Office of Divine Worship
Catholic Diocese of Joliet

Norms for the Distribution of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America

On June 15, 2001 the Latin members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments confirmed these norms on March 22, 2002.  On Sunday April 7, 2002, the Second Sunday of Easter, these norms became particular law for all Latin celebrations of the Sacred Liturgy in the dioceses of the United States of America.

These rubrics provide for the diocesan bishop to establish particular norms for his diocese, which are to be observed wherever the Eucharist is celebrated in the diocese. In conformity with the Conference’s confirmed Norms, the following regulations for the Diocese of Joliet-in-Illinois are established and the mandatory implementation date for use of the Conference Norms and the diocesan norms throughout the Diocese of Joliet-in-Illinois is December 1, 2002, the First Sunday of Advent.

Norms for the Dioceses of the United States

v     The ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord are the bishops, priests and deacons.

v     When Communion is distributed under both forms, the deacon is the minister of the chalice.

v     When the size of the Assembly or the incapacity of the ordinary minister requires it, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him - formally instituted acolytes or the faithful who have been commissioned and received sufficient spiritual, theological and practical preparation.

v     Reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist is shown by all ministers in their demeanor, attire and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread and wine.

v     Enough bread and wine is prepared for the communication of the faithful at each Mass.

·        Wine may not be consecrated at one Mass and reserved for use at another.

·        Holy Communion is given from hosts consecrated at the same Mass and not from hosts reserved in the tabernacle.

v     There is to be a suitable number of ministers of Holy Communion at each Mass in order to eliminate the possibility of prolonging the celebration.

·        Normally there should be two ministers of the Precious Blood for each minister of the Precious Body.

v     There should always be a sufficient amount of the Precious Blood available for concelebrants.

v     The use of a single chalice and one large paten can signify the one bread and one chalice by which we are gathered.

·        When the need for more chalices and patens is present, care should be taken that the number of vessels does not exceed need.

v     Our unity in the one bread is highlighted when the bread to be broken is of sufficient size to allow as many of the faithful as possible to receive a piece from it.

v     Sacred vessels should be of noble materials and in conformity to the requirements of liturgical law —“the appropriate style and material for sacred liturgical vessels and vestments reflects the dignity of worship and sacred usage. Should there be any question as to appropriateness, the pastor will consult with the bishop.” (Environment and Art Directives for the Diocese of Joliet)

v     The chalice, paten and other sacred vessels are received from the faithful by the priest or deacon.

v     When the Lamb of God is begun, the bishop or priest celebrant alone breaks the eucharistic bread and pours the Precious Blood into the chalices as are required for the distribution of Holy Communion. If this cannot be accomplished in a reasonable time, deacons or other concelebrating priests may assist him.

·        In the case of large assemblies, this action may take place at the side table within the sanctuary.

v     As the priest receives Communion, when pastoral need requires it, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may approach the altar.

v     Deacons receive Holy Communion after the priest and do not receive the Body and Blood of the Lord in the manner of a concelebrant.

v     Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion receive Holy Communion after the deacon and never receive the Body and Blood of the Lord in the manner of a concelebrant.

·        Extraordinary ministers receive Holy Communion before they assist with the distribution of Holy Communion.

·        The practice of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion waiting to receive Holy Communion after the distribution of Holy Communion is not in accord with liturgical law.

·        The bishop or priest celebrant (and when needed the deacon) reverently hands vessels containing the Body and Blood of the Lord to the deacons or extraordinary ministers who will assist with the distribution of Holy Communion.

v     Holy Communion under the form of bread is offered to the communicant with the words  “The Body of Christ” and the chalice is offered with the words “The Blood of Christ”

v     Communicants may never self-communicate from the chalice nor may the chalice be left on the altar or another place to be picked up by the communicant or passed from one communicant to another. There shall always be a minister of the chalice.

·        Communion from the chalice is generally the preferred form in the Latin Church, provided it can be carried our properly according to the norms and without any risk of even apparent irreverence toward the Blood of Christ.

v     After the Precious Blood is received, the minister carefully wipes both sides of the rim of the chalice with a purificator and then slightly turns the chalice before offering it to the next communicant.

v     It is the choice of the communicant, not the minister, to receive from the chalice.

v     Children are encouraged to receive Communion under both kinds provided they are properly instructed and old enough to receive from the chalice.

v     Distribution of the Precious Blood by a spoon or through a straw is not customary in the Latin dioceses of the United States.

v     If the Precious Blood is distributed by intinction, it is done in the following manner according to the GIRM:

·        “The communicant, while holding the paten under the chin, approaches the priest who holds the vessel with the hosts and at whose side stands a minister holding the chalice. The priest takes the host, intincts the particle into the chalice and showing it, says: ‘the Body and Blood of Christ’. The communicant responds, ‘Amen’, and receives the Sacrament in the mouth from the priest.”

·        Distribution of the Precious Blood by intinction should never be adopted as a means to limit the communicant’s legitimate option to receive Communion in the hand.

·        The communicant, including the extraordinary minister, is never allowed to self-communicate, even by means of intinction.

v     Communion under either form, bread or wine, must always be given by an ordinary or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

v     After Communion, the consecrated bread that remains is to be reserved in the tabernacle.

v     When more of the Precious Blood remains than was necessary, the deacon assisted by other deacons and priests but not the bishop or priest celebrant, consume the remaining Precious Blood in a dignified and reverent manner.

·        With the permission of the diocesan bishop, extraordinary ministers may assist with the consuming of the Precious Blood.

·        Provided the eucharistic species have been consumed, it is permissible to leave the covered vessels at the side table on a corporal and to cleanse them immediately after Mass.

·        With the permission of the diocesan bishop, extraordinary ministers may assist with the cleansing of the sacred vessels.

v     The Precious Blood may not be reserved except for someone who is ill and is kept in a covered vessel in the tabernacle.

v     The Precious Blood of the Lord is always fully consumed after Communion is completed and is never to be poured into the ground or the sacrarium.