Communion
under both kinds, the practice of receiving the body and blood of the
Lord under the forms of bread and wine.
Jesus himself at the Last Supper gave bread and wine to His disciples after
declaring the former to be His body and the latter His blood. Christians
continued this practice, though with adaptations according to circumstances
(e.g., it was simpler to bring the Eucharist to the sick in their homes only
under the form of bread). But in the West, theological controversies in the
12th and 13th centuries led to the reception of the
Eucharist under the form of bread alone. Controversialists insisted that
one had to receive the Eucharist under both forms in order to be saved.
Other theologians responded that the Lord was present under either form in
the entirety of His being, both body and blood (the doctrine of
concomitance). Thus while the practice of Communion under both kinds
continued in the East, in the medieval West it gradually disappeared.
Reformers in the 16th century declared Communion under one form
to be contrary to the scriptural norm. The Council of Trent (1545-63)
reaffirmed the doctrine of concomitance and the Church’s authority to
restrict the reception of the Eucharist to one form, that of bread.
However, Vatican II (1962-65) called for the reestablishment of Communion
under both kinds. The restoration of this practice enables participants in
the Eucharistic liturgy to experience the abundance of the Lord’s self-gift
in his body and blood through both sacramental signs of bread and wine”
(from Encyclopedia of Catholicism).
As this practice has reemerged it is a wonderful expression of a complete
meal (food and drink). Because of this more complete expression you are
strongly encouraged to partake of both species, the Body and Blood of
Jesus. Not only does it better reflect a meal but Jesus shared both with
his apostles at the Last Supper and desires to share the same with each of
us. Please remember, if you are ill do not expose others to your illness
and refrain from receiving the blood of Christ until your sickness has
passed. This is common courtesy. We are very privileged to have such a
tremendous gift – Jesus own flesh and blood (gospel of John chapter 6) and
unlike most other Christians, available everyday. The danger in being so
readily available is that we take this great gift for granted. Jesus wanted
to remain present on earth in some human fashion forever. Since as a human
person He was limited to time, Hs death ended His presence in a human body.
However, through the Eucharist Jesus is present in the form of bread and
wine. These are forms we humans can taste and see. Let us not take this
divine gift for granted. Let us taste and see the goodness of God. |
