PRECIOUS BLOOD

There are signs of liturgical life returning back to its pre-COVID-19 form in the Diocese of Baton Rouge as church parishes and their congregations proceed as they are ready to do so since the lifting of the restriction of the distribution of the precious blood of Christ from the chalice.

In a letter from Bishop Michael G. Duca to the faithful released Nov. 12, the bishop lifted the diocesan-mandated COVID precautions in worship.

“In order to make a full return to our normal celebration of the liturgy, I also announce to our pastors that, ‘I now encourage and allow parishes to restore the practice of distributing Communion under both kinds beginning on the first Sunday of Advent, if the ministers and congregation are prepared to do so,’ ” the bishop wrote.

The church has revisited the value of offering Communion under both species of bread and wine over time because of  changed circumstances.

The laity commonly received Communion under the species of bread and wine from the time of Christ until about the 11th century. However, in 1415 the Council of Constance decreed the distribution of Communion under the form of bread only would be distributed to the faithful.

 In 1963 bishops were given permission to offer the reception of Communion under bread and wine when Pope Paul VI published the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, “Sacrosanctum concilium.”

When the pandemic necessitated changes in the liturgical worship in the diocese, one of those was the receiving of Communion by chalice by the laity.

In his letter notifying the faithful of the lifting of the restriction Bishop Duca stated, “I remind the faithful that while receiving from the chalice is for many a spiritually meaningful experience, it is not necessary to receive the fullness of Christ in Holy Communion.  As always, receiving from the chalice when offered is an optional choice for the individual communicant.”

 This is noted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which  states: “Since Christ is sacramentally present under each of the species, Communion under the species of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace” (CCC, No. 1390).

Father Jerry Martin, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Prairieville, noted that during the pandemic the church emphasized that when parishioners receive the Eucharist they are receiving the full body and blood of Jesus. After the restrictions were lifted extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist were retrained on the safety protocols of distributing Communion from the chalice.

Now that the restrictions have been lifted many people are happy that the distribution of the precious blood of Christ has returned. They said they missed the offering of the chalice as part of the parallel between Communion and the Last Supper, in which Jesus instituted the sacrament of his body and blood when he offered the consecrated bread and wine separately.

“But there are many people who are hesitant to receive from the chalice because of health considerations due to the coronavirus and the flu,” said Father Martin.

He said people are welcome to receive from the chalice when they feel comfortable in doing so.

Father Eddie Martin, pastor of St. Anne Church in Napoleonville, St. Philomena Church in Labadieville and Immaculate Conception Chapel in Napoleonville, was assigned to that community in 2019, shortly before the outbreak of COVID. Because of flu season, the churches had already stopped the distribution of Communion from the chalice, which was the first time he had been at a church that did not offer the chalice.

Father Martin said whether parishioners choose to receive Communion from the chalice or not, they understand its significance and are grateful to have the opportunity to do so.

“There were people who said Mass was not quite complete without it,” said Father Martin.

When it comes to receiving Communion from the chalice during weekend Masses, Father Martin estimated that around 10%  choose to do so. But during daily Masses almost everyone does, he said.

There was also a retraining of safety protocols and procedures for extraordinary ministers and an emphasis on creating a safe environment while keeping reverence in mind.

Particularly because the Eucharist is the full presence of Christ, and because some have health concerns Father Martin said “no one is less Catholic” if they receive the Eucharist only.

“No pressure,” said Father Martin.

At St. Augustine Church in New Roads, there has been an enthusiastic reception of the Eucharist, according to pastor Father Joseph G. Benjamin SJ. About 85% of parishioners receive Communion under both species, he said.

“It’s well received, but we don’t force it on anyone,” said Father Benjamin.

Newly appointed to St. Augustine, Father Benjamin said there has been a good cooperative effort in everything liturgically, including the return of the chalice.

“We made every possible means to make sure that people receive (the precious blood) in a safe environment and that is what we did and people are welcoming it with an open heart,” said Father Benjamin.