Q: This may be in Ars Celebrandi, but I am nevertheless posing the questions in form of a few “observations”.

There is a growing and distressing trend of concelebrants intincting at Mass. I have seen this as USCCB Masses, at cathedral and episcopal ceremonies, at priest funerals,  and other priest gatherings, etc. I am also told that in some places concelebrants are being instructed to “intinct.”

This seems very poor theology and also even poorer example to the faithful if there are occasions (also declining) when both kinds are available for them. And, of course, for the non-celebrants there is a different procedure. This is sometimes implemented by some to prevent communion in the hand.

==

A: Yes, I cover intinction in my book Ars Celebrandi. It’s in the section on concelebration. The GIRM does permit concelebrants to intinct, but as I argue in my book, it implies that either all concelebrants do it, or none do it. I truly believe it’s in there as a charitable concern to parts of the world where wine is scarce and expensive, yet concelebrants need to consume the Blood of Christ. I agree it confuses the faithful, who may conclude from the practice that they may intinct as well—and they may not. I also point out that the principal celebrant never has permission to intinct. He is to drink from the chalice as usual, which shows the GIRM’s bias that drinking is preferred as the better sign.

View All Blog Posts | Explore Books | Submit a Blog Question | Share Post via Email