A Question about Holy Communion

[John Shrewsbury]

I have noticed that during Holy Communion some people take the wafer and eat it and then drink from the cup. Others take the wafer and then dunk it in the cup and eat it. Is there a reason for this, or is it purely personal choice? Thank you.

 

[ebia]

I have noticed that during Holy Communion some people take the wafer and eat it and then drink from the cup. Others take the wafer and then dunk it in the cup and eat it. Is there a reason for this, or is it purely personal choice? Thank you.

Some do the latter because they think it more hygienic. In fact it is massively less hygienic and thoroughly obnoxious. It has become frowned on to prohibited there over the last few years.

 

[Yardstick]

Is it more hygienic if the chalice bearer dips the wafer for you? That's what the local cathedral does.

For the record I drink from the cup, unless I'm sick, then I just take only the bread. But I thought the cathedral had a clever work around, assuming it actually is more hygienic...

 

[Albion]

None of these methods is very hygienic, but some people think one twist or another is more hygienic than the conventional method. The easy answer, therefore, would seem to be, "to each his own."

However, I am aware that some theologians think that the "dip your host" (let's leave the technical terminology aside for the moment) method amounts to communing yourself...and that is quite wrong to do.

Personally, I don't know how I feel about that, but it's interesting to contemplate.

 

[ebia]

Is it more hygienic if the chalice bearer dips the wafer for you?

Provided their hands have just been washed and sanitized.

 

[ebia]

None of these methods is very hygienic, but some people think one twist or another is more hygienic than the conventional method. The easy answer, therefore, would seem to be, "to each his own.".

Except the issue is how hygienic one is making it for everyone else.

 

[Esdra]

I have noticed that during Holy Communion some people take the wafer and eat it and then drink from the cup. Others take the wafer and then dunk it in the cup and eat it. Is there a reason for this, or is it purely personal choice? Thank you.

It has become quite popular here in the Roman Catholic as well.

But strictly speaking it is forbidden, as you take from the cup yourself. But only a priest or deacon (or lay person who is permitted to distribute communion) is allowed to give you from the cup.
Just as some conservative priests also don't like that you take the Holy Communion in your hand. You should actually take it with your mouth.
But the latter is officially allowed in the RCC (i.e. to take it in your hands) as far as I know.

Very intersting sidenote: In the ELCA Church I've been attending a few times the cup with the hosts and the wine are given from your neighbour sitting next to you. (We sat or stood, I don't know anymore, in a circle as the parish was small. And the pastor took from the bread and the cup last.

 

[Liberasit]

We have real bread in our church, so dipping just would not work.

We have silver chalices, which are meant to be good for anti-microbial properties (not sure how scientifically this is).

I think the bottom line is that if you worry about these things, then sit at the front.

It is quite disturbing to think we might be harmed by sharing in the Lord's supper.

 

[ebia]

We have real bread in our church, so dipping just would not work. We have silver chalices, which are meant to be good for anti-microbial properties (not sure how scientifically this is). I think the bottom line is that if you worry about these things, then sit at the front. It is quite disturbing to think we might be harmed by sharing in the Lord's supper.

The presence of silver does enhance the anti-bacterial effect present in red wine from the grape skins.

 

[Yardstick]

We have real bread in our church, so dipping just would not work.

We have silver chalices, which are meant to be good for anti-microbial properties (not sure how scientifically this is).

I think the bottom line is that if you worry about these things, then sit at the front.

It is quite disturbing to think we might be harmed by sharing in the Lord's supper.

We use real bread in one of our services and I still see people dip. Nothing will stop some people

 

[ebia]

We use real bread in one of our services and I still see people dip. Nothing will stop some people

give em loose flour - that'll stop em.

 

[PaladinValer]

Ebia and the others answered this more than sufficiently.

My own parish allows self-intinction, and when I serve as chalice bearer, I do see some...unsavory results at times. I use to self-intinct as well, but I partake directly from the chalice now and have for many, many years once I accepted the fact that it is FAR more hygienic to do so.

I think the Roman Catholic solution of the chalice bearer doing it for the recipient is better, but really, directly from the chalice is not only more healthy, but more fitting to the ancient practice.

 

[John Shrewsbury]

Thanks for all the replies!

I always accept the wafer from the priest and then eat, and then drink from the cup as it is offered to me by the priest.

 

[Liberasit]

Thanks for all the replies!

I always accept the wafer from the priest and then eat, and then drink from the cup as it is offered to me by the priest.

Good on you

 

[everbecoming2007]

I always drink from the chalice. That's what my sponsor-priest encouraged when I was converting and it seems like better symbolism, feels more intimate. I don't like intinction because most people who do it think it doesn't spread germs, but it does....I've seen people dip their fingers into the chalice along with the bread, and right before my turn to commune, too!

 

[PaladinValer]

I always drink from the chalice. That's what my sponsor-priest encouraged when I was converting and it seems like better symbolism, feels more intimate. I don't like intinction because most people who do it think it doesn't spread germs, but it does....I've seen people dip their fingers into the chalice along with the bread, and right before my turn to commune, too!

...and this is what I've seen happen as well.

It isn't intentional typically, but when people have poor manual dexterity due to age or disability, I think it is God's way of telling them that it is time to partake directly from the chalice.

 

[Gnarwhal]

I have noticed that during Holy Communion some people take the wafer and eat it and then drink from the cup. Others take the wafer and then dunk it in the cup and eat it. Is there a reason for this, or is it purely personal choice? Thank you.

At the continuing parish I visited some months back, the priest would distribute the wafer and then the deacon would come by and you could either drink directly from the chalice or hold your palms open with the wafer and the deacon would dunk the wafer for you and place it on your tongue.

Seemed old school in a cool way.

 

[Liberasit]

As I have already said, we use real bread and eat it before taking the wine.

We have around 350 - 400 communicants in any given service, plus a number of children presenting themselves for blessings. We have two stations.

I go to Holy Trinity Brompton (the Alpha church) a few times a year (son is at Uni in Central London) and their communion services are wavers and tinction. This totally felled me the first time, but I think it is all down to getting 1000 people through and still having a 30 minute sermon in an hour or so. It may be down to not being my regular church and not being in fellowship with other members of the congregation, but I definitely don't get the same warm fuzzy feeling as I do at my home church.

Of course, it could be all down to evangelical churches not ascribing to the Real Presence . Wait, one does have he warm fuzzy and the other doesn't. All the vicars are properly ordained. I'm confused

 

[ebia]

As I have already said, we use real bread and eat it before taking the wine. We have around 350 - 400 communicants in any given service, plus a number of children presenting themselves for blessings. We have two stations. I go to Holy Trinity Brompton (the Alpha church) a few times a year (son is at Uni in Central London) and their communion services are wavers and tinction. This totally felled me the first time, but I think it is all down to getting 1000 people through and still having a 30 minute sermon in an hour or so. It may be down to not being my regular church and not being in fellowship with other members of the congregation, but I definitely don't get the same warm fuzzy feeling as I do at my home church. Of course, it could be all down to evangelical churches not ascribing to the Real Presence . Wait, one does have he warm fuzzy and the other doesn't. All the vicars are properly ordained. I'm confused

What's warm and fuzzy got to do with anything?

 

[Liberasit]

What's warm and fuzzy got to do with anything?

So many questions, so few answers.