Holy Communion Wine

[Jomey]

Hi yall - I am going to see my priest this week to talk it over with him, but I would love to get opinions on receiving wine as Holy Communion. I am a Catholic, and I have been missing receiving Jesus' Precious Blood since starting recovery in August of this year. I honestly have missed it, but was too scared of it being "alcohol" to even consider it until recently. Now, I long for it in a sacramental way.

I am "playing with fire" to even consider a sip of it? Anyone had any experience with this?

Thanks and God bless! Jomey

[GrouchoTheCat]

I think the Big Book says that this is a personal decision.

I hold on to the wafer and just dip it ever so slightly into the wine.

Actually, quite a few do this, so it is not at all unusual.

Hope this helps.

[Jomey]

Hey Groucho- thanks for the info. Do you mind if I ask if you are Catholic? I have never seen the "dipping" option in any of the many Catholic churches I visit for Mass. If you are and you are doing it, I would love to mention it to my priest. He is a very cool, easy going guy, and I am sure he would be open to hearing about it if it is happening in other Catholic churches.

Did you ever feel like drinking just because you "got the taste of it"? I'd like to think that because my faith tells me that it is no longer wine but the precious Blood of Christ that I would not be tempted by it, but I don't know...any thoughts?

Thanks again Groucho!

[socalgal]

I kiss the cup. It is my personal gesture and I know that God knows what this means. I also go to a recovery Eucharist once a week where they actually use consecrated grape juice so that that all os those in recovery can drink with our any fear or reservation.

-K

[Jomey]

K - I LOVE the idea of kissing the cup....great suggestion. Thanks for taking the time to share!! Will keep you posted if I hear anything else from my priest. God bless, J

[dgillz]

I am not catholic but I am pretty sure the consecrated grape juice has already been OKd by the Catholic Church. Your priest will certainly know this.

[Jomey]

I will certainly talk with him about it. Is it consecrated separately at a regular Mass or is it only at "recovery" Masses, which we don't currently have? Although I am sure I can find one if that's where I need to be. Thanks yall!

[best]

Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.


Luke 22:19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

Traditions and ritual are material ways we use to remember things.
The important part is where our heart is at. Not if our lips sip wine.
The last super was a passover meal that the Lord turned into a wedding vow.
A Jewish wedding... The groom would pass the cup to the bride as if to say... This is my life that I give fully to you (Just as Jesus was saying and doing at the last super). The bride can take the cup or pass it back. When the bride takes the cup, she is saying... I accept what you offer and give myself fully to you.
Communion is an act of obedience... Do this in memory of me.
Our obedience should be a daily giving ourself to the Lord (in body, spirit, thought, and heart.) A spiritual communion. A sip of wine is not needed. A rememberance of what the wine means and a daily acceptance of that meaning is what the Lord sees as being important.
Per Catholic dogma... the wafer holds the body of the Lord within. For years only the wafer was given at communion....even then... the imporant thing would be a spiritual matter of the heart.

1 Corinthians 10:4
and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Are we drinking in the Lord's love with our spirit or does a sip of wine become the important thing?

I say it is a matter of the heart not of the lips touching wine.
Forgo the wine and Jesus will still shine in your heart when you ask Him in daily.

[dgillz]

I also think that minors drink the grape juice at Communion. I am 100% sure they don't drink wine in the US at least. Maybe in some European countries.

[augustine]

Hello -

Here is a question I can answer!

When Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist He gave us an incredible gift with very explicit instuctions. The materials used in the consecration are two elemental species that must never be changed lest they invalidate the Holy Sacrifice that is transpiring. The Church may not "OK" changes to them (or any Sacrament) for these were instituted by Jesus Himself.

These elemental species are: a "wheaten bread" and "vinum de vite" or "wine of the grape" - it specifically excludes grape juice and other "artificial wines". The Missael Romanum not only outlines the Rite of Consecration of these elements, but the ingredients and qualities they must contain in order to validly transubstantiate into the Body and Blood of Our Lord.

In other words, if it's not wine fermented from grapes of the vine and it's not bread made from flour and baked, then it is a snack tray.

It is SO good that you are asking this and rather than go on and on I will simply say that you are missing nothing. The whole benefit of the Body and Blood are fully contained within the consecrated Host. By not partaking in the Precious Blood you are not depriving yourself of any of Our Lord's Salvation!

Groucho, where is your Church that it allows you to partake in communion via "intinction"? That practice was eliminated and is now reserved only for the Pope!

The idea of kissing the cup is very beautiful. I like it. But remember, this is an act of reverence rather than partaking. There is nothing wrong with reverence for this is the Real Presence.

I hope your priest at home can further council you Jomey.

Pax Christi
Dietrich

[Alera]

There is a post here where I quoted the canon law on this. I'll try and find it. The important part to remember is that both species are present in the consecrated bread as well as the wine, so if you are like me, you can bypass the wine and you are just fine.

[Alera]

Here it is: http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/1229184-post7.html

Heres part of it"
I was planning at one point to go into Canon Law for a living. Seriously LOL.

Here is one notation from Canon Law

Can. 925 Holy communion is to be given under the species of bread alone or, in accordance with the liturgical laws, under both species or, in case of necessity, even under the species of wine alone.

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal

282. Sacred pastors should take care to ensure that the faithful who participate in the rite or
are present at it are as fully aware as possible of the Catholic teaching on the form of Holy
Communion as set forth by the Ecumenical Council of Trent. Above all, they should instruct the
Christian faithful that the Catholic faith teaches that Christ, whole and entire, and the true
Sacrament, is received even under only one species, and consequently that as far as the effects are
concerned, those who receive under only one species are not deprived of any of the grace that is
necessary for salvation.

http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/GIRM.pdf

[Jomey]

Wow, guys, you sure know a lot! Thanks for all the info. I'd like to share a little bit more about my struggle. First of all, I have never seen grape juice used in a Catholic Church, and I guess now that is because yall informed me it's not in Canon Law. (By the way, minors do receive wine as Holy Communion in the US - my kids are all under 18 and they receive wine even at their school Masses and at every church we have ever attended )

Here is my struggle. I realize that you do not NEED to receive under both species to receive the grace of receiving our Lord. However, I professed to an lay order that is associated with the sisters known as the Handmaids of the Precious Blood years ago, and meeting Jesus in both species of Holy Communion was a part of my daily life for years and years. Being consecrated to His Blood makes it an extra special part of my life. I am clear now, thanks to you guys, on what the Church says about it. (Can't wait to go see my priest and knock his socks off by quoting Canon Law:mock ) But what do other alcoholics say about it? I would like to try it, but I used to be scared about it leading me away from recovery because it is alcohol. Has anyone ever chosen to receive The Blood and lived that way while managing a successful recovery?

Thanks for all your input - I truly appreciate it. God bless! J