Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church teaches that the bread and wine used in the Eucharist become the Body and Blood of Christ at the consecration and that Christ is present body and blood, soul and divinity in both items. However, it is common for only the priest to consume both the bread and wine, with the congregation receiving only the consecrated Host (the Body of Christ represented by the edible wafer or bread). This practice reflects the Catholic belief that communion under the form of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace. In certain situations, such as influenza epidemics, some churches may suspend the giving of wine during communion to prevent the spread of disease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bread | Leavened or unleavened |
| Wine | Non-alcoholic grape juice in some Protestant traditions, such as Methodism |
| Consecration | The bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ |
| Transubstantiation | The bread and wine are converted into the body and blood of Christ, but their physical form and appearance remain unaltered |
| Communion | Catholics believe that communion under the form of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace |
| Distribution | Hosts are distributed to the congregation, while the wine is reserved for ordained members such as priests and bishops |
| Intinction | Some Catholics dip the wafer in the wine before consuming it |
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What You'll Learn
- The Catholic Church believes that communion under the form of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace
- The bread and wine are believed to become the Body and Blood of Christ at the consecration
- The Church teaches that Christ is present body and blood, soul and divinity in both items
- The practice of only receiving the Host may be due to the easier distribution of bread and the risk of spilling wine
- Some Catholics skip the wine due to concerns about drinking from the same cup as others, especially during influenza epidemics
The Catholic Church believes that communion under the form of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace
The Catholic Church holds that the bread and wine used in the Eucharist become the Body and Blood of Christ at the consecration. This belief is called transubstantiation. The Church teaches that Christ is present "body and blood, soul and divinity" in both items. However, it is common for only the priest to consume both the consecrated bread and wine, with the congregation receiving only the former. This is because the Catholic Church believes that communion under the form of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace.
This belief is reflected in the practice of some churches that distribute only the consecrated bread during influenza epidemics, for fear of spreading the disease. This practice is in full accord with Catholic Church doctrine, which holds that the communicant can receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace through communion under the form of bread alone.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides "pastoral reasons" for this belief, including the easy distribution of Holy Communion, particularly to large congregations, and protecting the Precious Blood from being profaned. Hosts may be dropped, but they are easily recovered; the consecrated wine, on the other hand, is more easily spilled and cannot easily be recovered.
The Catholic Church's belief in transubstantiation is based on the words of Jesus during the Last Supper. Jesus said, "This is my body... do this in memory of me," and "This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many." Catholics take these words of Jesus very seriously, believing that the bread and wine truly become His body and blood, while the form and appearances of the elements remain unaltered.
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The bread and wine are believed to become the Body and Blood of Christ at the consecration
The Catholic Church teaches that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ during the consecration. This is known as transubstantiation. The belief is that the substance of the bread and wine is transformed into the substance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, while the physical form and appearance (colour, taste, feel, and smell) remain unchanged.
The Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 affirmed this belief, stating that the bread and wine are "transubstantiated, by God's power, into his body and blood". The Council of Trent in 1551 further declared that the consecration changes "the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood".
This doctrine is based on the words of Jesus during the Last Supper, where he took bread and wine and said, "This is my body... This is my blood". Catholics take these words of Jesus literally and believe that the Eucharist is the same Flesh that was generated in the womb of Mary and suffered on the Cross.
The practice of receiving communion under both kinds (bread and wine) is more common in the Eastern rites, while in the Latin rite, it is more common to receive only the consecrated bread (the Host). The "pastoral reasons" for this practice in the Latin rite include the easier distribution of Holy Communion, especially to large congregations, and the risk of spilling the consecrated wine, which is considered a profanation.
However, it is important to note that the Catholic Church teaches that Christ is fully present in both the consecrated bread and wine. Even when only the bread is distributed to the congregation, the priest consumes both, affirming the belief that Christ is sacramentally present and active in both elements.
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The Church teaches that Christ is present body and blood, soul and divinity in both items
The Catholic Church teaches that the bread and wine used in the Eucharist become the Body and Blood of Christ during the consecration. This is based on the belief that Christ is present "body and blood, soul and divinity" in both items. This belief is known as transubstantiation, which holds that while the physical characteristics of the bread and wine remain unchanged (e.g. colour, taste, feel, and smell), their substance has been transformed into the substance of Christ's body and blood.
The Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 affirmed this belief, stating that the bread and wine are "transubstantiated, by God's power, into his body and blood". This was further reinforced by the Council of Trent in 1551, which declared that "by the consecration of the bread and wine, there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that communion under the form of bread alone, known as the Host, is sufficient to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace. This practice is commonly observed in the Latin rite for pastoral reasons, such as easy distribution to large congregations and preventing the profanation of the Precious Blood by spilling.
However, it is important to note that the Church also recognises the significance of receiving communion under both forms. In the Eastern rites, for example, it is customary to receive communion under both kinds, as it more clearly signifies the Eucharistic meal. Additionally, during certain feasts, such as Easter, it is common for both the ordained and the laity to consume both the bread and the wine.
While the physical consumption of both the bread and the wine may vary, the Church's teaching emphasises that Christ is fully present in both elements. This belief is rooted in the words of Jesus during the Last Supper, where he offered the bread and wine as his body and blood, to be consumed in remembrance of him.
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The practice of only receiving the Host may be due to the easier distribution of bread and the risk of spilling wine
The Catholic Church teaches that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ at the consecration and that Christ is present "body and blood, soul and divinity" in both items. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, 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.
The practice of only receiving the Host may be due to the easier distribution of bread. The distribution of the consecrated wine, on the other hand, is more complex and carries the risk of spilling. This practice is particularly common in the Latin rite, where it has been established as the most common form of communion for pastoral reasons.
The distribution of communion under both kinds is more common in the Eastern rites, where it is considered the "'more complete' sign of the Eucharistic meal." In the Byzantine Catholic's Eucharistic Liturgy, for example, they practice "intinction," where the bread and wine are mixed and served together.
During influenza epidemics, some churches may suspend the distribution of wine to prevent the spread of disease. This practice is in accordance with the belief that communion under the form of bread alone is sufficient to receive the grace of the Eucharist.
It is important to note that the decision to offer communion under both kinds is ultimately at the discretion of the priest, and some individuals may choose to only receive the Host even when the wine is offered.
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Some Catholics skip the wine due to concerns about drinking from the same cup as others, especially during influenza epidemics
During influenza epidemics, some churches stop serving wine during communion to prevent the spread of disease. This practice is in line with the Catholic Church's belief that communion in the form of bread alone allows one to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace. This belief holds that Christ is present "body and blood, soul, and divinity" in both bread and wine. Thus, receiving communion in the form of bread alone is sufficient.
The practice of suspending the offering of wine during communion is not unique to the Catholic Church. During influenza outbreaks, some churches that typically emphasize the importance of receiving communion in both forms have also stopped serving wine. For example, the Church of England took this measure in 2009.
The decision to skip the wine during communion in Catholic services is sometimes influenced by concerns about drinking from the same cup as others. Some individuals may be uncomfortable with the idea of sharing a cup with strangers, especially during influenza epidemics or when there are fears of spreading disease.
While the risk of transmitting infectious diseases through the use of a common communion cup is generally considered low, some individuals may still prefer to avoid it. In some cases, churches have implemented alternative methods of distributing communion, such as using mechanical wafer dispensers or "pillow packs" (communion wafers with wine inside them). However, these methods are not commonly accepted in Catholic parishes, as they deviate from the traditional practice of sharing the Eucharist from a single cup.
It is worth noting that the Catholic Church teaches that receiving communion under both forms (bread and wine) is the "more complete" sign of the Eucharistic meal. Nevertheless, the Church recognizes that receiving communion in the form of bread alone is sufficient to receive the grace of the sacrament.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ at the consecration and that Christ is present "body and blood, soul and divinity" in both items. However, in practice, Catholic communicants only receive the Host (the Body of Christ represented by the edible wafer or bread). The wine (the Blood of Christ) is consumed by the priest and those who concelebrate the mass.
The Catholic Church teaches that communion under the form of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace. The "pastoral reasons" for this practice include the easy distribution of Holy Communion, especially to large congregations, and protecting the Precious Blood from being profaned.
In the Byzantine Catholic's Eucharistic Liturgy, also known as the "Divine Liturgy", they give the Eucharist via intinction - which means they mix the "bread" and "wine" together and serve it at the same time.
