Rachel Evans
Communion under both kinds in Roman Catholicism refers to the reception of both the consecrated bread and wine of the Eucharist. The practice of communion under both kinds was the norm for over a millennium of Catholic liturgical practice until the late 11th century, when the custom of distributing only the bread to the faithful began to grow. The Eastern Orthodox Church has consistently practised communion under both kinds, and some denominations of Christianity believe that a Eucharist that does not include both bread and wine is not valid. In the 20th century, Catholic liturgical reformers began to press for a return to communion under both kinds, and in 1963, the Second Vatican Council authorized the extension of Holy Communion under both kinds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Communion under both kinds | Reception of the Sacrament of the Eucharist under the species or appearance of both consecrated bread and wine |
| Communion under one kind | Reception of the Sacrament of the Eucharist under the species or appearance of bread alone or wine alone |
| Communion in Catholic teaching | Christ is really and integrally received under either kind |
| Communion in Eastern Catholic Churches | Administered under both kinds as a matter of course |
| Communion in Western Catholic Churches | Communion is often only offered in the species of bread to the laity |
| Communion in the Latin rite | Communion under the species of bread alone is the most common form |
| Communion in the Orthodox Church | Communion under both kinds is the norm |
| Communion in the Novus Ordo Mass | Introduced communion under both kinds in 1969 |
| Communion in the Traditional Latin Mass | Communion is retained under one kind |
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What You'll Learn
Communion under both kinds is a 'Protestant' practice
Communion under both kinds, or the Eucharist, is the reception of both consecrated bread and wine. In the Roman Catholic Church, this practice is permitted in certain cases, but it is not obligatory. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, communion under both kinds is consistently practised, and both the clergy and the people normally receive in both kinds.
Communion under both kinds was the norm for over a millennium of Catholic liturgical practice. However, by the Middle Ages, the Church had become increasingly hierarchical, and there was a greater emphasis on the holiness of the sacramental elements. This led to the exclusion of the laity from receiving the Eucharist under both kinds, with the practice being reserved for the clergy. The Council of Constance in 1415 further affirmed this position, decreeing that Holy Communion would be distributed to the faithful under the form of bread alone.
In the 16th century, Protestant Reformers such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Huldrych Zwingli challenged this practice, citing biblical passages that they believed indicated a divine precept obliging the faithful to receive under both kinds. By this time, the practice of communion under both kinds was already regarded as a 'Protestant' practice by many Catholics. The Council of Trent, which convened in 1545, issued decrees against the Reformers' interpretation of these biblical passages and affirmed the existing discipline of communion under one kind.
In the 20th century, Catholic liturgical reformers began to advocate for a return to communion under both kinds, citing the early practices of the Church. This led to spirited debates at the Second Vatican Council, resulting in a compromise. The bishops issued a statement that communion under both kinds may be granted when the bishops deem it appropriate, not only to clerics and religious but also to the laity in specific cases. However, regular use of communion under both kinds requires the permission of the bishop, and even with authorisation, there may be practical considerations that limit its implementation.
Communion under both kinds is significant as it allows the faithful to deepen their faith in the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
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The Council of Trent
The council's impact extended beyond doctrine and internal church affairs. It officially affirmed the traditional Catholic Canon of biblical books, mirroring the canon of Scripture issued by the Council of Rome in 382. This affirmation was in response to the growing Protestant exclusion of the deuterocanonical books. The Council of Trent also resulted in the creation of a revised and standardized Vulgate, which took into account textual criticism.
In terms of communion, the Council of Trent addressed the question of whether to allow the use of the chalice in the dominions of the Holy Roman Emperor. The council referred the matter to the pope, and in 1564, Pius IV granted permission to some German bishops, provided certain conditions were met. However, this concession was withdrawn the following year, as the practice of communion under both kinds was already regarded as a 'Protestant' custom by many Catholics.
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The Hussite Wars
The Bohemian Reformation, the first systematic attempt by Catholic clergy to reform the corruption and abuses of the medieval Church, had been underway since around 1380 but became more radicalized after 1416, leading to social unrest in 1419. Hus had denounced what he judged as the corruption of the church and the papacy, promoting some of the reformist ideas of English theologian John Wycliffe. His preaching was widely heeded in Bohemia, provoking suppression by the church, which had declared many of Wycliffe's ideas heretical.
In 1432, the Utraquist faction of the Hussites changed sides to fight alongside the Roman Catholics, opposing the more radical Taborite faction. The wars ended in 1434 when the moderate Utraquists and Catholics defeated the Taborites. The Hussites agreed to submit to the authority of the king of Bohemia and the Roman Catholic Church and were allowed to practice their somewhat variant rite. The Utraquists were granted freedom of religion at the Council of Basel in 1446, ending the Hussite Wars and the Bohemian Reformation, although issues concerning religion would continue to cause conflict.
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The Holy Eucharist
The Eucharist is the central act of Christian worship and is practised by most Christian churches in some form. It is a two-part rite in the Catholic Church: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The former consists of readings from the Bible and a sermon, and the latter includes the offering and consecration of the bread and wine at the altar, followed by their reception by the congregation in Holy Communion.
The bread and wine are consecrated on an altar or communion table and are then consumed. The consecration is when the substances of the bread and wine are believed to become the substances of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, while the form and appearance of the bread and wine remain unaltered. This is known as transubstantiation. The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches agree that an objective change occurs, while Lutherans believe the true body and blood of Christ are "in, with, and under" the forms of the bread and wine.
Communion under both kinds refers to the reception of both the consecrated bread and wine of the Eucharist. In the Catholic Church, this is granted when bishops think fit, not only to clerics and religious but also to the laity. The practice of Holy Communion under both kinds was the norm for over a millennium of Catholic liturgical practice until the late 11th century when communion under just one kind (either bread or wine) began to grow.
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The Apostolic See
> Communion under both kinds may be granted when the bishops think fit, not only to clerics and religious, but also to the laity, in cases to be determined by the Apostolic See, as for instance, to the newly ordained in the Mass of their sacred ordination, to the newly professed in the Mass of their religious profession, and to the newly baptized in the Mass which follows their baptism.
This means that the Apostolic See has the authority to determine when and to whom communion under both kinds is administered. This decision is made in consultation with the local bishops, who have the final say in granting permission for this practice in their dioceses.
The Second Vatican Council's decision to restore communion under both kinds was based on the belief that it is a fuller sign of the Eucharistic banquet. This decision does not represent a change in the Church's beliefs concerning the Holy Eucharist but rather a restoration of a previous practice that had fallen out of favour.
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Frequently asked questions
Communion under both kinds is the reception of the Sacrament of the Eucharist under the species or appearance of both consecrated bread and wine.
Denominations of Christianity that practice communion under both kinds believe that a Eucharist that does not include both bread and wine is not valid. Communion under both kinds is considered a fuller sign of the Eucharistic banquet and a manifest command of Christ.
In Western communion services, it is common for only the Eucharistic Bread to be distributed to the laity. This practice began in the late 11th century and was due to several pastoral reasons.
The Catholic Church teaches that communion under both kinds may be granted when the bishops think fit. Bishops in many countries have given blanket authorization to administer Holy Communion under both kinds.
No, the order of communion may vary between different Catholic churches.
