciboreum filled with consecrated hosts. Likewise, the tiniest droplet of consecrated wine is fully Jesus, body and blood, soul and divinity. A whole chalice filled with His blood is nothing more than a tiny drop. It is possible that receiving under both species may provide additional symbolism, additional food for meditation; but the reality, the essence of Whom we receive, the living food of Jesus Himself, cannot be anything less one time than another time. God cannot be less than Himself.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 22, 2003.

Sandy,
Besides what Paul just mentioned, I can only suggest that you re-read #281 (the first paragraph that I quoted above) and think it over. I quoted it directly last time, because I knew that I couldn't express it in my own words nearly as well.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 22, 2003.