Missing graces at Communion?/Offerings to God

Q Since we cannot at this time receive the blood of Christ at Mass, am I missing out on any graces by only receiving the consecrated host at holy Communion?

A You are not missing out on any graces.  The Council of Trent, which was held in the middle of the 16th century, declared “that Christ whole and entire, and a true sacrament, are received under either species alone (the consecrated host or the consecrated wine); and that therefore they, who receive one species alone are not defrauded of any grace necessary to salvation.”

Technically, receiving the Eucharist under one species is the law.  In the early years of the church, the faithful received Communion under both species, the sacred host and the precious blood.  By the time of the Council of Trent, for various reasons, Communion to the faithful using just the consecrated host became common.  So the council declared that it “has approved of this custom of communicating under one species and decreed that it was to be held as a law; which it is not lawful … to change at pleasure, without the authority of the church itself.”  In 1963, the Second Vatican Council, without changing the principles laid down by the Council of Trent, declared that Communion under both kinds (or species), may be granted when the bishops see fit.  

In 1984, the U.S.  Conference of Catholic Bishops decided the policy was left to the local bishop of each diocese.

To summarize:

The Council of Trent decided three basic provisions: (1) Communion under one species is the law (however, Communion under both kinds is now acceptable if the local bishop approves); (2) in receiving Communion under only one species one receives all graces possible, and (3) the church has the authority to determine the best way the sacraments are to be administered.

When we receive the body of Christ under the form of the consecrated host, we also receive his blood, and when we receive Communion under the form of consecrated wine, we also receive his body.  

Q Within the Chaplet of Divine Mercy there is a prayer, “Eternal father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”  How can we offer to God, the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus to God?   We are humans and Jesus is God. Are we capable of offering things that do not belong to us? 

A Good question.  In his article “In the Chaplet, What Do We “Offer to God?” Father  Robert Stackpole  mentions three reasons:

In a sense, Jesus does belong to us, just as we belong to him; the New Testament says that we are part of the body of Christ.  Thus, when we offer Jesus to the father in the chaplet, we are also offering ourselves in and with him, and he is offering us in and with himself.  Spiritually, we are inseparable from him (except by mortal sin, of course).

The New Testament also tells us our relationship with Christ is so close that it is a relationship of spousal love: Christ is the bridegroom, and the church is his bride.  As in any true spousal relationship, the spouses, in a sense, belong to each other. The two have become “one flesh” (Gen 2:24).

That we can, in a sense, offer Christ to God the father is also enshrined in Catholic liturgical tradition, and is manifested in the Mass even today.  Eucharistic Prayer #1 in the Roman Missal states: “we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that you have given us, this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy bread of eternal life and the chalice of everlasting salvation.”  This consecrated bread and wine is now the body and blood of Jesus Christ.  

Father Vincent Serpa OP once commented on Catholic Answers Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us by offering himself up for us on the cross.  That sacrifice was a perfect prayer and now that perfect prayer can be ours.

For more information search:  “In the Chaplet, What Do We “Offer to God?” – Divine Mercy, by Father Stackpole and “How Can We Offer Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Divine Mercy Chaplet” by Father Serpa  on the Catholic Answers website. 

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