What If I Take Just the Chalice?

[Michie]

Imagine the following scenario: a small church, far more crowded than normal, perhaps because of some parish fundraiser or event that is to follow Mass that day. There are not enough consecrated hosts to go around, so Father is fracturing the hosts as he continues to distribute Holy Communion. In spite of his efforts, there are no more consecrated hosts left when you arrive before him. He looks at you with concern, an apology forming on his lips, and then you see the light bulb go off behind his eyes. He has an idea. He turns to the deacon who is holding the chalice and beckons him over. With visible relief, Father sees that the chalice is not empty. He offers it to you, saying, “The body of Christ.”

This is, admittedly, an unlikely situation, as priests tend to make an effort toward situational awareness! Perhaps the deacon was already returning the chalice to the altar for ablutions; there could be many variables here. I present it here as an extreme example, to help illustrate the point. Understanding how principles can be applied in extreme examples helps us to understand those principles better.

Continued below.

What If I Take Just the Chalice?

At Mass, the priest consumes the body and blood of Jesus, and oftentimes the faithful take only the host. So does that mean the chalice alone is defective?

www.catholic.com

 

[chevyontheriver]

Imagine the following scenario: a small church, far more crowded than normal, perhaps because of some parish fundraiser or event that is to follow Mass that day. There are not enough consecrated hosts to go around, so Father is fracturing the hosts as he continues to distribute Holy Communion. In spite of his efforts, there are no more consecrated hosts left when you arrive before him. He looks at you with concern, an apology forming on his lips, and then you see the light bulb go off behind his eyes. He has an idea. He turns to the deacon who is holding the chalice and beckons him over. With visible relief, Father sees that the chalice is not empty. He offers it to you, saying, “The body of Christ.”

This is, admittedly, an unlikely situation, as priests tend to make an effort toward situational awareness! Perhaps the deacon was already returning the chalice to the altar for ablutions; there could be many variables here. I present it here as an extreme example, to help illustrate the point. Understanding how principles can be applied in extreme examples helps us to understand those principles better.

Continued below.

What If I Take Just the Chalice?

At Mass, the priest consumes the body and blood of Jesus, and oftentimes the faithful take only the host. So does that mean the chalice alone is defective?

www.catholic.com

This was all answered by Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice where Shylock was granted his claim to a pound of flesh but not a drop of blood. He went away frustrated because that was impossible. There is blood in the body and body in the blood. We receive all of Christ if we receive either form (or both).

Years ago Maia would go up only for the cup. Probably still does. I've moved a few times since then. She had a gluten issue and this solved her issue with the Eucharist entirely.

 

[RileyG]

People from my parish with gluten issues either receive the chalice alone (no one else does) or a gluten low host.