Intinction

As you know, St. Agatha-St, James offers the opportunity to the faithful for communion under both species at all Sunday, weekday Masses, most of the time.  From a dogmatic and pastoral point of view, choosing to receive communion under both species is never “necessary,” because one who receives only the host at communion, receives the  “whole” Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity. However, the Church teaches that reception under both species represents the fuller sign of communion, and if pastorally possible, is preferable, which is why we make it available here at St. AJ.

On June 15, 2001, the Latin members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the document entitled: "Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America,” where we read:  “Thus, the Church has always taught the doctrine of concomitance, by which we know that under each species alone, the whole Christ is sacramentally present and we "receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace."  [16] At the same HowWe CelebrateTheLiturgy.html time an appreciation for reception of "the whole Christ" through one species should not diminish in any way the fuller sign value of reception of Holy Communion under both kinds. For just as Christ offered his whole self, body and blood, as a sacrifice for our sins, so too is our reception of his Body and Blood under both kinds an especially fitting participation in his memorial of eternal life.”

            In the United States, the other approved method of communicating under both species is called Intinction. The method of intinction involves the minister of communion dipping a host into the precious blood and offering it to the communicant on the tongue. Because St. AJ offers both species by the preferred sign of making the chalice available, we do, at the present time, offer intinction.  While this manner of communicating under both species is allowable, the church is clear that a communicant should not intinct his/her own host. In the document quoted above: [50] “The communicant, including the extraordinary minister, is never allowed to self-communicate, even by means of intinction. Communion under either form, bread or wine, must always be given by an ordinary or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.”

            In addition to the above prohibitions, there is another compelling reason why a person should not “self-intinct,” i.e. take a host from the minister of the host and then intinct the host in the cup offered by the minister of the cup.  There are members of our community who suffer from Celiac Sprue Disease, an inability to consume and digest gluten, a major ingredient in wheat flour.  Such persons are permitted to avoid the host and communicate by receiving only the precious blood from the chalice.  However, if someone in the congregation has previously dipped a host in the precious blood by self-intincting, the content of the chalice has been gluten-contaminated and not safe for someone with Celiac disease.  It is the intention and practice here at St AJ that the chalices that are offered to the congregation are gluten free when they leave the altar, so that someone with Celiac disease may safely receive holy Communion from the chalice.

The following are helpful quotes from relevant church documents regarding communion under both forms:

Redemtionis Sacramentum [Holy See]

4. Communion Under Both Kinds

100. So that the fullness of the sign may be made more clearly evident to the faithful in the course of the Eucharistic banquet, lay members of Christ’s faithful, too, are admitted to Communion under both kinds, in the cases set forth in the liturgical books, preceded and continually accompanied by proper catechesis regarding the dogmatic principles on this matter laid down by the Ecumenical Council of Trent.186

103. The norms of the Roman Missal admit the principle that in cases where Communion is administered under both kinds, “the Blood of the Lord may be received either by drinking from the chalice directly, or by intinction, or by means of a tube or a spoon.” [191] As regards the administering of Communion to lay members of Christ’s faithful, the Bishops may exclude Communion with the tube or the spoon where this is not the local custom, though the option of administering Communion by intinction always remains. If this modality is employed, however, hosts should be used which are neither too thin nor too small, and the communicant should receive the Sacrament from the Priest only on the tongue.[192]

104. The communicant must not be permitted to intinct the host himself in the chalice, nor to receive the intincted host in the hand. As for the host to be used for the intinction, it should be made of valid matter, also consecrated; it is altogether forbidden to use non-consecrated bread or other matter.

Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America

Approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

on June 14, 2001.  Congregation for Divine Worship

and the Discipline of the Sacraments

15. The communicant makes this act of faith in the total presence of the Lord Jesus Christ whether in Communion under one form or in Communion under both kinds. It should never be construed, therefore, that Communion under the form of bread alone or Communion under the form of wine alone is somehow an incomplete act or that Christ is not fully present to the communicant. The Church's unchanging teaching from the time of the Fathers through the ages--notably in the ecumenical councils of Lateran IV, Constance, Florence, Trent, and Vatican II--has witnessed to a constant unity of faith in the presence of Christ in both elements. (25) Clearly there are some pastoral circumstances that require Eucharistic sharing in one species only, such as when Communion is brought to the sick or when one is unable to receive either the Body of the Lord or the Precious Blood due to an illness. Even in the earliest days of the Church's life, when Communion under both species was the norm, there were always instances when the Eucharist was received under only the form of bread or wine. Those who received Holy Communion at home or who were sick would usually receive under only one species, as would the whole Church during the Good Friday Liturgy. (26) Thus, the Church has always taught the doctrine of concomitance, by which we know that under each species alone, the whole Christ is sacramentally present and we "receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace." (27)

16. At the same time an appreciation for reception of "the whole Christ" through one species should not diminish in any way the fuller sign value of reception of Holy Communion under both kinds. For just as Christ offered his whole self, body and blood, as a sacrifice for our sins, so too is our reception of his Body and Blood under both kinds an especially fitting participation in his memorial of eternal life.

Intinction

49. Holy Communion may be distributed by intinction in the following manner: "the communicant, while holding the paten under the chin, approaches the priest who holds the vessel with the hosts and at whose side stands the minister holding the chalice. The priest takes the host, intincts the particle into the chalice and, showing it, says: 'The Body and Blood of Christ.' The communicant responds, 'Amen,' and receives the Sacrament on the tongue from the priest. Afterwards, the communicant returns to his or her place." (53)

50. The communicant, including the extraordinary minister, is never allowed to self-communicate, even by means of intinction. Communion under either form, bread or wine, must always be given by an ordinary or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

Distribution of Holy Communion

This adaptation will take the place of number 160, paragraph 2:

The faithful are not permitted to take up the consecrated bread or the sacred chalice themselves, and still less, hand them on to one another.