Co-mingling of host/Apostles

Q During Mass, after the consecration of the body and blood of our Lord and the Lord’s prayer, the priest drops a particle of the Sacred Host into the chalice.  Why does he do this?

A This practice may have started during the early years of the church when there was only one eucharistic celebration (one Mass) by the bishop in each city on Sunday.  As Christianity spread, it was physically impossible for everyone to attend that one Mass, so more Masses began to be celebrated throughout the area.  To maintain the connection to the bishop’s Mass, a small portion of the consecrated host was taken to each of the other Masses where the presiding priest would comingle the host with the consecrated wine. 

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that this comingling of the body and blood of Christ signifies “the unity of the body and blood of the Lord in the work of salvation, namely, of the living and glorious body of Jesus Christ.”  As the priest places the host in the chalice, he silently prays “May this mingling of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.”  

The Vatican Office of Liturgical Celebrations also states: “Its object is to show, that at the moment of our Lord’s Resurrection, his blood was reunited to his body; by flowing again in his veins as before. It would not have sufficed if his soul alone had been reunited to his body; his blood must necessarily be so likewise, in order that the Lord might be whole and complete.”  

Just as a piece of the host symbolizes the death of Jesus, the comingling symbolizes his resurrection.  A body without blood is dead, but when Christ’s body is “reunited” with his blood, Christ is risen.   

Q In the New Testament, I have a hard time distinguishing between the Twelve Apostles and disciples?  Can you explain the difference?

A At times, it seems these two words are used interchangeably, but there is a difference.  The word “apostle” means “one sent on a mission.”  Used in the New Testament, it refers primarily to “the twelve” who were selected by Jesus who gave them his authority to go out and preach his Gospel to all the nations of the world.  In contrast, the word “disciple” means a student, a learner or a pupil who surrounded Jesus and learned from his teachings.  

So, the word apostle defines a person in terms of their mission or purpose; disciple refers to a relationship to a teacher.  Therefore, all of the apostles were disciples, but not all of the disciples were apostles.  

As mentioned above, the term apostle refers primarily to the Twelve Apostles Jesus selected to build his church.  But St. Paul and the Acts of the Apostles use the term apostles to refer to those who were sent as messengers of the Gospel.  St. Paul, himself, is also referred to as an apostle (the “Apostle of the Gentiles”), as well as Barnabas, Andronicus and Junia. Disciples would include those following Jesus, such as Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany.   

We are actually all called to be apostles and disciples – to be the messenger and ambassador of Christ and to take up our cross and follow him.  Jesus must be preeminent in our lives.  Are we up to the task?   

Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at [email protected].