The Hidden Depths of the Mass #37

There’s No Cup

For several centuries, the Precious Blood was not offered to the laity.  This was not meant to be an act of exclusion.  It was out of reverence for the physical handling of the Precious Blood.  In 1984, the Vatican granted permission for the Precious Blood to be distributed to the faithful (see https://www.catholic.com/qa/when-should-communion-be-distributed-under-both-forms).

In paragraph 10 of the USCCB’s “Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States” (https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/norms-for-holy-communion-under-both-kinds) we read, “The same body, however, is under the form of wine and the blood under the form of bread, and the soul under either form, by virtue of the natural link and concomitance by which the parts of Christ the Lord, who has now risen from the dead and will die no more, are mutually united.”

Concern for the spread of COVID deemed it necessary to not distribute the Precious Blood in the Cup.  Bishop Matano has reserved the decision to himself to when we might distribute the Precious Blood again.  Until then, know that when you receive the consecrated host, you are receiving both the Body and the Blood of Jesus.

(The previous articles in this series are available online at
https://renewaloffaith.org/bulletin-series-on-the-mass-2023/)