A Fuller Sign of the Eucharist

The Church has restored and encourages people to participate in the fuller sign of the Eucharist by receiving the Precious Blood. Of course, we still hold that Christ is really and fully present in the host and when we bring Communion to the sick and dying we commonly administer only the host. Communion from the chalice is the preferred form of ministering the Precious Blood in the Latin (Western) Church. Because the Eucharist is always a Gift, one always receives the cup from a priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister. One should never “take” the cup from the altar, communicate oneself, or “take” the host to dip into the Precious Blood (“intinction”). The choice to receive the Precious Blood is always the choice of the communicant. After receiving and consuming the host, one processes to the minister with the cup, bows the head, responds, “Amen!” to “Blood of Christ”, receives the cup from the minister, takes a sip, hands the cup back to the minister, and processes back to ones’ pew. If it appears that there will be more of the Precious Blood remaining as Communion ends, one might be asked to take a larger sip or another sip so that all the Precious Blood is consumed. The Center for Disease Control has not established any particular risk from Communion from the cup. However, if one is ill with a disease than can readily be communicated by sharing the cup, then one should forego receiving the Precious Blood. Again, self-intinction is not permitted. The US Bishops do monitor possible health risks and issue appropriate cautions and restrictions when necessary.