Written by Bridget Klawitter, Pastoral Associate

    For those of you who are unaware, “intinction” is the practice of dipping the consecrated host into the Precious Blood and then receiving the “intincted” host in Holy Communion. While intinction is one of the four ways approved in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church for administering Holy Communion under both species, self-intinction is not allowed. The current edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal states: “The blood of the Lord may be received either by drinking from the chalice directly or by intinction (by the priest)” (245). It is not permitted for the lay faithful to self-intinct by dipping the host that they will consume into the Precious Blood. This can be done only by a priest. 

So yes, intinction is allowed for both priests and laity however, only when the appropriate rules and procedures are followed. A concern expressed by many priests is that by dipping the Consecrated Host into the Precious Blood of Christ, there is always a risk that a drop of the Consecrated Blood may fall on the floor, or the soaked host may fall apart, and it too fall on the floor. Hence, receiving directly from the chalice has been and remains the customary and recommended way of receiving the Precious Blood in the Roman Rite. Self-intinction will not be allowed as we resume wine at Communion.

So, as we resume offering the Precious Blood at Communion this weekend, key points to remember are:

1. If you are conscious of grave sin, you should not receive Communion without prior sacramental confession. A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is encouraged for all.
2. As Catholics, our faith tradition teaches and believes that at every Mass, bread and wine become Jesus — his body, blood, soul, and divinity — even though we can’t fully understand how it happens.
3. It is acceptable to receive either the host or the cup to receive the grace of the sacrament, but you should reverence both the host and the cup with a bow even if you choose not to receive both. 
4. Communion should be received standing and with a bow as an act of reverence made by those receiving. 
5. Those who receive Communion may receive either in the palm of the hand or on the tongue and should respond, “Amen”; it is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and pinch the host from the person distributing.
6. It is never permissible for you to dip the consecrated host you have received into the cup of Precious Blood.