Do you think you might be able to help answer this question? I'm genuinely perplexed about this.
We use the little cups. I wasn't aware that there was shared-cup drinking going on. Ewww. Is it just a Catholic thing?
**Is one obligated to take Communion from the cup in addition to the host?**
No, Christ is present both in the consecrated bread as well as the consecrated wine.
Thus, someone who is allergic to wheat can receive Communion as the "Blood of Christ."
**how things used to be in the Church**
In pre-Vatican days, only the "Body of Christ" was offered in the form of the host at Communion.
The Council of Trent anathematizes anyone who states that one must receive under the species of both bread and wine. Only the priest is obligated to do this. Jesus Christ, whole and entire, body, blood, soul and divinity, is present really, truly and substantially in either just the bread or the wine.
**Why did things change after Vatican II?**
This one I will let the more schlarly answer.
You might also find the answers yourself in the GIRM (General Instructions of the Roman Missal).
On the sanitary -- I have read about the natural effects of the consecrated wine. (†With God all things are possible.†)
"Why did things change after Vatican II?"
Vatican II gave modernist heretics the opening they needed to damage the Church in many ways. When the priest was the only one who received the Blood of Christ, this was one more thing that set the priesthood apart...one more thing that made priests special.
Abolishing those sorts of things should logically translate into fewer vocations...and voila! It has.
Boy, am I going to get flamed for this, but I also find the whole community sharing the precious vessel for Our Lord's most precious blood unsanitary as well. I was certainly around in pre-Vatican II days, and I believe I have only taken Our Lord's precious blood a handful of times, like at the weddings of one of my children. Under both forms, bread and wine, Our Lord is truly present, both Body and Blood in each form. I don't think you should feel obligated to receive under both forms, but I know I'm not giving you the theologically correct answer, but hang around, the answer will be thrashed out right here.
Just to repeat what others have posted, might as well check your Catechism:
1390 Since Christ is sacramentally present under each of the species, communion under the species of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace. For pastoral reasons this manner of receiving communion has been legitimately established as the most common form in the Latin rite. But "the sign of communion is more complete when given under both kinds, since in that form the sign of the Eucharistic meal appears more clearly." This is the usual form of receiving communion in the Eastern rites.
I was on church council awhile back and the sanitary issue was raised. I made a suggestion and was "shouted down".
I was sincere about using a wine skin. The communion assistant would take aim and give a squeeze. The communicant would just open his/her mouth. Of course, safety glasses would be provided.
1) Your concerns are legitimate.
2) Having the cup of the Blood of Christ at every single mass is a liturgical abuse that has unfortunately been tolerated by Rome.
VT Parishioners Urged To Stop Sharing Chalice, Shaking Hands To Stop Flu
http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=68943
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- You can pray you won't get the flu, but Vermont's Catholic bishop is urging other steps as well.
Bishop Kenneth Angell has urged worshippers of the state's largest religion to abstain from the Mass customs of sharing a chalice of wine and shaking hands for the next six months.
Angell made the request, believed to be the only one like it in the country, in a notice to the state's 130 Catholic parishes.
The nation is facing a shortage of flu vaccine because about half of this year's supply was found to be contaminated with bacteria.
Vermont had only about 36,000 doses on hand when the vaccine shortage was made public, state health officials said. They estimated the state still needs at least 50,000 more.
State Health Commissioner Paul Jarris is recommending the state's limited supply be given to chronically ill children and nursing home residents. He suggests everyone else take such precautions as avoiding close contact with people who are sick, washing hands often and keeping fingers away from the eyes, nose and mouth.
Catholics traditionally shake hands with parishioners in pews beside them when a priest calls for a "sign of peace" during Mass. They then receive a piece of communion bread and may sip from a shared chalice.
Among other denominations in Vermont, the 19,000-member United Methodist Church and the 18,000-member United Church of Christ will continue shaking hands and receiving communion from single-serving cups, while the 8,700-member Episcopal Church will let parishioners make their own decision.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
You don't have too. I also do not think it is sanitary. During flu season since I am highly susceptible to everything being asthmatic, I even take communion in the hand at a novus ordo parish since our priest has a habit to touching the tongue inadvertantly while giving communion. Each time, I've gotten very sick with chest infections.
Probably sounds heretical, but hospital stays are expensive and play havoc with home and work life.
On the one hand, if it's offered, is it an act of rejection to pass it up?
On the other hand, is it an act of vanity to receive it, as if to imply the Body is insufficient?
If I receive it, am I catering to the women's (and they always ARE women) desire to have a role at Mass, just as every child must have a part in the Christmas Pageant?
If I pass it up, will people think that I'm more concerned with "sanitary" issues than the Blood (I'm not.)?
In our parish, it's not a regular thing, only when the guy with celiac disease (I don't know who he is, just that there is someone) is present, he stops by the sacristy on his way in to tell them and there's just the one EEM with the chalice, and it hasn't happened that that's been the line I've been in.
In my mother-in-law's parish (different diocese), it's every Mass. I wish they didn't do that. Apart from all my moral questions, the logistics are horrible - some people go the the second line to receive & some don't. I generally don't.
no, flamming is for sissies.
New Catholic Dictionary
If I may suggest getting the video,
"What we lost and the road to restoration" 27.00
www.the-pope.com/isocmain,html
The old and proper way is to receive Communion only on the tongue(never toching Our Lord with your hands) only the conscrecrated hands of God'd priest should touch the Host.
Vaticanll has also destroyed this!!!!!!! The wine is for the priest alone unless in Orthodox Church it is different.
Get the Video !